Eddie Johnson wasn’t a fan of Dick Vitale’s perspective on Caitlin Clark’s treatment in the WNBA. On Monday, Vitale claimed that Clark deserves to be treated like “royalty” amid the controversy over the physicality she faces from her opponents. Vitale feels Clark’s PR value is critical, and that should justify why the league must treat her better.
Johnson, who worked as a color commentator for the Phoenix Mercury between 1998 and 2000, opposed Vitale’s take, saying there are no friends in basketball, reminding the former NCAA coach of his players at the University of Detroit.
“Mr. Vitale, I ❤️ you, but didn’t you coach at the univ of Detroit? You and I both know on a basketball court there is zero Royalty,” Johnson wrote on X. “I remember the physical in your face players you had like John Long & Terry Tyler. Don’t do this, there are no friends between the lines. Zero!”
Johnson has often preached about the physicality of the older generation in the 80s and 90s. He doesn’t believe what Clark faces from her rivals is out of the blue. After a fan said Johnson would defend LeBron James if he endured similar hard fouls, the color commentator replied that he was an 80s player, so those incidents were “normal” for him.
Dick Vitale directly calls out Cathy Engelbert’s silence on Caitlin Clark’s officiating controversy
Before writing an unprompted tweet about Caitlin Clark’s treatment by her peers, Dick Vitale directly called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s silence on the controversy surrounding the superstar.
Vitale replied to a tweet by former broadcaster Ray Cole, who promoted a Jun. 25 column from Christinne Brennan. In his tweet, Cole said Engelbert should quit after repeated cases of inconsistent officiating against Clark.
The outrage sparked after the Jun. 24 incident when Alyssa Thomas put her fist on Caitlin Clark’s neck, and officials didn’t review the foul in real time.
Vitale retweeted Cole’s message, saying:
“Yes Ray could not agree more with Christine Brennan as it is unbelievable what @CaitlinClark22 goes thru & the @WNBA leader does zilch!”
The WNBA suspended Thomas for a game and issued a Flagrant 2 foul against the Mercury star after reviewing the incident. However, a few media members like Brennan felt the punishment still wasn’t enough.
Read more:
- Indiana Congressman Claims WNBA Players “Attacking” Caitlin Clark Would Be Charged With “Assault” if Similar Incidents Happened Off the Court
- Jason Whitlock Slams Caitlin Clark’s Attitude With Officials After “One of the Worst Flops” vs the Aces
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