• Posted by:
    Ny
  • 08:19 PM ET  04.07
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 When I first heard this in school I thought it was all a joke,I mean I thought Vitale was a tv ansoncer,never was a collage head coach,and never played a day of pro basketball.But after turning on espn news I couldnt belive my eyes,it was true,Vitales a Hall of Famer along with guys like Russel,MJ,Cousy,Wilt,Robertson,Erwing,Ewing, the list goes on and on and now Vitale.

But as I found out later that day Vitale did much more then I ever thought for the game of collage basketball.First off he was a coach and a very good one to.He brought a crappy high school in East Rutherford New Jersey to two state championships in only seven seasons,now thats a quick turnaround dont you think.Vital even went to William Patterson Univerity,one of the worst schools in New Jersey which is located in Wayne.Also Dick was an assistant coach for Rutgers and as I sooner learned was the head coach of a school,the University of Detroit where he lead them to the 32 team turnament in 1977,and had a career record of 78-30 which included a 22 game win streak in 1977,and later that year even beat the championship winner Marquette.Vitale even was a coach in the NBA,for the Detroit Pistons,which was a year he already forgot since he went 30-52,and was fired the next season.

 Two weeks after Vitale got fired ESPN gave him a call offering Dick a job as a Color commentator.Vital took the job and started his journy to become an ESPN legend.

 Vitale has many famous catch phrases and created many collage basketball terms  

  • All-mystique: inconsistent
  • Blender: an unselfish player
  • Bringing a W: getting a win
  • Cream Puff Delight: coach who plays an easy schedule
  • December: ZZZZ time because teams have been loading up on patsies
  • Diaper dandy: sensational freshman
  • Dipsy-doo Dunk-a-roo: flashy slam dunk
  • Dishes the rock: passes the ball
  • Doughnut offense: team without a center
  • Dow Joneser: up-and-down, inconsistent player
  • Drillin' Reggies when they need Pete Roses: taking long shots when they need short shots
  • High Riser: good leaper (see Skywalker)
  • Human Space Ship: big player
  • Isolation Man: great one-on-one player
  • Key or Engine: the player who leads the team
  • Knee-knocker: close game
  • M&Mer: a mismatch
  • MIAer: player who disappears
  • Mr. Pac Man: eats you alive on defense
  • N.C.: no contest
  • Perimeter J: a jump shot
  • P.T.: playing time
  • P.T.P.: a prime-time player
  • Prime Time: good basketball, what people pay to see
  • Q.T.: quality time
  • Shoots the area-code J: shoots from long distance
  • Skywalker: good leaper (see High Riser)
  • Slam, Bam, Jam: an impressive slam dunk
  • Space Eater: big guy
  • Strawberry Shortcake: NCAA tournament time, when the underachievers get their just desserts
  • Surf and Turfer: superstar
  • 3-D Man: he drives, he draws, he dishes
  • Times Square: playing slow-tempo
  • Trifecta: three-point basket Indianapolis
  • Raceway: up-tempo
  • Wilson Sandwich: what you get when your shot is rejected in your face
  • Xs and Os: used to explain strategy

All of which are now used by many and will never go away.

 In all Vital did more for the game then any other broadcaster and will always be the face of ollage basketball.

So what do you think,should Vital be in the hall of fame or no?

DICK VITALE

April 7, 2008  08:24 PM ET

Vitale is an inspiration to all and is an idol to many people. He deserves in. Here is why: "A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known for his spirited style on ESPN and its family of cable television channels."

April 7, 2008  08:28 PM ET

Vitale deserves to be in. His excitement for the love of the college game got me hooked on it in the early 80s.

April 7, 2008  08:46 PM ET

Good blog. I don't like Dick Vitale. He is annoying.

April 7, 2008  09:02 PM ET

i like him, not love. his voice gets corny

 
April 8, 2008  09:41 AM ET

He's an annoying blowhard, but there are fewer bigger contributors or better people on the planet. He's not going in on the strength of his coaching or playing, he's going in because he's been an ambassador for the game in so many ways. He's a polarizing figure that many (My self included) don't like, but we know who he is, and as a result what he covers, and -that- is the kind of impact he has.

Good choice for the hall, even if I can't stand the guy.

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