Dick Vitale Announces He's Cancer-Free After PET Scan: 'Santa Claus Came Early'

ESPN's college basketball personality Dick Vitale announced on Thursday that he is cancer-free after a cancerous lymph node was discovered in his neck in June.

Vitale was also diagnosed with melanoma in Aug. 2021, lymphoma in Oct. 2021 and dysplasia and ulcerated lesions of the vocal cords in early 2022, which sidelined him from broadcasting for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

He underwent surgery in July to remove the lymph nodes from his throat.

Nearly Vitale's entire life has been dedicated to basketball.

Before his broadcasting career, he was a high school basketball coach in New Jersey (1963-71), an assistant coach for Rutgers (1971-73), the University of Detroit Mercy's head coach (1973-77) and the head coach of the Detroit Pistons (1978-79).

He has served as a college basketball broadcaster and analyst since 1979 and became a cultural icon within the sport, renowned for his exuberance and animated expressions and catchphrases.

Star freshman are "diaper dandies." Players who come up big in the clutch are PTPers, or "prime-time players." Three-pointers are "trifectas."

He is a beloved figure in the sport, and that was reflected in the response's to Thursday's news:

Vitale hasn't been able to call a game since 2022 as he's battled through his various bouts with cancer.

"I miss so much the entire college spirit at the games as I always love being able to share time with the players, coaches, fans, media and especially my ESPN colleagues," he told USA Today in March.