Dick Vitale to be honorary captain

Submitted by OldDad67 on

Listened to the latest Harbaugh podcast "Attack Each Day" and the special guest was Dick Vitale. Towards the end of his segment, Jim asked him if he would be an honorary caption. Vitale agreed. (Nothing official, but it's now on record.)

Regardless of anyone's opinion of Vitale as a color analyst (he aggravates many, including myself sometimes) he is a hall of fame broadcaster, and, I beleive, a great humanitartion. He has spearheaded the Jimmy V Foundation's fundraising efforts to defeat childhood cancer. He told coach Harbaugh (who is going to be honored at this year's foundation dinner May 1) that this year the foundation will give "at least" $250,000 in Chad Carr's name to fight DIPG.

I, for one, think he is a great choice for honorary captin.

DMill2782

January 12th, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^

Anyone who says they hate Vitale has never met the man. I bumped into him in the Tampa airport in 2013 and we ended up having a beer together and talking hoops for 45 minutes before we got on our flights. Extremely enjoyable company to have. 

During our conversation he did not turn down one person who asked for a picture or autograph. He was extremely nice to everyone who approached him. 

I saw someone called him a ND slappy below. According to my convo with him, he was extremely happy to have Michigan hoops back in the spotlight. He had nothing but positive things to say about our program. He greatly respects JB and you could tell he was genuinely happy that JB brought Michigan back to national prominence. 

gmoney41

January 12th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^

I have met him too and he was an awesome guy, it made me feel bad because I still detest him as a broadcaster, he is still very annoying. I would never disparage him as a guy though, because he was so nice.

skegemogpoint

January 11th, 2018 at 6:13 PM ^

F that. Vitale is an unabashed Notre Dame slappy. I believe his children went there. Honorary Captain privileges should be bestowed on Michigan Men and Women - way too many deserving people to go this route. Bo turning over in his grave on this one.

Chalky White

January 11th, 2018 at 6:32 PM ^

Don't forget he signed an Ohio St football letter of intent at halftime of a U of M basketball game in Crisler Arena. I believe they were playing OSU in Ann Arbor I'm football's national signing day. That was about the most disrespectful thing someone could do. Dukie V doesn't care about Michigan.

PointaMinute

January 11th, 2018 at 6:48 PM ^

The podcAst said 5 of his kids/ family members went there.  He has season tickets in first row behind visitors bench at ND.  He gave pretty emotional talk about cancer fundraising on the show.  Seems to have good relationship with harbaughs  and especially the Creans. Sounded like he lived by Tom and Joanie 

DonBrownSoda

January 11th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^

So most of his family are grads of Notre Dame. His grandson in law is a former ND QB. So what? He's passionate about a university he's affiliated with. Sound familiar? He does a wonderful job of fundraising for cancer. Which, by the way, doesn't give one fuck if you went to Michigan, ND, or Ohio State. He's a great human being and for me that's enough to be an honorary captain. 

jmblue

January 11th, 2018 at 8:23 PM ^

When were we going to hire him?  1980, when Orr left?  We promoted from within (Frieder) - I don't think we ever really conducted a search for the job.

I also am not sure why you think he dislikes Michigan.  I've never gotten that impression.  If he hates us, why would he agree to be an honorary captain?

 

Yo_Blue

January 11th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^

Nothing against Dickie V, but there are plenty of former Michigan players that would make better honorary captains than him.  If Harbuagh wants to do this, then more power to him.

3rdGenerationBlue

January 11th, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^

Michigan Men fired Vitale from his last coaching job with the Pistons. Give Vitale credit for switching gears and becoming a Hall of Fame broadcaster. Love him or not he created a memorable persona.

RainbowSprings

January 11th, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^

and quite entertaining when he first started as a color commentator. True, he wears thin after a while. Especially with his arranging funding for ChadTough, I think he's more worthy of being an honorary captain than Michael Jordan was.

LSAClassOf2000

January 11th, 2018 at 6:50 PM ^

Probably not, but the story posted was from Chatsports, which is roughly the equivalent of posting a link from The National Enquirer on most other places on the Internet. When it is on a more credible site (preferably reported consistently in a few respected outlets), don't forget to give the board a ring, eh? 

PopeLando

January 11th, 2018 at 7:20 PM ^

A quick Google search indicated that all such rumors trace back to Chat sports.

Chatsports has a history of unabashedly making shit up. Anything that they report first - especially if it references unnamed sources - is highly suspect.

It's a tried and true business model to troll Michigan fans for clicks. Fuckheads.

enzo

January 11th, 2018 at 6:45 PM ^

Notre Dame fan.  His kids went there.  I've seen him at the last two Michigan-ND games in ND gear from head to toe.  Disappointing.

Footdog

January 11th, 2018 at 7:00 PM ^

This is also great on a recruiting point of view. A lot of highschool football recruits follow college bball and he is a nationally known figure at that level. And yes, a pretty good dude as well.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

January 11th, 2018 at 7:17 PM ^

I like Dick Vitale and don't care what anyone says.  Not even sorry I'm not sorry.  The guy's enthusiastic, sincere, and genuine.  So what if he's a Notre Dame fan?  Why should anyone give a fuck?  You'd be a Notre Dame fan too if your kids went there and you had no particular connection to U-M.  I say drop the stupid tribalism for once.

M Go Cue

January 11th, 2018 at 7:33 PM ^

Vitale is a great ambassador for the game of basketball and college sports, and if you've watched him over the years you'd know he's pretty much a slappy for every team. If enthusiasm is a good character trait to our coach then I can't think of anyone more deserving.

Lloyd's Boy

January 11th, 2018 at 8:21 PM ^

If the man wants to donate that much to Chad Tough through his organization, you reciprocate the gesture. To those opposed, how does it impact any aspect of your gameday experience?!

Zoltanrules

January 11th, 2018 at 11:17 PM ^

I took a bed sheet from a Seattle hotel room and painted a big  "Deck The Hall" sign . I'm carrying it around and run into Dick Vitale (and Jerry Tarkanian) in the hotel lobby. Vitale is a Seton Hall graduate and I show him the sign and he just goes wild with laughter and then we just have a nice conversation like we had known each other for years.

The guy is PTPer than just flat out loves of the game of basketball.

 

 

Wolverheel

January 12th, 2018 at 2:13 AM ^

Met him when the Final Four was in Detroit in 2009. I was in line to buy some dip n dots with my dad and he slapped like 10 $20's on the counter and said he was buying for everyone in line and for the cashier to keep the change. Also met him this year when he came into the UNC student section during the Michigan game and took some pictures with us. Some people hate his announcing (I don't), but remember to separate Dick Vitale the announcer from Dick Vitale the person.

greymarch

January 12th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^

I dont mind Vitale being an honorary captain.  Vitale has always been EXTREMELY pro-Michigan, he use to coach in Detroit, and Vitale clearly still has a fondness for Detroit and the state of Michigan.