Ernie Johnson holds back tears during heartbreaking tribute to much loved Greg Gumbel as March Madness gets underway
Ernie Johnson battled back tears as he opened CBS’ coverage of March Madness with a heartfelt tribute to the late Greg Gumbel. Gumbel — synonymous with the NCAA Tournament — passed away in December after a private battle with cancer. Johnson paid tribute to late colleague Gumbel as CBS began their March Madness coverageX: @AwfulAnnouncing Thursday’s March Madness broadcast opened with The Rolling Stones playing as Johnson welcomed CBS viewers to the coverage, and noted that ‘nobody loved the Stones’ more than Gumbel. He then invited co-hosts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Clark Kellogg, to talk about the broadcaster’s legacy and how much they missed him. “A year ago at this time we were waiting on a friend to return,” Johnson began of Gumbel, holding back tears. “We knew he was missing March Madness, an event for which his name is synonymous, for personal reasons. “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 memory in our hearts.” Kellogg, Barkley and Smith then shared their memories of working with Gumbel, noting how ‘surreal’ it was that he wasn’t ‘in the chair’ for March Madness coverage. “It’s just sad. I’m going to miss those nerdy dad jokes,” Barkley said. “Nobody can do what he does, as long as he does it, unless you’re two things: You’re talented and people like you. “He will be missed.” The CBS panel all shared stories about Gumbel as they paid their tributes Barkley admitted he will miss his former colleague’s ‘nerdy dad jokes’ The CBS segment sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans on social media, who both praised Johnson’s delivery while mourning the loss of Gumbel. “I shed a tear on this. Well done guys,” one person wrote on X. “Fitting and correct tribute. Greg Gumbel will always be synonymous with sports as a whole but especially March Madness,” another said. “This is a perfect tribute, but Ernie Johnson making us cry at 12:02pm isn’t what I expected,” a third added. Gumbel’s death was announced on December 27, 2024, with his family writing: “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. Gumbel was a pioneer of sports broadcasting, spending decades with CBSGetty View Tweet: https://t.co/ktizs9RDST “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.” A pioneering broadcaster, Gumbel was best known for his various assignments with CBS Sports. Most notably, he covered the NFL and NCAA basketball, and 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 in 2001. The longtime sportscaster also served as the primetime anchor for CBS Sports during the 1994 Olympic Winter Games, as well as co-anchor during weekday broadcasts of the 1992 Winter Games. How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
Ernie Johnson battled back tears as he opened CBS’ coverage of March Madness with a heartfelt tribute to the late Greg Gumbel.
Gumbel — synonymous with the NCAA Tournament — passed away in December after a private battle with cancer.
Thursday’s March Madness broadcast opened with The Rolling Stones playing as Johnson welcomed CBS viewers to the coverage, and noted that ‘nobody loved the Stones’ more than Gumbel.
He then invited co-hosts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Clark Kellogg, to talk about the broadcaster’s legacy and how much they missed him.
“A year ago at this time we were waiting on a friend to return,” Johnson began of Gumbel, holding back tears.
“We knew he was missing March Madness, an event for which his name is synonymous, for personal reasons.
“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 memory in our hearts.”
Kellogg, Barkley and Smith then shared their memories of working with Gumbel, noting how ‘surreal’ it was that he wasn’t ‘in the chair’ for March Madness coverage.
“It’s just sad. I’m going to miss those nerdy dad jokes,” Barkley said.
“Nobody can do what he does, as long as he does it, unless you’re two things: You’re talented and people like you.
“He will be missed.”
The CBS segment sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans on social media, who both praised Johnson’s delivery while mourning the loss of Gumbel.
“I shed a tear on this. Well done guys,” one person wrote on X.
“Fitting and correct tribute. Greg Gumbel will always be synonymous with sports as a whole but especially March Madness,” another said.
“This is a perfect tribute, but Ernie Johnson making us cry at 12:02pm isn’t what I expected,” a third added.
Gumbel’s death was announced on December 27, 2024, with his family writing: “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.”
A pioneering broadcaster, Gumbel was best known for his various assignments with CBS Sports.
Most notably, he covered the NFL and NCAA basketball, and 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 in 2001.
The longtime sportscaster also served as the primetime anchor for CBS Sports during the 1994 Olympic Winter Games, as well as co-anchor during weekday broadcasts of the 1992 Winter Games.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
