Dick Vitale- Lobbyist

[austour]

 I loath Dickie V because he gives me a headache and when he's paired with Patrick it is the most unlistenable pairing in sports TV history. He dums down the game so he's popular with the masses. That said one thing you know about Dickie is he understands the value of a good STJ team and in that manner has been a big proponent of the program for a long time.

 

[ras]

 Lavin has such a great personality. You could tell that all the ESPN announcers have a great fondness, respect for him.

 

[oldfan61]

Dookie and Mussberger both helped us, I think intentionally, with their repeated comments about the real potential of this StJ team with just one added "Big". A lot of tall guys around the nation heard those sentiments.
Vitalle is the best at riding a winner in his commentary and he is the best in the game in making it sound like fun. He talks his a$$ off for a living; you just have to give him something, anything, to say. It was noticable in this game when were coming back from being down 22. Not much was said by about Duke, it's campus, their recruits or their bar-b-que by him for an entire 12 minutes. That's his way and he is the best at it.
Let's win some games and see what he has to say about our kids. Our kids will make his all name team, his all frosh team, his Diaper Dandys, his most dangerous teams. and on and on. He is a very good man, especially for the non-state schools.

 

[tino24]

 I met him a few times. He's genuine as far as I can tell. Not a phony, he wears his emotion on his sleeve.

 

[Moose]

He is a blessing to hear when compared to the other no name yahoos who call our games. The other guys just want to talk about Gift and his siblings names while Vitale actually makes valid points. 

 

[bk8664]

The paranoia about Vitale being against SJU is insane. His comments throughout the year have been much more positive than negative. He rightfully should mention the poor turnout vs WVU. I interpret that comment as him telling fans to get the eff out to the games. Like many of us, he knows there was a day when MSG was much more filled against crap teams.  I will go so far as to say that he has gone out of his way to make positive comments over the past year about the program b/c of his relationship with Lavin. For that we should all be thankful. Give it up already.

 

Agreed.

 

[jumbo_peanuts]

 Precisely Bill. Heaping accolades on DeAngelo and Moe is nothing more than stating the obvious for two players who combined for 51 points. Please tell me what that had to do with calling the program out for insufficient PR, poor fan attendance, and the insinuation that Harkless would be better off at a stronger program....this while fawning all over the opposition's program.
Do you think for a moment, that statements like that don't have to impact on potential recruits watching the game?...particularly coming from a guy who is supposed to know everything about the college game? Some of you should listen a bit more intently...the man has an agenda! 

 

Got to disagree Doc. He took a well deserved shot at our fans for not showing up. Several times he mentioned how Lavin was out visiting Sampson and Gathers and how we were only a big man away from winnning this game. And he mentioned how Mo has improved since the beginning of the year.

 

Duke average attendance: 15,203
Sju average attendance: 12,040

IMO, not that much of a discrepancy considering Duke is top 6. We could improve but, not far off. We have a huge building to fill whereas Duke has a small, hot sweathole. Big difference.

 

Well, to be fair, you also have to consider that NYC is home to many Big East alums, propping up MSG attendance, and a jewel of a city more than ever for opposing fans to want to visit. Their average attedance are overwhelmingly Duke fans.

 

Stop trying to twist it. It could be argued that our attendance numbers at CA are limited by our 5k or so attendance max. If we played big east games at CA and we had 8k seats, we'd probably will the with SJU fans. We fill them at 5k for big east games. Our attendance hasn't been great this year, but we don't have a full team and Lavin isn't on the sidelines. Fans know that. It will certainly improve but our lack of attendance is overstated.

  MCN our attendance is kind of cr@p.

Lets be real here. For being right next to Penn Station the West Virginia attendance flat out sucked. There are a lot of fans that could make most of the games that are just lazy to put it bluntly.

The only time you don't go to games is when you have to work or because of your kids but you still have your tickets pretty much you are going to be there whenever you can and if you can't your seat is still paid for anyway so you are more than covered.

But while cost maybe might be a factor for some people can get the stormsaver package which is only $275 for like 20 games. I mean come on thats the best deal around.

I understand NY is tough with college sports and I truly believe that in a year or 2 tickets are going to be very hard to come by but I watch the Duke game and see the crowd and the Iowa St game after and I get envious.

I'm not saying someone has to make every game but people need to show up to that f'ing syracuse game.

Hell my birthday is on the Cincy game on feb 8 and I'm debating blowing off my girlfriend and family to go to the game. That will get me in serious trouble at home but I'm leaning towards doing it   

 

Hey, you pay for my plane ticket, hotel, and lost wages...and I am so at the Syracuse game!! Please don't put down fans for not going to every single game....there is real life outside of college basketball, and sometimes people just can't make it to games.

 

[newsman13]

i'm sure dick vitale is a good, well meaning person in real life.

he's extremely popular among the under 25s who listen to him and his schtick. it's his bread and butter and it got him into the hall of fame.

to anyone older than 25, he's an extreme annoyance. i'm sure he gets it...but see the last sentence above.

he sees the basketball world as the acc...and everyone else is a virtual mid major. that's behind the harkless crack. his thought process...why would anyone go into a crappy conference such as the big east, when they could be playing for clemson or wake? the acc presidents have the same mindset. that's why they took miami, boston college, virginia tech, syracuse and pit away. they convinced the other presidents there's the acc, then everyone else.

if i'm a top ten recruit and i worship vitale...i'm heading to clemson. he sucks for us...but he's great for his conference.

 

[mjmaherjr]

 Precisely Bill. Heaping accolades on DeAngelo and Moe is nothing more than stating the obvious for two players who combined for 51 points. Please tell me what that had to do with calling the program out for insufficient PR, poor fan attendance, and the insinuation that Harkless would be better off at a stronger program....this while fawning all over the opposition's program.
Do you think for a moment, that statements like that don't have to impact on potential recruits watching the game?...particularly coming from a guy who is supposed to know everything about the college game? Some of you should listen a bit more intently...the man has an agenda! 

 

Got to disagree Doc. He took a well deserved shot at our fans for not showing up. Several times he mentioned how Lavin was out visiting Sampson and Gathers and how we were only a big man away from winnning this game. And he mentioned how Mo has improved since the beginning of the year.

 

Duke average attendance: 15,203
Sju average attendance: 12,040

IMO, not that much of a discrepancy considering Duke is top 6. We could improve but, not far off. We have a huge building to fill whereas Duke has a small, hot sweathole. Big difference.

 

Well, to be fair, you also have to consider that NYC is home to many Big East alums, propping up MSG attendance, and a jewel of a city more than ever for opposing fans to want to visit. Their average attedance are overwhelmingly Duke fans.

 

Stop trying to twist it. It could be argued that our attendance numbers at CA are limited by our 5k or so attendance max. If we played big east games at CA and we had 8k seats, we'd probably will the with SJU fans. We fill them at 5k for big east games. Our attendance hasn't been great this year, but we don't have a full team and Lavin isn't on the sidelines. Fans know that. It will certainly improve but our lack of attendance is overstated.

  MCN our attendance is kind of cr@p.

Lets be real here. For being right next to Penn Station the West Virginia attendance flat out sucked. There are a lot of fans that could make most of the games that are just lazy to put it bluntly.

The only time you don't go to games is when you have to work or because of your kids but you still have your tickets pretty much you are going to be there whenever you can and if you can't your seat is still paid for anyway so you are more than covered.

But while cost maybe might be a factor for some people can get the stormsaver package which is only $275 for like 20 games. I mean come on thats the best deal around.

I understand NY is tough with college sports and I truly believe that in a year or 2 tickets are going to be very hard to come by but I watch the Duke game and see the crowd and the Iowa St game after and I get envious.

I'm not saying someone has to make every game but people need to show up to that f'ing syracuse game.

Hell my birthday is on the Cincy game on feb 8 and I'm debating blowing off my girlfriend and family to go to the game. That will get me in serious trouble at home but I'm leaning towards doing it   

 

Hey, you pay for my plane ticket, hotel, and lost wages...and I am so at the Syracuse game!! Please don't put down fans for not going to every single game....there is real life outside of college basketball, and sometimes people just can't make it to games.

 

I'm not putting down fans that don't make all the games. I don't even make all the games. I try to make most of them though and i I can't I generally do my best to make sure I give my tickets to someone who is going to go and also make sure they will be rooting for St Johns. But ALOT of fans don't make many of the games.

Maybe you don't live around here but if you were at the West Virginia game you'd have been disgusted.

 

[FranWho?]

 Precisely Bill. Heaping accolades on DeAngelo and Moe is nothing more than stating the obvious for two players who combined for 51 points. Please tell me what that had to do with calling the program out for insufficient PR, poor fan attendance, and the insinuation that Harkless would be better off at a stronger program....this while fawning all over the opposition's program.
Do you think for a moment, that statements like that don't have to impact on potential recruits watching the game?...particularly coming from a guy who is supposed to know everything about the college game? Some of you should listen a bit more intently...the man has an agenda! 

 

Got to disagree Doc. He took a well deserved shot at our fans for not showing up. Several times he mentioned how Lavin was out visiting Sampson and Gathers and how we were only a big man away from winnning this game. And he mentioned how Mo has improved since the beginning of the year.

 

Duke average attendance: 15,203
Sju average attendance: 12,040

IMO, not that much of a discrepancy considering Duke is top 6. We could improve but, not far off. We have a huge building to fill whereas Duke has a small, hot sweathole. Big difference.

 

Well, to be fair, you also have to consider that NYC is home to many Big East alums, propping up MSG attendance, and a jewel of a city more than ever for opposing fans to want to visit. Their average attedance are overwhelmingly Duke fans.

 

Stop trying to twist it. It could be argued that our attendance numbers at CA are limited by our 5k or so attendance max. If we played big east games at CA and we had 8k seats, we'd probably will the with SJU fans. We fill them at 5k for big east games. Our attendance hasn't been great this year, but we don't have a full team and Lavin isn't on the sidelines. Fans know that. It will certainly improve but our lack of attendance is overstated.

  MCN our attendance is kind of cr@p.

Lets be real here. For being right next to Penn Station the West Virginia attendance flat out sucked. There are a lot of fans that could make most of the games that are just lazy to put it bluntly.

The only time you don't go to games is when you have to work or because of your kids but you still have your tickets pretty much you are going to be there whenever you can and if you can't your seat is still paid for anyway so you are more than covered.

But while cost maybe might be a factor for some people can get the stormsaver package which is only $275 for like 20 games. I mean come on thats the best deal around.

I understand NY is tough with college sports and I truly believe that in a year or 2 tickets are going to be very hard to come by but I watch the Duke game and see the crowd and the Iowa St game after and I get envious.

I'm not saying someone has to make every game but people need to show up to that f'ing syracuse game.

Hell my birthday is on the Cincy game on feb 8 and I'm debating blowing off my girlfriend and family to go to the game. That will get me in serious trouble at home but I'm leaning towards doing it   

 

Hey, you pay for my plane ticket, hotel, and lost wages...and I am so at the Syracuse game!! Please don't put down fans for not going to every single game....there is real life outside of college basketball, and sometimes people just can't make it to games.

 

I'm not putting down fans that don't make all the games. I don't even make all the games. I try to make most of them though and i I can't I generally do my best to make sure I give my tickets to someone who is going to go and also make sure they will be rooting for St Johns. But ALOT of fans don't make many of the games.

Maybe you don't live around here but if you were at the West Virginia game you'd have been disgusted.

 

I imagine the crowd at the Cincy game will be worse.

 

[rcatalano]

 I feel that Dickie V has treated us very well thru out the years. He absolutely loves Louie, and mentions him on every televised game that he is involved in.

 

[kred]

I get really emotional about SJU. When we lose it ruins my day - and that is an improvment as it used to ruin several days. Also Duke is part of my three team axis of evl - Duke, Syracuse and UCONN.

With that in mind, if I overstated what he said - I apologize. But - I believe - what he said was that Moe would be better off in a situation where he was not asked to do so much. I took that to mean somewhere else. Might he have just been stating that it would be better for Moe - while at SJU - for him if he was not asked to do so much? Maybe. In the heat of the moment I didn't take it that way. Others didn't seem to be bothered by it, so it's entirely possible I overreacted or misheard or mistook what he meant.

As for the attendance - I went to a UCONN game at the Garden several years ago with a friend who also attended SJU and we felt like we were the only ones at the Garden rooting for SJU. That wasn't true, but it was close. It's been a problem for us for quite a while, I just didn't think that our lack of attendance had a place in today's game.

 

I don't recall any comment about Moe going to another school. It wouldn't make sense especially after saying SJU was only 1 big man away from winning this game. Also he was right about the attendance. I took it as a way of his
pumping up SJU students as to how good of a team they have . ie. trying to generate some excitemnt for the team.

It's obvious you don't like DV and I'm not a big fan either but his comments Sat. were way more then 50 / 50 in our favor.

 

[illwill30]

 To have 6,000 at the garden for a big east game is embarassing. I really can't say anymore, because I myself did not attend, but I have no problem with DV getting on the fan base for that. And I also took it as more of a rallying cry, than shot at the current team.