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The long-time radio voice, Gary Dolphin, has been suspended from broadcasting Iowa basketball games for the remainder of the season.

The action comes as a result of comments Dolphin made during the post-game portion of Iowa's radio broadcast of Tuesday's home game against Maryland, in which he referred to Bruno Fernando de Terrapins, who is black, under the name of "King Kong".

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Gary Dolphin, right, was suspended as a voice on Iowa radio for the rest of the basketball season in Iowa. (Photo11: Joseph Cress / Citizen of the Iowa City Press)

The suspension, announced by Learfield Sports Properties (which holds the rights to Hawkeye's shows), only concerns basketball. For 22 years, Dolphin has been the voice of Iowa football and plays the game.

The reference to King Kong, a fictional gorilla in a 1933 film bearing that name, came as analyst Bobby Hansen and Dolphin closed the 66-65 Hawkeyes defeat, in which Maryland had made 12 of his Last 20 attempts in 3 points – then Fernando (who measures 6 feet 10 inches, 245 pounds) has gone ahead with 7.8 seconds to go.

"Twelve 3 out of 22 baskets made. It's a very good long range shot, "Dolphin said. Then Fernando was King Kong at the end of the match. "

Hansen replied, "Yes, he was. And they did a great job, Gary, largely bouncing. "

Dolphin issued a statement in the release, apologizing for his language.

"During the show, I used a comparison to try to describe a talented Maryland basketball player. In any case I did not intend to offend or denigrate the player, "Dolphin said. I assume all responsibility for my choice of inappropriate words and sincerely apologize to him, as well as to anyone offended. I wish the best of luck to the players, coaches and fans of Iowa Hawkeye as the last leg of the season approaches. I will use this as an opportunity to grow as a person and learn more about unconscious biases. "

This is the second on-air incident of this basketball season that put Dolphin in the water in public.

Dolphin was suspended by the University of Iowa and Learfield Sports for two games against negative comments he made about the Maishe Dailey basketball program and alternate guard who were inadvertently broadcast during the Iowa game on November 27 against Pittsburgh.

In this incident, during what was supposed to be a commercial break, Dolphin told Hansen that Iowa needed to recruit better guards, and then chose Dailey to make his point.

"We have Maishe Dailey," said Dolphin. "Dribble in a double team with your head down, God."

Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta added that the story was even more erratic: there was "persistent tension" between Dolphin and head coach Fran McCaffery.

McCaffery also criticized Dolphin's comments in November, calling them "inexcusable."

At a subsequent press conference, Barta said parties were working on their tensions. "He made a mistake and, fortunately, we solved the problem," Barta said at the time.

Since the first suspension, Hansen – and not Dolphin – has been handling the interview with McCaffery in the post-game locker room.

Jim Albracht and Hansen will follow Iowa matches for the rest of the season. The Hawkeyes had to face Indiana at 20:15. Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.