This Saturday will mark the moment college basketball fans have long been waiting for. Dick Vitale will call his first game for ESPN in nearly two years. The last time Vitale was on the sidelines wearing a headset, he was calling the 2023 NCAA Championship game for ESPN International. Since then, Vitale has had multiple bouts with cancer, which required several surgeries, extensive chemotherapy and some 65 radiation treatments, most recently to treat cancer on his vocal cords.

Vitale, 85, was originally scheduled to return for Duke’s game at Wake Forest on Jan. 25, but a household accident pushed things back two weeks. He will work Duke’s game at Clemson on Saturday alongside Dave O’Brien and Cory Alexander.

Vitale discussed his journey and impending return with Hoops HQ’s Editor-in-Chief Seth Davis. The conversation took place over text message because Vitale is under doctor’s orders to conserve his voice as much as possible.

For more than two decades, Vitale has been a warrior in the fight against pediatric cancer. His annual Gala has raised nearly $100 million for this important cause. To learn more about how you can help Vitale in this fight, please visit the official website for the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.

The text message conversation has been edited for length and clarity.


SETH DAVIS: You were supposed to call the Duke-Wake Forest game a few weeks ago but that had to be postponed. Can you tell us what happened?

DICK VITALE: I slipped in my driveway picking up a box of that was delivered and had a fall that struck my head on the pavement. Had stitches over my eye. Plus the big concern was CAT scan of the area I struck which showed bleeding in my head. Luckily after several days in hospital the bleeding stopped.

SD: Can you describe for me your emotions right now? You’re an emotional guy even in the most boring of times!

DV: Have a variety of emotions as I really keep wondering what is going to happen. It seems like so much has happened since my last time I sat at courtside talking basketball.  I just have so much I am worrying about that I have no control of. The one thing I am thrilled about is that Dave O ’Brien is handling the play by play as he is so so good. I will do all I can in my power to offer insights about the game I love.

SD: So when a player comes off injury they are typically on a minutes restriction. Are you on a words restriction? (Whatever the over/under is, I’m taking the over!)

DV: Yes Dr Zeitals has insisted that I must have total voice rest the day of game. I will converse with coaches on the phone during the week because I cannot go to shoot around. The coaches will give any last minute info plus ESPN will provide updates. I am happy that we are going to use this year a three man booth. Glad Cory Alexander is going to be with us as it takes some of the pressure off in the two hours!   

SD: How are you preparing to call the game?

DV: Preparation is the easy part as I am familiar with both teams. My biggest concern is the worries about my voice handling the test it will face in doing a game. I hope once I get over the emotional feeling thinking about the fact I can’t believe this is really happening that I can be myself. People have been so encouraging. This is a helluva lot better than going for the many treatments of chemotherapy, radiation etc. which I have had. It is amazing I have completed 45 years yet this is going to be the biggest challenge I have ever faced in doing a game.

SD: What is your schedule moving forward? Do you know how many more games you’ll be calling this season?

DV: The plan is to do one per week, which would be super.

SD: What do you think it’s going to feel like when you walk into that arena?

DV: Walking in the arena for the first time in several years is going to be the best medicine that I can ever receive. Jon Scheyer and Brad Brownell have already reached out to me and have said that they  are so happy to have me back doing what I love. It has meant so much that I  have received so many 🙏🙏🙏 and many words of inspiration. No matter what happens, for me to put the headset on at courtside is a major championship moment in my life 85. Though I feel as Frank Sinatra sang “YOUNG AT HEART,” there were times doing chemo that I was just hoping to survive the day not thinking about calling a game.