Dan Dakich: "Ball Don't Lie" Theory Predates Rasheed Wallace By About Two Decades

Dan Dakich was the ESPN color commentator for last night’s Michigan State shellacking of the Badgers. Midway through the second half, Michigan State perhaps unjustly averted a shot clock violation, Deyonta Davis grabbed the rebound, Vitto Brown got called for a tic-tac foul, Davis missed the first free throw, and Dakich said the “ball knows.”

This was an evident variation of the phrase “Ball Don’t Lie,” which was popularized by Rasheed Wallace, dating back to at least 2006. Dakich acknowledged that, but said that this was a common assertion dating back to games in Indiana in the 1970’s.

“I’m not saying the basketball is [a living thing], but it has an aura,” said Dakich. “It has a soul … It does!”

In the spirit of the basketball’s … spirit … and a slow Friday in the world of sports, let’s spend six minutes watching Sheed yell Ball Don’t Lie.