Dick Vitale cancer update: ESPN broadcaster reveals latest on broadcasting future

ESPN broadcasting icon Dick Vitale provided another positive update on his ongoing battle to return courtside for the Worldwide Leader.

In a Wednesday morning social media post on X/Twitter, Vitale announced his doctor declared his vocal cords “cancer free” after a recent scope and gave the broadcasting legend the go-ahead to return to calling basketball games for ESPN in the near future.

Just had scope of my vocal cords & I was very emotional with the great report by Dr ZEITELS . He said the vocal cords are cancer free & he feels I can return to my love of being at courtside for @espn . pic.twitter.com/r4tJHcTiMF

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 8, 2025

This latest update follows an encouraging trend for Vitale, who announced last month his latest scan revealed he was officially cancer-free.

“SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER ! OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your (prayers),” Vitale wrote in his Dec. 12 tweet. “Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!”

The 85-year-old Dick Vitale has been working his way back to calling college basketball games for ESPN since stepping away prior to the 2023-24 season, what would’ve been his 45th season, after he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in July 2023. After beating that, Vitale was later diagnosed with lymph node cancer in June 2024. It was Vitale’s fifth fight with cancer since 2021 after previously recovering from battles with lymphoma and melanoma.

Neither Vitale nor ESPN has announced when exactly he will return to the ESPN airwaves, but the latest news could mean college basketball fans will once again be able to hear his iconic voice yelling “diaper dandy” sooner than later.

Dick Vitale calls for Mike Krzyzewski, Nick Saban to be commissioners of college basketball, football

College football and college basketball have changed drastically in recent years, and a lack of NCAA rules, and enforcement of rules, has led to some issues. ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale called for changes to college basketball and college football on Monday.

Vitale took to Twitter to make his case for former Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski to take over as the commissioner of college basketball, with former Alabama football coach Nick Saban serving as the commissioner of college football.

“CHAOS and the Wild Wild West scene is wacky in college,” Dick Vitale posted on Twitter. “Look, I feel players deserve money for certain situations like appearances. etc. But the current scene is out of control. ZERO rules — make Coach K & Nick Saban Commissioner’s of hoops & football!”

Dick Vitale is one of several people to suggest Nick Saban and Mike Krzyzewski serve as commissioners of their sports.

Matt Connolly and Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.