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Leave it to Dickie V to create his own language… Vitale-isms! For those who are unfamiliar with Dickie V’s trademark lingo, we have provided a glossary of Vitale-isms and their English translations! Like ... Diaper Dandy: sensational freshman, and Space Eater: big guy.

Vitale-isms

  • All-mystique: inconsistent
  • Blender: an unselfish player
  • Bringing a W: getting a win
  • Cream Puff Delight: coach who plays an easy schedule
  • December: ZZZZ time because teams have been loading up on patsies
  • Diaper Dandy: sensational freshman
  • Dipsy-doo Dunk-a-roo: flashy slam dunk
  • Dishes the Rock: passes the ball
  • Doughnut Offense: team without a center
  • Dow Joneser: up-and-down, inconsistent player
  • Drillin' Reggies When They Need Pete Roses: taking long shots when they need short shots
  • High Riser: good leaper (see Skywalker)
  • Human Space Ship: big player
  • Isolation Man: great one-on-one player
  • Key or Engine: the player who leads the team
  • Knee-Knocker: close game
  • M&Mer: a mismatch
  • MIAer: player who disappears
  • Mr. Pac Man: eats you alive on defense
  • N.C.: no contest
  • Perimeter J: a jump shot
  • P.T.: playing time
  • P.T.P.: a prime-time player
  • Prime Time: good basketball, what people pay to see
  • Q.T.: quality time
  • Shoots the Area-Code J: shoots from long distance
  • Skywalker: good leaper (see High Riser)
  • Slam, Bam, Jam: an impressive slam dunk
  • Space Eater: big guy
  • Strawberry Shortcake: NCAA tournament time, when the underachievers get their just desserts
  • Surf and Turfer: superstar
  • 3-D Man: he drives, he draws, he dishes
  • Times Square: playing slow-tempo
  • Trifecta: three-point basket Indianapolis
  • Raceway: up-tempo
  • Wilson Sandwich: what you get when your shot is rejected in your face
  • Xs and Os: used to explain strategy

Dick Vitale's Teams

  • All-Alcatraz Team: players expected to have breakout seasons
  • All-Airport Team: players who look good in airports but get no playing time
  • All-AT&T Team: long-distance bombers
  • All-Avis Team: players who try harder
  • All-Diaper Dandies Team: top freshman players
  • All-Frank Lloyd Wright Team: coaches who are master architects building a program
  • All-Innovative Team: great point guards
  • All-Marco Polo Team: best transfer players
  • All-Michelangelo Team: coaches who are brilliant artists at work
  • All-Overrated Team: players who have been built up as stars but don't deliver
  • All-Potential Team: players who need to start living up to the billing they received in high school
  • All-Rip Van Winkle Team: players who are sleepers
  • All-Rolls Royce Team: superstars at their positions
  • All-Solid Gold Preseason Team: the five best players by position
  • All-SportsCenter Team: coaches who need PR
  • All-Used Car Salesman Team: coaches who are good salesman
  • All-Volkswagen Team: players who aren't superstars but are dependable
  • All-Wacko Team: coaches who display unorthodox methods and styles
  • All-Windex Team: players who clean the glass (i.e., great rebounders)
  • All-World B. Free Team: players with the best names

Quote of the Week

 
"The Yankees won two out of three at Seattle and the Dodgers. Impressive."
-Dick Vitale