Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections on 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House (Paperback)

~ Dick Vitale (Author) "Look at me..." (more)
Key Phrases: North Carolina, Final Four, Notre Dame (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Since joining ESPN in 1979, Dick Vitale has become the senior spokesman for college hoops. He is the popular, vivid, vibrant voice of the sport who has been called "The Cable Cosell" and who still believes in having fun on the job. Who else but Dick Vitale would allow himself to be passed up through the stands by the Duke University students or be televised standing on his head in the studio after losing a bet on an NCAA tournament game between Illinois and Austin Peay?

There are also few other broadcasters in history who have developed their own glossary of terms, with phrases that are now part of the popular culture. Vitale has witnessed the phenomenal growth of TV sports and has been there to chronicle the history and trends in the game, both the good and the bad. His association with the giants of coaching, like Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, John Thompson, and Rick Pitino, and his experience as a former coach on the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, have given him a unique perspective on the game and a philosophy he has passed down from generation to generation of basketball fans.

The new softcover edition of Dick Vitale´s Living a Dream: Reflections of 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House is more than just a memoir of an active life in sports. It is an intimate look at the man behind the TV persona. Vitale reveals details about his start at ESPN and shares his feelings about the most important people in the college basketball world, on both personal and professional levels. There are reminiscences of the celebrities he has met, as well as the deep friendships he has formed over the years.

Living a Dream is not mired in the past, however. Vitale is eloquent on the LeBron James phenomenon and the controversy surrounding the breakup of the Big East Conference, both of which had a huge impact recently on college basketball. He writes about the price coaches and players have to pay to be the best, the problems that beset the sport today, what he would want in a perfect basketball world, and his projections for the future of the sport he loves. Dick Vitale´s Living a Dream: Reflections of 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House is a book for everyone who cares about sports in America and will show readers a Dick Vitale they have never before seen.

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

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596700904
• ISBN-13: 978-1596700901
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #504,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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 (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (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.