FIRST WORD

His personality is so infectious and so contagious. What I love about him is he’s never forgotten where he came from. He’s just a down-to-earth, super-successful person. … He’s like a little kid who’s at the candy store having a blast.”

ESPN icon Dick Vitale about Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, who will be among those honored Friday at the annual Dick Vitale Gala, which has raised $25.2 million through the V Foundation for cancer research. The event attracted more than 900 guests and raised a record $3.7 million last year. The target for this year’s soldout edition in Sarasota, Florida, is $4 million. For more information or to make a donation: DickVitaleOnline.com or www.jimmyv.org/vitale.