Dick Vitale (Doesn’t)Equal Ratings
1-liner, ESPN, Media Gossip/Musings January 17th. 2009, 6:00pmIt’s the Game, Stupid: Ratings reports show that for the “big” announce team swap on ESPN — featuring the NBA crew calling Duke/Davidson and the college boys broadcasting the Heat/Nuggets — Dick Vitale didn’t make a damn bit of difference. In fact, his lone NBA game brought in 1.5 million viewers compared to the 1.7 million ESPN has averaged each NBA telecast. The following Wednesday, the Lakers/Spurs drew 2 million. And so, ESPN, we say to you … your employees aren’t stars, characters or the reason people tune in (despite what Berman says every year at the Christmas party). No one cares about your crappy personalities still under the impression it’s 1993. [Sports Media Watch]
27 Responses to “Dick Vitale (Doesn’t)Equal Ratings”
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January 17th, 2009 at 6:22 PM
I agree.
January 17th, 2009 at 6:31 PM
I’m much more apt to watch a Duke basketball game that Vitale is NOT announcing. He is intolerable when calling a Duke or UNC game.
January 17th, 2009 at 6:50 PM
No one cares about your crappy personalities still under the impression it’s 1993.
Great line, Imig.
January 17th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
No one cares about your crappy personalities still under the impression it’s 1993.
1983 if you’re Berman.
We’ve seen you catch the pass from Doug Williams. We’ve seen you reporting at “The Catch.” We’ve seen you hang out with Jim Kelly. We’ve seen you do the commercial with Howie Long. We’ve seen you sink that fucking putt.
Please stop showing us.
January 17th, 2009 at 7:30 PM
I agree, Powder. The question I would like to ask is: Does anyone actually prefer to watch a Dick Vitale-called basketball game?
January 17th, 2009 at 7:36 PM
It shouldn’t have made me laugh because it’s so obvious, but Jay’s 1983 line about Berman did.
January 17th, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Hear hear! Eat shit, WWL.
January 17th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
eastwood dies at the end of grand torino…orry but my best friend ruined the ending for me and since i dont know any of you guys. you all can go share my pain if you havent seen it. oh and rourke dies at the end of the wrestler…i guess movies where the hero dies at the end are the “cool†thing now because of how real it is. if i wanted to go to the movies and see real life i would rather jut go to the local soup kitchen and be depressed by the people there..at least it would be free. oh and notorious b.i.g gets a movie? really? yeah he sure did deserve it. he dies at the end of that too. milk? yeah he dies at the end of that movie as well…..haha…second post of this commetn because truly im just a asshole.
January 17th, 2009 at 8:03 PM
So does anyone else think the Nutrisystem commercial with Berman is just his head on someone else’ body? He in no way looks like that.
January 17th, 2009 at 8:07 PM
and salim die at the end of slumdog millionare…i didnt even want to see that movie…
January 17th, 2009 at 8:08 PM
I love this guy!
January 17th, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Bambi’s mom dies at the end of Bambi.
January 17th, 2009 at 8:28 PM
ZORRROOOOO!
January 17th, 2009 at 8:30 PM
the grandma in little red riding hood gets eaten by the wolf. in d3 mighty ducks gordon bombay gets killed by a errant slap shot to the temple.
January 17th, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Funniest scene of the year by far. I wanted to start cheering in the theater. He can take that “air finger gun” of his and his hackneyed, manipulative tripe and shove it.
/Hated Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino
January 17th, 2009 at 9:29 PM
e.t. didn’t die. should have, but didn’t…
January 17th, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Rosebud was his sled.
January 17th, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Ned Divine died.
January 17th, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I guess Hansbrough and Roy Williams finally decided to not let UNC lose.
/that retard that said they couldn’t lose because of that
January 17th, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Ellington has just went off in the 2nd half. Code red style.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Orlando kicking ass again. 4-0 West coast trip
Time to take notice people
January 17th, 2009 at 11:41 PM
UW’s Artem Wallace just banked in a free throw, then aired the next. High comedy.
January 18th, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Jason impales Freddy.
January 18th, 2009 at 12:07 AM
ESPN has seriously dampened my desire to watch college basketball over the years, and Dukie V is a large part of the reason why. I hope those asshats are happy…
January 18th, 2009 at 12:23 AM
I used to love Dick Vitale in the early ’90’s. His energy and love for the game just seemed natural. I don’t hate him now, just got tired of him. I don’t know if it’s over-exposure or I’m sick of hearing “baby!” after every layup. I just don’t know.
January 18th, 2009 at 12:39 AM
In defense of Dick Vitale: I met him once when he came to my city to speak to a group of high school students. I picked him up at the airport and he was the nicest, most soft-spoken “celebrity” I’ve dealt with (and I’ve dealt with more than a few). We spoke for 20-30 minutes and, when we arrived, he asked for a business card. I gave him one and, a week or so later, he mailed me a nice note thanking me for the ride and some promotional items (a basketball, T-shirt, etc.). Now, I was sold on the guy as being a kind, decent human before that, but that small gesture … something he didn’t have to do … convinced me he’s one of the truly good ones. His commentary obviously grates on people but I think his enthusiasm and love for the game is genuine. He doesn’t mail it in, like others his age (Madden … I’m looking at you) and when he says his life has been better than he ever dreamed, I believe him.
That said, the point of this post is valid … it’s the game that people care about, not the announcers. It’s sheer hubris on the WWL’s part to think their announcing crew would bring viewers in.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:05 AM
I met Verne Lundquist in college. I’d say the things Pistol Pete just said about him, too.