**** Vitale calling an NBA game

[Mark2010]

What's up with this? Vitale is scheduled to work ESPN's broadcast of the Miami vs. Denver game on Wednesday.

I know Vitale had a short stint as coach of the Detroit Pistons back in the late 1970s, but I can't recall him announcing a pro game on TV. Is this just a publicity stunt, or is there something more to it?

 

[PeteyPirate]

It seems like a publicity stunt, but it's not like it's a different sport. He knows basketball.

 

[prezclinton]

JVG, Mark Jackson and maybe Mike Breen are doing the Duke-Davidson game before it. They're switching for a game for fun.

If I don't stick a fork in my ear tonight, it will be a good night.

 

[suburbia]

I seem to remember Vitale doing color on either radio or TV for the 1990 NBA Finals. It's in the highlights video.

I don't watch nearly as much regular season NBA as I do regular season college basketball. So I'll appreciate not having to listen to Vitale suck up to Duke and Coach K. for two-plus hours.

 

[forever_town]

For one thing, it's the same sport so it's not like Vitale has a learning curve when it comes to learning a different sport.

If he's a true journalist (and the same holds for Mike Breen or Mark Jackson as NBA analysts doing a college game), he'll do his homework before he calls the game. Then again, we all should do our homework before any game we work, regardless of how well we know the sport. It's just what good journalists do.

And behind all that "baybee" and "diaper dandy" catch phrases is a guy who really knows the game of basketball. If he says something totally uninformed, then skewer him. But I'm willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

 

[nmmetsfan]

Now he can annoy NBA viewers as much as he annoys college viewers.

 

[bigpern23]

Breen, JVG and Jackson on the Duke-Davidson game tonight? OUT-****ING-STANDING.

Vitale screaming about Coach K and Stephen Curry for two hours would have been a sure way to **** what should be an ... um ... awesome game ... uh ... baybeee?

 

[Starman]

Vitale was as successful running a pro basketball franchise for about 18 months as Matt Millen was for seven years.

But he had the good sense/good grace to get the hell out and find something else he was better at.

 

[GB-Hack]

They flashed up on SportsCenter that the last time he called an NBA game was during the playoffs in 1984, I think.

 

[Batman]

And behind all that "baybee" and "diaper dandy" catch phrases is a guy who really knows the game of basketball. If he says something totally uninformed, then skewer him. But I'm willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

I'll second this. I've heard him before on Jim Rome's radio show, and the guy knows the game inside and out. And that includes the NBA as well as college.

 

[playthrough]

This might actually get me to tune in, whereas I generally avoid NBA reg season and Duke like the plague.

It's a stunt but probably fun for everyone involved. Features section of an old paper of mine once had all the critics switch beats for a week and it was a great read.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

I love Dicky V.

Real personality.

He truly loves the game.

The coach-aggrandizing gets REAL old, but I like him.

 

[dreunc1542]

Breen, JVG and Jackson on the Duke-Davidson game tonight? OUT-****ING-STANDING.

Vitale screaming about Coach K and Stephen Curry for two hours would have been a sure way to **** what should be an ... um ... awesome game ... uh ... baybeee?

Whether it will be an awesome game is debatable. Curry has been struggling in recent weeks and with a much weaker supporting cast than last year, he's going to need to be lights out in Cameron Indoor to even give them a chance.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Due to the words "Vitale" and "NBA" I'm having difficulty working up any enthusiasm for this. It would, however, be more interesting than a marathon of the Big Joe Polka Show.

 

[ondeadline]

That's a good assignment for Vitale: Working a game I'm not going to watch. And I get to watch Curry without dealing with Dickie V's yelling. Perfect.

 

[bigpern23]

Breen, JVG and Jackson on the Duke-Davidson game tonight? OUT-****ING-STANDING.

Vitale screaming about Coach K and Stephen Curry for two hours would have been a sure way to **** what should be an ... um ... awesome game ... uh ... baybeee?

Whether it will be an awesome game is debatable. Curry has been struggling in recent weeks and with a much weaker supporting cast than last year, he's going to need to be lights out in Cameron Indoor to even give them a chance.

Big game. Curry rises to it. Bank on it.

 

[mocheeks10]

Vitale might know the game, but it seldom shows when he's on the air. All you get is a lot of screaming and assorted idiocy that detracts from the game, as opposed to adding to it.

 

[MCbamr]

It's all about spacing.

 

[Beaker]

I think Vitale's a good guy, but I can't listen to him anymore. I might actually watch the Davidson game now.

I probably wouldn't watch the NBA game anyways, so that's a wash.

 

[chester]

Breen, JVG and Jackson on the Duke-Davidson game tonight? OUT-****ING-STANDING.

Vitale screaming about Coach K and Stephen Curry for two hours would have been a sure way to **** what should be an ... um ... awesome game ... uh ... baybeee?

Actually, it's Tirico, not Breen, working the Duke game with Jackson and Van Gundy.