Dick Vitale Using Stature To Help Fight Cancer

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale is using his influence to help lead the charge in the fight against cancer. Andy Staples, of SI.com, has the story, below.

ESPN sports commentator Dick Vitale prepares for the matchup between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at the Dean E. Smith Center on February 6, 2008 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  This will be Vitale's first game after missing two months after throat surgery.

On stage, Dick Vitale is most of the things you'd expect Dick Vitale to be. Excited? He's yelling so loud his voice cracks. Demonstrative? His hands fire out in opposite directions every time he jams more emphasis on a syllable.

But Vitale isn't smiling. He isn't talking about Diaper Dandies or Primetime players. He's choking back tears.

Behind him stand three couples. Three sets of parents who buried their children in the past six months because of a disease Vitale swore to his friend he would help fight.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/05/27/dickie-v/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a2