Dick Vitale Rumors

Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale said the initial shock of the 2020 NCAA tournament being canceled left him despondent. Then Vitale said he quickly became grounded in the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic that’s prompted all NCAA spring sports to be canceled and pro sports leagues to be put on hold. “I love March and college basketball as much as anyone. But what’s going on is bigger than sports,” Vitale told USA TODAY Sports by phone. “When peoples’ lives are at risk, basketball goes on the backburner. Initially, I thought postponing the NCAA tournament made more sense. Those three weeks, there’s no greater time in sports for mom, dad, grandma and grandpa. But at the end of the day, we’re dealing with an infectious disease. I said to myself, ‘My friend, you love basketball. But you love people more.'”

“There are politicians worried about the economy, and I understand that because no one wants to be out of a job,” Vitale said. “But the economy should never come at the expense of people’s lives. Seniors should not have to sacrifice for the economy. I want to live, man. My wife wants to live, man. “To the political leaders, forget liberal, conservative, this is not about political agendas. We need to keep the (guidelines) in place.” Vitale hosts an annual Gala to raise funds for the V Foundation and pediatric cancer research. He’ll invite celebrity sports figures, with Dabo Swinney attending last year. Vitale moved the Gala, usually held in May, to September.