Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale has been fighting a gallant battle against cancer. But Vitale went in for further tests and they revealed that he had been diagnosed with melanoma lung and liver cavity cancer.
When news was shared by ESPN and Vitale about his medical situation, the sports world shared many tender thoughts and prayers in his direction.
Sports World Sends Love to ESPN’s Dick Vitale
ESPN PR’s account on X shared a message from Vitale himself. The account posted on X, “Sharing a health update on behalf of @DickieV. Your ESPN family is with you every step of the way, Dick”.
Sharing a health update on behalf of @DickieV
Your ESPN family is with you every step of the way, Dick ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Uvoiv6dedN
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 13, 2026
Longtime ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared the ESPN PR post and wrote on X, “Everybody rooting and praying for @DickieV”.
Everybody rooting and praying for @DickieV: https://t.co/YG07YR2Dz3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 13, 2026
Jon Rothstein, College Basketball Insider for CBS Sports, shared this message on X for Vitale: “Prayers for Dick Vitale (@DickieV).” He also posted a number of praying hands emojis after his written message.
Prayers for Dick Vitale (@DickieV).
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/rtbDK6AUgl
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 13, 2026
Pete Thamel, College Football Senior Writer for ESPN, posted this message on X: “Prayers with the great Dick Vitale.”
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, who hosts the morning talk show “Get Up,” wrote this on X: “Fight like hell, @DickieV. We all love you and are behind you every step of the way.”
Fight like hell, @DickieV.
We all love you and are behind you every step of the way. https://t.co/4toxtLTPuj— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 13, 2026
NFL reporter Ed Werder, who worked at ESPN and now is a Dallas Cowboys Insider for WFAA in Dallas-Fort Worth, wrote on X, “Continued prayers for @DickieV”. Pat Forde, Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated, shared this thought: “Keep inspiring, keep fighting @DickieV”.
Dave Shore, a former ESPN on-air talent and executive, posted on X, “Prayers lifted for you DV! I know you will keep pushing forward”.
Sage Steele, who also used to work at ESPN and now hosts “The Sage Steele Show,” shared this warm thought: “Love you @DickieV” followed by a praying hands emoji and a heart emoji.
Love you @DickieV 🙏🏽❤️
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) April 13, 2026
Vitale, in his message that he posted on X, wrote on Monday, “I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called . It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan – Cat scan – 2 MRI’s- Biopsy – multiple bloodwork – now at least I know what I face. The Melanoma Lung & liver cavity cancer will mean I will start IMMUNE THERAPY next week – plan on winning the battle !”
For decades, Vitale’s voice has been synonymous with ESPN’s college basketball coverage. Vitale’s flair for calling a player a “P-T-P’er” and other catchphrases have become part of the sports lexicon.
Now Vitale faces yet another cancer battle, but he’s doing so with bravery and faith.
