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Legendary college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale announced that he is once again battling cancer.
The 86-year-old announced Monday that a biopsy confirmed he had melanoma in his lungs and liver cavity, and that he was immediately starting immunotherapy to combat it.
This is the fifth time Vitale has been diagnosed with cancer, and he previously had melanoma.
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ESPN analyst Dick Vitale before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Thompson-Boling Arena at the Food City Center on March 1, 2025. (Randy Sartin/Imagn Images)
“I beat melanoma,” Vitale said in a statement released by ESPN. “I beat lymphoma. I beat vocal cord cancer. I beat lymph node cancer. I have a rating of 4 out of 4 and I’m fully confident that I’m going to make it 5 out of 5.”
Vitale posted a separate social media post Monday, in which he said he underwent days of tests, which included scans, MRIs, blood tests and a biopsy to once again confirm what doctors thought was cancer.
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“I obviously didn’t get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called me,” Vitale said. “Now at least I know what I’m up against.”
“Dickie V” is one of the most established sports broadcasters in the United States, delivering countless memorable calls thanks to his natural enthusiasm for the game and his moments on the field.
Vitale’s impact on college basketball dates back to the launch of ESPN in 1979, and he has nearly five decades in the sport with a contract with the “world leader” for the 2027-28 season.
Dick Vitale on the sideline during the Champions Classic men’s college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Michigan State Spartans on November 15, 2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)
However, health issues arose in 2021 when he was first diagnosed with melanoma. Lymphoma followed, and then he needed chemotherapy and radiation for his vocal cord cancer.
In 2024, he had to undergo surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck, and Vitale’s iconic voice could not be heard as he was unable to speak for some time after vocal cord surgery.
But like the other four diagnoses, Vitale remains upbeat and in good spirits, saying he feels “fantastic” and ready to face a new battle.
“At 86 years old, I’ve lived one hell of a life and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer,” Vitale said.
The New Jersey native spent time coaching at Garfield High School before returning to his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, where he led teams to two New Jersey state titles.
Dick Vitale attends the 2022 ESPYs at Dolby Theater on July 20, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Léon Bennett/Getty Images)
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Vitale then coached as an assistant at Rutgers before heading to the University of Detroit as head coach. He remained in the Michigan city to coach the Pistons from 1978 to 1979.
Once he finished coaching the Pistons, Vitale joined ESPN, calling his very first college basketball game in 1979, a game where DePaul beat Wisconsin.
