Stephen A's Take: Greg Gumbel: A tribute to a broadcasting legend and trailblazer.

Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
On a very very sad note. Those of us in
the industry got hit pretty hard the other day because
we've learned of the passing of mister Greg Gumble. Greg Gumble,
the brother of Bryant Gumble, one of the greatest sports

(00:26):
broadcasters this industry has ever known. Greg in his own right,
was phenomenal. He did it all doing games for various networks,
most notably CBS as of late NFL games, Colleges, Final four,
Final Fours, the list goes on and on. He lost

(00:52):
his battle to cancer. For me personally, it's something that
always hits home. Obviously, anytime I hear about somebody losing
their battle concert to cancer, I automatically think about my mom,
and there's a level of sadness that it's just there
that just won't go anywhere. There are times that I
ask myself, considering all the money that has been generated

(01:17):
for cancer research, considering the existence of radiation, chemotherapy and
things of that nature, just wondering when we're gonna find
a cure, when we're gonna beat this. So many people fight,
and they fight valiantly, doing all that they can to
extend their lives to eradicate this disease from their body,

(01:42):
and time after time after time we come up short,
and all we can do, all we're left doing is
the mourn the losses of loved ones, people who were pioneers,

(02:03):
who had a profound impact on industries, who affected the
lives of millions in such a positive and a profound way.
All you can do is reflect on their contribution to
society and say thank God for them. And because they
were here and they did so much, you know in

(02:28):
your heart, you feel in your soul that they're in
a better place. It's the only solace that exist, at
least for me personally, when it comes to hearing such
news like this. I'm really sorry. My condolences go out
to the Gumble family, to Brian Gumble, who I know personally,

(02:49):
and their old family as all. What can you say,
Great Gumble gone but not forgotten and never will be
dead at the age of seventy eight,