On June 29, 2024, yet another heartbreaking post made its way to X as Dick Vitale confirmed his vocal cord cancer diagnosis. “My report on the biopsy of the lymph node in my neck has arrived, & it is cancerous,” he announced. Seemed like the iconic voice behind college basketball was to come to a halt. But of course, it’s Vitale and he wasn’t letting it go without a fight. Not one to tolerate anyone questioning his genuine love and passion for whatever he does, the sportscaster won the battle. And here he is.

Despite being 85, Vitale has made a return to end his broadcasting silence. After his first appearance at Littlejohn Coliseum last week, the commentator is back to announce he is here to stay! He took to X himself and penned, “I’m heading to @DukeMBB Saturday to join Dave O’Brien & Cory Alexander on ABC Network at 4 PM for their ACC matchup with @StanfordMBB.” And, no doubt, the game he’s set to broadcast is as exceptional as he is.

Both Stanford and Duke basketball share a history of rivalry dating back to 1999. Since then, the Cardinals have held a 2-1 lead over their opponents, with their last game ending in a 70-54 win for Duke in 2014. Averaging nearly 77 points per game against Stanford, the anticipation is high for Duke to tie the score.

However, the spotlight isn’t just on the game.

During his last Duke game versus Clemson on Feb 8th, as he made his much-anticipated return to ESPN airwaves since April 2023, the crowd rallied behind the broadcasting veteran. As if that wasn’t enough, the in-arena announcer welcomed him while the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

“Tonight, we celebrate the return of a true legend,” the announcer began. “For over four decades, his passion, energy, and unmistakable voice have defined the game we love. After a two-year battle with cancer, he’s back where he belongs—courtside, calling the action and inspiring us all.”

And he’s right. Prior to broadcasting, Vitale was a head coach for the Detroit Titans for four seasons. Not just that, he also coached the Detroit Pistons for the 1978-79 season before being fired 12 games into the following season.

Notably, that was the first time he began broadcasting for ESPN. Also, he has been a member of both the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And honestly, even if we list all his achievements, everything he received on his comeback day still seems small in comparison to the battle he has returned from.

Against all odds: Dick Vitale triumphs in the biggest battle of his life!

The 85-year-old ESPN veteran has battled four different types of cancer over the past three and a half years.

“I want to say thanks to all the people. The reception here has been really off the charts,” Vitale said while wiping off his tears on his return. “I’m sorry for being so emotional—I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here.”

It all started in 2021 when Vitale first received treatment for melanoma and lymphoma. It was so intense that he couldn’t speak for four months after undergoing surgeries for dysplasia and ulcerous lesions. The following year, he was declared cancer-free. But his battle wasn’t over yet.

In 2023, he was once again diagnosed with cancer—this time, vocal cord cancer. Then, in June 2024, he announced yet another diagnosis. Still, his hopes of getting back remained high, and he underwent surgery to remove cancerous nodes from his vocal cords.

Finally, in December last year, he proudly announced that he had won the fight once again and was cancer-free. As he faced his medical battle, he understood the importance of research and dedicated time to raising funds for it. Now he is back, seeming like the happiest man in the world.

“THIS is my NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP for 2025! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! See you courtside, baby!” Vitale shared. Thanks to his efforts, here he is once again, back to broadcasting with no intention of retiring anytime soon.

Do you feel inspired by him?