Dick Vitale

His unbridled enthusiasm for college basketball makes him the game’s biggest cheerleader. His undying devotion to the coaches and his craft makes him the game’s greatest ambassador. The unmistakable voice, the characteristic delivery, the personal dictionary of basketball terminology makes him Dick Vitale. He is one of college basketball's top analysts and his impact on the game’s popularity is undeniable. Vitale began his career as a high school coach, winning two state championships before landing a position as an assistant at Rutgers and then the head job at the University of Detroit. In 1978, he was named the head coach of the Detroit Pistons but lasted less than two seasons with the club. Vitale then signed on with the upstart ESPN cable network as a college basketball broadcaster. A career and a legend were born. More than 1,000 broadcasts later, Vitale still approaches every game with knowledge, preparation, and excitement. He punctuates game action with phrases such as “Get a TO baby,” “super scintillating sensational,” “dipsy-doo dunkeroo,” and “Awesome baby, with a capital A!”