ESPN announces Hall of Famer Dick Vitale’s return to broadcasting after latest cancer battle

One of the preeminent voices in college basketball is returning to the air after a nearly two-year absence. Dick Vitale’s most recent television assignment for ESPN was April 3, 2023.

Vitale was on the call for the international broadcast of that season’s men’s basketball national championship game between the UConn Huskies and San Diego State Aztecs. 

The Hall of Fame broadcaster is scheduled to resume his analyst duties when Duke goes up against Wake Forest Jan. 25 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The 85-year-old’s return comes after he faced four different types of cancer over 3½ years.

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Vitale had his most recent medical procedure last summer after a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck showed cancer. Earlier this month, the legendary broadcaster declared he was cancer-free.

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In 2021, months after undergoing a handful of surgeries to remove melanoma, Vitale was diagnosed with lymphoma. The next year, he announced he was cancer-free. In 2023, Vitale learned of his vocal cord cancer diagnosis, and he underwent radiation treatment.

“I am absolutely ecstatic, and I can’t believe this is happening after going through five major vocal cord surgeries, 65 radiation treatments and chemotherapy for six months,” Vitale said in a statement.

“It’s been a very tough journey, but all of the prayers and messages from the beautiful fans have inspired me. I can’t thank Jimmy Pitaro and all of my ESPN colleagues who I consider my second family enough for the love they showed me through such a tough time. I just hope that I can offer the people some basketball insights that can bring even more excitement to the game.”

Pitaro, ESPN’s chairman, said Vitale “is one-of-a-kind.”

“There is no better ambassador for the sport of college basketball than Dick Vitale. Even while navigating his own health challenges, Dick continued to look for ways to give back and help others, inspiring us all,” Pitaro said in a statement. “Dick is one-of-a-kind, and we can’t wait to have him back doing what he loves most on ESPN on Jan. 25.”

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Vitale has been with ESPN for more than four decades, joining the network during the 1979-80 college basketball season. He has since called more than 1,000 games. 

Vitale was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in September.

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