When OutKick’s Dan Dakich went after Caitlin Clark for “flopping and running,” he probably didn’t expect to get dragged for hypocrisy. But after calling me out on-air, he disappeared — proving the very point he tried to make.

If irony had a Hall of Fame, Dan Dakich just earned himself a bust.

Let’s rewind. A few days ago, I posted a video criticizing Dakich’s now-infamous claim that Caitlin Clark “flopped” after taking a poke to the eye from Jacy Sheldon. It wasn’t hate. It wasn’t personal. I simply called the take what it was: wrong. As a former English teacher, writer, speaker, and someone who cares about fair discourse, I used my platform to say what millions were thinking.

What happened next? Dakich did a segment on OutKick doubling down. And instead of sticking to the argument, he came for me personally.

“She can barely speak,” he said with a smirk — an insult so lazy, so off-base, it honestly made me laugh. For a man who spends hours daily talking into a microphone, you’d think he’d be more original. But here’s the kicker: after taking that jab, he moved on. No debate. No actual rebuttal to my points. Just a drive-by insult and exit stage left.

Sound familiar?

Because that’s exactly what he accused Caitlin Clark of doing: talking smack, flopping, then running away. Only this time, it wasn’t a WNBA court — it was a studio desk, and he was the one running.

Let’s set a few things straight. I’m not “some little girl on YouTube,” as he dismissively called me. I’m Adrien Ross. I’ve spent nearly two decades teaching English in New York classrooms, another decade as a senior copy editor for Breitbart News, and I’ve coached countless aspiring authors and professionals in communication. My ability to speak? It’s not just intact — it’s literally my career.

So, Dan, if you want to spar, do it with respect. Disagree with me. Argue the points. But when you reduce me to a cliché and run away without engagement, all you’re doing is proving your critics right.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Content creators across YouTube — O Nation, The Pope B. Frank, Marty from LiveWire Sports — saw the clip and called it out for what it was: a weak swing at someone you didn’t expect to swing back. And the irony wasn’t lost on anyone. The same man who chastises female athletes for dramatics folded under the softest pushback.

I don’t need an apology. Frankly, I don’t even need the acknowledgment. But I do think it’s worth pointing out what happens when media figures believe they’re above critique. They take a valid counterpoint and dismiss it with a character attack — not because they believe it, but because it’s easier than wrestling with the possibility they got it wrong.

Dakich said he doesn’t care if “some little girl” on YouTube doesn’t like him. Maybe he doesn’t. But the response he sparked shows plenty of people care about fair dialogue. Even those who don’t agree with every one of my takes stood up and said, “No, this isn’t it.”

That’s the thing about real discourse. You don’t have to always agree to be respectful. A few weeks ago, I had a full-on disagreement with The Pope B. Frank — it got heated, intense, and we definitely didn’t see eye to eye. But when it was over, there was mutual respect. We said our piece, shook it off, and kept building each other up.

That’s how adults operate.

I’m not canceling Dakich. I’m not calling for boycotts. I’m still subscribed to OutKick. I even respect some of the work done by folks like Riley Gaines. But calling a woman “barely articulate” in 2025 as your only comeback? That’s not journalism. That’s cowardice.

So here’s my final word: If you’re going to dish it, you better be able to take it. Don’t accuse Caitlin Clark of “flopping and running” when you can’t handle a respectful correction without hurling playground insults and exiting the chat.

Next time, try staying in the conversation. You might learn something.

God bless — and enjoy the game. I know I will.