Dick Vitale called his first game with ESPN on Dec. 5, 1979, shortly after the company’s Sept. 7 launch.
Forty years later, Vitale is a college basketball icon, whose mere presence in an arena signifies a game’s magnitude and sends fans into a frenzy. Through it all, Vitale has always remembered his roots and has become a passionate fundraiser in the fight to end cancer.
“Forty years! It blows my mind,” Vitale said. “I remember walking in doing that first game, and it seems like yesterday. I can’t believe how 40 years have just flown by. It’s been a journey that’s exceeded any dream I ever had. I owe so much of my career to all the beautiful people at ESPN and the incredible college basketball fans.”
Enjoy a brief retrospective in the video above, depicting some of Vitale’s adventures throughout his 40 years – and counting – at ESPN.
Shelby L. Lacy and Anna Negron produced the video above.
