Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House [Hardcover]

Dick Vitale (Author), Dick Weiss (Author), Mike Krzyzewski (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

The popular college basketball lead analyst for ESPN recounts his quarter of a century with the network and the many great players, coaches, and moments he's covered in the process.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dick Vitale is college basketball´s top analyst and ambassador. He joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season, just after the network´s September 1979 launch, following a successful college and professional basketball coaching career. He called ESPN´s first-ever NCAA basketball game - Wisconsin at DePaul on December 5, 1979 (a 90-77 DePaul win). Since then he has called close to a thousand games, including NBA contests for ESPN during the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

Dick Weiss is a sportswriter for the New York Daily News and previously worked for nearly 20 years at the Philadelphia Daily News. He is a past president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the current president of the College Football Writers of America. Weiss has received the Basketball Hall of Fame´s Curt Gowdy Media Award, the NIT Media Award, and the Big East Media Award. He has also co-authored books with Rick Pitino and John Calipari. Weiss and his wife reside in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 275 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC; First Edition edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582617384
• ISBN-13: 978-1582617381
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Wonderful World of Vitale, April 4, 2005

By 

R. Spell "raspell" (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House (Hardcover)

If you like college basketball or Dick Vitale you'll enjoy this book. Dick spends quite a bit of time going through his humble beginnings at the embryonic Espn. Hard to remember it being a start-up. Actually he goes back further describing getting fired as a coach and what a mental challenge that was.

But this book is all about celebrating college basketball as seen through Dick Vitale's eyes. Yes, I'm aware he can be "over the top". But listening to him describe how much he loves his job and how much he is overpaid gives you an idea of just how much he loves waking up everyday and finding someone new to listen to him.

While a substantial amount of the book is about Dick, he also hits the major problems with the game today and what he would do to change them. Destined to be controversial, Dick Vitale makes an impact in his job and other peoples lives. Recently I attended a U of Louisville/U of Memphis game and right before the cameras start rolling Dick jumps out on the floor to dance to the band. I'm sure many people would find this foolish. But with his bald head and big smile, he brought the crowd to a standing ovation. He makes you have more fun and that's a great profession to be in.

Be forewarned that you can't read this book without the words sounding like their coming from Dick's mouth, similar to listening to the book on tape. I know that sounds weird but when you read it, you've heard the voice and the themes so many times that it becomes familiar to you. I've had the pleasure to meet Dick and let me assure you he is EXACTLY in person like you see on TV. A guy having fun and wanting everyone else to also.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He's not just any Dick. He's Dick Vitale!, November 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House (Hardcover)

I found this to be a fascinating review of the college basketball scene from a viewpoint rarely taken, from inside the "Coach K Waste Disposal Tunnel at Cameron Indoor Stadium," where many Duke fans in the media hang out, and discuss matters of interest to Duke athletic supporters. Dick Vitale really dares to go where no other living soul would.

Beyond that, Dick's use of hackneyed cliches sets the standards for a whole generation of 1-trick pony sports broadcasters yet to come. Kudos to Dick for having the courage to be an exemplar of stupidity, BABY!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Awesome, Baby!, December 31, 2005

By 

T. Rambo - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House (Hardcover)

This is a must read for any college basketball fan. "Dickie V" lets every reader know what it feels like to experience big time college hoops from the best seat in the house. Also includes stories about Jim Valvano, Rick Pitino, Coach K, MJ, and everyone who has influenced his life in broadcasting over the last 25 years. Funny, heart-felt, inspiring, and down right a good read. You won't regret it.