Longtime CBS sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel, 78, has died after a battle with cancer, the network announced Friday in a statement from his wife and daughter.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” Marcy and Michelle Gumbel wrote. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by so much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg carried his life just as one would expect, with stoicism, grace and positivity. I dealt with the disease.”
Became Gumbel first black announcer He provided play-by-play for the major sports championships during the 2001 Super Bowl and was the longtime studio host for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Last year, he missed March Madness for the first time since 1997 due to family health issues.
“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication for more than 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry, and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” the Gumbel family said Friday. I wrote this.
Gumbel first joined CBS Sports in 1988, but left in 1994 for NBC Sports, where he covered sports such as MLB and NFL. He returned to CBS in the late '90s. He also previously worked for ESPN.
David Berson, CEO and president of CBS Sports, said Gumbel “broke down barriers and set a standard for others to follow” in the industry, calling him “an incredible broadcaster and talented… “Storyteller”.
“There is no finer gentleman in television,” Burson said in a statement. “He was loved and respected by all of us who were honored to call him a friend and colleague.”
Professional and collegiate sports league teams, including: MLB, new england patriots and NCAAafter the announcement of Gumbel's death, all expressed sympathy and emphasized his talent and kindness.
“Greg was warm, engaging, funny and always played with class and dignity,” NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said in a statement. “He was extremely talented, as evidenced by his success not only in college basketball, but in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, the Olympics and the Men's College World Series.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
