Dick Vitale’s Broadcasting Return Delayed After Fall

Legendary sports broadcaster Dick Vitale’s highly anticipated return to the commentary booth has been postponed due to a recent fall at his Florida home. The 85-year-old was scheduled to call the Duke vs. Wake Forest men’s college basketball game on January 25th, marking his first broadcast since 2023 after battling and overcoming cancer. This comeback game was set to take place at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as reported by ESPN.

Vitale announced the unfortunate news of his fall on January 18th via X (formerly Twitter), stating he was recovering in the hospital. He reassured fans that neurosurgeons determined surgery was not necessary and that he was making significant progress. “I’m sorry that unable to post about sports but I’m recovering from a tough fall & being kept active at the hospital. Good news is the neurosurgeons have said I am making great strides & surgery not necessary. So sorry that I can’t get at courtside as was planned,” Vitale shared in his post.

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The following day, Vitale confirmed on X that he had been released from Sarasota Memorial Hospital and was back home. He expressed gratitude to the medical staff and everyone involved in his recovery. In a statement to ESPN, Vitale emphasized that the fall was unrelated to his previous cancer diagnoses. He expressed disappointment at missing the opportunity to return to courtside but remained optimistic about his future in broadcasting.

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“I’m devastated that I won’t be courtside with my ESPN buddy Dave O’Brien and with all the players and fans, especially because of the overwhelming response I received when news of my planned return was announced,” Vitale’s statement read, according to ESPN. He added, “I was anxiously awaiting the chance to feel the excitement and energy of a college basketball environment for the first time in nearly two years.”

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Vitale’s recent fall comes just weeks after he celebrated being cancer-free following a series of battles with melanoma, lymphoma, and vocal cord cancer. He had announced in December 2024 that a PET scan showed no signs of cancer, marking a significant victory in his multi-year health journey. He was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma in 2021, achieving remission in 2022. In 2023, he faced vocal cord cancer and subsequently underwent surgery in 2024 to address cancer found in a lymph node. Despite these setbacks, Vitale remains determined to return to broadcasting, expressing his unwavering love for the sport and commitment to recovery.