Tony Vitello Talks Comedy With FanRun
By Cody McClure
Tennessee baseball coach (NATIONAL CHAMPION) Tony Vitello was interviewed earlier today by Jonathan Reed of FanRun TV.
Vitello talked all about his baseball team and his thoughts about the Super Bowl. He likes the Chiefs because his ma is from Kansas City.
Tony Vols also talked about comedy and listed some of his favorite comedians, which I found interesting.
“We showed a clip of Eddie Murphy to our players the other day from his ‘Delirious’ stand up set,” Vitello said.
“One of my favorites. He probably was the originator for me. Saturday Night Live was such a big deal back then but he was kind of the Michael Jordan, superstar of the whole deal.”
Vitello said some of the players didn’t even know who Murphy was. The NATIONAL CHAMPION added that Dave Chappelle is another guy he liked.
“Then the Chappelle’s Show came on and was kind of a passing of the guard for my own personal rolodex of guys.”
As far as the more active comedians right now …
“Working in the state of Tennessee you get to meet guys like Theo Von and get to know them as a person and realize they’re great dudes. And also, speaking of crazy, the only guy I know who is crazier than [pitching coach] Frank [Anderson] is Theo. He is like that all the time.”
Vitello likened comedy to baseball and emphasized the importance of a good work ethic.
“Just like baseball or other sports, with comedy, you have to go through the grind to get there. Theo started out with one of my best friends, Brian Smith … He said he’d go watch Theo and he was terrible at first,” Vitello said. “The guy is naturally funny but he’s worked his butt off.”
“If you’re ever around him you can’t have a conversation with him without him going to his phone and putting comedy ideas in his notes. It doesn’t matter what field … Work ethic pays off.”
Vitello will be at Jewelry TV — 9600 Parkside Drive in Knoxville — on Thursday night with comedian Josh Mancuso. They will participate in “Friendship Night” to benefit Sertoma of Knoxville.