By Kevin Clerici
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 13, 1997

A sit down with Dick Vitale, sort of

Arizona Daily Wildcat Kevin Clerici

Ever since Dick Vitale, the fastest talking hoops announcer in college basketball, chose Duke over the Wildcats, I have been trying to have words with him.

ESPN, one of his regular employers, gave me the run-around. He was out of town they said. He had a seminar to do, whatever.

I fondly remember Mr. "Awesome Baby" preaching Arizona as the land's No. 1 last spring on his campus visit, so I figured an explanation was due.

So when ESPN said the nutcase was going to have a chatsite for questions, I was all over it. I came up with five whoppers, had them posted early too.

However, the former 1989 Sports Personality of the Year still gave me the business not choosing any of them. So here is my interview, sort of, with the ex-Detroit Pistons coach, who compiled a 34-60 record while in the NBA. Me, bitter, no.

For Pete's sake how could you pick Duke over Arizona in your top 20 poll?

Dick Vitale - "Good question. Some people think I've overrated Duke, and time will tell. There's something special about that Duke team and they get Ricky Price back in the second half. They have 12 super players, great depth. They have a special frosh class, the best since the Fab Five. Duke won the regular-season (Atlantic Coast Conference) last year, winning 24 games without an inside attack.

They've added size with the B's, Battier, Burgess and Brand. Arizona was fifth in the Pac-10 as well last year. What I say doesn't really mean much because they decided it on the court. Believe me, I know that because I make a pick it doesn't necessarily mean I'm right."

KC: Hey Dick, the Wildcats got some B's of their own: Bramlett, Bibby and Bennett (Davidson). What about the S's as in starters returning from last season.

Do you see 3 Pac-10 teams in the Final Four?

Dick Vitale - "Wow, are you pushing it big time there. UCLA suffered a blow with Jelani McCoy out. With a threesome of Toby Bailey, Baron Davis and J.R. Henderson, they'll be explosive. I just don't think they have enough to go Final Four right now. Arizona doesn't have to prove anything to me, they flat out won the national championship. They will come out focused and people will be shooting for them. Any time you start with All-America guards like Mike Bibby and Miles Simon you are a contender. The supporting cast has talent with Dickerson and Harris. Stanford will miss Brevin Knight and with Kris Weems coming back and Tim Young up front, this club has size and is well-coached. I think they will be special during the year, but I can't label them Final Four. I would go Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Arizona for the Final Four early. The fun of it all is try to determine what you think and the games will be played between the 94 X 50, you'll find out who's overrated, underrated, see the shockers, baby!"

 KC: Only two teams from the ACC, what a shock. And to pick UNC without Dean Smith at the commands seems to be the big push to me, baby. While I agree UCLA is going no where fast, the Pac-10 proved itself last season when it had four teams in the Sweet Sixteen to the ACC's two.

Has there ever been an environment to top Duke's Cameron Indoor Arena, and will there ever be?

Dick Vitale - "Cameron is one of those special places. You can look at Kansas or Kentucky or Arizona as special places. But the size of the building, the way the fans are so close to the court and the team, it is basketball crazy and so special. Cameron is the Crazies at work. It's difficult to top that environment. There are so many great places, like Syracuse's Carrier Dome with 30,000 people, or the environment at Gampel at Connecticut. The atmosphere at Assembly Hall at Indiana is special when the General comes out. Mackey Arena at Purdue...It's awesome, baby! Nothing like college basketball."

KC: What about the Pit at New Mexico. The Lobos have won 27-straight there, including one against the Wildcats last year, and that place gets 10 times louder than McKale with all the alumni gasping for air the whole game.

Please name your top three coaches in order and why?

Dick Vitale - "There are so many Rolls Royces, but you have to talk about Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski and, there are so many, I can go on and on. I love the coaching fraternity. It's ridiculous to see 63 coaching changes. There is too much pressure on them. There are so many blue chips stars like Lute Olson, Nolan Richardson, John Thompson, etc. I'd say because of age and firecrackers are Krzyzewski and Williams. Two big time jobs will be available after this season in Michigan and Arizona State, and I think some hot names in coaching for the future are Perry Clark, Mike Jarvis, Kevin Stallings and Steve Alford. With the big-time money being doled out by the NBA, you may see some of the coaching stars going bye-bye, too. Hey, maybe I should come back as an agent for some of these guys!"

KC: I don't think any of them would want the ASU job.

How will Kansas do with out Jacque Vaughn and Scott Pollard?

Dick Vitale - "Roy Williams understands what winning is about. Some names may change, but he still has a great 1-2 punch with LaFrentz and Pierce inside. Ryan Robertson was 10-0 as a starter when Vaughn was hurt early last year. Kenny Gregory will be a special player when he gets familiar with the system. It's a great environment and I look for the Jayhawks to make it to San Antonio. I've said it so often that when you lose two games in the final minutes, yet someone calls it a disappointment because you don't win the big prize. Kansas had a super, sensational season last year. Watch out in the Big 12 for Oklahoma; Kelvin Sampson has something special with Corey Brewer leading the way."

KC: The question was about Kansas Dick, thanks though.

Kevin Clerici is the Wildcat Sports Editor and can be reached at kclerici@u.arizona.edu