Report: Dick Vitale 'deeply hurt' by ESPN decision to remove him from UNC vs. Duke broadcasts in 2015

ESPN’s Dick Vitale hasn’t been on location and on the call for Duke–North Carolina since 2015 and it still bugs him. Colleague Jay Bilas has been in that position over the last decade.

While Vitale is still going strong, battling through health issues to cover college basketball, it still stings that he hasn’t been able to see one of the sport’s best rivalries. Vitale recently signed a contract extension through the 2027-28 season, keeping him with ESPN.

Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend wrote a detailed profile of the broadcasting legend where he received some more insight. An unnamed colleague of Vitale revealed the broadcaster’s real, emotional feelings about not calling the rivalry.

“That really, deeply hurt him,” the unnamed colleague said to Friend of SBJ. Vitale has not spoken publicly about the matter.

Vitale allegedly spoke with George Bodenheimer, a former ESPN executive, in 2018 about the games between Duke and North Carolina. During his 2018 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Game induction, Vitale allegedly said “George, is there any way you can help me get back on that game,” per the SBJ profile. Bodenheimer was no longer working for the four-letter-network by that time.

The two games between Duke and UNC will be played as usual and Vitale will surely watch. But, not calling that game, while still calling other marquee matchups of course, surely still stings.

ESPN announced the news of Vitale’s extension in conjunction with the announcement of a new invitational tournament honoring the long-time broadcaster. The Dick Vitale Invitational will begin in 2025.

The first matchup will pit Duke and Texas against each other. The game will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Nov. 4, airing on ESPN.

It figures to be a tremendous showcase for the legend. It will obviously feature two of college basketball’s powerhouses, precisely the kind of game Vitale got famous for calling over the years.

“Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “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.”

Vitale made his return to the broadcasting booth this past February after suffering numerous setbacks. In June 2024, he revealed he had been diagnosed with lymph node cancer and would undergo treatment. It was Vitale’s fourth battle with cancer since 2021, previously surviving lymphoma, melanoma and vocal cord cancer.