Dick Vitale Is Still Going Strong, Baby!
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DICK VITALE DOES not stop. The man has covered sports for four decades. He's battled three types of cancer (melanoma, lymphoma, and vocal cord cancer) within the past three years. He exercises consistently. He posts frequent motivational videos on Twitter. In fact, he's more optimistic than ever—even while he's trying to bounce back from vocal cord surgery that's taken him out of commission on covering the 2024 NCAA tournament. Oh, yeah, and he's 84 years old.
"You have two choices: you can feel sorry for yourself and pack your bags, or you can battle and fight as hard as you can using every resource you have," he tells Men's Health via email as he recovers from his surgery. "I have been blessed to be surrounded by a family that gives so much love and positive support on a daily basis. This is what motivates me to keep fighting and to stay optimistic even in the most challenging times."
Although the legendary college basketball sportscaster isn't planning to put his headset back on until next year (he's currently working with his vocal cord surgeon and a speech therapist to get comfortable behind the mic again), he's still posting his hoops takes on social media. In between the madness, MH caught up with Vitale, who offered up his wisdom on aging, longevity, and, of course, his bracket predictions.
MEN'S HEALTH: The work you do as a sports broadcaster requires a high level of mental fitness—an incredible memory, communication skills, and the ability to riff on the fly. What are some of your tips for staying sharp and prepared at 84 years old?
DICK VITALE: At 84 years old, it takes handling what you can control to the best of your ability. I try to keep up with everything that is happening in the world of sports and college basketball. I’m constantly reading and watching games. I’m also a big believer in staying on top of other current national and world events. I have been very fortunate so far to be able to have a keen memory on many of the subjects that I deal with and my heart breaks for those who are not as fortunate.
MH: How do you prepare to commentate? Are there any specific skills, tactics, or tools you’ve utilized over the years?
DV: I have a specific routine that I have followed during my 45 years at ESPN. I break down my preparation into long-term analysis and short-term analysis. First, I study what each team is doing in a broad sense. I look at patterns, key players, and playstyles from previous games or seasons. Then, when I have an assignment, I really focus in on the two teams that I will be commentating on.
I have been blessed to have strong relationships with many of the coaches and the first thing I do is I call the coaches of both teams and zero in on what is happening in relation to their respective teams. For example, I may ask what players are hot and what players are struggling. I also always ask each coach to give me two keys that they feel are vital for success in this specific game. Preparation is key to me in anything I do—whether it’s broadcasting a game or giving a motivational speech.
MH: What does your current diet and exercise routine look like?
DV: The first thing that I say to people battling cancer is to be as active as you can both physically and mentally. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT! Physically, like everything else in my life, I have a regular daily routine that includes exercise such as walking at a fast pace and lifting weights. Prior to my cancer battles that started a few years ago, I also played singles tennis three times a week. I actually miss that a lot, but six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments have prevented me from continuing with the tennis.
As far as diet is concerned, I try to avoid eating red meat as much as possible and I start each day with cranberry juice and assorted fruits. I usually have a light lunch of soup or a sandwich. Dinner is my main meal. I love Italian food and sometimes it’s hard to avoid eating too much. I also try not to eat between meals.
MH: What's the hardest thing from a cognitive perspective—memory, focus, something else—to getting older?
DV: I have always had a major concern about keeping my memory as sharp as I can. The biggest fear as a broadcaster is worrying about recalling moments in the past that relate to the game that you are commentating on. I made a commitment many years ago that when the time came that I wasn’t able to keep up with the personnel, statistics, or circumstances of the game, that I would be the first to pick up the phone and tell my bosses that the party is over and it’s time for me to go the sideline. I don’t feel that my memory has faded at all. My biggest dilemma has been dealing with my vocal cord surgery.
MH: You’re known for the motivational tips you post on social media. What’s your best tip for remaining physically, mentally, and emotionally fit at any age?
DV: The best motivational tip I can give anyone is to develop a passion and sense of pride about who you are and try to live each day to the best of your ability.
MH: What are your March Madness bracket predictions for this year?
This year will be filled with many surprises based on what has transpired during the regular season. Going into the greatest three weeks in sports, the chase to be national champion, I think three teams have separated themselves from the rest of the field when the regular season ended: Houston, Purdue, and UConn. However, they are not locks for making it to the greatest weekend in basketball, the Final 4.
We had one of the wackiest days I’ve seen in my four-plus decades at ESPN on Saturday, March 16. It was Hoops Hysteria! This just tells me that predicting games in March Madness is going to be a guessing game. I think there are a lot of teams that are going to surprise us this year. Don’t sleep on these teams: McNeese, James Madison, Samford, and Charleston. Though they are not household names, they are all well-coached and have players that have a winning mentality. They are the reason the next three weeks are called “March Madness,” baby!
MH: Are there any specific players you have your eye on?
DV: Players that have true star power, which is a key in these one-game-and-out situations, starts with Zach Edey from Purdue. He is the sure National Player of the Year. I also really like RJ Davis from UNC, Dalton Knecht from Tennessee, and Jamal Shead from Houston. They are all special talents. Edey and Purdue will play with a chip on their shoulders after their subpar performances during the past two tournaments.
MH: Who do you think will win it all?
DV: My VBDI (Vitale Bald Dome Index) says I am going with Kentucky to win the 2024 National Championship, beating UConn in the final. [Editor's note: Kentucky lost in the first round in a stunning upset to Oakland on March 21.] Coach John Calipari has all the parts that make them a legit threat. I love their two Diaper Dandies in Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, plus a veteran scoring machine in Antonio Reeves. The Cats are very deep, have size, and are multi-talented. If they commit to playing solid team defense, they can beat anyone.
MH: What's your favorite March Madness memory?
DV: My favorite memory is my late buddy Jimmy V’s North Carolina State team winning the national title at the buzzer vs. the favored Houston Cougars in 1983. Yes, that was special, but even more so is the fact that Jimmy V’s legacy is golden due to the $300+ million dollars that has been raised for cancer research in his name to battle every form of cancer through The V Foundation. My new book that just came out, Until My Last Breath, is dedicated to courageous young cancer survivors and all my profits will go to The V Foundation for pediatric cancer research.
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