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Dick Vitale, Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas Have Heated Argument Over St. Mary's

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 8:40AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Tourney Video

13 COMMENTS


Say what you will for Dick Vitale, he's certainly passionate about college basketball. But does his passion get in the way of his ability to analyze the sport objectively? His colleagues Digger Phelps and Jay Bilas seemed to suggest so on ESPN Sunday night.
Continue Reading Dick Vitale, Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas Have Heated Argument Over St. Mary's

Digger Phelps Bumps, Grinds and Jives

Posted: Mar 1st 2009 8:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: California, UCLA, Pac-10, Campus, Fans, Media Watch, Video

0 COMMENTS
Digger Phelps is one of ESPN's most colorful characters. I mean that literally, too. The guy matches his highlighters to his ties. Which, all ridiculousness aside, seems like it would be really difficult to manage in terms of a long-term dress code. Well, Digger only added to his colorful notoriety Saturday night, when he got down with some Cal cheerleaders during a timeout. On the bright side, at least he wasn't talking about Notre Dame. Via Bruins Nation.

Win a Chance for a Bob Knight Beatdown, Support Cancer Research in the Process

Posted: Apr 23rd 2008 11:20AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, ESPN

2 COMMENTS

This might be the worst fundraising idea ever. The only saving grace is that it's for a great cause, although the Dick Vitale Gala for Cancer Research organizers should consider taking out extra personal-injury insurance in case the way-too-obvious eventuality is realized:
As part of his yearly fundraiser for cancer research, Lakewood Ranch resident Dick Vitale is offering the opportunity for a round of golf with Bob Knight and John Havlicek on May 16 at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club.

Bids for two threesomes will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Saturday for nine holes with each basketball legend.

Bids start at $10,000 and include 18 holes of golf in the morning, a pre-gala party and the third annual Dick Vitale Gala for Cancer Research that evening at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota.
I suppose nine holes is in everyone's best interest; if nothing else, it'll minimize the chances Knight wraps a putter around some guys head for a seemingly innocuous comment about chairs or something. To be fair, Knight has mellowed since retiring, although, as FanHouse's Chad Rich suggests (via Knight's cat, via MJD), that may have more to do with the mind-numbingly awful Digger Phelps and his highlighter.

So here's to hoping Doug Gottlieb is the high bidder. Not only would the money go to a worthy cause, but there's a better than 50 percent chance that Knight maims Gottlieb before the third hole. That's a win for cancer research and college basketball.

UPDATE: FanHouse reader Johnny leaves moving-pictures proof of what Gottlieb can expect. Which makes me think pay-per-view is the way to go.

Hat tip: Larry Brown Sports

Dick Vitale Wants Bob Knight at Indiana; Knight Wants Vitale to Hush Up

Posted: Mar 17th 2008 3:50AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: March Madness, NCAA Basketball Media Watch, ESPN

4 COMMENTS



Maybe it is best that Dick Vitale wasn't in the studio during the ESPN's bracket shows.

In the clip above, Vitale throws out what many people have been whispering: Bobby Knight to Indiana.

The problem is that when Vitale mentioned it, Knight (who is working for ESPN) was obviously ... something. Pissed? Embarrassed? Ticked? Emotional? Nervous? Shaken? Maybe all of them.

As Vitale kept on rambling, Knight just sat there -- quiet ... with a red face and glazed eyes

I do give Dickie V some credit for kicking that elephant in the room right in the backside. You knew that Reece Davis, Hubert Davis, Digger Phelps and Jay Bilas weren't going to touch that one.

Jeremy Schaap Offers His Thoughts on Bobby Knight's TV Work

Posted: Mar 14th 2008 12:25PM by Josh Alper (author feed)
Filed under: NCAA Basketball Media Watch, ESPN

1 COMMENT
When Bobby Knight was fired by Indiana in 2000, he gave an infamous interview to ESPN's Jeremy Schaap. It was a contentious affair throughout and, toward the end, Knight took something of a cheapshot by comparing the reporter, unfavorably, to his father.

"You've got a long way to go to be as good as your dad. You better keep that in mind," was the exact quote. 98% of the world's reporters, sports or otherwise, aren't as good as Dick Schaap but, still, it was an awkward moment for the younger Schaap.

It must have felt good, then, when sports media reporter Richard Sandomir of the New York Times gave him a buzz to find out what he thought of Knight's first night as an ESPN analyst.
Schaap, on vacation and not upset at missing Knight's opening night, said: "He has a long way to go before he's as good as Digger Phelps. And I mean that 100 percent."

Zing! Revenge is, indeed, a dish best served cold.

Sandomir actually gave Knight a good review for his work with high marks for his lack of nerves and knowledge of the sport. I wouldn't expect Knight to be lacking in either area and found his cat's review a bit closer to the mark. Maybe the WWL should bring Jeremy in and see if that inspires a more traditional Knight performance.

Digger Phelps Is Ready for the Big Dance

Posted: Mar 3rd 2008 11:15AM by Josh Alper (author feed)
Filed under: Kansas Basketball, NCAA Basketball Video

1 COMMENT

From The Big Lead comes this video of ESPN announcer Digger Phelps breaking it down with a Kansas cheerleader. Although I'm sure we're all in agreement that Erin Andrews is the announcer we'd most like to see boogieing to Bon Jovi, Digger's not bad. He's like the old guy who becomes the talk of the wedding because of the moves he busted out during a twirl with a bridesmaid. Sadly, he hasn't become the talk of the KU Cheerleading blog which settles for a still photo with the whole Gameday crew.

And, by the way, that is a highlighter in his pocket but he is excited to see you.

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