At the 2022 ESPY Awards, Dick Vitale spoke for 20 minutes as he accepted the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance after dealing with multiple health challenges. He talked about the brilliance of his medical team, the power of being surrounded by those you care about, and he told the room to "keep chasing."
Now, a year after that speech, Vitale's perseverance will be put to the test yet again. The legendary college basketball analyst said Wednesday he was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer, a culmination of a series of vocal cord issues that has him on voice rest.
Vitale, who had multiple surgeries for a melanoma and was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021, was slated for multiple surgeries to repair his vocal cords this summer. He will now get six weeks of radiation to battle the cancer.
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Ever the optimist, of course, Vitale would like to be back on the court calling games by college basketball season this year.
"I plan to fight like hell to be ready to call games when the college hoops season tips off in the Fall," Vitale wrote. "[Throat specialist Dr. Steven Zeitels] feels that scenario is entirely possible."
This is an update on my meeting today with Dr ZEITELS. Though I was disappointed with the pathology report, I plan on winning this battle like I did vs Melanoma & Lymphoma ! pic.twitter.com/pu61XJSm43
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 12, 2023
Dick Vitale health update
According to Vitale, he was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer, his third cancer diagnosis since 2020.
Vitale had multiple surgeries to remove a melanoma before being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021. The announcer was deemed cancer free in August 2022, but he was diagnosed with cancer in his vocal cords, or laryngeal cancer, Wednesday.
Vitale was on complete voice rest in preparation for two throat surgeries this summer, and he has been on at least partial rest since January. Vitale was diagnosed with Dysplasia on his vocal cords in January, and was ordered to rest by Zeitels.
DeCOURCY: ESPN's Dick Vitale expects to be fine after more vocal cord surgery
Vitale chronicled his battle with lymphoma, something he'll undoubtedly continue to do with this diagnosis. While coming back for the 2023-24 season may seem ambitious at first blush, as Vitale said during the 2022 ESPYs: "Don't bet against me."
How old is Dick Vitale?
Born June 9, 1939 in New Jersey, Vitale is 84 years old.
A former high school, college and NBA coach, his first game as a broadcaster was in December 1979 at 39 years old.
Since then, Vitale has become a lionized figure in college basketball. His inimitable enthusiasm has permeated every broadcast he's been on, and he's covered games into the thousands.
Vitale has been on the mic for the better part of 44 years, and he clearly plans to get to 45.
