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Dickie V, We Miss You, Baby!

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2008

For the last month, watching college basketball on cable network ESPN has been about as exciting as watching paint dry.

Not because of the action, which has been good, but because Dick Vitale - Dickie V., the master of the microphone, a real prime-time player - has been on the disabled list with lesions on his left vocal cord.

Vitale, 68, who lives in the Sarasota area, is college basketball's goodwill ambassador. He has been the game's top analyst since ESPN began broadcasting college hoops in 1979, and the former coach's passion is unrivaled.

His colorful, hip phrases to describe play and athletes - "It's awesome, baby!" and "He's a real PTP'er" (prime-time player), to name just a couple - have been copied by fans all over. His enthusiasm keeps you tuning in even during blowouts.

He's loved and rightfully so.

To the relief of basketball fans, the lesions weren't cancerous, and his surgery and recuperation were successful. He is scheduled to return to the airwaves Feb. 4 for a radio show, followed two days later by the Tobacco Road clash between Duke and North Carolina.

Even during his period of uncertainty, Vitale kept his sense of humor. "For the record," he wrote on his Web site over the weekend, "I am so proud, baby! That's right. I kept my mouth shut for almost four weeks."

Knowing Dickie V, that must have been as painful as a flagrant foul to the chops. We're glad he's coming back - just in time for the race to March Madness.

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