I made my thoughts clear yesterday on Dick Vitale and the Hall of Fame -- it's an abomination.
Something I forgot -- but which had me equally outraged -- was how I heard about the news. From Vitale himself. On ESPN. Before the official announcement was made. It reminded me of NBA award announcements, how the winner is 'leaked' a few days beforehand, then the actual deal is anticlimactic.
Then I started thinking of the guys and gal who were elected alongside (argghhh!) Vitale. Those with more serious Hall of Fame credentials. And how they didn't have their own network to publicize the news and steal the thunder away from their fellow electees. Vitale exposed himself as an egomaniac, eager to go on the air and cry, and blubber, and make sure everybody knew he was in the Hall of Fame.
Did Pat Riley -- five NBA championships as a head coach, one as a player, a very accomplished in both -- do this? How about Hakeem Olajuwon -- two NBA titles as a player, consecutive appearances in the NCAA title game, one of the greatest big men ever in the game? Patrick Ewing, Olajuwon's peer? Or any of the other people elected Monday? No, just Vitale, bawling his eyes out, showing everybody his true colors.
Give me Gus Johnson any day.