Dick Vitale, a legendary sports analyst, reportedly felt “deeply” hurt when ESPN decided to cut him from the Duke-UNC game coverage back in 2015. Although he had commented enthusiastically about the rivalry for 35 years, the network opted to replace him with Jay Bilas, a choice made by then-President John Skipper.
“It really hurt him deeply,” said a colleague, speaking anonymously. This was highlighted in Tom Friend’s profile of Vitale in the Sports Business Journal.
On the night he was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018, friends noted he approached former ESPN executive George Bodenheimer, hoping to return for the Duke-UNC games, only to learn that Bodenheimer had stepped down from the network.
At 86, Vitale has continued to play a significant role in ESPN’s college basketball coverage over the years. He’s celebrated for his energetic broadcasting style and signature catchphrases—like “Awesome, Baby!” and “Dipsy-Doo Dunk-A-Roo.” It’s hard to deny his status as a beloved figure in college basketball.
A former coach in high school and college, Vitale briefly coached the Detroit Pistons in 1978-79 before joining ESPN in 1979, where he called his first Duke game.
Recently, the Paterson, New Jersey native has faced significant health battles, with cancer diagnoses resurfacing in 2023 after an earlier flare-up in 2021. However, he announced in December 2024 that he was cancer-free and made his return to broadcasting on February 8, 2025, during a Duke-Clemson matchup.
At the time of his announcement, Vitale shared on X, “Santa Claus is early. Yes, I’m going to cut down the baby Nets, that’s my national championship!”
Vitale has signed on with ESPN through the 2027-28 season and is set to participate in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, featuring Duke and Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 4th.
