Sports
Dick Vitale returns to court, gets recognized at SEC tournament
NEWNow you can take heed to Fox Information articles!
That was superior, child!
School basketball icon Dick Vitale made an look on the Southeastern Convention Match on Saturday, getting acknowledged for his contributions to the game, the league and his struggle in opposition to most cancers.
Vitale, who lives about an hour south of Tampa in Sarasota, was introduced a basketball signed by the SEC’s 14 coaches earlier than the primary of two semifinal video games at Amalie Enviornment. Vitale walked into the venue amid a standing ovation — and shouts of “Dickie V!” — and accepted the autographed ball from league Commissioner Greg Sankey at midcourt. He made a short cease at ESPN’s broadcast seats, the spot he held for many years earlier than stepping again for well being causes.
Vitale, 82, has been public about his remedy for assorted medical points, together with no less than two types of most cancers.
He hadn’t made an in-person look at a school basketball recreation since calling reigning nationwide champion Baylor’s 57-36 victory in opposition to Villanova in mid-December. Shortly thereafter, medical doctors put him on voice relaxation upon discovering precancerous dysplasia on his vocal cords that required surgical procedure.
ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale, left, meets with SEC commissioner Greg Stankey earlier than an NCAA school basketball between Texas A&M and Arkansas on the Southeastern Convention event, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla.
(AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
Vitale stated within the fall he had been recognized with lymphoma, months after a number of surgical procedures to take away melanoma. He has chronicled his therapies and restoration on social media, posting images of physician visits and hospital stays whereas issuing motivational suggestions recorded earlier than he was placed on voice relaxation.
Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, the yr the community launched. He referred to as ESPN’s first school basketball broadcast.
For almost so long as Vitale has been part of school basketball, he has been preventing in opposition to most cancers. He helped Jim Valvano to the ESPYs stage the place Valvano delivered his iconic “Don’t quit” speech.
A outstanding fundraiser for youngsters’s most cancers analysis, Vitale is planning his seventeenth annual Dick Vitale Gala in early Might in Sarasota. The occasion has raised greater than $50 million for the V Basis for Most cancers Analysis.