ESPN signs Dick Vitale to extension, creates annual event in his honor
Additionally, ESPN unveiled the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, an annual men's college basketball event that will honor the color commentator and former coach. The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational will feature Duke against Texas on Nov. 4 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
REQUIRED READING: The 2025 NBA draft deadline has passed. Who are the college basketball winners and losers?
"I couldn't believe it when I got the call from ESPN," Vitale said to 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 (ESPN chairman) 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!"
Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, joining as a college basketball analyst shortly after the network went on the air. During that time, he has called over 1,000 games and become synonymous with ESPN's college basketball coverage with his high energy, colorful personality and famous catchphrases.
His latest contract will stretch his ESPN tenure to nearly 50 years.
Vitale's on-air work has earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In April, he received the Dean Smith Award, which is given out annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to "an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values" of the iconic former North Carolina coach.
Vitale has been a more infrequent presence on ESPN over the past several years as he has undergone treatment for various forms of cancer. He called his first game in nearly two years in February, when Clemson upset No. 2 Duke.
"Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all," Pitaro said in a statement. "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."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Stephen A. Smith blasted by ex-ESPN colleague in scathing attack after new $100million deal
Stephen A. Smith is arguably ESPN's biggest star, but not because he's the most prepared, according to one former colleague. Jason Fitz, a former ESPN sports radio host who was laid off in 2023 and has since joined Fox Sports, claims the polarizing media figure is actually too busy to watch games. 'Stephen A. is one of the least prepared people I've ever worked with in my entire career,' Fitz told Memphis' ESPN Radio affiliate during a recent guest spot. Smith, who recently signed a five-year, $100 million extension with ESPN, has faced criticism since being caught playing solitaire on his phone During Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis. He's since claimed he was multitasking. The controversy surrounding Smith only grew this week when the 57-year-old Bronx native claimed Memphis' notorious crime rate was preventing the NBA's Grizzlies from attracting top-level free agents. 'But there's an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don't feel it's the safest environment. I'm talking to the local authorities in Memphis,' Smith said. 'You've got to clean some of that stuff up because it's dissuasive to NBA players. They have talked about it. I know. They've told me.' And it was that latest controversy that Fitz was responding to when he blasted Smith this week in Memphis. Claiming to work 80 hours a week during his time with ESPN, Fitz admitted Smith 'is busier than I ever was.' 'We see him making content 24/7,' Fitz said. 'So, I guess my question to people in Memphis is: how much Memphis do you think he's actually absorbed? And I mean all of it. Memphis culture, Memphis basketball. 'What the hell does Stephen A. know about the city of Memphis? And the answer to that is only what his friends or his people on his phone, tweet him, or text him. That's all he knows. He is so separated from actual reality. What does he know?' And Fitz didn't stop there. Smith's content, Fitz argued, is rooted in stereotypes rather than first-hand information. 'Stephen A. walks and talks and lives and eats and breathes stereotypes,' Fitz said. 'That's all he knows… Frankly, he has to talk about the city of Memphis because my guy hasn't watched a single Memphis basketball game in probably three years. 'Stephen A. has a staff and info group that feeds him information so that he can have somewhat informed opinions, and they're usually not because he works too hard to actually watch any games.' The West Tennessee city on the banks of the Mississippi has been plagued by gang activity with a whopping 398 murders in 2023 compared to less than 100 just 13 years earlier. But as Memphis mayor Paul Young said in his response to Smith, 'violent crime is down significantly in 2024 and 2025.' He went on to extend an invitation for Smith to visit Memphis, which the ESPN host accepted. 'Deeply appreciate your words and the sentiments that came with them,' Smith wrote on X this week. 'Progress is what life is all about and when it comes to Memphis -where some dear friends of mine reside − I wish for nothing less. The people deserve nothing less. 'So with that said, I accept your invitation to come to your city, as your guest. Let's make it happen. I'm looking forward to it.' As for Fitz's criticism of Smith, it's not the first time sports aficionados have questioned the First Take host's expertise. One such incident popped up in August of 2024, when the self-professed Yankees fans discussed New York's Aaron Judge and his then-teammate, Juan Soto. 'Judge has Juan Soto batting behind him so they can't get around him… they've got to pitch to the brother because you have Soto waiting in the wings,' Smith said ESPN. Smith, as countless baseball fans quickly recognized, was exactly backwards about the whole situation. It was Judge who hit behind Soto in the Yankees' lineup last season, thereby motivating pitchers to throw strikes to Soto in hopes of avoiding a walk and giving Judge the chance to drive in another run.
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
Stars sign F Mavrik Bourque to 1-year contract
June 21 - Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque signed a one-year contract worth $950,000. Bourque, 23, was in line to become a restricted free agent on July 1. "Mavrik is a dynamic and highly-skilled player whose vision and hockey IQ stand out every time he is on the ice," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a news release on Friday. "His ability to create plays and elevate the game is something we value deeply in such a young player. We are excited to have him back and are confident he'll continue to make a significant impact for our team." Bourque totaled 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) and a plus-6 rating in 73 games this past season. He was selected by Dallas with the 30th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. --Field Level Media
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Unicorns thrash Super Kings to extend unbeaten MLC start
Faf du Plessis' hundred was in vain as San Francisco Unicorns chased 199 to beat Texas Super Kings by seven wickets in Major League Du Plessis made 100 off 51 balls as Super Kings posted 198-5 in the first game at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas this shared 97 with New Zealand's Devon Conway (23) for the first wicket and 69 with Saiteja Mukkamalla (38) for the 40-year-old was dismissed off the first ball of the 17th over and Super Kings were then restricted to 32 from the final four chase got off to a rapid start with Australia's Matthew Short (61 off 29) and New Zealand's Finn Allen (78 off 35) sharing 117 in 8.3 and Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk (37 off 25) put on 52 in 24 balls for the second wicket and although both were dismissed Unicorns got over the line with 23 balls are top of the table and extend their unbeaten start to four matches, while Super Kings are second after their first defeat.
