"I pinch myself every time I come through the door," says the 65-year-old celebrity. "Who would have thought I'd ever have anything so beautiful? I come from a family of love but not money. My dad pressed coats in a factory and we all shared one bathroom growing up. I've been so fortunate to realize my dreams and to have financial success for my family. But believe me, I never take it for granted. This house is everything that we wanted for us and our family." And he says all this without taking a breath.

The architect for the 12,000-square foot, two-story home was Gerald Messman, who collaborated with Paul Fletcher, both of the Tampa firm of Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects & Planners, Inc. The house was built by Roy Dupuis's Anchor Builders, and interiors were designed by Anne Folsom Smith. Smith worked with the Vitales on their previous residence in Prestancia, and that house had such an efficient floorplan that Dick and Lorraine duplicated it for the Lakewood Ranch residence. But there were significant modifications, since this house is nearly double the size and sits on two lots on a cul- de-sac.

"The style is informal Mediterranean, with some characteristic Mizner touches," says Smith. "The attitude is relaxed, but the public rooms are dressy." The grand salon or living room has a double volume ceiling that soars to 24 feet.

"I like big rooms," says Dick. "I'd rather have fewer large rooms than a lot of small ones. This house doesn't have many walls; one room flows into the next and everything opens out to the pool area."

Smith convinced her reluctant clients not to cage the pool. Now they're happy they followed her advice, since the outside is an expansive "room" of its own, high on visual impact with a white pergola as the focal point. A tangle of deep pink bougainvillea winds around the columns.

Lorraine, who's as serene as her husband is hyper, delegated all the furniture selections and accessorizing (even the art) to her designer. "I trust Anne's taste completely," she says. "She knows exactly what Dick and I are like." The only furniture that made the move is a baby grand piano. Everything else was custom made or bought specifically for this home. Lorraine requested an earthy palette for the public rooms of the home, a complete change from the Florida pastel scheme the couple had enjoyed for 11 years in Prestancia.

Taking her color cues from a large Oriental carpet she purchased for the living room, Smith crafted a warm, sophisticated scheme using terra cotta, moss, tan, caramel, rust, wine, and cream. Dick didn't want anything dark. The flooring throughout is pale, polished limestone, and the tall downstairs windows are uncovered. Smith selected stationary side drapery panels to soften the expanses of glass and subtly frame the vistas. Because of its open floor plan and because the loggia pool area is part of the living space, the house can easily accommodate 400 for a party.

Fabrics for the transitional-style furniture are plush. "Lorraine wanted to make sure this is a house for everyday living and easy entertaining, definitely not just a showplace," emphasizes the designer. "So we chose easy maintenance materials. Lorraine also requested that tables have rounded corners because of their grandchildren, who have the run of the house, usually with Papa or Lolo, which is what the children call Dick and Lorraine, running after them."

The Vitales have four grandchildren, all under the age of three. Happily, they live nearby and take full advantage of one of Lolo's favorite rooms of the house, a big, fully equipped playroom right at the center of the home. "We can watch the children from the café, which is what we call our kitchen and eating area," says the grandmother. Twin boys are most often in that space. Their mom, Sherri, is her dad's executive assistant, taking care of his book tours, ESPN travel schedule and speaking engagements. Her office is just outside his on the first floor, on the opposite side of the home from the master bedroom.

Dick Vitale does not keep an office at ESPN; his home office is command central for his work, and it's big and technically sophisticated. He keeps a gallery upstairs-he calls it his "memorabilia lounge"-with photographs, game balls, awards and such. An exercise area is part of that space.