Cameo
Movie Role a Blast
special to ESPN Sept.
13, 2005 Jay Bilas and I recently had a
great experience down in North Carolina, imparting some basketball wisdom. We
were on the set of a movie called "Home of the Giants." This movie has
lots of fun and suspense. An ESPNU studio
was set up, and we provided halftime analysis for a fictional high school state-championship
game in Hoosier country. Starring in the movie are Haley Joel Osment ("The
Sixth Sense," "Pay It Forward," "Artificial Intelligence:
AI," "Secondhand Lions" and "Forrest Gump") and Danielle
Panabaker ("Empire Falls," "Searching for David's Heart" and
"Sky High"). | Jay
and I really had a blast. The director was amazed that we knocked out our part
in one take -- they thought it would take a full day! The ESPN producers would
be proud of us. | | I
am 66 years old and still acting like a teenager, baby! |
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It
was fun to do this and be a part of it! I have had so many thrills in my life,
and cameo parts in movies like "Hoop Dreams," "He Got Game,"
"Love and Basketball" and "Naked Gun" have been special. My
family got the opportunity to spend some time in the area, as well, thanks to
producer Charlie Grimes and consultant Fred Barakat. This
weekend, I am looking forward to going to South Bend to cheer on the Irish football
team. I am 66 years old and still acting
like a teenager, baby! It is so unique and so special, and I am lucky to make
my living talking about the game I love. I thank God every day for giving me an
opportunity and a chance, as I get paid to do something I love and enjoy additional
benefits like this movie role.
Dick
Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's
first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question
for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
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