There are few broadcasters as synonymous with a sport as Richard John Vitale. A giant advocate for college basketball, he has represented the delivery of entertainment value to broadcasts on ESPN since 1979. Dick Vitale never desired to be a broadcaster, but his passion for basketball was too large to pass up any opportunity to be a part of it, thanks to some sage advice from the people he loves.
“My wife was livid. She’s the calmest person you’d ever meet,” Vitale recalled, describing her reaction when he turned down an opportunity to broadcast the first college basketball game on ESPN a second time. “She said, ‘You’re sitting here moping and feeling sorry about yourself. Bottom line is you should go there, have fun, and talk basketball.’”
The pep talk led to a third conversation with former ESPN executive Scotty Connell, where Vitale accepted an offer to stand beside Joe Boyle and call the DePaul game against Wisconsin on December 5, 1979.
Vitale has never left ESPN since. For the last 46 years, the former head basketball coach in both the NCAA and NBA has been a steward for the game. Admittedly, Vitale knew nothing about doing television when he took the position with the network. However, following his first broadcast, he received feedback that defined his legendary career.
A Life’s Work At ESPN
“He [Connell] called me the next day and told me there are two things you have that we can never teach: your energy and enthusiasm, and your ability to share such insights because you know the game,” noted Vitale. “Then he said, ‘You have no clue, none, when to get in and out.’”
Connell decided to keep Vitale on the roster of announcers for the newly formed sports network and placed him with seasoned broadcaster Jim Simpson. All these years later, that trust and support have elevated Vitale to a star of the network. This past June, on his 86th birthday, Vitale officially signed an extension with ESPN through the 2028-2029 college basketball season.
“ESPN is like family to me. After my family, I’ve been with them half of my life. The colleagues and people I’ve worked with have been so special over the years. They treated me like royalty,” said Vitale. “Jimmy Pitaro and many of their key people have supported me and told me, ‘Don’t worry about doing games. You’re still a member of our staff, and you’re still important.’”
Vitale shared the story of Pitaro offering the extension at his annual Dick Vitale Gala in 2024, highlighting the network’s full support of both Vitale and his cause, as well as his importance to ESPN’s history and impact on college basketball.
“He said, ‘Bottom line is, whatever you can do, I’m pleased to have you,’” said Vitale of Pitaro’s remarks at the Gala.
Fighting Cancer
It has been no secret that the longtime broadcaster has struggled with his personal health in recent years. Vitale has been very public about his four battles with cancer since 2021, ranging from melanoma to lymphoma to vocal cord cancer. He explained why he wanted his fight to be so public: to help raise money for cancer research and provide a message of perseverance.
“The reason I made it so transparent: I did it because I knew it would help me raise money for kids. There’s nothing that means more to me right now than bringing a smile to a child’s face and their family’s faces,” explained Vitale, whose Dick Vitale Gala has raised over $105 million for pediatric cancer research. “I wanted to inspire people not to quit and to keep battling. I feel good about that. It makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile with my life. I want to give back now more than ever because people have given me so much.”
Throughout his battles with cancer, Vitale admits there were several ups and downs. The scars remain, but Vitale never gave up, bolstered by the support he received from around the world. He recalled a story from one evening during his lymphoma treatment. A hospital stay that felt like the end, until an encouraging talk with a nurse changed his mindset.
“There was one night after chemotherapy. My doctor told me I couldn’t go home. Things were not going well. I knew it because I was miserable all day. My family was there visiting me, and when they left, I got really hysterical,” recalled Vitale. “A nurse heard me and asked what was the matter. I said, ‘I don’t know, my family just left, and I don’t know if that’s the last time I’ll ever see them.’ It was scary.”
The nurse calmed Vitale’s emotions, using the same messaging he had employed for his career as a motivational speaker and coach. He thanked her and then checked his phone, amazed by the support he saw.
“The people who reached out had no idea what had transpired about an hour before. They all knew I was doing chemo, but that’s it,” said Vitale. “I can’t tell you how those messages encouraged me. I choked up talking about how good people have been to me.”
Getting Back To Basketball
Last month, Vitale shared news from a recent PET scan confirming he is once again cancer-free. Although the battle may be over, the aftereffects remain. He is currently undergoing physical therapy to assist his legs, experiencing pain when standing after sitting. As a result, he has had to cut back on some personal travel to Notre Dame and USC, where he had planned to attend college football matchups.
While Vitale is in no rush to retire from ESPN and calling basketball games, he hinted at how he will know when it’s time.
“I still feel I have a lot to offer. I’ve told my bosses this about a hundred times. You’re not going to have to tell me when it’s over; I’ll tell myself because I would never embarrass myself or my family,” said Vitale. “I don’t do it for the money; I’ve made enough. In my heart I have something to contribute, and I still feel mentally alert and sharp. I would not go on air if I couldn’t remember the names of the players. There’s no way.”
Vitale’s focus for the season is his debut on ESPN on November 4, when he will be on the call with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas for the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational between Duke and Texas—a game named in honor of Vitale’s lasting legacy with ESPN.
“I can’t tell you how touched I was by that. I was told by the people at ESPN in programming and by those who shared that with me, I was moved to tears,” recalled Vitale. “That’s as good as it gets when your company thinks that much of you that they name an event after you. I hope I don’t get too emotional during the game, but it will be a special moment for my career.”
Outside of his season debut for the invitational, Vitale admitted he’s not sure which games he will broadcast for ESPN.
“I don’t know what games I’m doing. The people at ESPN have been very good with me and told me, ‘If you can do a game, do it. If you can’t, just tell us.’ That’s the approach I must take,” said Vitale. “At my age and after what I’ve been through, I can’t just commit. I’d love to do this game and that game, but I can’t.”
Vitale said he is working hard to ensure he’s ready for the November 4 telecast but is taking a slow approach with anything additional.
Every day for the 86-year-old broadcasting legend is a day to be celebrated. With plans to return to the network next month and reflecting on his legacy, Vitale hopes people remember him for the charismatic personality he portrayed on television and the kind heart he displayed off it. Fitting for a man who was labeled “everybody’s buddy” in his 1958 East Rutherford High School yearbook.
“I’d like to be remembered as a guy who did everything with passion, pride, energy, and enthusiasm,” noted Vitale. “Reaching out to all people—I tried to do that all my life. It didn’t matter race or anything else. People are people. I’ve tried to live that in my life.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
