Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale revealed on social media that he has been diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time. Vitale announced on Friday that a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck confirmed the presence of cancer. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Despite the challenges ahead, Vitale expressed gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support from his family, friends, and colleagues at ESPN. The 85-year-old has previously battled melanoma and lymphoma and underwent radiation treatments last year for vocal cord cancer.
Vitale has been a fixture at ESPN since its inception in 1979, known for his passionate commentary and fundraising efforts for cancer research. He famously supported his friend Jim Valvano during Valvano’s inspiring “Don’t give up” speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards, shortly before Valvano’s death from adenocarcinoma.
