Dick Vitale is deeply connected to college basketball, with his distinctive voice and passionate style creating an unforgettable soundtrack for nearly 50 years of the sport’s history.
His impactful broadcasting will continue into the next season, featuring in-person meet-and-greets on game days and a college basketball calendar established in his name.
On Monday, ESPN announced that Vitale will extend his contract through the 2027-28 season, introducing the Dick Vitale Rainvitational event. The inaugural match will be the season opener between Duke and Texas, taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 4th.
Interestingly, this announcement follows shortly after “Dickey V” celebrated his 86th birthday and months after he made his return to the airwaves following a two-year hiatus due to a battle with cancer. The Basketball Hall of Famer, who has been affiliated with ESPN since its inception in 1979, is famed for being the network’s first college basketball broadcaster.
“Often, accolades come to people only after a considerable time has passed,” Vitale shared in an interview with the Associated Press. “Receiving it while you’re alive is such an incredible feeling.”
Vitale’s career revolves around a genuine love for college basketball, a sentiment shared by fans who grew up listening to his commentary. His unique and vibrant style is unmistakably his own, characterized by memorable catchphrases such as calling freshmen “diaper dandies” and urging coaches to “recruit better babies.”
“For many, I believe he embodies the essence of sports,” said Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN events. “He represents all the best elements of sports, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with him and grateful for his involvement.”
Honoring Vitale
Overby noted that discussions about an event bearing Vitale’s name had been contemplated many years prior.
The ESPN event is teaming up with the Charlotte Sports Foundation, building on previous collaborations like the Jumpman Invitational and the Ally Tip-Off event in Charlotte. Following the Duke-Texas game, the event will explore how it can expand to multiple nights in different cities.
Overby emphasized that Vitale deserves all the respect; he was the one who welcomed him into the world of college basketball while he watched games on television in Wisconsin.
“Late-night basketball games were often accompanied by his voice,” Overby recalled. “For years, he was my window into that realm. Many people feel the same; he provided a bridge between sports and television for countless fans.”
Returning to Action
Vitale expressed his eagerness to be courtside this fall, referring to it as “the best medicine” to collaborate with commentators like Dave O’Brien and Dan Shulman.
“I feel really good,” Vitale stated. “I truly do.”
After undergoing surgery last summer to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck, Vitale has previously battled melanoma and lymphoma and received treatment for vocal cord cancer last year. He described feeling “restricted” after losing his ability to speak and resorted to writing messages on an eraser board for communication.
“I advise people: ‘If you know someone fighting cancer, take a moment to reach out, send some encouragement and prayers,'” Vitale emphasized. “I know how much it uplifted me during my darkest times.”
Now, he expresses gratitude for the support from his family and ESPN, feeling “fortunate,” “blessed,” and “lucky.”
He confirmed in December that he is cancer-free. He returned to the court for Clemson’s home victory over Duke on February 8th, and became emotional at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in March when he shared with colleagues that it felt like “a miracle to be sitting here with you guys.”
Future Outlook
Among several initiatives, Vitale continues to be a long-standing advocate for cancer research. He played a pivotal role in bringing his friend Jim Valvano to the ESPY stage in 1993, where Valvano delivered his famous “don’t give up” speech shortly before passing away from adenocarcinoma.
The V Foundation announced last month that Vitale’s 20th gala has raised $12.5 million for pediatric cancer research over the last year, totaling more than $105 million throughout its history. Vitale remarked, “This may be the greatest achievement of my life.”
In terms of his broadcasting career, Vitale looks forward to celebrating 50 years with ESPN in 2029.
“I do this because I love it, and I feel mentally sharp enough to continue,” said Vitale. “There was a time when I couldn’t recall my name, didn’t recognize players, teams, or strategies, but now I feel very good about it.”
“Many have told me, ‘You’ve accomplished enough, why not just take it easy?’ They don’t realize that all these games are my relaxation!”
___
AP College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball poll
Source: apnews.com