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 Holiday Stock
Dick Vitale gives his Stock Watch report for Dec. 23.
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Dear Santa, here's Dickie V's Christmas list
By Dick VitaleSPECIAL TO ESPN.COM
Dec. 24
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus ... what a great time of the year! There's nothing like the spirit and excitement of Christmas. It's a beautiful feeling to give a gift and see a smile on someone's face. Since it's the season for gift-giving, why not ask Santa to bring some gifts for hoopaholics across America? Here's my Christmas list for everyone who loves college basketball...
Santa, please bring UCLA coach Steve Lavin some Ws so the heat begins to dissipate at Pauley Pavilion. Wow, it's one thing to fall against Duke and Kansas, but losses to Northern Arizona and San Diego don't help his situation. Give him a few victories to get the critics off of his back. Remember, Santa, he went to the NCAA Sweet 16 five of the past six years, a feat only he and Mike Krzyzewski can boast. New AD Dan Guerrero isn't afraid to pull the trigger -- just ask former UCLA football coach Bob Toledo!
Santa, please bring great health to Temple coach John Chaney. We need his passion and enthusiasm on the sidelines. His love for kids is so special. We need him as healthy as can be.
Hey, Santa, give Kentucky coach Tubby Smith a full team at his disposal. Now that Cliff Hawkins is back and Erik Daniels has returned, perhaps a healthy Antwain Barbour would be nice. If Tubby has his complete team to represent the school, watch out. He was excited at the start of the season because he felt he had good chemistry. Get them all in the lineup, Santa, and we'll find out how good the Wildcats are.
Santa, when will you get Creighton coach Dana Altman some PR? His team handed Notre Dame its only loss. Kyle Korver is an outstanding long-range shooter and he deserves some attention on SportsCenter.
Santa, here's hoping you can give the USA's 2004 Olympic coaching staff, led by Larry Brown, some superstars who play as a unit. I hope these men will have a burning desire to play and bring back the respect and pride that was severely damaged by the U.S. disappointment at the World Basketball Championship.
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I'll tell you who should be on the sidelines, Santa ... Nolan Richardson. He deserves to have another coaching job.
Remember what happened when Robert Montgomery Knight and Rick Pitino returned to the collegiate coaching profession? Richardson, who won an NCAA title at Arkansas, should get another opportunity.
Hey Santa, what about giving some outstanding assistant coaches head-coaching jobs? Look at the performance of Tommy Herrion at College of Charleston once he was given a head-coaching opportunity? How about a chance for second lieutenants like Paul Bianciardi at Ohio State, Johnny Dawkins at Duke, Dave Dickerson at Maryland, Brian Gregory at Michigan State, Fred Hill at Villanova and Joe Holladay at Kansas.
Oh Santa, please bring us more writers who have a passion and love for college hoops! I love shooting the breeze on the road with guys like Jim O'Connell of the Associated Press, Dick "Hoops" Weiss of the New York Daily News, Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News and many others (like the bunch down in ACC country when I'm on Tobacco Road). They know their hoops, and it's always great to be around people who love covering the sport.
Santa, give Syracuse coach Jimmy Boeheim a break and get Billy Edelin in the lineup where he belongs. He should be running the show, teaming up with Carmelo Anthony as a 1-2 diaper-dandy tandem. Please give Edelin his eligibility.
Santa, give some love to coach Tommy Amaker at Michigan. This is one of the classiest guys you could ever meet. I remember how much he loved basketball when he played at Duke. He's got the opportunity at an excellent school academically and athletically. But Amaker and his current Wolverines are being punished for NCAA violations from years ago that they had nothing to do with. Bring coal for those who deserve it, Santa, but not for the innocent ones.
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Santa, give Arizona back a healthy Luke Walton. It was so exciting to see him receive his diploma recently, a tribute to his hard work and to his parents, Bill and Susan. They taught the right work ethic and sent the clear message that education is so important.
Santa, give college basketball more enthusiastic players -- kids like Arizona's Jason Gardner, Maryland's Steve Blake, Indiana's Tom Coverdale, Notre Dame's Chris Thomas, Texas' T. J. Ford, Duke's Chris Duhon, Xavier's David West and Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison at Kansas.
And most of all, Santa, please give all the college basketball fans out there good health, peace and happiness in the coming year. And remember, Santa, to ask all the people to help out the Jimmy V Foundation to help stamp out the dreaded disease of cancer. To help, call 1-800-4JIMMY V. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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