Latest news with #DickVitale
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Dick Vitale ranks Florida Gators inside top three in 2025-26 college basketball preview
Dick Vitale ranks Florida Gators inside top three in 2025-26 college basketball preview Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale is already fired up for college basketball season, and he's high on the defending national champions from Gainesville. In his latest "Dazzling Dozen" preseason rankings for ESPN, Vitale placed the Florida Gators at No. 3 on his list of the top men's basketball teams for the 2025-26 season. Florida basketball trails only the Purdue Boilermakers and Houston Cougars in his rankings, further cementing the Gators' status as one of the sport's elite heading into the summer. The Gators return two key frontcourt starters in Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh, both of whom played major roles during Florida's run to the 2025 national title. Joining them are high-profile transfer additions Xaivian Lee, a dynamic guard from Princeton expected to be one of the highest-paid players in college hoops through NIL, and Boogie Fland, a former Arkansas Razorbacks guard with big-game experience. Head coach Todd Golden has reloaded with a deep roster, blending returning production with elite newcomers. Florida's size, pace and veteran presence make them one of the most complete teams in the country heading into the new campaign. Here is everything Vitale wrote about the Orange and Blue heading into the next season. What Vitale wrote about Florida basketball "The defending champs from Gainesville are chomping for more. Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are back, joined by transfer stars Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland. Can they repeat? They have the talent, baby." Vitale's "Dazzling Dozen" heading into the 2025-26 season Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former No. 1 Pick Believes He'd Get $10 Million in NIL if he Played Today
The era of name, image and likeness has dominated college football. Even former NFL players wonder what could have been if NIL existed. Keyshawn Johnson is one wondering "what if?" The USC legend and former top overall pick in the NFL Draft chimed in on the ongoing money making model in collegiate sports. Advertisement Johnson sounded off on NIL during his appearance on "Games With Names" hosted by Julian Edelman Wednesday. The Super Bowl winning wide receiver for the New England Patriots first asked Johnson: "Would you have left USC for NIL?" Johnson didn't mince words about what his decision would've been. This year's Gala honored former Tampa Bay Buc wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. The mission of the annual Dick Vitale Gala's is to raise money for pediatric cancer research through the V Foundation for Cancer Research to help men, women and children diagnosed with cancer. This year the 2022, 17th Annual Dick Vitale Gala raises a record $11.1 million. For more information and how to donate visit Sar Dick Vitale Gala 12 © THOMAS BENDER/HERALD-TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK "Oh I'm staying at USC," Johnson began. "The reason is because we can pay." But Johnson didn't just bring up the NIL aspect as to why he'd stay at USC. "I'm a loyal person. I'm not a bounce around guy," Johnson said. "I'm not going to leave because someone is offering me $4 million versus two in-a-half. I'm not going to jump around and run." Advertisement However, Johnson believed he would've raked in $10 million at USC had NIL existed during his era. Johnson established himself as one of college football's most dominating wide receivers ever as a perennial All-American. Johnson dove even further by taking a dig at one Southeastern Conference powerhouse. "Leaving USC to go where? To Alabama? I'm not going to [expletive] Alabama," Johnson said. "Me? Alabama? A brother from the west coast? Oh hell no." JuJu Watkins is now the USC athlete cashing in on her NIL endorsement money and taking advantage of the new era. USC football under Lincoln Riley are also using NIL to help win over recruits. Related: USC in the Mix for New York's No. 1 Recruit Amid Push From Big Ten Rivals
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Beloved ESPN Broadcaster Shares Major Health Update Amid Cancer Battle
Dick Vitale is on cloud nine! The beloved ESPN broadcaster shared the feeling after receiving ecstatic news from doctors, who informed him that they've declared him cancer-free. "I am ecstatic! I'm on cloud nine! [Dr. Rick Brow] said the bloodwork was perfect, and he also said four words you love to hear: 'You're cancer-free, baby!'" the 85-year-old college basketball analyst exclaimed in a video posted on X. "Wow, I can't believe it. I really am so excited. It brought me to tears when he delivered it, because as cancer patients, you know that call is nerve-racking time. It's life-changing.' The longtime ESPN broadcaster was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2021. He was also diagnosed with lymphoma, which he also beat. Then, in July 2023, Vitale was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer. Nearly a year later, Vitale shared that a lymph node in his neck turned out to be cancerous. He has since undergone multiple cancer treatments that took him off the air. Upon his return, Vitale was overcome with emotion on press became visibly emotional while sitting alongside his play-by-play partner, Dave O'Brien, and analyst Cory Alexander, during the ACC Tournament championship game. "It's a miracle to sit here with you guys," Vitale said, according to People. "I can't tell you how much you've meant to me. It's been unbelievable. A tough three years, those four cancer battles. I don't wish it on anybody. Cancer sucks."
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Dick Vitale says he is again cancer-free: ‘I'm on cloud nine!'
Beloved basketball broadcast Dick Vitale is cancer-free once again, he announced in a video shared to X on Wednesday. The news is the latest in a winding road of ups and downs for the 85-year-old, who has undergone multiple cancer treatments since his initial diagnosis of melanoma in 2021. 'I am ecstatic! I'm on cloud nine! (Dr. Rick Brow) said the bloodwork was perfect, and he also said four words you love to hear: 'You're cancer-free, baby!'' Vitale exclaimed. 'Wow, I can't believe it. I really am so excited. It brought me to tears when he delivered it, because as cancer patients, you know that call is nerve-racking time. It's life-changing.' My results have arrived from my SCAN & also my BLOODWORK. Dr Rick Brown the Head of Oncology @SMHCS shared with me his evaluation. @jksports @ESPNPR @TheMontagGroup @KevinNegandhi @TheVCEO @TheVFoundation @WSB_Speakers @raycoletv — Dick Vitale (@DickieV) May 13, 2025 Vitale added he's going to have a 'great Italian dinner' to celebrate. 'I feel like I won the national championship!' He said, pumping his fist in the air. Vitale underwent multiple surgeries to remove melanoma in 2021 and was then deemed cancer-free. But in October of that year, he announced he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He then announced that December that he had been diagnosed with Dysplasia — a vocal cord condition that can progress to cancer. Vitale underwent surgery on his vocal cords in February 2022 after taking a hiatus from his broadcasting duties at the start of the year due to the Dysplasia diagnosis. In the summer of 2023, he had two surgeries following a vocal cord cancer diagnosis. By that December, Vitale was again declared cancer-free, but said the treatments took a toll on his voice and he required more healing, causing him to miss the entire 2023-24 basketball season. Another surgery followed in June 2024 after a biopsy of the lymph node in his neck came back cancerous. Advertisement In January, Vitale said a scope of his vocal cords revealed he was cancer-free. He planned to return to the broadcast booth to provide color commentary for a Duke-Wake Forest game on Jan. 25, but an accident at his home unrelated to cancer resulted in the decision to postpone his return. In February, he received a standing ovation from fans, players and coaches before calling a Duke-Clemson game at Littlejohn Coliseum.
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Dick Vitale announces he's cancer-free: 'I feel like I won the national championship'
Dick Vitale announces he's cancer-free: 'I feel like I won the national championship' Show Caption Hide Caption Dick Vitale talks cancer awareness and Clemson vs Duke basketball game Dick Vitale ESPN tv personality talks cancer awareness and Clemson vs Duke basketball game On Tuesday, Dick Vitale was told the four words he was so desperately waiting to hear. You are cancer-free. The longtime ESPN college basketball analyst, who has battled various forms of cancer since 2021, announced on social media that his doctors at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida gave him a clean bill of health after reviewing his scans and bloodwork. 'I can't believe it. I really am so excited,' Vitale said. 'It brought me to tears when he delivered it because as cancer patients, you know that call is nerve-wracking. It's life-changing. …I'm on cloud nine.' REQUIRED READING: Dick Vitale shares emotional cancer message on air: 'Have faith and believe.' Since undergoing surgery in the summer of 2021 to remove melanoma, Vitale has endured several different cancer diagnoses and treatments. He announced in October 2021 that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and later that year, precancerous dysplasia and ulcerous lesions were found on his vocal cords. Two years later, in July 2023, he was again diagnosed with cancer in his vocal cords, forcing him to undergo radiation treatments and in June 2024, a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck showed cancer. During that four-year stretch, Vitale had to step away on several different occasions from calling games for ESPN, where he had become one of the faces of not only the network's college basketball coverage, but the sport as a whole. He missed the entirety of the 2023-24 season before making his much-anticipated return for Clemson's 77-71 win against Duke on Feb. 8. "There were moments I wasn't sure I'd ever sit courtside again," he said to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in advance of his first game back. "Long stretches where I had no voice at all. It was a roller coaster — highs, lows, moments of doubt. But through it all, I kept fighting, believing, and praying. The last time I called a game was on April 3, 2023, the national championship, UConn versus San Diego State for ESPN International. That feels like a lifetime ago. But now? Now, I get to do it again." Following the latest bit of good news, Vitale has some plans in mind. 'Celebration time tonight,' he said. 'I'm going to have a great Italian dinner, man. I feel like I won the national championship.'
