Latest news with #Gumbel
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ernie Johnson honored the late Greg Gumbel in his emotional ‘One Shining Moment' intro
There is perhaps no college basketball tradition more beloved than "One Shining Moment," and this year's edition came with quite a bittersweet introduction. After Florida topped Houston to win this year's March Madness, an emotional broadcaster Ernie Johnson introduced the 2025 "One Shining Moment" video with a touching tribute to Greg Gumbel. Gumbel historically held the honors of introducing "One Shining Moment" at the end of a national title game, but he sadly died in December after a battle with cancer. Johnson previously honored Gumbel to start this year's tournament, and he made sure to give Gumbel one final salute before "One Shining Moment" started. "We wrap up our coverage from San Antonio with a moment our late colleague and our beloved friend Greg Gumbel relished. The chance to say here is One Shining Moment." - Ernie Johnson 🏀📺🎙️🎥🌟❤️ — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 8, 2025 Johnson is one of the best in the business for a reason, and he absolutely made sure Gumbel wasn't forgotten with such a moving tribute to close out this year's March Madness. If Gumbel isn't here to introduce this tournament tradition, we're sure glad it's Johnson. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ernie Johnson honored Greg Gumbel in emotional 'One Shining Moment' intro
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ernie Johnson honored the late Greg Gumbel in his emotional ‘One Shining Moment' intro
Ernie Johnson honored the late Greg Gumbel in his emotional 'One Shining Moment' intro There is perhaps no college basketball tradition more beloved than "One Shining Moment," and this year's edition came with quite a bittersweet introduction. After Florida topped Houston to win this year's March Madness, an emotional broadcaster Ernie Johnson introduced the 2025 "One Shining Moment" video with a touching tribute to Greg Gumbel. Gumbel historically held the honors of introducing "One Shining Moment" at the end of a national title game, but he sadly died in December after a battle with cancer. Johnson previously honored Gumbel to start this year's tournament, and he made sure to give Gumbel one final salute before "One Shining Moment" started. Johnson is one of the best in the business for a reason, and he absolutely made sure Gumbel wasn't forgotten with such a moving tribute to close out this year's March Madness. If Gumbel isn't here to introduce this tournament tradition, we're sure glad it's Johnson.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ernie Johnson, Clark Kellogg Kick Off March Madness with Emotional Greg Gumbel Tribute: ‘He Was So Good at What He Did'
March Madness kicked off on Thursday, March 20 with a touching tribute to beloved sportscaster Greg Gumbel whose presence and voice became synonymous with the annual college basketball tournament throughout his career. Gumbel died from pancreatic cancer in December 2024 at the age of 78. The renowned broadcaster was absent from last year's March Madness tournament as he dealt with the illness, and his colleagues Ernie Johnson and Clark Kellogg said they had hoped Gumbel might be back for this year's tournament. 'Just after Christmas we learned that cancer had taken his life and we were crushed,' Johnson, 68, said on Thursday night as he and his colleagues paid tribute to Gumbel the beginning of sports broadcast. 'A void was left that will never be filled. We wear his pin on our jackets, and we carry his memory in our hearts.'Johnson then turned to Kellogg, 63, at the panelists' desk and admitted: 'It's heavy in here.' Ernie Johnson and company kick off this year's NCAA Tournament with a moving tribute to longtime host Greg Gumbel. — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2025 Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.'It sure is,' Kellogg told Johnson, before sharing a beautiful tribute to their longtime colleague. 'It's sad and surreal that he's not in that chair and won't ever be in that chair again,' Kellogg said. 'Because he was so good at what he did and he was so good to the people he did it with and for, you the viewers, were who he sought to serve. And in doing that with class, with confidence, with consistency, with gentleness and kindness, he lifted all of us who had the privilege of being in the orbit of his colleagueship and his friendship.' He concluded, 'While I'm sad, I'm extremely grateful to have known Greg as a colleague and a friend because he not only made everybody better but he made everybody feel good and that will never change.' Charles Barkley then lightened the mood, recalling Gumbel's 'nerdy dad jokes' and how he'll miss hearing them. 'Man, nobody can do what he does unless two things: You're talented and people like you,' the NBA hall of famer said. 'He did it with such grace for so long. You have to be talented first and foremost, but people have to like you. And he will be missed.' Related: Greg Gumbel, Legendary Sports Broadcaster, Dies of Cancer at 78 Gumbel joined CBS in 1989 after stints working for ESPN, WMAQ-TV in Chicago, WFAN Radio and the Madison Square Garden Network. At CBS, Gumbel became the lead anchor for the network's Winter Olympics coverage while also serving as the host of NFL Today. The New Orleans native would later join NBC Sports, where he continued covering the Olympics and the NFL, before returning to CBS in 1998. In his second stint with the network, the father of one was named the host of College Basketball on CBS and held the post for 26 years, becoming the voice of Selection Sunday and the March Madness tournament. 'He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague," David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports, said shortly after Gumbel's death. "A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four." The NCAA Tournament continues Friday with the remainder of the Round of 64 games. March Madness, as it's become known in recent decades, will conclude with the championship game on April 7. Read the original article on People
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
CBS' Ian Eagle, Clark Kellogg carry on without Greg Gumbel during March Madness
CBS' Ian Eagle, Clark Kellogg carry on without Greg Gumbel during March Madness Show Caption Hide Caption Ian Eagle and Clark Kellogg remember broadcasting legend Greg Gumbel CBS' Ian Eagle and Clark Kellogg discuss their memories of legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel who recently passed away. Sports Seriously As Ian Eagle prepares for the men's NCAA Tournament and his run through calling the Final Four, he's been finding himself going through old text messages with Greg Gumbel. Eagle had known Gumbel since he arrived at CBS in 1998 and remembered how humble and approachable he was from the moment they met. Eagle gets a laugh out of the messages, remembering how kind of person Gumbel was, but reading them also made him emotional. There's certainly been an empty presence during the coverage of 2025 March Madness, the first tournament since Gumbel's death. The voice that welcomed Selection Sunday and each day of the tournament for 25 years died from cancer in December at the age of 78. 'It's very sad,' Eagle told USA TODAY Sports. 'He just had a major impact on the people at our network and people that work this event.' Gumbel wasn't part of last year's tournament coverage as he stepped away from his hosting duties. The void was certainly noticeable considering he was the quintessential voice of March Madness. But knowing he's gone this year has made it hard to work the tournament. 'He was such an integral part of what the public got to experience and what we got to experience as his colleagues and friends,' CBS studio analyst Clark Kellogg said. 'I got to spend 20-plus years next to him and the seat that he sat in as the host of the road to the Final Four. 'There's no way you aren't impacted by who he was as a man and as a broadcaster.' CBS has made sure to honor Gumbel since the NCAA Tournament bracket got revealed. On Selection Sunday, CBS aired a tribute video and The Rolling Stones – Gumbel's favorite band – played through the studio. The off-camera crew donned The Rolling Stones shirts, and host Adam Zucker said it was an honor to fill his seat. The rest of the studio crew spoke about his impact on the tournament. The tributes continued as the first round kicked off Thursday. The Rolling Stones played on the broadcast of opening day of the first round, and host Ernie Johnson and crew remembered Gumbel. Kellogg said 'it's sad and surreal' he wasn't in the host chair. All broadcasters are wearing a gold microphone pin on their suits in memory of Gumbel throughout the tournament, and each commentary team made sure to take some time to speak about Gumbel. 'He was synonymous with this event because of the excellence in which he did his job for all of these years,' Eagle said. It has felt empty without Gumble on camera. Kellogg spent decades to his left and said 'I miss him terribly.' But Kellogg remembered what made Gumbel such an icon. He had a deep appreciation for the NCAA Tournament and the moments that made it special. Anyone that worked with him felt the spirit and class he displayed, and it made those working with him better suited to showcase the tournament. 'My life has been enhanced,' Kellogg said. 'I trust that I'm better in my role as a person, but also in my role as a broadcaster, because I got a chance to be in his orbit for the years that I did.'
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Charles Barkley, CBS crew pay tribute to Greg Gumbel, longtime March Madness host
Charles Barkley, CBS crew pay tribute to Greg Gumbel, longtime March Madness host Show Caption Hide Caption Ian Eagle and Clark Kellogg remember broadcasting legend Greg Gumbel CBS' Ian Eagle and Clark Kellogg discuss their memories of legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel who recently passed away. Sports Seriously CBS Sports' coverage of the men's NCAA Tournament is synonymous with longtime host Greg Gumbel, who presided at the anchor desk for 25 years before he was diagnosed with cancer last year. Gumbel died in December at age 78, but his ever-present spirit was still felt on the set as CBS tipped off coverage of the tournament's first round on Thursday afternoon with the music of Gumbel's favorite band, the Rolling Stones. "A void was left that could never be filled," current host Ernie Johnson said as the broadcast opened. "We wear his pin on our jackets and we carry his memory in our hearts." Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley remember Greg Gumbel A somber mood engulfed the set as the network's trio of analysts offered up their memories of working with Gumbel. "It's sad and surreal that he's not in that chair," Clark Kellogg said. "Because he was so good at what he did and he was so good to the people he did it with and for, you, the viewers were who he sought to serve. In doing that with class, with competence with consistency, with gentleness and kindness, he lifted all of us." Said Charles Barkley: "It is surreal. We had been texting back and forth, he said, 'I'll see you guys next year.' Then out of the blue you get a text that he had passed, and whoa, what just happened? … "Nobody can do what he does as long as he did unless you're talented and people like you. The ability to do multiple sports, Ernie (Johnson) is great at that. Kevin Harlan, Sean McDonough is great at that. Brian Anderson, Greg Gumbel … To go from sport to sport, that has got to be incredibly hard. And he did it with such grace for so long." Kenny Smith said the week before Gumbel died, he texted a simple message that was never returned. "We just assume these things are going to continue forever. ... He echoes through these hallways." Smith summed things up as the broadcast turned toward the games at hand – a total of 16 of them on Thursday: "We're gonna miss him wholeheartedly. It's a difficult time, but we're gonna have fun." (This story was updated with new information and a new video.)
