Dickie V

Dick Vitale

Reading Comprehension for June 9

"He's awesome, baby! That diaper dandy is a real PTPer! He's my All-Windex Performer!" If you recognize anything in the sentences above, you have heard Dick Vitale announce a basketball game. Do you need a translation? A diaper dandy is a freshman player in his first year playing. A PTPer is a prime time player, a star. An All-Windex Performer is a fierce rebounder. He cleans the ball off the glass backboard.


Dick Vitale announces basketball games on television and radio. His enthusiasm and catch phrases have made him one of the most listened to and respected basketball analysts around today. He admits that he may not always be right in his ideas about basketball, but "no one can ever accuse me of not having a genuine love and passion for whatever I do."


Dick Vitale began life on June 9, 1939, in Passaic, New Jersey. He attended college at Seton Hall University. He chose to be a teacher and a coach. In 1963, he began his teaching career at Mark Twain Elementary School in Garfield, New Jersey. He later moved to the high school and became the basketball coach for one year. He moved back to the high school from which he graduated, East Rutherford High School, and became its coach. He took his team to two state championships.


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