Dickie V

What do a Nobel Prize winning physicist, a long-time American diplomat, an accomplished jazz pianist, and Dick Vitale have in common? They are all scheduled to receive honorary degrees from Duke University at this year's commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 15, according to University Provost Peter Lange. Chilean President Ricardo Lagos (Duke Ph.D. '66) was previously announced as the commencement speaker.

Vitale, who has often been criticized for lauding Duke on ESPN, is said to be "speechless," if you can imagine that.

Quoting Lange from the news release: "Dick Vitale is many things, but most of all, he's a humanitarian. His work with charities and education is legendary. Moreover, Dick has done as much as anyone to promote Duke's reputation as a school that gets it right: combining top flight academics with top notch athletics while adhering to the highest ethical standards."

Not everyone is thrilled.

"It's a terrible idea," says Vitale's ESPN colleague Jay Bilas. "It's just going to further the stereotype of Duke's preferential treatment."

Bilas went on to say that while he likes Vitale personally, he doesn't always appreciate his broadcast excesses.

"Dick's a great guy," said Bilas. "He's immensely charming and totally real. He'd give you the shirt off his back in a heartbeat, something we try to keep him from doing, because it scares animals and small children. I love the guy. But Duke isn't the only good program out there. UNC is solid, Kentucky does things the right way under Tubby Smith, Bruce Weber is a straight arrow. I say let's praise who deserves it and not just focus on one or two particular schools."

Vitale, who irritated Duke fans a decade ago with incessant references to "Michelangelo," when referring to Dean Smith, and "The General," when referring to Indiana's Bob Knight, has been widely criticized for appearing to be overtly in favor of Duke. He maintains that praising someone for doing things the right way is appropriate, and that Duke is "awesome, baby!" Congratulations, Dick!

 

Bilas is funny.

 

yeah, Bilas is funny, especially when he is on wfnz. Dukie V can get on my last nerve, even when he gushes over the Heels too.

 

BTW, this was an April Fools joke

 

Bilas is funny.

 

Painless

 

V can be annoying, but what I like about him is he loves college b-ball, and is usually very positive. That is refreshing in today's 'barracuda" media.