Dick Vitale, the renowned ESPN college basketball analyst, appeared in public on Monday for the first time in several months, with his ongoing battle against vocal cord cancer.
The former head coach and college basketball broadcaster, who worked for almost four decades for ESPN, spoke alongside Dr. Steven Zeitels, the director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Centre for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation.
Dick Vitale speaks publicly for first time in months, announces plans for broadcast return https://t.co/If2TDV9Lrr pic.twitter.com/RRR1AY2vBt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 17, 2023
I received this from @DickieV. He’s back baby pic.twitter.com/1O8XJvjoEc
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) October 16, 2023
The video of Dick Vitale came forward from Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times on Monday, wherein he made his public speaking debut after a seven-month hiatus.
"This is the first time I’ve been able to speak,"
"I’m gonna do it in moderation for the next couple weeks … I’m emotional. I’m excited. I didn’t speak, you gotta understand, for seven months. You’re the first people hearing my voice in a long, long time."
Additionally, he took a moment to announce that he would be returning to the broadcast team for the Miami Hurricanes vs. Kentucky Wildcats game at Rupp Arena in Lexington on 28th November.
"I hope and pray that I can be there,"
"I plan on being there. … I plan on being in moderation up until that time. I love all of you and thank all of you for your prayers. … It’s been tough, but I just say have faith and think positive."
According to Dr. Zeitels, Vitale"s radiation has proceeded “remarkably well," and his “tissues have all healed."
"At this point, he can start using his voice,"
"He’ll see how long it takes to recover. We had planned to look under the microscope in the operating room [Tuesday], but it looks so terrific that we are going to wait on that because I see no evidence of the cancer whatsoever.
"Given the remarkable recovery he’s had in the last few weeks, the best pathway now is patience, and let’s see how Dick can heal himself and get back to what he loves to do."
The news is wonderful for both Vitale and his loved ones as well as college basketball supporters who hope to see the renowned ESPN broadcaster behind the games once more soon.
