It’s March 16, 2025, and Selection Sunday is here the day college hoops fans live for, when the NCAA Tournament bracket drops and March Madness officially kicks off. The buzz is electric: brackets are ready, predictions are flying, and TVs are locked on CBS. But this year, there’s a quiet ache in the air. Greg Gumbel, the voice that carried us through this day for over 25 years, isn’t here. He passed away on December 27, 2024, at 78 after fighting cancer, and as the studio crew rocks Rolling Stones T-shirts in his honor, it’s clear: everyone’s thinking of Greg today.
The Guy Who Made Selection Sunday Sing
For so many of us, Greg Gumbel was Selection Sunday. That smooth, steady voice cut through the bracket chaos like a warm hug. Starting in 1998, when he took over CBS’s NCAA coverage, he turned the reveal into something special. Whether he was hyping a powerhouse like Kentucky or giving love to a tiny school like Lehigh, he had a way of making every matchup matter. “Next up, the 13-seed UC Irvine takes on Kansas!” he’d say, and you could hear the smile in his tone. It was like he was right there with you, filling out your bracket.
Greg didn’t just read names he ran the show. Alongside analysts like Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis, he kept things moving, tossing them the ball to break down picks while never missing a beat. “He was our rock,” said CBS Sports boss David Berson. “Cool as a cucumber, every single time.” That vibe made Selection Sunday a can’t-miss event a sign that spring was here and the best sports month was about to explode.
Breaking Ground, Keeping It Real
Greg’s story goes way beyond basketball. Born in New Orleans in 1946, he built a 50-year career that smashed ceilings and set the bar high. In 2001, he made history as the first Black play-by-play announcer for a major U.S. championship, calling Super Bowl XXXV. He didn’t brag about it, though just said he was “amazed” at the gigs he landed. From local news in Chicago to ESPN, NBC, and CBS, he did it all: NFL, NBA, Olympics, you name it. But when he settled back at CBS in ’98, that’s when he became our Greg the March Madness maestro.
He never chased the spotlight. He was the guy who showed up, did the job, and did it better than most. Over 26 years with “College Basketball on CBS,” he turned a studio gig into a legacy. Missing 2024’s show for family health reasons hit hard; losing him months later makes this Selection Sunday feel like a goodbye.
Rolling Stones and a Nod to Greg
This year, the CBS crew found a sweet way to tip their hats to him. Greg loved the Rolling Stones caught their shows whenever he could so the team’s wearing Stones tees during the broadcast. “Let’s get it started!” Seth Davis tweeted with a pic of the gang. It’s perfect: simple, personal, and so Greg. His granddaughter Riley once said he’d text her Stones tunes like “Satisfaction,” and now that love’s woven into the day he owned.
Fans feel it too. “RIP Greg Gumbel Selection Sunday won’t be the same,” one X post read. “Thinking of Greg today legend,” said another. It’s not just his voice we miss it’s the comfort he brought, the way he tied us all together on this crazy day.
The Man Behind the Mic
Talk to anyone who knew Greg, and you’ll hear about a guy who was as good off-air as on. Ernie Johnson still laughs about a goofy handshake-fist-bump mix-up at the ’92 Olympics Greg just rolled with it. Seth Davis called him “the best teammate ever.” He’d poke fun at Clark Kellogg’s golf rants or crack up over dumb promos, but he only lost it once when gunshots interrupted a late-night Super Bowl shoot. Even then, he bounced back.
At home, he was all about family. He and Marcy were married since ’73, and he adored his daughter Michelle and granddaughter Riley. He’d coach Riley on her school news gig: “Slow down, speak clear, smile big.” Michelle remembers watching him at the 2011 Final Four, beaming at how he owned the moment. That’s who he was steady, warm, and always there.
A Different Vibe This Year
Selection Sunday 2025 isn’t the same. Adam Zucker’s stepping up, taking over after filling in last year with a shoutout: “Miss you, Greg.” Now, with Greg gone, the Stones shirts are a nice touch, but they can’t fill the silence. No one’s calling out “Syracuse!” or “Belmont!” with that familiar spark. Fans on X agree: “Selection Sunday without Greg Gumbel feels off,” one wrote. “He was the voice of the bracket drop,” said another. The music’s still there, the Madness is coming, but it’s quieter without him.
More Than a Broadcaster
Greg didn’t need to shout to stand out. He let the games and his crew take center stage, a pro move in a world full of showboats. “If they shine, I’ve done my part,” he said back in ’90 on The NFL Today. That’s how he rolled lifting others up. Jim Nantz called him a “true friend.” Clark Kellogg got teary saying he was “a gift.” His little quirks like hating Springsteen or groaning at golf ads made him human, but his kindness made him special. “Never heard a bad word about him,” Davis said. He treated everyone the same, from big shots to the coffee runner.
The Madness Marches On
As the 2025 tournament revs up, Greg’s shadow hangs over it. We’ll still get our upsets and buzzer-beaters, but his voice won’t kick it off. Still, what he left behind sticks with us. He blazed trails as a Black broadcaster, nailed 50 years of top-tier work, and quietly shaped folks like Riley. Every bracket scribble, every cheer it’s part of what he built.
Today, we’re all thinking of Greg Gumbel. Not just for the calls, but for the guy he was: a pro who made it look easy, a pal who had your back, a voice that turned a random Sunday into something big. The Stones might sing “Time Is on My Side,” but Greg’s time with us is a melody we’ll keep humming. As March Madness begins, he’s the echo in every shining moment.
The Guy Who Made Selection Sunday Sing
For so many of us, Greg Gumbel was Selection Sunday. That smooth, steady voice cut through the bracket chaos like a warm hug. Starting in 1998, when he took over CBS’s NCAA coverage, he turned the reveal into something special. Whether he was hyping a powerhouse like Kentucky or giving love to a tiny school like Lehigh, he had a way of making every matchup matter. “Next up, the 13-seed UC Irvine takes on Kansas!” he’d say, and you could hear the smile in his tone. It was like he was right there with you, filling out your bracket.
Greg didn’t just read names he ran the show. Alongside analysts like Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis, he kept things moving, tossing them the ball to break down picks while never missing a beat. “He was our rock,” said CBS Sports boss David Berson. “Cool as a cucumber, every single time.” That vibe made Selection Sunday a can’t-miss event a sign that spring was here and the best sports month was about to explode.
Breaking Ground, Keeping It Real
Greg’s story goes way beyond basketball. Born in New Orleans in 1946, he built a 50-year career that smashed ceilings and set the bar high. In 2001, he made history as the first Black play-by-play announcer for a major U.S. championship, calling Super Bowl XXXV. He didn’t brag about it, though just said he was “amazed” at the gigs he landed. From local news in Chicago to ESPN, NBC, and CBS, he did it all: NFL, NBA, Olympics, you name it. But when he settled back at CBS in ’98, that’s when he became our Greg the March Madness maestro.
He never chased the spotlight. He was the guy who showed up, did the job, and did it better than most. Over 26 years with “College Basketball on CBS,” he turned a studio gig into a legacy. Missing 2024’s show for family health reasons hit hard; losing him months later makes this Selection Sunday feel like a goodbye.
Rolling Stones and a Nod to Greg
This year, the CBS crew found a sweet way to tip their hats to him. Greg loved the Rolling Stones caught their shows whenever he could so the team’s wearing Stones tees during the broadcast. “Let’s get it started!” Seth Davis tweeted with a pic of the gang. It’s perfect: simple, personal, and so Greg. His granddaughter Riley once said he’d text her Stones tunes like “Satisfaction,” and now that love’s woven into the day he owned.
Fans feel it too. “RIP Greg Gumbel Selection Sunday won’t be the same,” one X post read. “Thinking of Greg today legend,” said another. It’s not just his voice we miss it’s the comfort he brought, the way he tied us all together on this crazy day.
The Man Behind the Mic
Talk to anyone who knew Greg, and you’ll hear about a guy who was as good off-air as on. Ernie Johnson still laughs about a goofy handshake-fist-bump mix-up at the ’92 Olympics Greg just rolled with it. Seth Davis called him “the best teammate ever.” He’d poke fun at Clark Kellogg’s golf rants or crack up over dumb promos, but he only lost it once when gunshots interrupted a late-night Super Bowl shoot. Even then, he bounced back.
At home, he was all about family. He and Marcy were married since ’73, and he adored his daughter Michelle and granddaughter Riley. He’d coach Riley on her school news gig: “Slow down, speak clear, smile big.” Michelle remembers watching him at the 2011 Final Four, beaming at how he owned the moment. That’s who he was steady, warm, and always there.
A Different Vibe This Year
Selection Sunday 2025 isn’t the same. Adam Zucker’s stepping up, taking over after filling in last year with a shoutout: “Miss you, Greg.” Now, with Greg gone, the Stones shirts are a nice touch, but they can’t fill the silence. No one’s calling out “Syracuse!” or “Belmont!” with that familiar spark. Fans on X agree: “Selection Sunday without Greg Gumbel feels off,” one wrote. “He was the voice of the bracket drop,” said another. The music’s still there, the Madness is coming, but it’s quieter without him.
More Than a Broadcaster
Greg didn’t need to shout to stand out. He let the games and his crew take center stage, a pro move in a world full of showboats. “If they shine, I’ve done my part,” he said back in ’90 on The NFL Today. That’s how he rolled lifting others up. Jim Nantz called him a “true friend.” Clark Kellogg got teary saying he was “a gift.” His little quirks like hating Springsteen or groaning at golf ads made him human, but his kindness made him special. “Never heard a bad word about him,” Davis said. He treated everyone the same, from big shots to the coffee runner.
The Madness Marches On
As the 2025 tournament revs up, Greg’s shadow hangs over it. We’ll still get our upsets and buzzer-beaters, but his voice won’t kick it off. Still, what he left behind sticks with us. He blazed trails as a Black broadcaster, nailed 50 years of top-tier work, and quietly shaped folks like Riley. Every bracket scribble, every cheer it’s part of what he built.
Today, we’re all thinking of Greg Gumbel. Not just for the calls, but for the guy he was: a pro who made it look easy, a pal who had your back, a voice that turned a random Sunday into something big. The Stones might sing “Time Is on My Side,” but Greg’s time with us is a melody we’ll keep humming. As March Madness begins, he’s the echo in every shining moment.
