Former Indy Car and Formula One driver Derek Daly was fired as a TV analyst after a tangential news story about the retirement of longtime Indianapolis Colts radio play-by-play announcer Bob Lamey led to a revelation that Daly had used the n-word 35 years ago.
Lamey retired on Sunday after more than three decades in the booth, but has since been accused of using the racial slur days before he announced his decision to step away – something he acknowledged Wednesday.
According to a report Tuesday by NBC affiliate 13 WTHR in Indianapolis, the 80-year-old Lamey was reliving his days working at Indianapolis Motor Speedway recently at Colts training camp when he allegedly said the derogatory term aloud while sharing the story that supposedly originated with Daly.
Daly’s employer, WISH-TV, severed ties with him. However, while he admits to using the word, Daly insists that Lamey’s version of events wasn’t correct.
Former Indy Car and Formula One driver Derek Daly was fired as a TV analyst for using the n-word while answering a question from a reporter 35 years ago
Longtime radio play-by-play voice of the Indianapolis Colts Bob Lamey announced his retirement on Sunday after more than three decades in the booth. On Tuesday night, his lawyer acknowledged that a co-worker had complained about Lamey’s use of the n-word
Daly told Fox59 that radio reporter Larry Henry once asked him what it was like to be a foreigner racing in America. Daly claims he responded by saying he would be the only ‘n***** on the pile,’ referring to a theoretical wreck on the track.
Henry told the Indianapolis Star that he was stunned at the time.
Daly said he did not know the term was offensive when he came to the United States.
‘I quickly learned what a derogatory term it was,’ Daily told Fox59. ‘When I was first informed of this, I was mortified at the offense I might have caused people. I have therefore never used the word since. I made this mistake once, but never again.’
Lamey, who worked for Emmis Communications, supposedly repeated the word with an Emmis Communications co-worker recently.
Derek Daly of Ireland, driving an Ensign N177 with a Ford V8 engine for Team Tissot Ensign, during the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch on 16th July 1978. He would later go on to race on the Indy Car circuit in the United States and move to Indianapolis
Lamey (seen here with Colts quarterback Andrew Luck) retired after decades on the job
The whistle-blower who requested anonymity to Jennie Runevitch of 13 WTHR said, ‘People don’t know the whole truth. … No person you look up to uses that kind of hurtful language at all. It made me sick to my stomach.’
According to the story, the employee said Lamey was off the air following a radio interview when he apparently started a story about an old conversation from his past experience working at the track.
‘He had asked me if the mics were off and I said, ‘Yeah, I turned everything off. You’re fine,” the employee said. ‘Bob Lamey’s describing this person saying he was asked in an interview, ‘Do you think anyone’s holding back their speed at IMS [Indianapolis Motor Speedway] during [qualification]? Do you think anyone’s holding back?’ And that person had replied, ‘There aren’t any [n-word] in this race.”
When reached for comment on Tuesday night, Lamey’s attorney told the Indianapolis Star that Lamey did cross the line while telling the story last week. But he denied that the incident forced the Colts to push Lamey out.
The Colts also acknowledged the incident in a statement on Wednesday morning
‘It should be noted that Bob does want to acknowledge that while repeating a story whole off-the-air last week to a friend at a local radio station, he used an inappropriate word that had been used in the story,’ James H. Voyles said of his client Lamey.
‘Bob immediately apologized to the people involved for the comment and would hope that this error in judgment would not tarnish his long-held reputation in the sports community where he has been known as an accurate and passionate reporter.’
According to the story, the employee lodged a complaint with the human resources department at Emmis Communications, which informed the Colts of the allegation.
‘While it’s our long-standing company policy not to make public comment on personnel matters, Bob publicly acknowledged that last week he repeated an inappropriate word when telling a story. He immediately apologized to the people who heard him use the word, and then promptly resigned.
‘Bob has a long and storied history in our community, but he made a serious mistake. We are deeply disappointed the incident took place and offer our sincerest regrets to all who were impacted by Bob’s lapse in judgement.’
The story was reported two days after the Colts released a respectful statement following the retirement of Lamey, who called Colts games since 1984 – other than three years away from the club from 1992-94. The Colts’ statement made no mention of the incident.
‘Bob Lamey is a legend and icon, and his name is synonymous with Indianapolis Colts football,’ owner Jim Irsay said in a statement Sunday. ‘With his historic calls, familiar sayings and passion for football, he became part of the fabric of this entire community.
‘No one has been more ‘Indianapolis’ than Bob Lamey. Even more so, he was very much a part of our team family, and he’s as dear to us as anyone who has ever worn the Horseshoe.’
Lamey’s attorney responded to the accusation on Tuesday, effectively confirming the incident