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Dick Vitale will walk into Food City Center and take his place beside the court Saturday with a heartfelt appreciation for the moment.
The iconic broadcaster and Lakewood Ranch resident is back calling elite college basketball games for ESPN after battling four cancers in four years.
“(It) has made sitting at courtside for games such as Alabama-Tennessee the best medicine I can receive,” Vitale wrote in a text message to Knox News on Monday.
Vitale will be on the call on ESPN when No. 5 Tennessee basketball (22-5, 9-5 SEC) hosts No. 6 Alabama (22-5, 11-3) on Saturday (4 p.m. ET) at Food City Center.
“To be part of games like Saturday is so special to me as many dark moments made (me) think at times that will not happen,” Vitale said. “Yes every I game I do makes me feel I am winning the national championship. … Can’t wait baby for this to tip off.”
It is Vitale’s fourth game this season since returning to his courtside role.
The hall of famer called Clemson’s 77-71 win against Duke on Feb. 8 in his first game. He was originally tabbed to return for a Jan. 25 matchup between Duke and Wake Forest, but did not after an accident at home. He called Duke’s 106-70 win against Stanford on Feb. 15 and Alabama’s 96-83 win against Kentucky on Feb. 22.
Vitale’s most recent game at Tennessee was on Jan. 28, 2023, when the No. 4 Vols beat No. 10 Texas 82-71.
Rick Barnes sent Dick Vitale prayers during his cancer battle
Vitale shared in January 2022 that Barnes texted him prayers daily during his battle with cancer. It included Bible references and prayers for wisdom, strength and gratitude for “carrying Dick so he can continue to do the good you have called him to.”
“Rick Barnes was so special in my recovery with his daily prayers and encouragement,” Vitale said. “To me he deserves to be (in the) Naismith Hall of Fame but he already (is) in my HUMANITARIAN HALL OF FAME.”
Vitale, 85, has battled melanoma, lymphoma, vocal cord cancer and lymph node cancer in the past few years. He has…
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Author : Herald-Tribune
Publish date : 2025-02-28 10:01:00
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