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Dick Vitale Reveals Reason He Gave Pat McAfee His 1st Interview in 3 Years

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 3:40 PM ET

It has been a difficult three years for popular college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale.

For the fourth time in those last three years, Vitale underwent a battle with cancer, which has damaged his vocal cords but also affected his neck. Vitale, though, announced that he was declared free of the disease back in December.

Vitale, 85, then returned to work on ESPN's airwaves. His call of the ACC Tournament Final earlier this month was his final broadcast of the 2024-25 season, and he vowed to take some time off before coming back next year.

But on Tuesday, Vitale returned to television to talk on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show," despite doctors' orders to rest his vocal cords.

"This is the first live interview that I've done in three years..

My goal is to raise money for kids battling cancer and I'm so proud of this..

We have raised $92.8M and this year we're gonna go over the $100M mark" ~ @DickieV #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/N1lhV97Fbu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 25, 2025

He explained to McAfee that he had a good reason for violating his doctors, though.

"I am trying to raise money for kids battling cancer, Pat," Vitale said. "Especially after what I went through. I want you to know this is the first live interview I've done in three years. Doctors have put me on unbelievable voice rest, like I said, I have had five major vocal-cord surgeries, and I am just honored and thrilled and almost moved to tears to be able to talk because about a year ago, I eight weeks not able to talk. Writing everything down."

Vitale said he can't imagine what it is for kids and parents to go through the grind of what he endured--surgeries, chemotherapy--during his cancer fight. So he decided to use his voice to promote his upcoming gala through the V Foundation.

"My goal is to raise money through the V Foundation for kids battling cancer. So far, I am so proud of this. I am in multiple Hall of Fames and all that jazz but part of me is so excited to tell you this: We have raised through my gala, $92.8 million. And this year, we're going to go over the $100 million mark."

The Dick Vitale Gala will be held on May 2 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Florida.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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