Mike Yoder/Journal-World PhotoHis bald head reflected the gray sky through the window behind him, and his booming staccato drowned out the chatter of people waiting in line to meet him.
For some it marked the official start of basketball season in Lawrence: Dick Vitale was in town.
“I’m a lucky guy. I’m living a dream, man,” said Vitale, TV’s boisterous, 64-year-old college basketball analyst known for his loud, enthusiastic commentary.
Vitale’s visit to Lawrence was twofold. He provided commentary for ESPN’s broadcast of Tuesday night’s Kansas University-Michigan State basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse. He also was promoting his latest book, “Living a Dream: Reflections of 25 Years Sitting in the Best Seat in the House.”
“Sitting courtside, seeing the best games and getting paid for it — that’s what my book is all about,” Vitale said while signing books at the Kansas Union. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
While Vitale’s job may sound glamorous, his schedule is anything but. Today, he will board a flight to Springfiled, Mass., for Friday’s Florida-Arizona matchup. From there, it’s on to Chapel Hill, N.C., to view Roy Williams’ North Carolina team Tuesday night. That’s followed by a trip Wednesday to East Lansing, Mich., to watch Duke battle Michigan State.
That’s four games in four cities in eight days. Still, Vitale isn’t asking anybody to shed tears for him.
“Basically, I go bananas for four months. But don’t feel sorry for me because for seven and a half months, I go at my own pace,” he said. “I also do a lot of speaking, motivational speaking, across America. But I’m a lucky guy.”
Vitale said he was lucky to be in Lawrence for Tuesday’s game, which he said took place in one of the premier college basketball environments.
On his last visit, Jan. 27, to Allen Fieldhouse, Vitale gave Jayhawk Nick Collison a standing ovation after the senior forward’s 24-point, 23-rebound performance against Texas.
“It’s one of the great college basketball venues in America,” Vitale said of the fieldhouse. “If you want to talk about the top five in the nation, certainly Lawrence would be in the top five, no doubt about it.
“Basketball is a vital part of what community is all about, and it’s the same here in Lawrence. I can’t go anywhere in Lawrence without people talking about the big matchup with Michigan State.”
And while Vitale has been a staunch supporter of former KU coach Roy Williams, he said the Jayhawks wouldn’t miss a beat with new coach Bill Self.
“Kansas basketball is such a great, rich tradition,” Vitale said. “Roy Williams did a phenomenal job. Nobody can take that away from the man. You move on. Larry Brown won the national title, and you move on to Roy Williams. Bill Self is a great hire. He’s got personality, he can teach, he’s a winner and he wants to be here.”
Vitale’s belief in KU translated to big book sales. According to Lisa Eitner of Oread Books, nearly 300 copies of Vitale’s book were sold Tuesday. Also, his 90-minute presence transformed the bookstore into a whirlwind of activity.
“I wish he could have stayed another half hour,” Eitner said.
But during basketball season, Vitale’s time is at a premium.
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