On Thursday morning, ESPN basketball analyst Dick Vitale tweeted an update about his health, revealing that previous complications with his vocal cords had returned. Vitale had been previously diagnosed with precancerous vocal cord dysplasia that left him on vocal rest for several weeks, a silence broken with medical permission at the 2022 ESPY Awards. He previously expressed that he has no desire to slow down and made a triumphant return to ESPN’s college basketball broadcasts last season while raising awareness and funds for cancer research.
Vitale serves on the board of directors for the V Foundation for Cancer Research and is involved in the “Jimmy V Classic” basketball event each year. Additionally, Vitale himself hosts a gala to facilitate the mission and has raised over $55 million for children battling pediatric cancer. In his announcement, Vitale revealed that he will need two surgeries, the first of which will take place on July 11 and asked for prayers from others. Additionally, he stated that he is currently on vocal rest in preparation for the surgery and will need to continue for 6-8 weeks during the recovery process.
Over the last decade, Vitale has had to endure bouts with melanoma and lymphoma, which then followed with the problems with his vocal cords. When he was in the hospital and away from basketball, Vitale was fueled by the support of family, friends, colleagues and fans and always had the goal of making it back to the broadcast. Much remains uncertain about what Vitale will have to face in the days ahead, and those in the sports world are surely wishing him all the best.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it is learned.
