ESPN’s Vitale has surgery on vocal cords again
SARASOTA — With the goal being a return to his familiar ESPN college basketball microphone, Dick Vitale on Thursday underwent a four-hour surgery on his vocal cords at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The procedure was done by throat specialist Dr. Steven Zeitels, who performed the previous vocal cord surgeries on the 84-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident. Vitale underwent two surgeries during the middle of last year, with the hope of returning to courtside in November. But his voice didn’t sufficiently improve, as he hopes the latest procedure accomplishes.
“(Zeitels) felt he did everything that he had as his goals,” Vitale said. “Now, I must be on total voice rest for several weeks, then I will return to Boston for an evaluation to see if the procedure worked in getting my voice back.”
Vitale said Zeitels was unable to guarantee his voice will improve enough to resume his broadcasting duties.
“(He) made it very clear that there was no guarantee, but had a chance to provide an opportunity to be effective in improving the quality of my voice,” he said. “I certainly pray that happens and gets me back where I want to be.”
At the dedication last week of a dream court in his name at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club in Sarasota, Vitale, speaking barely above a whisper, said this wasn’t where he wanted to be six months following his last surgery.
“(Zeitels) is going to see what he can do,” Vitale said. “Nowhere near capable (of broadcasting games). If I just had to live, it would be no problem. But I want to go on TV.”