June 2023 was a month Dick Vitale would gladly forget. A commentator for near-5 decades, a devotee of the game even longer, if you’d asked him where he’d be the happiest, Dick V would say “Courtside Baby!” But that dreadful month threatened to take away the one thing he’d loved most his life– announcing. His vocal chord cancer diagnosis had him believe he wouldn’t be back courtside again. But there he was, on February 8th, 2025, calling the Duke-Celmon game. His energy would have you fooled about the pain behind. But as he called what may be his final game, Vitale had to let the emotions out and send a message in the process.

Dick Vitale & Duke have been a story of decades. Or since he started calling the games in 1979. There have been lows and bitter memories, firing and calls of bias. But when the announcer made a return for the first time since April 2023, it was at another Duke game. Fans at Littlejohn Coliseum gave him an overwhelming welcome, making for a moment to hold onto. A little over a month later, it was a Blue Devil game again that Vitale was met with flushing emotions.

At the Spectrum Center this Saturday, Duke erased any misconceptions fans had about the team playing without Cooper Flagg. The Blue Devils went on a huge second-half run to outlast Louisville 73-26 for their 23rd ACC title. Within minutes, Jon Scheyer was cutting down the last bits of the net as the team rejoiced. But emotions ran high courtside, this one away from the celebrations, as Vitale reminisced battles bigger than basketball.

“A miracle really, sitting here with you guys, I can’t tell you how much it meant to me. It’s been unbelievable.” Dick Vitale said on air, tears streaming down his face. Starting from 2021, Vitale overcame four different cancers. It was only in December 2024 that he announced he was at last cancer-free. He recalled the moments as he revealed that this could have been his final game. But he is certainly holding out hope for more seasons. A miracle, really, for Vitale, who underwent 5 major surgeries, 65 radiation treatments and six months of chemotherapy.

“Tough three years…I don’t wish on anybody. Cancer Sucks! I will tell you this: anybody battling cancer, please listen, think positive always and have faith and believe.” But what got Vitale through?

FIGHTING. BELIEVING. PRAYING. Vitale had his wife, Lorraine, daughters, Terri and Sherri, and his entire family by his side, who made the process all the more easy; lifted him up when all felt lost. He hence urges people to check on their closed ones battling cancer. “Send them a text message. Make a phone call. The bottom line, it means so much,” he says.

Every chance he gets, Vitale ensures to reiterate the point. For he knows, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Dick Vitale and his return after crossing multiple hurdles

The 85-year-old ESPN veteran has battled four different types of cancer over the past three and a half years. It all started in 2021 when Vitale first received treatment for melanoma and lymphoma. The surgery was so intense that it took it’s toll as Dick Vitale couldn’t speak for 4 months after surgeries for dysplasia and ulcerous lesions. He was cancer-free the next year, but another battle emerged.

In 2023, he was once again diagnosed with 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.

“THIS is my NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP for 2025! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! See you courtside, baby!”  That’s what it meant for him after his continuous battles with cancer. His return was imminent in January, but he had to postpone it after falling at his home. His official return came during the Duke game versus Clemson on February 8th. The veteran broadcaster hasn’t looked back since, even with his age and cancer battles, Dick Vitale continues to inspire many others!