By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-20 16:46:32 | Updated at 2025-03-21 09:15:15
16 hours ago
Ernie Johnson left March Madness fans in tears at the start of the opening show on CBS on Thursday with a heartfelt tribute to the late Greg Gumbel.
Legendary broadcast Gumbel, synonymous with the NCAA tournament, died at the age of 78 in December from cancer.
Johnson himself fought back tears as he spoke about his former colleague.
A somber Johnson said to viewers: 'A year ago at this time, we were waiting for a friend to return. We knew he was missing March Madness for personal reasons.
Johnson's voice then cracked as he said: 'Just after Christmas we learned that cancer had taken his life. We were crushed. A void was left that will never be filled.
'We wear his pin on our jackets and we carry his memory in our hearts.'
The CBS March Madness broadcast began with a heartfelt tribute to Greg Gumbel
Charles Barkley added: 'It is surreal. We had been texting back and forth and he was like "see you guys next year". Out of the blue, you get a text that he had passed.
'Obviously he had wanted to keep his sickness private. Man, it is just sad. I am going to miss those nerdy dad jokes.'
It sparked a huge outpouring of emotion from fans on social media, who both praised Johnson's delivery while mourning the loss of Gumbel and reflecting on his absence.
'Oh man Ernie Johnson choking up about Greg Gumbel… geez. A man who truly left his mark, no doubt about it,' one fan wrote on X.
Another said: 'My heart is so full watching and listening to CBS pay such beautiful tribute to Greg Gumbel, and no one is better to run point on that than Ernie Johnson.'
Gumbel's death was announced on December 27, with his family announcing: 'He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer.
'Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace and positivity.
'He leaves behind a legacy of love inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.'
Oh man Ernie Johnson choking up about Greg Gumbel… geez. A man who truly left his mark, no doubt about it
— Pierre Noujaim (@TheNoujFOX9) March 20, 2025Beautiful tribute to Greg Gumbel from the guys. Pure class. March won't be the same without Greg, but we push on.
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) March 20, 2025Gumbel spent the majority of his broadcasting career with CBS and primarily worked on the NFL and college basketball.
He became the first Black play-by-play announcer for a Super Bowl in 2001, when he was in the booth for the Baltimore Ravens' victory over the New York Giants.
Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.
He hosted CBS´ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime.
But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS´ NFL studio show, 'The NFL Today' from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004.
He also called NFL games as the network´s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.
