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Zoom In: Dickie V.’s Awesome Home Studio

Zoom In offers a tighter focus on the tools, tricks and techniques ESPN uses to create memorable moments

Photo: Kees Klein

In a season where staying at home has been a pain in his Awesome Baby, Dick Vitale has no issue staying in Tampa this weekend as the entire sports world turns its focus to Vitale’s adopted home (he’ll always be New Jersey’s Richard Vitale).

But before Vitale takes in Tom vs. Patrick from a Pepto-stocked suite at Raymond James Stadium, he will join Bob Wischusen for the call of Tennessee at Kentucky on Saturday (ESPN, 8 p.m.), and as he’s done all season long, Vitale will call the game from his Sarasota “home booth.” He’ll be in the same location he was for this passionate Bucs’ prediction in the big game – his high-tech office, outfitted by ESPN’s and ABC’s best-in-class Sports Remote Production Operations group.

The NABC Court of Honor Award 

Vitale received the award in 2014 from the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation. It is presented to an individual “who has roots in college basketball, values those roots and has gone on to distinguish himself in his profession, exhibiting the highest standards of leadership.”

Emmy Award

Also visible is Vitale’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports at the 40th Annual Sports Emmy Awards.

 

Tampa Bay Bucs Jersey
“I got my own jersey they gave me, Baby! I wear No. 80 because I want to catch touchdown passes. Brady to Vitale for SIX!! . . . I’m going to cheer with my wife Lorraine, like you can’t believe!.” 

Dick and Lorraine
If anyone knows Dickie V, it’s this woman, Lorraine, his wife of nearly 50 years!

The Seton Hall Chair
Vitale, born and raised in New Jersey, graduated from Seton Hall University with a degree in business administration before beginning his coaching career.

Dick Vitale and Jimmy V
Since 2006, Vitale has hosted the Dick Vitale Gala, an event in Sarasota, Florida, to raise money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. To date, he has raised over $35 million for pediatric cancer research.

Laptop
With technical assistance (and. photography!) from Kees Klein, Vitale has the ability to see different camera angles on his laptop, as well as utilizing a camera feed allowing him to see his telecast partner, as if they were sitting next to each other.

Talk Back
With production personnel spread out, communication becomes even more crucial. This box allows Vitale to talk directly with key people including his producer and the game’s researcher, should Vitale be looking for in-game nuggets/stats.

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