This is awesome, baby! Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale is on a legendary hot streak.
On April 17, Vitale was presented with the Dean Smith Award at the annual U.S. Basketball Writers Association awards banquet. The Dick Vitale Gala celebrated its 20th annual event on May 2, surpassing $105 million raised for the V Foundation’s Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Vitale was then recognized as a Winged Foot Award “Legend” by the New York Athletic Club on May 6 and on May 13, Vitale announced the best news of all – that he is cancer free.
More accolades followed this month. Vitale was inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame on June 4, the latest in more than a dozen halls of fame he’s been selected for.
Today, on Vitale’s 86th birthday, ESPN announced the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, a new ESPN Events men’s college basketball event that will annually honor Vitale, and a new multi-year contract extension for the legendary analyst through the 2027-28 season.
“Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport. We are also thrilled that Dick will remain a signature voice on ESPN through the 2027-28 season.”
Vitale shares his thoughts on today’s news:
What does it mean to you to have an annual college basketball event in your name?
I couldn’t believe it when I got the call from ESPN. They said, ‘we want to have a big game called the Dick Vitale Invitational.’ I said, ‘are you serious?!’ All of the people at ESPN, starting with Jimmy Pitaro, and all of my friends and colleagues have been so great to me especially with my recent battles with cancer. They’ve been by my side from day one and to do this is unbelievable. Long after I’m gone, to still have a game out there with my name attached to it? Wow, that is truly unbelievable!
And two more years added to your contract! How exciting is that?
Jimmy surprised me at my Gala with the news. He gets up in front of the crowd and he says, ‘hey Dick, I want you to know this. I looked up your contract and you’ve got one year left. Well, you know what, you don’t have one year anymore. We’re going to add two years to give you three more.’ That will take me to 49 years at ESPN. I want to work 50 years here and then I want to be the first guy to do a game when I’m 100 years old. That’s not that far off! It’s only 14 years away! I’m going to be there – don’t laugh at me!
The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational will take place on November 4, featuring Texas vs. Duke at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
