Hall of Fame basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale shared concerning news about his health, revealing that recent tests showed some abnormalities. Despite feeling physically great and mentally sharp, Vitale announced that further testing is recommended to determine the next steps after an upcoming biopsy.
Last year, Vitale, 86, was declared cancer-free and returned to the broadcast booth. However, he has battled four different types of cancer in the past five years, including melanoma, lymphoma, vocal cord cancer, and lymph node cancer.
Vitale’s history of health challenges includes undergoing procedures for vocal cord tissue removal to check for cancer in 2023, being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2021, and managing non-cancerous dysplasia that affected his voice.
Working at ESPN since 1979, Vitale has a rich basketball background, coaching at various levels before transitioning to broadcasting. He coached high school teams in New Jersey, served as an assistant coach at Rutgers, and led the University of Detroit to the NCAA tournament. Vitale also had a stint coaching the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Vitale was inducted into both the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
