Fans React to Dick Vitale’s Emotional ESPYs Speech (VIDEO)
The legendary sports broadcast Dick Vitale delivered an emotional speech at the 2022 ESPYS on Wednesday, July 20, as he was honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
Vitale, who started his broadcast career in 1979, was diagnosed with lymphoma last October, having previously had surgery for melanoma. Following his surgeries, he suffered from dysplasia and ulcerated lesions on his vocal cords, which meant he could not talk for several weeks afterwards. The long-time college basketball commentator was given the OK to return to work in late November 2021.
In April 2022, Vitale took to Twitter to announce that he was cancer free, quoting the late college basketball coach Jim Valvano — “Don’t Give up DON’T EVER GIVE UP!” Vitale has raised over $50 million for the Valvano-inspired V Foundation over the years.
“We are not going to stop, stop chasing the dream of raising dollars,” Vitale said during his acceptance speech. “Jimmy’s dream was to beat cancer. But we must do it because it doesn’t discriminate. It comes after all.”
He went on to say that the “love” and “caring” he received from fans and peers during his treatment was what has him “standing here today.”
“If you know someone battling cancer, extend that message, extend that prayer,” Vitale added. “So many times I laid in the hospital, and it was those messages that picked me up in the darkest moment. It gave me such a lift to say, you know what, I got to beat this. I hear Jimmy’s words in my head, ‘Don’t give up, don’t give up.’”
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The Jimmy V Foundation has raised around $300 million for cancer research since Valvano’s own famous speech at the 1993 ESPYS. But Vitale encouraged people to continue fighting and donating.
“It doesn’t matter race or religion; it will bring you to your knees,” he said. “There’s only one way to beat it, my friends; we have to raise dollars and give oncologists a fighting chance.”
Check out some of the fan reaction to Vitale’s heartfelt speech below.
Dick Vitale just said Rick Barnes sent him a personal prayer every single day for four months as he battled cancer. That’s just awesome.
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) July 21, 2022
People on Twitter saying Dick Vitale to wrap up his speech, probably never dealt with Cancer or lost someone to the disease. Dickie V couldn’t talk for weeks. The man deserves to talk as long as he wanted. #ESPYS2022 #ESPY #ESPYS
— Kevin Lockett (@kevinlockett) July 21, 2022
I wasn’t alive when Jimmy V gave his iconic speech.
I now know how I would have felt watching it tonight.
The term GOAT gets overused, but it’s right in this sense.
Dick Vitale is the GOAT.
Everyone loves you, @DickieV. You are the best. #ESPYS
— Owen (@Alakazam_428) July 21, 2022
I cud lissen to Dick Vitale giv a speech evry day
— Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) July 21, 2022
Dick Vitale giving an ESPYS speech as only Dickie V can. Random and entertaining, but incredibly poignant and meaningful. One of a kind
— Kevin Ivers (@Kevin_Ivers10) July 21, 2022
I’ll never understand how people can give Dick Vitale a hard time.
This guy is all heart.
— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) July 21, 2022
ESPN producers right now during Dick Vitale’s speech. You should know that you can’t put a legend on a time limit #ESPYS2022 pic.twitter.com/VcsGGSHrju
— Penny Talks (@pennytalks_) July 21, 2022
#DickVitale to be honest, I could let him keep speaking all evening. Knowing that he had lost his voice to pre-cancer, it’s soothing to listening to him go long past the please wrap up on the teleprompter. Every moment he speaks is a victory against Cancer. #ESPYS2022
— Gregory O’Neill (@QCGreg) July 21, 2022
