Sun Mar 16 22:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Vitale’s Emotional Farewell: Beloved Announcer Reflects on Cancer Battle After Final Game
**DURHAM, NC –** Legendary ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale delivered an emotional farewell message Saturday night following Duke’s ACC Tournament championship win over Louisville. The 85-year-old broadcaster, who recently announced he was cancer-free after four battles with the disease in just over three years, became visibly emotional on air.
“It’s like a miracle to sit here,” a tearful Vitale said, his voice raspy but filled with emotion. “A tough three years… those four cancer battles. I don’t wish it on anybody. Cancer sucks.”
Vitale, whose youthful energy remains a hallmark, revealed that Saturday’s game was his final broadcast of the season. Doctors have advised him to limit himself to one game per week following multiple vocal cord cancer surgeries. He expressed hope for a return next season, stating, “I’m praying, hopefully, I can be back next year, maybe even better.”
The Basketball Hall of Famer, with ESPN since its inception in 1979, has been a vocal advocate for cancer research, notably supporting his friend Jim Valvano. Vitale’s recent health struggles underscore his deep personal connection to the cause. He underwent surgery last summer to remove cancerous lymph nodes and has battled melanoma, lymphoma, and vocal cord cancer in recent years.
First Piper 