Dick Vitale Quotations

What has happened with underclassmen declaring for the NBA draft? It is absolutely wacky, baby!

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.

The only way we are going to stop this disease is to raise money. Jimmy would go absolutely bananas to know how much money has been raised. We can't just sit back. This disease affects all of us.

Today in coaching, it's a two-way street. They can fire you whenever they want. Bottom line: It's all about what you can do to better yourself professionally. This is a better move.

The courtside seats belong to the kids.

Twelve for 23... It doesn't take a genius to see that's under 50 percent.

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.

I have my Master's Degree but I learned more at my dinner table than any class I ever took. My dad would come home from the sweat factory and put the money on the table and say Mea, here is some money for insurance and food and we always had that little extra for Friday night pizza at Barcelona's.

Looking back, I remember telling my daughters that we didn't have money, pizzazz and a lot of the things we have today, but we had so much love and we lived like millionaires.

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 perfect day is to wake up with all kinds of energy and enthusiasm for the day, have a list of what I want to achieve, and at the end of the day look in the mirror and think man, this has been perfect. Everything I planned became a reality.

The clothes do not match my personality. I'm more of a very conservative, blue-blazer kind of guy. But as far as my personality, it's a lot of hot-dog mustard - have a lot of a fun and a lot of excitement. I feel like I'm 68; I act like I'm 12, talking about a game of basketball.

My childhood was epitomized by my parents who were uneducated but had a doctorate in love. My dad pressed coats and through my mom and dad I learned about love, family and respecting people. They never went to high school but they had within them every element that makes a great American. They had pride and a great work ethic and they knew how to do things the right way.

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a coach. I had people telling me you can't do this, you're not a great player. Be realistic. When I got rejection letters from colleges where I wanted to coach, my mom would say, "You are going to make it someday. You have something special within you and that is your spirit for life which will help you get to the top."

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.

You'd have to live in a cave not to know about the Carrier Dome. It put Syracuse on the map.

John Wooden has been a vital force in the lives of many with his inspirational messages. He represents all the elements necessary to be a winner in the Game of Life, which makes him the perfect person to write this book filled with lessons. Coach Wooden has been a mentor to people in every walk of life.

It is time for everyone to sit down -the NCAA, the NBA, the players union and the coaching fraternity-and come up with suitable solutions to these problems.

I'm living the American dream.

It was an incredible effort by the Irish down in Tallahassee. Jameis Winston was too tough in the second half; congrats to the Seminoles.

Really, UCLA's a great place as well, but they don't have the kind of environment they have here. The fans here have a passion.

Glue guys aren't superstars. They're not the No. 1 option. They just do things only coaches really appreciate. The stars get the headlines, but glue guys help you get in the winner's circle. I don't think you can win without having that kind of player.

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.

When you can go on the road and get 35 at Kansas with the rock-chalk Jayhawk crowd going bananas and you make big plays to help your club leave with a win on the road like that, you've got talent. So, he's got talent.

Obviously, off the court, he's had some issues. He would be the first to say, 'Why? Why did I do that?' But one, his players graduate; two, they learn how to be men; and three, they learn how to contribute in life. Look at all those Indiana graduates contributing to society.

I'd like to see some of the teams that got in play in the Big East or ACC and go 9-7, 8-8 in those leagues. Don't tell us you're picking the best 34 at-large teams.

Hansbrough, to me, has had the most impact of any freshman in America in terms of a major program.

It is great to see that D.C. hoops are back in a big way with as many as four possible tournament teams. You have quality coaches who recruit quality kids and they keep the great local kids at home. Yep, college basketball in D.C. is as good as any other area in the country.

It is one of the truly unique venues in America,

I went to church and Jim and his wife, Liz, went to see the home.

I think they are a very dangerous basketball team, a team that could create a lot of problems.

I see Billy Donovan as a fixture at Florida for a long time. It would take something very special for him to leave.

I saw what he went through. The crying, the screaming in pain, and how much it hurt. I watched that and feel in my heart that people shouldn't have to go through that.

I think if they can get eight (ACC) wins, they've got a great chance. I think it's mandatory to win one of the next two. And obviously a win over Duke would be absolutely an eye-catcher.

I think he's done a phenomenal job and hasn't got the recognition he's deserved for a guy that's proven he can win in a tough situation. I'm kind of surprised his name hasn't popped up before now.

I think his comfort zone will happen next year when he can go back in the post. Because right now he's trying to do things he didn't do in high school. Obviously, he's a talented player. He shows moments out there of passing ability, post-up ability, rebounding ability -- that he's outstanding.

We're really thrilled about it because we got lots of great story lines.

When a coach gets that opportunity to observe, he's going to look. Because he wants to create a contract that is strong and gives his family the kind of security that guys really seek in anything, whether it be the corporate world, whether it be sports.

You hate to think one of those kids is not going to get a trophy for Player of the Year. There are numerous awards, and ideally they would split them. If Morrison doesn't get a Player of the Year award, I'll buy him a gold trophy, call it the Dickie V. P-T-Per Award and ship it out to him myself.

Brewer can create his own shot. He's a great player offensively and defensively and he's going to be a lottery selection. But he could use another year to work on his range as a shooter.

At the beginning of the season, when you thought of Pittsburgh you thought about a team that was regrouping. I didn't think they would be 17-3 at this point. I'm excited to do this game.

There's no doubt that they've been a real surprise. This team has amazing camaraderie. They play together; they've done a phenomenal job.

(The tournaments in) '93, '97 and '99 are the only three years that three No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four.

As long as he doesn't take my job.

That's no accident. It means you're getting your players to focus at the most important time of the year. It means you've got your team playing at a higher level because everybody is going to play at another level against you.

This place is phenomenal. The fans are right on top of the players. You feed off that adrenaline. I really think this environment is a vital part of what's happening here.

This is a very special atmosphere in the Big East. The people are right on top of the floor. It's not like the pro atmosphere you have at places like Madison Square Garden and the Meadowlands. This is the essence of college basketball.

I told him she isn't interested in selling yet.

It's not over. I'm confident they can do it. But it's not a closed case.

It is time for everyone to sit down - the NCAA, the NBA, the players union and the coaching fraternity - and come up with suitable solutions to these problems.

That just goes with the territory whenever you're a superstar and play for a great team. That's a compliment. That means you've made it.

Oh, it's a vital part of the game,

They can't continue to falter, but those wins are so strong over Illinois, Ohio State -- even Michigan. Those are strong, strong wins, but obviously they can't continue to lose at the rate they've been losing.

They have one of the blue chip coaches in America. Somehow, I think Tom will have his guys competing for a Big Ten Championship again.

I'm absolutely shocked. I can't believe he went that high.

In my 27 years of calling games for ESPN, I have never ever seen a player take more verbal abuse than he has taken.

I like going to new environments. I'm so accustomed to going to Duke, Carolina and Kentucky, and those are phenomenal. But it's nice going to new places.

In my mind, he's done an amazing job, and he's certainly one of the favorites for national coach of the year. To think what's done there after losing so much from last year's team, it just blows my mind.

He told her she could live there as long as she wanted and pay rent. That's what they did.

I don't think there's any doubt that he's one of the 15 top players in the history of the ACC.

I'd say Illinois, Michigan State and Indiana will probably be the top of the class. But one thing is this year, the league has a lot of balance. When I mention Illinois, Indiana and Michigan State, they are probably the best teams but they aren't going to dominate.

He's one of the best. He has great control of the game. He communicates well with the players and the coaches. I'm real happy for him that he's working another Final Four.

These guys are teachers, and you can see it watching any of their practices, much less their games. You can watch (the ESPN program) 'Knight School' and see that he still loves to be in a coaching situation. I know he gets a little frustrated with the losses sometimes, but he's still out there doing it.

You don't have to go to Harvard to figure out that the Big East is the best league in the country. You don't have to be a genius. A dummy like me can figure that out. When I look at my coach of the year candidates, Jamie Dixon is in my top five. Jamie has done a fantastic job. He has lost some heartbreakers on the road, but that's because winning on the road in the Big East is so difficult. They've been able to win at home. And that's the key when you play in a tough league. You better win your home games.