The last, loudest word on March Madness.(Brief Article)

Legally, the NCAAs are property of CBS. If hoops cops pull Billy Packer over, he can whip out a license that doesn't expire until 2013.

But Dick Vitale owns March Madness. Not easy for an icon who has never announced a game in the tournament and probably never will.

Starting with Selection Sunday, when it gets about a 93-second head start unveiling brackets--that's what $6 billion buys--CBS is Official Mouthpiece of the Big Dance But Vitale will be on ESPN with alternative analysis, breaking down his Dow Jonesers, M&Mers and PTPers. The pattern continues all month, with CBS televising every game but Dickie V having the last word on SportsCenter and daily specials. "I get so much time it's unreal," says the shining son of East Rutherford, N.J. "It's another chance tot me to be 61 and act 10."

Then at the Final Four, with Billy P ensconced in his hotel, Dickie V will storm the city, doing interviews, reading bumpers for FM stations, signing autographs, genially ambassadoring. "I respect what Billy has done-more than 20 Final Fours, more than 20 more than I've done," Vitale says. "Me, I love the crowds. I'm a hot dog."

Naw.

In his off-air voice (equal to 7/11ths of the volume of his on-air persona, hold the exclamation points and bay-bees), Vitale calls the void one regret of his fabulous existence. "I've learned never to ...