TV personality Dick Vitale to speak at O’Connell Center

October 5, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla.— ACCENT Speakers Bureau at the University of Florida presents a night with Dick Vitale, college basketball’s top analyst, author and famed TV personality.

Vitale’s speech starts at 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at the O’Connell Center. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. The show is free and open to the public.

Vitale joined ESPN just after the network’s 1979 launch and has become one of the most enthusiastic, energetic and vibrant announcers in the field. His “Vitale-isms” have made him especially well – known and loved. Phrases like “Awesome, Baby!” and “Get a TO, Baby!” have become household sayings. He also has had cameo appearances in “Hoop Dreams,” “Love and Basketball” and even had a “Top Ten Signs Dick Vitale is Nuts!” skit on “The David Letterman Show.”

Vitale began his career as a high school basketball coach. In 1970, he became an assistant coach at Rutgers University. After that, Vitale coached at the University of Detroit and had a winning percentage of .722 and a 21-game winning streak. In May 1978, he was named head coach of the NBA Detroit Pistons.

Vitale’s coaching experiences give him the ability to use his talents to provide commentary on a variety of topics for “Dick Vitale’s Fast Break” on SportsCenter and to make Monday morning appearances on the “Mike & Mike in the Morning” show. He also has been an analyst for ABC Sports since 1988 and covered the NBA finals and 1992 Summer Olympics.

For persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations, contact 352-392-1663, ext. 302 or 352-392-2567 (TDD), e-mail accommodate@sg.ufl.edu or contact the Florida Relay System at 1-800-955-8771 at least 72 hours before the event.

Real Time Transcription will be provided. For more information, call ACCENT at (352) 392-1665, ext. 306 or the information line at ext. 411. Visit our Web site at www.sg.ufl.edu/accent/ or e-mail ACCENT at accent@sg.ufl.edu.