Dickie V. hosting charity auction for cancer research

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dick Vitale, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer known for his enthusiastic style on TV and incredible charity throughout the year, is at it again.

Vitale will be hosting a charity auction at Tuesday for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The latest fundraiser will be held on Outbid, an online auction service (www.outbid.com).

If hearing Vitale's catchphrases during college basketball games isn't enough, those who join the auction can chat with him in real time.

Among items being auctioned will be tickets to the Final Four, assorted basketball collectibles and the chance to dine with Dickie V. During the auction, which participants can join via iPhone and iPad, bidders can pose questions to Vitale about any topic.

Vitale, who is 73, will call Final Four games for the first time this year. ESPN announced that he will work a semifinal and the championship game for ESPN International.