Greg Gumbel
{{Short description|American sportscaster (1946–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Greg Gumbel
| image = Greg Gumbel 2009.jpg
| caption = Gumbel in 2009
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|5|3}}
| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|27|1946|5|3}}
| death_place = Davie, Florida, U.S.
| alma_mater = Loras College (BA)
| occupation = Sportscaster
| years_active = 1973–2023
| spouse = {{Marriage|Marcy Kaszynski|1976}}
| relatives = {{Unbulleted list
| Bryant Gumbel (brother)
}}
| children = 1
}}
Gregory Girard Gumbel (May 3, 1946 – December 27, 2024) was an American television sportscaster. He was best known for his various assignments for CBS Sports (most notably, the National Football League and NCAA basketball). He became the first African-American announcer to call play-by-play of a major sports championship in the United States when he announced Super Bowl XXXV for the CBS network in 2001. Until 2023, Gumbel was the studio host for CBS' men's college basketball coverage and was a play-by-play broadcaster for the NFL on CBS.
Biography
=Early years=
Gregory Girard Gumbel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1946, the first child of Rhea Alice (LeCesne) and Richard Dunbar Gumbel, a judge.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/business/media/greg-gumbel-dead.html|title = Greg Gumbel, 78, Familiar Voice to Football and Basketball Fans, Dies|last = Sanders|first = Hank|date = December 27, 2024|accessdate = December 28, 2024|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aXtaKMEG3WsC&dq=%22Richard+Dunbar+Gumbel+and+Rhea+Alice+LeCesne+Gumbel%22&pg=PT70 | title=The Shoulders of Giants | isbn=978-0-595-34086-6 | last1=Chapman | first1=Ken | last2=James | first2=Anthony | date=2005 | publisher=iUniverse }} His paternal great-great-grandfather was a German-Jewish emigrant from the village of Albisheim.Gates, Henry Louis (November 7, 2017). "Black Like Me." Finding Your Roots season 4, episode 6. As a young man, Gumbel grew up on Chicago's South Side, where he was raised Catholic, attending and graduating from De La Salle Institute.{{Cite web|title=Gumbel, Greg {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/african-american-focus/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/gumbel-greg|access-date=March 28, 2021|website=www.encyclopedia.com}} In 1967, Gumbel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Loras College in 1967, where he also played on the baseball team. He had two sisters, Renee Gumbel-Farrahi and Rhonda Gumbel-Thomas, and a younger brother, Bryant Gumbel, who also pursued a network television broadcasting career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-07-05-9002250030-story.html|title=Big Brother Greg Gumbel Poised for Stardom at CBS|website=Chicago Tribune|date=July 5, 1990 }}CBS Indianapolis Colts vs Chicago Bears October 4, 2020 – 6 minutes left in the 3rd
=Career=
In 1973, Greg's brother Bryant, then working as a television sportscaster at KNBC in Los Angeles, informed him that another NBC owned-and-operated station, WMAQ-TV in Chicago, was auditioning for a sports announcer. At the time, Greg was selling hospital supplies in Detroit. He ultimately got the job, returned to Chicago and worked at WMAQ-TV for seven years. The sportscaster he replaced, Dennis Swanson, went on to become president of ABC Sports.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greg-gumbel-dead-sportscaster-1236094721/|title=Greg Gumbel, Longtime CBS Sports Studio Host and Play-by-Play Man, Dies at 78|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 27, 2024|accessdate=December 28, 2024}}
Prior to his rising to prominence at CBS, Gumbel worked for MSG, ESPN, and WFAN radio in New York City. At ESPN, he anchored the show SportsCenter and did play-by-play for early NBA games. On MSG, Gumbel served as a backup announcer for Marv Albert on New York Knicks broadcasts as well as providing coverage for college basketball. In addition to his MSG duties, he was the host of the first radio morning show on radio station WFAN. However, station management replaced him with WNBC Radio personality Don Imus once WFAN took over WNBC's AM 660 frequency.{{cite news |date=June 27, 2012|title=Don Imus saved sports talk radio; Mike and Mad Dog help WFAN explode|url=http://www.shermanreport.com/without-don-imus-sports-talk-radio/|newspaper=The Sherman Report}}
==First CBS stint==
Gumbel's CBS career began with part-time work as an NFL announcer in 1988. In 1989, Gumbel began announcing college basketball as well. After MSG signed a large contract to broadcast New York Yankees games the same year, Gumbel served as host of the pregame and postgame shows. He became host of The NFL Today (alongside Terry Bradshaw) for the 1990 to 1993 seasons.{{cite web |last1=Dubow |first1=Josh |title=CBS hires Simms, Gumbel |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1998/01/30/cbs-hires-simms-gumbel/50588303007/ |website=southcoasttoday.com |access-date=August 7, 2022}} He also anchored CBS' coverage of Major League Baseball, college football, and, in 1999, CBS' coverage as a studio host for the Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400.{{cite web |last1=Macur |first1=Juliet |last2=Williams |first2=Charean |title=NOTEBOOK |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1999-02-13-9902130450-story.html |website=orlandosentinel.com |date=February 13, 1999 |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=August 7, 2022}}
Besides his hosting duties, Gumbel provided play-by-play for the NBA (alongside Quinn Buckner), Major League Baseball including the 1993 American League Championship Series (alongside Jim Kaat), and College World Series baseball.{{cite web |last1=Nidetz |first1=Steve |title=BESIDES BEING UPSTAGED ON JORDAN NEWS |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-06-9310060274-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |date=October 6, 1993 |publisher=The Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 7, 2022}}
He was the prime time anchor for the 1994 Winter Olympic Games from Lillehammer, Norway,{{cite web |last1=Nidetz |first1=Steve |title=GREG GUMBEL FINDS SAYING FAREWELL CAN BE PAINFUL |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-10-9406100238-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |date=June 10, 1994 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 7, 2022}} and co-anchor for the weekday morning broadcasts of the 1992 Winter Olympics from Albertville, France.{{cite web |last1=Glauber |first1=Bill |title=CBS has eyes only for Gumbel WINTER OLYMPICS |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-02-11-1994042177-story.html |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 11, 1994 |access-date=August 7, 2022}}
==NBC Sports==
Gumbel moved to NBC in 1994 following CBS' losses of the NFL and Major League Baseball broadcasting contracts (Gumbel's last on-air assignment for CBS was providing play-by-play for the College World Series{{cite news |last=Nidetz|first=Steve|date=June 10, 1994|title=Greg Gumbel Finds Saying Farewell Can Be Painful|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/06/10/greg-gumbel-finds-saying-farewell-can-be-painful/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}). While at NBC, Gumbel hosted NBC's coverage of the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also did play-by-play for the 1995 Major League Baseball National League Division Series and National League Championship Series (on both occasions, teaming with Joe Morgan), did play-by-play for The NBA on NBC, hosted NBC's daytime coverage of the 1996 Summer Olympics from Atlanta, Georgia, hosted the 1995 World Championships of Figure Skating, and served as the studio host for The NFL on NBC.
==Second CBS stint==
Gumbel left NBC after its 1998 broadcast of Super Bowl XXXII (which Gumbel did not call) to return to CBS. His first major assignment was to serve as studio host for CBS's coverage of college basketball, including the NCAA men's basketball tournament.{{cite web |title=Greg Gumbel |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/greg-gumbel-04-03-1998/ |website=cbsnews.com |date=March 4, 1998 |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |access-date=August 7, 2022}}
As CBS had just acquired the rights to NBC's previous NFL package, Gumbel joined the broadcast team as the lead announcer with fellow NBC alumnus Phil Simms as his color commentator. Gumbel was the lead announcer for the NFL on CBS between 1998 and 2003, calling Super Bowls XXXV{{Cite tweet |number=692788757955620864 |user=NFLonCBS |title=15 years ago today on CBS, Greg Gumbel & Phil Simms were calling @Ravens win over @Giants in Super Bowl XXXV #TBT |date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} and XXXVIII.{{cite web |last1=Leger |first1=Justin |title=TV broadcasters for Tom Brady's 10 Super Bowl appearances |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/tv-broadcasters-tom-bradys-10-super-bowl-appearances |website=nbcsports.com |date=January 30, 2021 |publisher=SportsChannel New England LLC |access-date=August 7, 2022}} For the 2004 NFL season, Gumbel traded positions with Jim Nantz as host of The NFL Today with Nantz taking over as lead announcer.{{cite web |title=Gumbel: This move not my first choice |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1825982 |website=espn.com | date=June 22, 2004 |publisher=ESPN, Inc. |access-date=August 7, 2022}}
At the end of the 2005 NFL season, Gumbel was replaced as studio host of The NFL Today by James Brown.{{cite web |last1=Raissman |first1=Bob |title=Gus forced to bow out to Brown |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/gus-forced-bow-brown-article-1.217691 |website=nydailynews.com |date=March 16, 2007 |publisher=The New York Daily News |access-date=August 7, 2022}} Gumbel returned to the broadcast booth as the {{abbr|No.|number}} 2 play-by-play man, replacing Dick Enberg, alongside color man Dan Dierdorf until Dierdorf retired after the 2013–14 NFL season. Gumbel also worked alongside Trent Green in the No. 3 team from 2014 until 2019. He worked in a three-man booth with Green and Bruce Arians for the 2018 NFL season. Gumbel then traded spots with Kevin Harlan in 2020, teaming with Rich Gannon. Adam Archuleta became Gumbel's partner in the No. 4 slot the following year after CBS declined to renew Gannon's contract.{{cite news |last=Bucholtz|first=Andrew|date=August 24, 2021|title=CBS announces 2021 NFL broadcast pairings, including new Greg Gumbel-Adam Archuleta and Spero Dedes-Jay Feely teams|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/cbs/cbs-announces-2021-nfl-broadcast-pairings.html|newspaper=Awful Announcing}}
CBS Sports extended its contract with Gumbel on March 15, 2023, which allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL coverage.{{cite news |last=Ourand|first=John|date=March 15, 2023|title=Greg Gumbel re-signs with CBS, gives up NFL duties|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/15/Media/greg-gumbel-cbs-contract-extension.aspx|newspaper=Sports Business Journal}} However, Gumbel was absent from March Madness coverage in 2024 due to family health issues.{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2024/03/12/sports/greg-gumbel-missing-cbs-march-madness-coverage-due-family-health-issues/|publisher=New York Post|title=Greg Gumbel missing CBS' March Madness coverage due to 'family health issues'|first=Ryan|last=Glasspiegel|date=March 12, 2024|access-date=March 12, 2024}}
Personal life and death
In 1976, Gumbel married Marcy Kaczynski, and they had a daughter, Michelle.Kasabian, Paul (December 27, 2024). [https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10148706-greg-gumbel-dies-at-78-broadcasting-legend-anchored-cbs-nfl-march-madness-coverage#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20Gumbel%20is%20just,call%20of%20Super%20Bowl%20XLI. Greg Gumbel Dies at 78; Broadcasting Legend Anchored CBS' NFL, March Madness Coverage]. Bleacher Report.
He regularly appeared on Howard Stern's radio show.{{cite news
|last=Pergament
|first=Alan
|title=CBS GETTING HIGH MARKS FOR RATINGS, INTERPRETATION
|date=February 19, 1994
|work=Buffalo News}}
Gumbel died from pancreatic cancer at home in Davie, Florida, on December 27, 2024, at the age of 78.{{cite web |title=Greg Gumbel, CBS Sports broadcasting legend, dies at 78 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/greg-gumbel-dies-cbs-sports-anchor/|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=December 27, 2024|date=December 27, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/greg-gumbel-dead-cbs-sports-1236261024/|title = Greg Gumbel, Longtime CBS Sports Broadcaster, Dies at 78|last = Saperstein|first = Pat|date = December 27, 2024|accessdate = December 27, 2024|work = Variety}}{{Cite web |last=Nivison |first=Austin |date=December 27, 2024 |title=Greg Gumbel, trailblazing CBS Sports broadcast legend, dies at 78 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/greg-gumbel-trailblazing-cbs-sports-broadcast-legend-dies-at-78/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227235739/https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/greg-gumbel-trailblazing-cbs-sports-broadcast-legend-dies-at-78/ |archive-date=December 27, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en-US}}
Legacy
Gumbel is one of a few sports announcers to have worked on pre-game, play-by-play, and radio Super Bowl broadcast teams. He hosted the television pre-game show for Super Bowl XXVI (CBS); Super Bowl XXX (NBC); Super Bowl XXXII (NBC);
Super Bowl XLVII (CBS); and Super Bowl 50 (CBS); provided television play-by-play for Super Bowl XXXV (CBS) and Super Bowl XXXVIII (CBS); hosted the radio pre-game show for Super Bowl XXV (CBS); Super Bowl XXVI (CBS); Super Bowl XXVII (CBS); and Super Bowl XXVIII (CBS).
During his tenure as the chief anchor of The NFL Today, he served alongside co-anchors Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, and Boomer Esiason. He was nicknamed "Gumby" by some of his colleagues.{{cite web |last=Rosvoglou |first=Chris |title=Legendary CBS Sports Broadcaster Greg Gumbel Dead At 78 |website=The Spun |date=December 27, 2024 |url=https://thespun.com/college-hoops/cbs-sports-broadcaster-greg-gumbel-passed-away-at-78 |access-date=January 10, 2025}}
Awards and honors
- Three time Emmy Award winner, MSG (once) and WMAQ-TV (twice)[https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/talent/?view=greg-gumbel Greg Gumbel, CBS Sports]. Paramount.Gumbel, Greg, "Greg Gumbel: Emmy Award-Winning Sportscaster, CBS Sports" (2013). President's Lecture Series. 104. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/pls/104.
- Inductee, Loras College Athletic Hall of Fame, 2023{{cite web|url=https://duhawks.com/honors/hall-of-fame/greg-gumbel/206|title=Greg Gumbel (2023) - Hall of Fame|publisher=Loras College|access-date=March 13, 2025}}
- Legends for Charity –The Pat Summerall Award, 2007{{cite web|url=https://www.legendsforcharity.com/honorees|title=Honorees|publisher=Legends for Charity|access-date=March 13, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0347911|name=Greg Gumbel}}
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-media}}}}
{{succession box | before=Brent Musburger
Jim Nantz| title=The NFL Today host | years=1990–1993
2004–2005 | after=Jim Nantz (in 1998)
James Brown}}
{{succession box|before=Tim McCarver and Paula Zahn| title=American television prime time anchor,
Winter Olympic Games | years=1994| after=Jim Nantz}}
{{succession box|before=Jim Lampley| title=Studio host, NFL on NBC | years=1994–1997| after=Bob Costas (in 2006)}}
{{succession box|before=Bob Costas, Dick Enberg, Gayle Gardner and Hannah Storm| title=American television daytime anchor,
Summer Olympic Games | years=1996| after=Hannah Storm}}
{{s-bef | before=Pat O'Brien}}
{{s-ttl | title=Studio host, College Basketball on CBS | years=1998–2024 | after=TBD in 2025}}
{{succession box | before = Dick Enberg | title = #2 play-by-play announcer, NFL on CBS| years = 2006–2013| after = Ian Eagle}}
{{succession box | before=Dick Enberg | title=Super Bowl television play-by-play announcer
(AFC package carrier) | years=2000–2003 | after=Jim Nantz}}
{{s-bef | before = Bob Costas (in 1989)}}
{{s-ttl | title = #2 play-by-play announcer,
Major League Baseball on NBC| years = 1995|}}
{{s-non | reason = Defunct }}
{{succession box | before=Dick Stockton| title=Secondary play-by-play announcer,
Major League Baseball Game of the Week | years=1993 | after=Thom Brennaman (in 1996)}}
{{s-end}}
{{Major League Baseball on CBS}}
{{Major League Baseball on NBC}}
{{NBA on NBC}}
{{NBA on CBS}}
{{NASCAR on CBS}}
{{The Baseball Network}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gumbel, Greg}}
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