Dick Vitale signs contract extension as ESPN announces annual game in his honor
Awesome baby!
Dick Vitale, 86, signed a contract extension with ESPN through the 2027-28 season Monday.
That was not the only present he received on his birthday.
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ESPN also announced the Dick Vitale Invitational, which will take place in Charlotte, N.C., on Nov. 4, 2025.
This year's matchup will feature Duke and Texas.
'ESPN has been such a vital part of my,' Vitale said. 'I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational.'
Dick Vitale is pictured in 2021.
AP
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The legendary college basketball color commentator has been with ESPN since 1979.
During his career, he has coined many legendary catch phrases, including 'it's awesome baby' and 'diaper dandy' for talented freshmen.
Unfortunately, those lines have not been heard on the airwaves for quite some time.
Vitale announced that he was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for melanoma near his nose om August 2021.
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Just three months later, he was diagnosed with cancer again.
This time, his diagnosis was lymphoma.
Once again, he was able to claim victory over cancer, announcing he was cancer-free in 2022.
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He was even able to return to television to call ESPN's international broadcast of UConn's 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game victory over San Diego State.
Dick Vitale at a press conference in 2021.
Getty Images
Still, cancer continued to try to get in his way.
In July 2023, he was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer.
\After radiation treatments, he was advised by doctors to rest his voice, forcing him to miss the 2023-2024 season.
Vitale had to fight cancer one more time in June 2024 as cancer was found a lymph node in his neck.
But in the end, Vitale defeated it again.
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On X, Vitale said that this was 'my national championship.'
Vitale's return to broadcasting happened in February 2025 when he called a regular-season matchup between Duke and Clemson.
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