Dick Vitale received good news at his checkup with Dr. Steven Zeitels, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation Center, and has plans on making his return to ESPN to call college basketball on Nov. 28 when Miami faces Kentucky. In a video posted on social media, Vitale spoke for the first time in seven months and expressed that he would be utilizing his voice in moderation for the next couple of weeks. Throughout his message, his emotion was palpable and potent, and he shared that viewers were the first people to hear his voice in a very long time.
The video then panned to Dr. Zeitels, who explained that Vitale had undergone a variety of procedures to manage vocal cord cancer. He expressed that the hospital had plans to look under the microscope in the operating room, but changed their course of action after the images demonstrated no evidence of the presence of the cancer. Dr. Zeitels acknowledged that they will need to monitor Vitale’s condition and could ultimately engage in an endoscopic procedure to enhance his voice.
“The best pathway now is patience,” Dr. Zeitels said. “Let’s see how Dick can heal himself and get back to what he loves to do, which is being with all of you and announcing.”
Vitale previously fought both melanoma and Lymphoma and was declared cancer-free this past April. Following this important step in his recovery, he proceeded to share details of his broadcast return, stating that he is hoping and praying that he will be able to be at the Miami-Kentucky game. Until then, he will use his voice in moderation with hopes of making it back courtside to call games, something he has no intention of stopping any time soon.
“I love all of you and I thank all of you for your prayers and your unbelievable love you’ve sent me,” Vitale said. “It meant so much to me. I tell you – it’s been tough. It’s been tough, but boy, I just say [to] have faith [and] think positive, and I’ve tried to do that.”
