Dick Vitale, ESPN Hall of Famer, to return to broadcasting after cancer battle.
A Duke-Wake Forest game will be called by Vitale on January 25.
Dick Vitale, a prominent voice in college basketball, is returning to TV after a two-year hiatus. His last assignment for ESPN was on April 3, 2023.
The UConn Huskies and San Diego State Aztecs' men's basketball national championship game was broadcast internationally, with Vitale on the call.
The Hall of Fame broadcaster will resume his analyst duties when Duke faces Wake Forest on January 25 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After battling four different types of cancer over 3½ years, the 85-year-old is making a comeback.
Earlier this month, Vitale declared he was cancer-free after undergoing his most recent medical procedure last summer following a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck that showed cancer.
In 2021, Vitale underwent surgeries to remove melanoma and was later diagnosed with lymphoma. The next year, he announced being cancer-free. In 2023, Vitale was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer and underwent radiation treatment.
Vitale expressed his excitement and disbelief after going through five major vocal cord surgeries, 65 radiation treatments, and chemotherapy for six months.
"Despite the challenges, the prayers and messages from devoted fans have kept me going. I am deeply grateful to Jimmy Pitaro and my ESPN family for their unwavering support during this difficult period. I hope to provide basketball insights that will enhance the excitement of the game for everyone."
Pitaro, ESPN's chairman, said Vitale "is one-of-a-kind."
"Dick Vitale is the best ambassador for college basketball, and he continues to inspire others despite his own health challenges. ESPN is excited to have him back on the air on January 25."
ESPN has had Vitale on its team for over four decades, starting with the 1979-80 college basketball season. He has since called over 1,000 games.
Vitale was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in September.
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