Dick Vitale cleared for return to sideline, broadcasting role at ESPN

Field Level Media|published: Wed 8th January, 14:52 2025

ESPN analysts Dick Vitale is recognized for his return to Allen Fieldhouse during Saturday's game against Indiana.

A month after trumpeting Dickie V is cancer-free, legendary college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale said Wednesday he has been cleared by doctors to return to the sideline and call games for ESPN.

"Just had scope of my vocal cords & I was very emotional with the great report by Dr ZEITELS . He said the vocal cords are cancer free & he feels I can return to my love of being at courtside for @espn," Vitale posted via X with photo evidence from the examination.

Just had scope of my vocal cords & I was very emotional with the great report by Dr ZEITELS . He said the vocal cords are cancer free & he feels I can return to my love of being at courtside for @espn . pic.twitter.com/r4tJHcTiMF
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 8, 2025

Vitale, 85, declared in December that he was cancer-free after his fourth diagnosis in four years. He cleared the latest setback which was dealt in June, when doctors advised he needed surgery to address lymph node cancer just six months after beating his previous cancer diagnosis.

A beloved figure in the sport, Vitale has not worked a college basketball broadcast since 2022.

He was diagnosed with both melanoma and lymphoma in 2021. After announcing he was cancer-free in 2022, he was diagnosed with laryngeal (vocal cord) cancer in 2023. He said in December of last year that he was given a clean bill of health.

A former head coach for Detroit Mercy and the NBA's Detroit Pistons, Vitale called ESPN's first college basketball broadcast in the company's first year of existence in 1979.

--Field Level Media