Commentator Greg Gumbel passes away of cancer at 78
Dec 27, 2024, 05:44 PM ET Greg Gumbel, a veteran of CBS Sports who invested more than 50 years in sports broadcasting, has actually died of cancer at the age of 78, his household said Friday.
“He died in harmony surrounded by much love after a brave fight with cancer,” his wife, Marcy Gumbel, and child, Michelle Gumbel, said in a joint statement launched by CBS Sports. “Greg approached his disease like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace and positivity.
“He leaves behind a tradition of love, motivation and dedication to over 50 remarkable years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never ever be forgotten.”
Greg Gumbel, envisioned here before the 2021 guys’s championship game between Gonzaga and Baylor, was a pillar on CBS’ NCAA tournament protection. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
In March, Gumbel missed his very first NCAA tournament given that 1997 due to what he stated at the time were household health problems. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS because going back to the network from NBC in 1998.
He signed an extension with CBS in 2015 that enabled him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.In 2001, he
announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, ending up being the first Black commentator in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a significant sports championship.David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, explained Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting requirements for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness.”A remarkable broadcaster and gifted writer, Greg led one of the most exceptional and innovative sports broadcasting careers of all time,”Berson said.Gumbel signed up with ESPN in 1981, serving as an anchor for”SportsCenter
“in addition to contributing to ESPN’s early NBA coverage during his time with the network through 1986.”We are deeply saddened by the news of Greg Gumbel’s passing,”ESPN chairman Jimmy
Pitaro said in a declaration.”Greg was a highly achieved and pioneering figure in sports relaying who brought instant trustworthiness to ESPN in the early years of the network as both a SportsCenter anchor and as an essential on-air contributor to our initial NBA protection in the 1980s. “We send inmost acknowledgements to the Gumbel family and to Greg’s many colleagues and friends, including his CBS Sports family.””We are deeply saddened by the news of Greg Gumbel’s passing. Greg was a highly accomplished and pioneering figure in
sports transmitting who brought instantaneous trustworthiness to ESPN in the early years of the network as both a SportsCenter anchor and as an essential on-air factor to our initial NBA coverage in the 1980s. We send out inmost acknowledgements to the Gumbel household and to Greg’s many coworkers and friends, including his CBS Sports household. “ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it gained back the agreement in 1998. He hosted CBS
‘protection of the 1992 and 1994 Winter season Olympics and called Major League Baseball games throughout its four-year run transmitting the nationwide pastime.
In 1995, he hosted the World Figure Skating Championships and the following year hosted NBC’s daytime protection of the Olympic Summertimes Games in Atlanta.But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his greatest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’NFL studio show,”The NFL Today,”from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He likewise called NFL games as the network
‘s lead play-by-play commentator from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He went back to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season. “Like all who understood and
liked him, I too am distressed by his death, yet likewise so extremely grateful to have understood him in my life, “Clark Kellogg, a CBS Sports college basketball game and studio expert, said in a statement.”What a present
to be touched by such a good man and partner.” Gumbel, the older sibling of sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, matured in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967 with a degree in English. He won local Emmy Awards during his long profession and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for quality in sports broadcasting.Outside of his profession as a commentator, Gumbel was connected with the March of Dimes for three years, consisting of as a member of its board of trustees. He likewise belonged to the Sports Council for St Jude’s Kid’s Research Hospital for 16 years.The Associated Press contributed to this report.