Dick Vitale accepts award in Lakewood Ranch

Dick Vitale, Hall of Fame ESPN basketball analyst and Lakewood Ranch Resident, made another stop at The Broken Egg Friday to receive the Sports Icon Award presented by What A Fan.

Vitale originally accepted the award, part of What A Fan's 2013 Sports Fan Conference, held in Orlando Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, via video.

Lowell Moore, What A Fan's executive producer and a former sports agent, came to Lakewood Ranch Friday from Orlando to give Vitale the award in-person.

"I'm so honored to accept this award," Vitale said. "It's thrilling being recognized by sports fanatics like Lowell (Moore). Fans matter most and are the reason we are who we are."

Moore said there were no other candidates to receive the first-time award.

His relationship with Vitale dates back 14 years ago, to the Final Four in Indianapolis, when Moore had just started What A Fan.

Moore, then a sports agent, had run into Vitale and his wife in Los Angeles and mentioned to him that he planned to pilot a new concept recognizing fans.

Vitale expressed interest in the concept and agreed to do an interview for What A Fan live from the Final Four. 

Vitale not only helped a man he didn't know pitching a concept he knew little about, but also did the interview while he was sick with the flu. 

"I have never forgotten that," Moore said. "He did so much for us. This award was going to no one but that man."

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].