Dick Vitale is pissed off.
Almost every day, college athletes enter the transfer portal to seek a better opportunity and fit for their athletic careers. Thousands of athletes have transferred to new schools to play their sports in different team environments.
Longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale offered up his controversial opinion on the subject.
“Pathetic what the transfer portal is doing to college sports,” the Hall of Famer tweeted. “How is this chaos and cheating going on,” he asked. “Great lessons for young people to develop values needed for the game of life. Quitting [and] lack of loyalty is what is happening, traits that destroy people as they face the real world.”
PATHETIC what the TRANSFER PORTAL is doing to college sports. How is this CHAOS & CHEATING going on gr8 lessons for young ppl to DEVELOP values needed for the Game of Life . Quitting / lack of loyalty is what is happening traits that destroy ppl as they face the REAL WORLD.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 19, 2022
Pls don’t sickened me with the wacky argument that over 1400 players transferring equates to about 50 coaches leaving .WHINING that coaches DON’T sit vs players is SOLVED EASILY by THE VBDI rule-COACH leaves Player SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO LEAVEw/o SITTING-END OF STORY!
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 19, 2022
Vitale continued after being blasted:
I’m getting some of the most INSANE replies defending the transfer portal / NOBODY the portal is saying players would be forced to stay & not leave . That is ABSURD. Players can transfer & workout / STUDY for 1 yr /ask many coaches it HELPS their future.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 19, 2022
Intent was basically to eliminate the many waiver requests .The @NCAA got tired of dealing with waiver claims & gave into the heat .The portal is filled with STAR TALENTS that some not ALL coaches r CHEATING to get them into the portal .
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 19, 2022
RULES state that a player MUST NOT BE RECRUITED TO ENTER THE PORTAL. . Coaches thru runners r getting the word out I am told to get their name in portal & that we WOULD OFFER him . Players playing for 4 schools is not what player development should be.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 19, 2022
Dickie V’s critique of the transfer portal saw some backlash, as fans pointed out that the portal was made to benefit collegiate athletes.
You can’t name a single job in the entire US where you can’t leave for a better opportunity when you want but you expect college athletes to do that. It’s over. About time.
— Sportsfire!!!! (@sportsfireAG) April 19, 2022
They now have the same freedom of every other student, every member of their coaching staff and every broadcaster. Why do you want to strip young phenom athletes of freedom?
— Frank Saunders (@flsku) April 19, 2022
Nobody called out the teams or coaches in the NCAA tournament this year for the cheating. KU was praised on live TV without any mention of cheating. I agree the portal has problems but you put these people on blast. When will you call out the coaches like Bill Self?
— Byron Hankins (@ByronHankins3) April 19, 2022
Being this big of a hater after *just* beating cancer is insane https://t.co/2fqDgxn3P7
— Draft SZN (@KwadarRay) April 19, 2022
yes college athletics famously known for loyalty https://t.co/koh4MByeWk
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) April 19, 2022
We’re still doing this? https://t.co/joTzGCm0OB
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 19, 2022
I think we disagree here. People across the board leave jobs for better jobs or to prioritize themselves (mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc). If the player feels it’s best to leave because NIL deal is better somewhere else thats on them. https://t.co/3IKjYEf6oS
— Alston Geers (@AlstonGeers) April 19, 2022
Coaches can leave for a better job & opportunity
Professional athletes can leave for a better job & opportunity
3rd grade teachers, doctors, journalists can leave for a better job & opportunity
etcBut dare a young adult in college sports leave for a better job & opportunity https://t.co/OJSIKO9wt8
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) April 19, 2022
Old white men love making sure that black people are trapped in places they no longer want to be. https://t.co/aKhNQvCjvl
— So Sayeth Black Lord: (@jmood88) April 19, 2022
This is absolutely unhinged.
Players seeking better opportunities does not equal “quitting” or a “lack of loyalty.” Last time I checked, coaches do the same thing, as does any adult with a modicum of ambition. https://t.co/9y9vaoL20Z
— Nico R (@UB_Opethian) April 19, 2022
Love Dickie V, but the kids deserve to get whatever they can. That’s the law now and it was long overdue.
You know what lesson the transfer portal teaches athletes? They have value. That’s the real world. https://t.co/DIwV0Tyya3
— Kevin Manahan (@KevinCManahan) April 19, 2022
Ah yes, get angry at athletes believing they have a better opportunity elsewhere. People do the same in real life. Get over it boomer https://t.co/6rBK7qJRBn
— Crews (@crewzy15) April 19, 2022
Vitale recently beat lymphoma, announcing that he is cancer-free. The cancer caused him to miss the majority of the 2021–22 college basketball season.