Dick Vitale has a problem. For the moment, he can’t talk.
No, that’s not quite right. That would be tough, but if it were temporary, he probably could deal.
It’s that he can speak, but he’s not allowed.
His physician, throat specialist Dr. Steven Zeitels, has him on complete voice rest for between 6 and 8 weeks as he prepares for two separate surgeries this summer to repair issues with his vocal cords. The prognosis for his return to calling games for ESPN is excellent.
In the meantime, though, this is not awesome, baby.
“It’s a big challenge for someone like me, who absolutely loves to interact with people,” Vitale told the Sporting News. “I’m disappointed in that news yet I’m also encouraged that Dr. Z thinks my voice will be ready to go in time for the college hoops season.”
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Vitale, 84, last had issues with his vocal cords in February 2022, and two successful surgeries that allowed him to return to the air. Prior to that, he had undergone treatment for melanoma and then a substantial round of chemotherapy starting in the fall of 2021 to battle lymphoma. He announced he was cancer-free in August 2022.
Vitale told TSN this week that Zeitels “discovered that some of the issues with my vocal cords have returned.” He is not delighted to be forbidden to speak but has great optimism about returning to the air for what will be his 45th season broadcasting for ESPN.
His work has earned him induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the College Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Hall’s Curt Gowdy Award for excellence in basketball coverage, the National Sports Media Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
For those who know Vitale, it is no surprise one of his great concerns in this circumstance is not being able to offer a friendly hello or hold a conversation with people who are fans of the work he’s done with the network or his annual gala to raise money for pediatric cancer, which this May topped the $30 million mark – not for all the time he’s been doing it, but this year alone.
Of course he apologized to those he might encounter during this period.
“I’m sorry in advance if you see me and I simply can’t talk to you, and I’m so grateful for the continued prayers and support,” he said. “I will try and stay in touch and plan to share my thoughts over social media since I can’t communicate my usual way!”