Dick Vitale, the iconic college basketball analyst, is making his comeback to ESPN after a two-year absence due to cancer. Vitale will resume his analyst duties on January 25th.
One of the most celebrated voices in college basketball is making a triumphant return to the airwaves after a nearly two-year hiatus. Dick Vitale 's last on-screen appearance for ESPN was on April 3, 2023, where he provided commentary for the international broadcast of the men's basketball national championship game between the UConn Huskies and the San Diego State Aztecs.
The Hall of Fame broadcaster is set to resume his analyst duties on January 25th when Duke takes on Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Vitale's comeback comes after a challenging battle with four different types of cancer over a period of three and a half years. His most recent medical procedure took place last summer following a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck that revealed cancer. Earlier this month, the legendary broadcaster joyfully declared himself cancer-free. In 2021, after undergoing multiple surgeries to remove melanoma, Vitale was diagnosed with lymphoma. The following year, he announced his victory over cancer. However, in 2023, he received a diagnosis of vocal cord cancer and 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,' stated Vitale. '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, praised Vitale as '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,' said Pitaro. '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.' Vitale has been a part of the ESPN family for over four decades, joining the network during the 1979-80 college basketball season. He has since called over 1,000 games. Vitale was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in September
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