Dick Vitale's Big Mouth Gets Him in Trouble

Looks like Dick Vitale was running his mouth when he shouldn't have been -- and I'm not talking about Vitale's penchant for bringing up his Detroit Pistons firing during the key stretch of a barnburner basketball game.

In fact, it looks sorta like Dickie V doesn't have much love for Joakim Noah!

From KnoxNews.com:

Griffith tried to get Vitale's attention but the popular basketball analyst continued his conversation with someone at the Broken Egg restaurant in Siesta Key, Fla. , while he was on the air with Griffith and Adams. Vitale said Donovan told him in confidence that NBA scouts were making a big mistake if they rated Florida's Joakim Noah ahead of teammate Al Horford.

Asked about Vitale's comments on Monday's SEC teleconference, Donovan had no comment. He said he wouldn't comment on something he never said.

Vitale called back the show later after he received a phone call from "someone from Florida." He said he didn't realize he was on the radio and that his comments were made in jest.

Whoopsy-daisy.

Dick Vitale is in Knoxville for Florida's game against the Vols on Tuesday night. Now he's made himself as big a story as the game itself. Deep down inside, Dickie V has to like that.

As a biased Florida fan and knowing Donovan's character the way that I do I simply can't imagine him ever making any comment of the sort to a loudmouth like Dick Vitale. Donovan was quick to deny the comment, which leads me to believe that Vitale was just blowing smoke to impress his little breakfast party. Vitale's gaffe was bush league to say the least.

To the point -- Vitale's full of crap, but he's right about one thing. Noah probably could use another year at Florida. Al Horford has been dominating opponents inside, while Noah has been batted around like a human pinball. Somehow Noah's lost his edge since his dominating performance in the '06 NCAA Tournament, in which he was named the MVP. Was it the pom-poms? Was it Coach Stallings delivering a forearm shiver when he went for that ball in the game against Vandy? Dunno, but you should stick around for another year and beef up, Joakim.

UPDATE: Audio links

Vitale's first call (the gaffe -- listen to his comments about Noah in the first portion of the phone call)
Vitale's second call (trying to smooth things over)