Knight and Bill Walton...Vitale is still 50 times better than both, IMO.

 

I'm one of the few that used to enjoy BK doing games (prior to his Vandy/shot clock incident). He stuck to discussing the game he was watching, and had good insight into the game.

I'm one of the few that used to enjoy BK doing games (prior to his Vandy/shot clock incident). He stuck to discussing the game he was watching, and had good insight into the game.

 

There was a long period where I liked listening to him because he actually knew the game of basketball. At some point, he started rambling and seemed to lose touch.

There was a long period where I liked listening to him because he actually knew the game of basketball. At some point, he started rambling and seemed to lose touch.

 

Joe Dean and his "String Music" was legendary back years ago in SEC broadcasts. Joe would have been a national icon if he would been on ESPN. Very great guy as well.

As a commentator, I never was a fan of Dickie V and don't really enjoy listening to him. However, he has probably done more for men's college basketball the past 30 years as anyone. He loves it and is passionate about it. And as some above sort of alluded to, he is also passionate about raising money for cancer awareness and is a big player in the Jimmy V Foundation, at least promoting it anyway.

Regardless, he should be a staple for the UNC/Duke game. I think it's sad they're giving him a crap game in Knoxville over The Rivalry.

Edited February 18, 201511 yr by hoops5
Rule 2

I love Dickie V, and would probably choose him as color commentator over anyone else. He still, after all these years, has a kid like passion for the game. I understand that a lot of people get annoyed by his voice, his demeanor, etc., but I will always be a fan.

Dickie V has had one of the great all time runs in any sport as a commentator. However, his schtick has just gotten old to me. You can almost predict what he is going to say and when he is going to say it and I think his excitement during games is sometimes staged. He was great for basketball for a long time though and has done more for cancer research than possibly anyone. Nothing but positive things to say about him as a person.

 

Bilas is much more insightful - love his analysis during games and love listening to him talk about the game and the politics of the game. I loved Knight as a coach and wanted him to be great as a commentator but was sorely disappointed when I heard him and he has just gotten worse IMO. Walton?!?!? I actually think the drugs he did earlier in life (and maybe later) have finally fried his brain. Last week he said Jordan was average in terms of height, shooting ability and athleticism. What? Did he see Jordan take off from the free throw line and dunk in a dunk contest?

Listening to Bilas now as I'm watching UCLA and Arizona.

 

Guy has 0 personality.

 

Am I one of the few that likes that Dickie (or Dukie) V gets into the games and pretty pumped up?

I seldom turn on a prime time elite game covered by ESPN, for fer that D.V. might be doing it.

Haters gonna hate, :lol2:

 

Yes, ESPN may be phasing out Vitale, the man isn't in the best of health. I believe that he as battled a form of throat cancer. Vitale cannot be matched imo on his love and pure passion of the game. Yes, he can certainly get aggravating at time but to me anyway, that's fine. Vitale is always positive and promoting college basketball in a positive light. His talks at camps, message to kids is incredible. As I said, the man loves the game, the kids, the coaches and the fans. No doubt he loves the ones that trash him as well, he is just that good of a man.

I look at the whole picture on the guy. Vitale's work with the " V Foundation " / Raising - Donating $$ to Cancer research along with all the other work he does for organizations is amazing.

So, now that I have given my PR pitch for Vitale I will get off my soap box with another :thumb: for D. Vitale. I would rather hear Vitale praising, promoting the game, coaches and players than Listen to J. Bilas or M. Simon tell us how great that they, themselves are.

I'm one of the few that used to enjoy BK doing games (prior to his Vandy/shot clock incident). He stuck to discussing the game he was watching, and had good insight into the game.

 

When he first started I thought he could become one of the best color guys ever. You could tell he saw and understood the game at a level that might not be matched by anyone in the world. I'm not sure what happened, but it went downhill quickly for him.

I just think his days as a commentator have come and gone.

 

I think he can still call games, but he needs to do them in a different way. He still provides pretty solid analysis, but I think he needs to stop trying to be what he was 10 or 20 years ago.

 

I've always enjoyed Vitale. His presence at a game makes a huge difference.

TV never catches up...Radio is always ahead of it. I need to pause radio!

 

Listen to the radio threw a streaming app on your phone and you can pause radio broadcast to catch up. If you have surround system you can connect your phone and you can't notice a difference.