Dick Vitale: Surgery| Coaching career| Does have cancer| Young

Dick Vitale, also known as “Dickie V”, is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well known for his 41-year tenure as a college basketball broadcaster for ESPN.

Dick Vitale: Surgery| Coaching career| Does have cancer| Young

Surgery:

I had my scheduled follow-up visit today with Dr. Steven Zeitels, a leading throat specialist, who had diagnosed me with Dysplasia on the vocal cords a few weeks ago and ordered me to rest my ailing voice.

Well, today, Dr. Z. delivered the news that even though the rest really helped, I need to give my voice an even longer “T.O., Baby!” And there is no doubt I will soon need surgery to solve my Dysplasia and ulcerated lesions of the vocal cords.

Coaching Career:

Vitale then coached at the University of Detroit (1973-77), compiling a winning percentage of .722 (78-30), which included a 21-game winning streak during the 1976-77 season when the team participated in the NCAA Tournament. Included in the streak was a victory in Milwaukee over Al McGuire’s eventual national champion Marquette team.

In April 1977, Vitale was named Athletic Director at Detroit and later that year was named the United Fund’s Detroit Man of the Year. In May 1978, he was named head coach of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, which he coached during the 1978-79 season prior to joining ESPN.

Does have cancer:

Vitale, who was diagnosed with lymphoma and vocal cord dysplasia last year, announced on Monday he needs to continue to rest his voice and will not call any more college basketball games this season on ESPN.

Vitale said he has reduced the inflammation in his vocal cords by 60 percent, though he said he will still need surgery in the near future.

Young:

The longtime ESPN college basketball announcer revealed in October he had lymphoma, which marked his second cancer diagnosis in three months.

The 82-year-old started treatment and chemotherapy and missed the start of the season, but he did make a tearful, emotional return for a game between then-No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 UCLA in November.

Vitale then said late last month he had been diagnosed with pre-cancerous dysplasia on his vocal cords, and he needed to rest.