Dick Vitale will call first game since 2023 next week after beating cancer

MrsTylerKSR

Nov 23, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Basketball commentator Dick Vitale poses with a Vegas Golden Knights Hockey Fights Cancer jersey given to him before the start of a game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Here’s some happy news on a Friday afternoon: ESPN announced that Dick Vitale will call his first game since 2023 next week after beating cancer for the fourth time. The legendary broadcaster will be on the call for Duke vs. Wake Forest at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem on Saturday, July 25 alongside Dave O’Brien (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). It will be his first assignment since April 3, 2023, when he called the international broadcast of San Diego State vs. UConn in the national championship.

“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. “It’s been a very tough journey, but all of the prayers and messages from the beautiful fans have inspired me.”

“I just hope that I can offer the people some basketball insights that can bring even more excitement to the game.”

The news comes nine days after Vitale shared his doctor had cleared him to return to calling games and one month after he first announced his cancer was gone. Dickie V. has been battling cancer in various forms since 2021 and had to step away from broadcasting prior to the 2023-24 season, which would have been his 45th in the industry.

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“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 Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. “Dick is one-of-a-kind and we can’t wait to have him back doing what he loves most on ESPN on January 25.”

It’s fitting that Vitale’s first game back features Duke. I’m sure he’ll have a lot of praise for Cooper Flagg — a certified Diaper Dandy — but even the biggest Duke hater may get a lump in their throat when the camera cuts to Dickie V on the sideline for the first time. It’s gonna be awesome, baby!

Maybe he can follow it up with a trip to Lexington the following Saturday for Kentucky vs. Arkansas?