Synopsis
Dick Vitale's 1988 autobiography, co-written with Sports Illustrated's Curry Kirkpatrick, is a lively, energetic memoir that captures the colorful personality and improbable journey of the legendary basketball broadcaster known for his enthusiastic catchphrases and unbridled passion for the game. Vitale recounts his rise from coaching high school basketball in New Jersey to becoming head coach of the University of Detroit and then the NBA's Detroit Pistons in a remarkably short seven years, only to face the harsh reality of being fired—something he humorously refers to as "beating the Ziggy."
The book details his early life, the challenges of his coaching career, and the pivotal moment when he reinvented himself as a television analyst for ESPN, where he found lasting fame as a "Prime Time Performer" (PTP'er) starting in the late 1970s. Written in Vitale's signature bombastic and self-deprecating style, it blends personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories from the court and broadcast booth, and his deep love affair with basketball, portraying him as the ultimate "average" everyman who turned his quirks—including his bald head and one-eyed vision—into assets that made him an icon in the sport.
Overall, it's an upbeat, inspirational tale of resilience, hustle, and turning setbacks into a broadcasting legacy that helped popularize college basketball on cable TV.