During the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four championship game between the Connecticut Huskies and the San Diego State Aztecs, college basketball announcer Dick Vitale made a shocking announcement on air. He revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer in his lymph nodes for the fourth time. Vitale expressed his gratitude towards his family, friends, and colleagues at ESPN for their support and assured his fans that he will win this battle. He is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to begin his treatment.
Despite his health struggles, Vitale continues to provide color commentary for ESPN college basketball games. Since 1979, he has been a fixture in the world of college basketball broadcasting and is considered one of the sport’s most iconic voices. He was honored with induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 for his contributions to the game.
Vitale’s first cancer diagnosis came in 2021 when he was diagnosed with melanoma followed by lymphoma a few months later. In November 2021, Vitale emotionally returned to the broadcasting booth after his initial cancer treatments. However, he had to step away in January 2022 due to inflammation of his vocal cords. In July 2023, Vitale announced that he had been diagnosed with vocal cord cancer but successfully underwent radiation treatments before being declared cancer-free in November of that year.
Vitale’s latest cancer diagnosis has come as a surprise to many, but it is not new ground for him. He has faced health challenges before and always found ways to overcome them while continuing to do what he loves – providing insightful commentary about college basketball games for ESPN viewers around the world.
