Vitale makes 13 a lucky number with another hall of fame induction
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Dick Vitale has been inducted into 13 halls of fame, which is more than anyone could expect in a lifetime.
Vitale will not argue that point, but he said each one is special, noting the honor never gets old and he never takes any of them for granted.
Those words were never truer than earlier this month when he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame with other Jerseyans who made their fame in all areas of life.
"It was a night that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I am in 13 halls of fame, but this is special because it's where it all began for me, and my friends and family were able to attend," Vitale said.
The ESPN college basketball analyst and longtime Lakewood Ranch resident joined a group of 12 New Jerseyans who were honored at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park.
He was inducted with former Yankee great Derek Jeter and joins a hall of fame that includes Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Jack Nicholson, Harriet Tubman, Clara Barton, Queen Latifah, Meryl Streep and Bruce Springsteen. Despite those historic names, Vitale emphasized to the crowd that getting into any Hall of Fame requires the efforts of many people.
"No one gets into a hall of fame without having a team. You don't get in by yourself," Vitale said. "You have to understand there are people who sacrificed and busted a gut to make it happen in your life."
As he has done so many times Vitale gave credit to his parents, who instilled the values he has carried for a lifetime -- among them always treat people the way you want them to treat you. His mother, Mae, worked in a factory as a seamstress and his father, John, was a security guard and clothing press operator.
"My mother and father were not formally educated, but they both had a doctorate in love, which taught me how important that is," Vitale said. "The foundation for me started when I came home to Garfield, N.J., on June 9th of 1939 after I was born at St. Mary's Hospital.
"My mom and dad had 18 brothers and sisters between them. All were blue collar workers, always stressing family and love."
Among the other inductees with Vitale were 1970s pop music legends Kool and the Gang and three-time Olympic soccer gold medalist Christie Rampone. Tough guy actor Joe Piscopo, a 2013 inductee, was the master of ceremonies of the event. ESPN's John Saunders introduced Vitale, and the television network presented a video of Vitale's life.
Among the halls Vitale has been inducted into are the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Vitale most recently did commentary on the Final Four for ESPN International, which was broadcast to 175 countries. He called Kris Jenkins buzzer-beater that gave Villanova the win against North Carolina the greatest shot in NCAA Tournament history
"It was the best shot I've ever seen under pressure and I rate that number one because it meant the national title," Vitale said.
Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter@ADellSports
This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Vitale makes 13 a lucky number with another hall of fame induction ."