Vitale Out Until February (Throat Surgery)

[Doug Hardin]

To: My favorite people, all of the fans that make college basketball special!
From: Dick Vitale
During the past month and a half, I have had a very difficult time with discomfort in my throat. Personally, I want to apologize to all of the fans and all of the beautiful people at ESPN who have been fantastic to me during my 29 years working at the network.

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/071218lettertofans.html (http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/071218lettertofans.html)

[UKBOO]

I don't think fixing the throat will fix his real problem: That being, everytime he uses his throat, stupid falls out.


I hope he has a speedy recovery, though.

[Dwight Schrute]

Maybe they'll insert a volume control.

I kid, I kid.

[RP_McMurphy]

I will miss yelling and saying 4 letter adjectives directed your way.

[crazzedcats22]

I met him on several occasions while I was at UK and he couldn't have been nicer or more friendly. We called my dad on my cell phone and Dickie V chatted with him for about 5 minutes or so. I don't always agree with some of the stuff he says but I wish him a very speedy recovery!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[cumberlandredskin]

I don't always agree with him and he can be over the top much of the time but I do wish him well. Overall I think he is good for college basketball. Generally he's a positive voice in a profession filled with negative.

[trublu]

I'm biting my tongue.

[catdmd]

Best wishes to a fantastic announcer and personality. Hope he recovers real soon.

[UKS2H]

A great human being who I hope gets well soon. Take it easy Dick!

[NC Cat]

There is nothing professionally that I love better than sharing insights about the players and coaches...

I don't like to nitpick but there are clearly a couple of things wrong with the above sentence. First, it implies he is somehow, in some way, a professional. Second, it suggests he has, of all things, insights. :eek:

And is it just me or are any of you also else secretly hoping the surgeon’s scalpel slips and renders him permanently mute? :icon_twisted::icon_mrgreen::icon_twisted:

[phantompain]

I don't like to nitpick but there are clearly a couple of things wrong with the above sentence. First, it implies he is somehow, in some way, a professional. Second, it suggests he has, of all things, insights. :eek:

And is it just me or are any of you also else secretly hoping the surgeon’s scalpel slips and renders him permanently mute? :icon_twisted::icon_mrgreen::icon_twisted:

NC Cat,

Are you serious? God forbid you ever have anything wrong with you. Vitale may not be in good graces amongst UK fans these days, but let's not forget he is human. He has a family and he has a career. In the 1990's he couldn't get enough of UK and while he may be annoying at times, I bet most UK fans liked him then. You should never wish ill will on anyone and to be honest I find it disgusting you would even say such a thing. Classless. Just classless.

[Matt Dillon]

[QUOTE=phantompain;366132]NC Cat,

Are you serious? God forbid you ever have anything wrong with you. Vitale may not be in good graces amongst UK fans these days, but let's not forget he is human. He has a family and he has a career. In the 1990's he couldn't get enough of UK and while he may be annoying at times, I bet most UK fans liked him then. You should never wish ill will on anyone and to be honest I find it disgusting you would even say such a thing. Classless. Just classless.[/QUOTE

Totally agree.

[Cards R Best]

I don't like to nitpick but there are clearly a couple of things wrong with the above sentence. First, it implies he is somehow, in some way, a professional. Second, it suggests he has, of all things, insights. :eek:

And is it just me or are any of you also else secretly hoping the surgeon’s scalpel slips and renders him permanently mute? :icon_twisted::icon_mrgreen::icon_twisted:

I do not agree with your post at all. Im a UL fan here but im sure the BBN on here will disagree with this post!

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

I agree that's totally uncalled for. I'm not much of A Vitale fan but I hope he gets better soon.

[KapitalCat]

Vitale may have throat cancer, if so then I hope everyone here, notwithstanding our disdain for his announcing abilities, will wish him wll and a speedy recovery.

[capcat]

NC Cat,

Are you serious?
From what I know of NC Cat, the answer to that would be a resounding No.
Here's to wishing Dick Vitale a successful surgery and recovery. :thumbup:

[UKBOO]

Vitale may have throat cancer, if so then I hope everyone here, notwithstanding our disdain for his announcing abilities, will wish him wll and a speedy recovery.

I'll double in and agree 100 % I do not know NC, but I would guess he did not intend any harm.

As mis-guided DV is on some topics, he does have a heart of gold. No one despised his UK-UNC commentary more than I. But this is the time of year that should inspire all to offer DV some UK fan love.

Any ideas on how we could organize such a thing?

[Backrate]

The only time I have ever been lucky enough to sit on the front row for a game Dick was calling the gm. At half time he stands up and turns around and starts signing autographs and taking pics with fans. He was chatting with my dad about flying. He is a very nice man that really cares about people. Get well soon

[capcat]

But this is the time of year that should inspire all to offer DV some UK fan love.

Any ideas on how we could organize such a thing?

I'm thinking emails of support, or this request from his announcement:

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/071218lettertofans.html (http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/071218lettertofans.html)
P.S.: If you want to lend me a helping hand, go to dickvitaleonline.com and during this holiday season, help me assist kids that are battling cancer by making a donation to the V Foundation in memory of Payton Wright. You can send a check in care of the V Foundation and mail it to Tandem Enterprises, 7810 Mathern Court, Lakewood Ranch, Fla. 34202. Or you can call (800) 4-JIMMYV and please indicate that your donation is in memory of Payton Wright. My goal is to raise $1 million for the Payton Wright research grant to help kids battling cancer.

[Randy]

Somebody else will have to be the poster child for the ACC and Duke University for a while.

[UKBOO]

I'm thinking emails of support, or this request from his announcement:

http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/071218lettertofans.html (http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/071218lettertofans.html)
P.S.: If you want to lend me a helping hand, go to dickvitaleonline.com and during this holiday season, help me assist kids that are battling cancer by making a donation to the V Foundation in memory of Payton Wright. You can send a check in care of the V Foundation and mail it to Tandem Enterprises, 7810 Mathern Court, Lakewood Ranch, Fla. 34202. Or you can call (800) 4-JIMMYV and please indicate that your donation is in memory of Payton Wright. My goal is to raise $1 million for the Payton Wright research grant to help kids battling cancer.

I'm ok with either one or both..

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

[NOWIS]

Vitale may have throat cancer, if so then I hope everyone here, notwithstanding our disdain for his announcing abilities, will wish him wll and a speedy recovery.

I'll go along with that, I just hope he has to give it a long, long rest.

[TransientAlum]

I cannot stand the guy when he is working and do not know anything about him privately. Despite my dislike for him professionally, I would never wish anything harmful on most anyone. DV, I wish a speedy recovery and pleasant retirement. :icon_mrgreen:

[UKBOO]

I cannot stand the guy when he is working and do not know anything about him privately. Despite my dislike for him professionally, I would never wish anything harmful on most anyone. DV, I wish a speedy recovery and pleasant retirement. :icon_mrgreen:

Now THAT is diplomacy at it's finest!

Have you ever considered politics?

I vote for you now.. LOL:icon_lol:

[poodoo]

I don't always agree with him and he can be over the top much of the time but I do wish him well. Overall I think he is good for college basketball. Generally he's a positive voice in a profession filled with negative.

Well-said, cumberlandredskin. Too, as someone else noted, it is quite easy to see that Dick Vitale really CARES about people. That is something I always notice, respect, and admire.

I had already answered Vitale's plea for the Jimmy V Foundation. I would, though, like to join some of you in the e-mails wishing him a speedy recovery--if someone finds an address.

Folks we are discussing a HUMAN BEING here--and one who is a most caring one, as previously mentioned. It seems to me that the world could use more of those, regardless of whether he or she is sometimes nerve-wracking, whatever. Personally, any day of the week I'd take that over having more folks who are self-centered, mean-spirited, malicious, hateful, cruel, whatever.

FWIW, I have never seen any of those negative qualities in Dick Vitale. Instead, I have seen an announcer who truly cares about the student-athletes and generally tries to emphasize the positive.

Yes, like some of you, I hear too much talk about Pitino and Duke. Also, I don't want the negative talk about UK fans. HOWEVER, when I have heard Vitale speak on that issue a few times, he has repeatedly PRAISED UK fans as BEAUTIFUL people, merely singling out the five percent who put the ads in the paper, put out the signs, etc. (although many continue to post here as if he's speaking against you and me, and I happen to think few to none of us were involved in those activities :)). Nerve-wracking or not as an announcer, Dick Vitale the HUMAN BEING has my respect, admiration, and wishes for better health.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Get Well Soon Dick Vitale

[ukwebfan]

Here's to a full recovery for Dick Vitale.
:beer:

[capcat]

poodoo, if you'll follow the link to the "letter to fans", there is a menu on the left hand side of the page that includes a tab for "V mail" At least, I'm assuming that's the way to go if you want to send a get well message.

[Tom Blevins]

My prayer is that he will have a full recovery. He doesn't annoy me when he's calling Kentucky games. I put the TV on mute and listen to Tom and Mike call it.

[Gunsmoke]

Dickie V gets on my nerves most times but a greater ambassador for the game does not exist. But then again it is mostly dUKe and Nawth Carolina reaping 90% of the praise. Regardless, I wish the man well and from all accounts he is a wonderful human being. 'Nuff said.

[Radiated]

I wish him the best. He isn't one of my favorites, ok i can't stand him, but he is good for the game. He is good for Duke and UNC.

[poodoo]

poodoo, if you'll follow the link to the "letter to fans", there is a menu on the left hand side of the page that includes a tab for "V mail" At least, I'm assuming that's the way to go if you want to send a get well message.

Thanks, capcat. I appreciate it, and I will try to send a get-well message (including the tidbit that I am a UK fan, of course :icon_biggrin:).