Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard John "Dick" Vitale, also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well known as a college basketball broadcaster for ESPN. He is known for catchphrases such as "baby" and "diaper dandy", as well as enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games, and has authored nine books and appeared in several movies...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSportscaster
Date of Birth9 June 1939
CityPassaic, NJ
CountryUnited States of America
What has happened at Indiana, every game becomes a final exam. You are judged by your most recent performance, and that makes it tough for everybody in the program. It's tough enough to try to win without having that kind of pressure.
It was tough getting fired by the NBA. I really didn't know where I was going, until [ESPN] called me. I said, "Hey, 'ESPN?' Never heard of it. It sounds like a disease." Now I have that same disease as a sports fanatic. All this sports madness we didn't have years ago, now I'm very blessed and fortunate to be part of it.
People that don't know me think that basketball is my life 24/7. Trust me, there is much more to my life. My number one priority in my life is my family.
My parents were my heroes and my role models. So I thought long and hard over decisions that I would make because I never wanted to disappoint them and break their hearts.
Life is simple. Make good decisions and good things happen. Make bad decisions and bad things happen.
An All-American is an ordinary person with an extraordinary desire to excel. You don't get to the top of the mountain by just dreaming. It's nice to dream. But it's the work ethic and pride that makes you get to that mountain top and that level of success.
It's the greatest achievement I've ever witnessed in all my years of being a coach and a television personality. I really, absolutely have been blown away.
One day to see that headline, not that someone won a basketball championship, but to see that a cure for cancer has been found, will be a great day for mankind.
Coaching to me is the ultimate high, especially when you have a game plan and you see that game plan executed to perfection. To see those players take what you put in front of them in preparation and turn it into a masterpiece - it doesn't get any better than that.
Life has good and bad times. And to get through them you have to battle. Life is not all smooth. I've had my bumps and bruises, like anybody, but I've always tried to look at life like a glass that's half full.
A loser is someone who makes excuses and alibis and blames everyone else for their losses and failures.
A winner is someone who can look in the mirror at the end of the day and say in pursuit of my goal and dreams I gave my best.
The glory of sport is witnessing a well-coached team perform as a single unit, striving for a common goal and ultimately bringing distinction to the jersey the players represent.
Gowdy had a love affair with the microphone and the fans had a love affair with him. American sports fans truly lost an icon, a legend who never felt he was bigger than anyone else. He had that humility that made him special, and he made everyone feel like they were so important.