Dick Vitale Glossary

It was found recently that dickvitale.com removed the beloved, easy to use, Dick Vitale Glossary. This is highly inconvenient for Dick Vitale lovers around the world, as well as disrespectful to his legacy. Here, I have put the full glossary as seen in the Sega Genesis game Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby!" College Hoops, as well as more entries thanks to Happily & Kal of the Scott the Woz community Discord server for grabbing those from a cached version of the old website.

"Leave it to Dickie V to create his own language… Vitale-isms! For those who are unfamiliar with Dickie V’s trademark lingo, we have provided a glossary of Vitale-isms and their English translations! Like ... Diaper Dandy: sensational freshman, and Space Eater: big guy."

Dedicated to: Junior
Quote of the Week

Keep battling and fighting to achieve your goals! – Dick Vitale

little IAB guys by Junior, aka bigbarrysyx on Tumblr.

background credit
What He's Saying What He Means
Awesome, Baby! Nice play.
He's a Prime Time Performer! (PTP'ER!) He plays well under pressure.
I don't believe it! I don't believe it!
Unbelievable, Baby! Amazing!
Oh, Yeah! What a play! Nice play.
Hey, it's showtime! Nice layup.
The crowd is goin' bananas! The crowd is happy.
Better shoot it, Baby! The shot clock is going to expire.
Get a T.O., Baby! Call a timeout.
He's outta there! He has fouled out.
It's Maalox Time! It's time to worry.
NC'er Baby. No Contest! The score is very lopsided.
It's Rock 'N' Roll time! It's time to play hard.
It's crunch time! It's late and the game is close.
Warm up the bus, Baby! This one is history! One team is losing quite badly.
He's going to the "winner's circle"! His team has won.
What a sweet shooter! He shoots the ball well.
Check that air time! Long shot made it.
He can handle the "Rock", Baby! He shoots and passes the ball well.
It's NBN, nothin' but nylon! Swish.
Tickle the Twine! Gentle Swish.
What a Surf & Turfer! What a great player!
Doctor Dunkenstein, Baby! He's a big dunker.
Dipsy-Doo, Dunk-a-roo That's a fancy dunk.
Slam Jam Bam, Baby! Good work.
He's Phi Slamma Jamma! He's from a fraternity of slammers.
It's the Monster Mash! It's a very powerful dunk.
He's a high riser! He jumps high.
Brick City, Baby! You missed badly.
He's a glass eater! He rebounds well.
Sweepin' the Glass! Rebounding very well.
It's shot blockin' time! Nice block.
It's Rejection City! He blocked the ball.
Rip and Run! Steal the ball, then run and score.
Up, Up, and Away! Jump high and score.
Finalize, Baby! Convert! If you make a steal, go score.
He's a Dow Joneser! He sent the ball sailing.
Wow! Look at that Space Eater! He knocked the guy over!
What a Blender! He can move through traffic.
Diaper Dandy A freshman; a beginner.
Pine Time Rest and watch from the bench.
He's a Windex Man A rebounder who "wipes the glass".
All-mystique Inconsistent.
Blender An unselfish player.
Bringing a W Getting a win.
Cream Puff Delight Coach who plays an easy schedule.
December ZZZZ time because teams have been loading up on patsies.
Dishes the Rock Passes the ball.
Doughnut Offense Team without a center.
Drillin' Reggies When They Need Pete Roses Taking long shots when they need short shots.
Human Space Ship Big player.
Isolation Man Great one-on-one player
Key or Engine The player who leads the team.
Knee-Knocker Close game.
M&Mer A mismatch.
MIAer Player who disappears.
Mr. Pac Man Eats you alive on defense.
Perimeter J A jump shot.
P.T. Playing time.
P.T.P. A prime-time player.
Prime Time Good basketball, what people pay to see.
Q.T. Quality time.
Shoots the Area-Code J Shoots from long distance.
Skywalker Good leaper (see High Riser).
Space Eater Big guy.
Strawberry Shortcake NCAA tournament time, when the underachievers get their just desserts.
Surf and Turfer Superstar.
3-D Man He drives, he draws, he dishes.
Times Square Playing slow-tempo.
Trifecta Three-point basket Indianapolis.
Raceway Up-tempo.
Wilson Sandwich What you get when your shot is rejected in your face.
Xs and Os Used to explain strategy.
Dick Vitale's Teams
All-Alcatraz Team Players expected to have breakout seasons.
All-Airport Team Players who look good in airports but get no playing time.
All-AT&T Team Long-distance bombers.
All-Avis Team Players who try harder.
All-Diaper Dandies Team Top freshman players.
All-Frank Lloyd Wright Team Coaches who are master architects building a program.
All-Innovative Team Great point guards.
All-Marco Polo Team Best transfer players.
All-Michelangelo Team Coaches who are brilliant artists at work.
All-Overrated Team Players who have been built up as stars but don't deliver.
All-Potential Team Players who need to start living up to the billing they received in high school.
All-Rip Van Winkle Team Players who are sleepers.
All-Rolls Royce Team Superstars at their positions.
All-Solid Gold Preseason Team The five best players by position.
All-SportsCenter Team Coaches who need PR.
All-Used Car Salesman Team Coaches who are good salesman.
All-Volkswagen Team Players who aren't superstars but are dependable.
All-Wacko Team Coaches who display unorthodox methods and styles.
All-Windex Team Players who clean the glass (i.e., great rebounders).
All-World B. Free Team Players with the best names.