Greg Gumbel

File:Gumbel Greg.jpg

Greg Gumbel (born May 3, 1946 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American television sportscaster. He is best known for his various assignments on the CBS network (most notably, the National Football League and NCAA basketball). The brother of news personality Bryant Gumbel, he became the first black 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. He is of Creole ancestery.

Early life

Before becoming a broadcaster, Gumbel graduated with a B.A. degree in English from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

In 1973, Greg's brother Bryant informed him that a Chicago TV station (WMAQ-TV) was auditioning for a sports announcer. At the time, Greg was selling hospital supplies in Detroit. He ultimately got the job and worked there for seven years. The sportscaster he replaced, Dennis Swanson, went on to become president of ABC Sports.

Early career

Prior to his rising to prominence at CBS, Gumbel worked for MSG, ESPN, and WFAN radio in New York City. On MSG, Gumbel served as a backup announcer for Marv Albert on New York Knicks broadcasts as well as providing coverage for college basketball. When MSG signed a huge contract to broadcast New York Yankees games in 1989, Gumbel served as host of the pregame and postgame shows. In addition to his MSG duties, he was the host of a radio morning show on radio station WFAN.

First CBS stint/NBC Sports

Gumbel's CBS career began with part-time work as a NFL announcer in 1988. Starting in 1989, Gumbel began announcing college basketball as well. He became host of The NFL Today for the 1990 to 1993 seasons. He also anchored CBS' coverage of Major League Baseball and college football. Besides his hosting duties, Gumbel provided play-by-play for NBA and Major League and College World Series baseball.

Gumbel moved to NBC in 1994. 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.

Current CBS career

When CBS regained coverage of the NFL in 1998, Gumbel moved back to CBS. Gumbel was The NFL on CBS' lead announcer between 1998 and 2003, calling two Super Bowls (alongside Phil Simms). For the 2004 NFL season, Gumbel traded positions with Jim Nantz as host of The NFL Today while Nantz would take over as lead announcer. At the end of the 2005 NFL season, Gumbel was replaced as studio host of the The NFL Today pre-game show by James Brown. He currently serves as a play-by-play announcer for The NFL on CBS alongside Dan Dierdorf.

Besides the NFL, Gumbel's other primary work for CBS is as host for the NCAA men's basketball tournament coverage. He has held this position since he moved back to CBS.

Gumbel is the second man to serve as both host and play-by-play announcer for Super Bowls (the first was Al Michaels). He hosted Super Bowls XXVI, XXX and XXXII before calling Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII. Jim Nantz will become the third man to do so after he calls Super Bowl XLI for CBS.

During his tenure as the chief anchor of The NFL Today he served alongside co-anchors Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, and Boomer Esiason. The group was known to call him by his nickname "Gumby."

Other CBS assignments

Other assignments that Gumbel has had for CBS include working as the prime time anchor for the 1994 Winter Olympic Games from Lillehammer, Norway, co-anchor for the weekday morning broadcasts of the 1992 Winter Olympics from Albertville, France, play-by-play man for the 1993 American League Championship Series (alongside Jim Kaat), play-by-play man for the College World Series, play-by-play man for The NBA on CBS, and host of CBS' coverage for the Daytona 500.

Personal

Gumbel resides in the Orlando, Florida area.

Trivia

• Both Bryant and Greg Gumbel are contained within the Family Guy episode "If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'" as 'Bike Cops' in a fictional television show, Gumbel 2 Gumbel. Peter Griffin and his son Chris attempt to get the show back on the air by faking a terminal illness in his son to convince the Make-A-Wish Foundation to have the show put back on air.
• Unlike his younger brother, Greg has generally avoided controversy.
• Greg has gone on record in saying that he thinks that the ill-fated American football league (backed by NBC and World Wrestling Entertainment) the XFL was quite possibly the worst idea that he's ever heard relating to sports.
• While broadcasting Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, Greg very subtly referenced Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the halftime show, by saying "I guess this is an omen that we're going to have some raw, naked football in the second half!"

References

1. CBS Sports Team - CBS SportsLine.com
2. Issue 44 -- Television Sportscasters (African-American)
3. Greg Gumbel at IMDb