Dick Vitale is inextricably intertwined with college basketball, with his iconic voice, exuberant style and enthusiastic catchphrases melding into a soundtrack for nearly five decades of the sport’s history.

And the broadcasting great’s influence is sticking around next season, too, both in person on game days and through an addition to the college basketball calendar named in his honor.

ESPN announced Monday that Vitale has signed a contract through the 2027-28 season, while ESPN Events is launching the Dick Vitale Invitational — the first matchup coming with a season-opening tilt between Duke and Texas on Nov. 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Fittingly, the announcement comes on Vitale’s 86th birthday, and months after he returned to the airwaves after being gone for two years amid a fourth battle with cancer.

NFL

Colts late owners’ daughters will take over ownership >> The Indianapolis Colts are moving forward with the late Jim Irsay’s transition plan for ownership, which calls for his three daughters to take charge of the club.

The team said that Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson each would continue to hold the title of owner, which they have done since 2012 when they were named vice chairs. Irsay-Gordon is now CEO, and Foyt is executive vice president. Jackson will be chief brand officer.

Irsay died last month at age 65. He had long battled issues of health and addiction and had been far less visible following a fall at his home in December.

Packers to release CB Alexander >> Jaire Alexander has been released by the Green Bay Packers, ending a seven-year run in which he emerged as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks before injuries limited his availability.

The Packers announced the move a day before they open their mandatory minicamp. The decision is expected to clear about $17 million in cap space.

The 28-year-old Alexander has spent his entire career with the Packers, who selected him out of Louisville with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Alexander made Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2022, but he has played in only 34 of the Packers’ 68 regular-season games over the last four years.

Bengals release LB Pratt >> The Cincinnati Bengals are releasing linebacker Germaine Pratt.

The move gives the Bengals $5.6 million in salary cap savings.

Pratt, who was going into the final season of a three-year contract, was one of the longest-tenured Bengals but requested a trade during the offseason. He was a third-round pick in 2019 and started 88 games over six seasons.

Jags extend Punter Cooke >> Pro Bowl punter Logan Cooke has signed a four-year contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cooke, a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, was entering the final year of his second deal with the team. It had been unclear how Jacksonville’s new regime would handle Cooke’s contract situation.

Cooke established career highs with a gross putting average of 49.4 yards and a net punting average of 44.8 yards last season.

NBA

Cavs’ Garland has surgery on toe >> Cavaliers guard Darius Garland had surgery on the injured left big toe that hampered him during Cleveland’s exit from the playoffs.

The Cavaliers said the procedure was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, in consultation with team physician Dr. James Rosneck and Dr. Bob Anderson.

The All-Star guard missed the final two games of the regular season and four games during the playoffs with the injury, which was described as a sprain.

MLB

Red Sox call up top prospect >> The Boston Red Sox are calling up top prospect Roman Anthony two days after the 21-year-old outfielder hit a 497-foot grand slam for Triple-A Worcester.

Anthony will make his major league debut at home against Tampa Bay, batting fifth and playing right field, manager Alex Cora said.

A second-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, Anthony is batting .288 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 58 games this season.

Rays’ Franco’s attorney asks for client to be exonerated >> The attorney for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco said he will ask the court to exonerate his client of all charges in a sexual abuse case involving a girl who was 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes.

Franco, who was charged in July 2024 and is on supervised release, could face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty.

“He didn’t commit the acts he’s accused of,” Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press at the end of the fourth hearing at the Collegiate Court of Puerto Plata, a tourist city in northern Dominican Republic where the girl is from.

“They’re playing their part, because their job is to accuse. However, what they have to do is prove it,” Jáquez said of the witnesses presented by prosecutors.