Tag: RIP

The NFL Today aired a beautiful Greg Gumbel tribute after his death

From the Super Bowl to March Madness to the Olympics, Gumbel’s presence ensured viewers were in good hands.

One of the most recognizable voices in American sports went silent this week. Greg Gumbel died at age 78 after being diagnosed with cancer, ending a broadcast career that spanned more than five decades.

Gumbel was prolific, covering major events across the spectrum. He was a tireless worker with a voice like a warm cup of tea. Being welcomed to a kickoff, tipoff or pre-game panel created a familiar, calming presence against the backdrop of pro and college sports. He didn’t rely on gimmicks; he simply learned as much as he possibly could about whatever he covered and communicated it to wide ranging audiences as effectively as possible.

His loss leaves a sizable hole in the sporting world. On Sunday, two days after his passing, the network where he spent the bulk of his career paid tribute to a man who became a sports icon despite never taking the field, ice or hardwood.

The NFL Today’s tribute real showcased just how versatile Gumbel was as a broadcaster. He covered major events across the spectrum, from pro football on Sundays to college basketball each March to the Olympics. He was the first black man to call a Super Bowl’s national broadcast. He was the alpha and omega of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, unveiling brackets on Selection Sunday and drawing the curtain shut after the confetti had fallen on the national champion by introducing One Shining Moment.

CBS’s montage was followed by The NFL Today’s panel sharing their memories of Gumbel. Bill Cowher talked about meeting the play-by-play legend before his first Super Bowl appearance with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nate Burleson relayed a story about Gumbel reaching out to champion his career, unsolicited, just to help a young media pro thrive. Matt Ryan reflected on how Gumbel’s seeming omnipresence when it came to big games made him feel like a friend.

The NFL Today wasn’t the only show to pay homage to Gumbel before kickoff. Terry Bradshaw said he owed “his pregame career” to Gumbel’s guidance over at Fox NFL Sunday.

Gumbel was a legend. Sunday’s tributes helped put in focus just how wide his influence spread — and how many people he helped and inspired along the way.

Remembering Chiefs Hall of Famer Abner Haynes

Remembering Kansas City #Chiefs Hall of Famer Abner Haynes | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs franchise lost an all-time great last week. Legendary running back Abner Haynes passed away at the age of 86.

Haynes was a trailblazer for the American Football League’s Dallas Texans during the 1960s. During the league’s first season in 1960, Abner earned Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors. Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt released a statement about Abner following the news of his passing.

“My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Chiefs Hall of Famer Abner Haynes,” Hunt said. “Abner was one of the first great stars of the Dallas Texans and the American Football League.”

Abner owns or shares various franchise records, including the most touchdowns in a rookie season, the most points by a non-kicker in a rookie season, the most points in a game, the most touchdowns in a game, and the most rushing touchdowns in a game.

“He earned the respect and admiration of his teammates and fans alike. In addition to his on-the-field prowess, Abner was a man of courage and leadership from a very young age,” said Hunt. “He remained involved in the community well after his playing days were over, and his legacy extends far beyond the gridiron. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Guadalupe, and his entire family during this difficult time.”

After joining the North Texas first-year team, Haynes broke barriers. He and his teammate Leon King became the first Black student-athletes to play on an integrated college football team in Texas or anywhere in the South. He was inducted into the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1991.

Andy Reid remembers the late great Jimmy Buffett as a ‘renaissance man’

Reid called late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett a “renaissance man” in his comments to the media at a #Chiefs press conference on Sunday.

Flags will fly at half-staff in homes of Parrotheads across the country after the death of Jimmy Buffett last week, and Kansas City Chiefs head coach made a point to eulogize the late icon during his comments to the media on Sunday.

“I saw him play a few times at the Greek Theatre in LA. Great guy,” Reid said. “Very few guys can be a great singer and a writer period — of books — and he did it all, [he was a] renaissance man. And then he still sailed through the Bahamas.”

Many fans may not have pegged Reid as a connoisseur of Buffett’s music, but the head coach is clearly well-versed in the late singer-songwriter’s laidback tunes.

While the world mourns the passing of Buffett this week, Reid is sure to be among those who will dust off their old records and throw on such classics as “Fins,” “Last Mango in Paris,” “Pencil Thin Mustache,” and “Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit.”

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Notre Dame mourns death of former baseball player, Ricky Palmer

Sad news over the weekend in regards to former Notre Dame baseball walk-on, Ricky Palmer.

Sad news out over the weekend as former Notre Dame baseball walk-on Ricky Palmer died at the age of just 29.

Palmer walked on to the Notre Dame baseball team in 2010 according to The Observer and appeared in nine games for the Fighting Irish in 2011, doubling in his first career at-bat.

The former Notre Dame catcher was from Orland Park, Illinois and attended high school at Brother Rice.

Palmer, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2013 with a degree in finance, had been battling a brain tumor since November.