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