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Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel dies at age 78

ANDREW LIMBONG, HOST:

Speaking of the Baltimore Ravens...

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

GREG GUMBEL: The time for Super Bowl XXXV has come. We are...

LIMBONG: They played the New York Giants in the Super Bowl back in 2001.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

GUMBEL: The Super Bowl provides a stage upon which legends have, at times, been born, at other times, confirmed. And tonight...

LIMBONG: It was an historic game, not just because of what was happening on the field, but because of the play-by-play announcer.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

GUMBEL: I'm Greg Gumbel, along with Phil Simms.

LIMBONG: Greg Gumbel was a star sportscaster for CBS Sports, and he was the first Black announcer to do the play-by-play for the Super Bowl. CBS Sports announced Gumbel died yesterday from cancer. He was 78 years old.

Gumbel was prolific. You've heard his voice if you follow football, college basketball or even watched the Winter Olympics back in '94. A statement from his wife, Marcy, and his daughter, Michelle Gumbel, says he leaves behind a legacy of love and dedication and added, quote, "his iconic voice will never be forgotten." Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Andrew Limbong is a reporter for NPR's Arts Desk, where he does pieces on anything remotely related to arts or culture, from streamers looking for mental health on Twitch to Britney Spears' fight over her conservatorship. He's also covered the near collapse of the live music industry during the coronavirus pandemic. He's the host of NPR's Book of the Day podcast and a frequent host on Life Kit.