Many college basketball fans have wished Dick Vitale would lose his voice someday and this season it appears to have come true.

Hard to believe a guy who has spent 29 years on his knees and yelling at the top of his voice about all things Duke Basketball would run into some throat trouble but Vitale has been spending the last several weeks seeking medical help for his current situation.

To: My favorite people, all of the fans that make college basketball special!
From: Dick Vitale

During the past month and a half, I have had a very difficult time with discomfort in my throat. Personally, I want to apologize to all of the fans and all of the beautiful people at ESPN who have been fantastic to me during my 29 years working at the network.

I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people, especially my current teammates, Dan Shulman, Doris Burke, coordinating producer Dan Steir and director Doug Holmes, who have all been so understanding and supportive.

The past six weeks have been very emotional me and for my family as we've visited some of the most outstanding throat specialists. Fortunately, I am currently under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Deems in Sarasota, FL and he is an outstanding ear, nose and throat specialist. Dr. Deems strongly recommended that I visit Dr. Steven Zeitels, who is recognized as one of the premier throat and voice specialists in the nation.

Dr. Zeitels serves as the director for the Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. After an examination, it was determined that I had lesions on my left vocal cord and that they should be surgically removed. Dr. Zeitels said his goal is to have me back sitting at courtside in early February.

I'm not a doctor but the remedy seems fairly obvious. Stop yelling. Perhaps talk a little less. I actually do like Dicky V, so I don't mean to be too insensitive, just a little. His passion for hoops is infectious and for that I've always weathered the yelling storm because in the end he's helped make college basketball what it is. I just find a small dose of humor in that so many have wished this day would come.

Get better, baby!

Letter to my fans [Dick Vitale]