“I think if you put Greg in a studio from Mars for the first broadcast from Mars, he would make it look like it’s easy broadcasting from Mars. He was such a gifted communicator. He was born to do this work,” Jim Nantz, a longtime colleague of CBS commentator Greg Gumbel said of the latter, who passed away after a battle against cancer. Gumbel spent most of his 50+ year career as a sportscaster at CBS, apart from a short stint at NBC from 1994 to 1997, when CBS lost football. And during that he became a part of the broadcasting history.

In 2001, Gumbel announced Super Bowl XXXV between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” Berson said.

Gumbel did play-by-play for N.F.L. games, he was the studio host for CBS’s groundbreaking pregame show The NFL Today. But it was with N.C.A.A. men’s basketball, as the studio host of CBS’s March Madness coverage for 25 years, that Gumbel achieved his greatest and most lasting fame. This past March, citing family health issues, Gumbel missed the tournament for the first time since 1997.

“It’s somewhat surreal that he’s not to my right,” the former pro basketball player Clark Kellogg said. Seth Davis, the longtime college basketball reporter, added: “He’s one of my best friends in the world. He’s watching and he’s thinking, ‘Stop talking about me and read the teams.'” It seems that it was the deadly disease that had kept him away from his duties back then. Gumble, 78, leaves behind his wife Marcy, and daughter Michelle.

“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,” Marcy and Michelle said in a joint statement released by CBS Sports.

Marcy Gumbel was born on April 3, 1947. When she met Greg Gumbel in Detroit, she worked as a nurse while Gumbel worked in hospital supplies. They fell in love and got married in 1973. After settling in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Greg Gumbel continued as a sports announcer. Marcy took up a new role as his manager.

He even adopted her daughter from a previous marriage, Michelle, born in 1969. The couple lived a sweet life, with Marcy alongside him at major sports events and also doing work for the community. In 2012, he became the grandad for the first time. Fast forward, 12 years later, they endured a tough time together as Greg battled cancer. Not only from Marcy, but he received equal support from his brother, Bryant Gumbel, who also made a name for himself in sports broadcasting.

Who are Greg Gumbel’s siblings?

Rhea Alice LeCesne Gumbel, a housewife, and Richard Dunbar Gumbel, a county probate judge for the Cook County Court in Illinois, were overjoyed when Greg Gumbel was born on May 3, 1946, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Two years later, they welcomed Greg’s younger brother, Bryant. Shortly after, the family moved to Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

There, Greg and his siblings, younger brother Bryant, and younger sisters Rhonda and Renee, played together. Both Greg and Bryant played baseball but liked rival teams, as Greg was a White Sox fan, while Bryant loved the Cubs. They had one more peculiar habit that shaped their entire careers.

Both would stand in front of the mirror and one would act holding a mike while the other would announce the complete imaginary game. The roles were reversed at half-time. It was a proud moment for the family when Greg announced the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Not only he but even Bryant went on to have a distinguished career.

He also served as a broadcaster in many sports shows. Fans loved it when he hosted the NBC Today show and HBO’ Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. The younger brother of Greg Gumbel later won 4 Emmy Awards for his excellence.