A very Happy 75th Birthday to the one and only Dick Vitale. Chat Sports has decided to feature Dickie V in our brand new 'Who the?!' series, featuring the biggest names in sports history.
Who: Richard John 'Dick' Vitale
Who the?!
Dick Vitale never aspired to become a sports broadcaster. Prior to his first assignment with ESPN, he was known not as Dickie V, but as Coach Vitale. He amassed an impressive 79-29 record during his time at the University of Detroit, and eventually completed a brief stint coaching the Detroit Pistons. Upon reflecting years later, Vitale said, "I didn’t know where the camera was or what I was supposed to do. But I knew how to talk about basketball."
University of Detroit Mercy
1973-1977
Top Dickie V catchphrases, translated:
Diaper Dandy: A standout freshman
Get a TO baby! Call a timeout, Coach!
PTPer: Prime time performer
All Windex Team: Guys who can clean up on the glass
All Alcatraz Team: Players poised for a breakout season
All Rolls Roycer: Superstars at their position
Drillin' Reggies when they need Pete Roses: Putting up long shots when all a team needs is short ones
Donut offense: Team without a center
Slam Jam Bammer: You should be fluent by this point
Dixie Doo Jamaroo: ...
Dipsy Doo Dunkaroo: ..........
Awesome, baby!
[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6_QMII9wJ8[/embed]
At 1:11...how many times does he say uh-oh?
DID YOU KNOW - Dick Vitale is:
Author of nine books
2008 Inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Namesake of the 1994 Sega Genesis Game, "Dick Vitale's "Awesome Baby" College Hoops"
Unparalleled passion
"I'm living the American dream. I learned from my mom and dad, who didn't have a formal education but had doctorates of love. They told me that if you gave 110 percent all the time, a lot of beautiful things will happen. I may not always be right, but no one can ever accuse me of not having a genuine love and passion for whatever I do. And ESPN has been grateful enough to recognize this."
[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXMJunmx6_0&t=1m51s[/embed]
Follow @itshistoryman on Twitter for more in our continuing series paying tribute to sporting legends.
