Greg Gumbel - Covering March Madness and the Olympics

Brian Lord:

I'm Brian Lord and on the show today, we have Emmy-winning sportscaster, Greg Gumbel, as he shares his journey from small market broadcasting to the national stage, the grind of covering March Madness and the secret to success he learned from his father. My absolute favorite time of the year is March Madness. It is a magical time for me, and there's nobody that people associate with that more than Greg Gumbel. He's hosted it forever. Whether it's the opening whether it's all the way through hosting the anchor desk, he just somebody that I've so much enjoyed. And as somebody who's studied broadcasting and done interviews it's really a thrill for me today to be able to talk to Greg Gumbel. So I started this interview by asking how he first got into broadcasting.

Greg Gumbel:

Well, I was, I was selling supplies, hospital supplies in Detroit, Michigan, and doing a really good job of it, except that I just really didn't get a whole lot. No, there wasn't. There wasn't a lot of thrill when a purchasing director at a hospital would call your home at five in the morning, wondering where her syringes and needles, where that was supposed to have been delivered. And, and I, and so I was really good at it. I just didn't like it. And it was about that time that my brother called me from Los Angeles. And he said that the NBC affiliate in Chicago, which is where we grew up. And I was, he said that they were looking for a weekend sportscaster. And so I applied and I auditioned with a couple of hundred other guys and they said, don't call us, we'll call you. And three weeks later, they called me back and I was happy to get back to Chicago. Number one, because as I said, I grew up there and number two, my dad had passed away the year before. And I had been running back and forth between Detroit and Chicago anyway looking after my mom and my sisters. So this was a chance to get back and be closer to them.

Brian Lord:

How much did your sales background help you in broadcasting?

Greg Gumbel:

Oh, none at all. None. What, none whatsoever that I can tell. The thing that I found out about sales is with dependent on a good product, good service, and like ability. And, you know, I could have the fact that there have been times that I knew that I got an account simply because the purchasing agent liked me more than the other guy. He might've had a better price. I don't think his product was better. But the fact is that you know, you're not really going to deal too much with people that you don't like in that regard, Brian, I guess you might be right, because I'm not sure that there are a whole lot of people who succeed in television if they don't have some degree of likability, there are some, there are some broadcasters I don't like them. And when I say I don't like them, I don't like their presentation. I don't like people who yell at me on the air. I don't like people who are aloof and who, who make you give you the impression that they know everything. And they kind of kind of look at the camera, go, "Okay, sit down children, and I'm going to explain to you everything there is to know about this." I don't like that type of broadcaster. I, and I don't believe that most people do. I think that people will watch other people who may like, and if they don't like you, they tune it out. You know, I think that, you know, you go back to Holly Cosell whom I did not like either personally or professionally. And, and, and I think that there were as many people who tuned into watch Howard Cosell as there were to hate. And of course, ABC doesn't care why you tuned in, they just cared that you tune in. But I think that there, there, there have been those people who engender anger and someone will just call up and I can talk, show radio host, and they'll call up just to scream at the guy because he's got an opinion, which more often than not comes from a desire to inflame the audience, because now you get more people listening and you get people involved. And, you know, the host doesn't care again, whether he's right or wrong, he cares if people are listening and tune again, and then calling up to argue.

Brian Lord:

What was the path like for you from, you know, going Midwest to becoming like this, this big national personality, and who were, who were some of the people that maybe influenced you along the way?

Greg Gumbel:

Well, certainly my brother influenced me along the way. I mean, I, you know, people, I, for, for a while there, I was really not a whole lot more than Bryant's brother. And look, I was, I was learning the business just as he had to learn the business. Neither one of us took broadcasting in school. My school did not have radio and TV communications or courses or anything like that, or journalism courses. And I've, and I've always believed that those aren't necessary. They help, but I don't think they're necessary. I think you need to be able to, to, as, as my dad used to teach us to listen carefully think intelligently and speak clearly. Those are the important things that you do in life. And that's talking about broadcasting in life. Those happened to fit very well with broadcasting ideals and what you need to do. And I, and I think that if you are good enough at those things, then you can learn the rest. And I did. And Bryant did obviously, but you know, I've known, gosh, I've known athletes who have gone to broadcasting school and they come out and they try to be on TV and they try and try and try. It just doesn't work for whatever reason, it just doesn't work. And I think you can study it all you want to, and if you just don't have whatever it takes. And then who knows, if you can put your finger exactly on that. But if you don't have that, then all the schooling in the world isn't going to help. So I, you know, I was fortunate that the NBC station in Chicago stuck with me long enough for me to learn what it is I had to learn. And I spent seven and a half years there. And I was sports director when I left and then on TV, ESPN and ESPN said, "Hey, instead of doing three minutes of sports at 10 o'clock at night, you can do an hour for us and host a talk show and host an NBA show." And I went, "Good." So I went to ESPN for five and a half years from there to Madison Square Garden and from Madison Square Garden and CBS and CBS to NBC for four years. And then back to CBS.

Brian Lord:

Now, you mentioned your dad and that he'd passed away at a fairly young age for you. What influence did he and your, and your mom have on you as a person and as a broadcaster?

Greg Gumbel:

Everything. Well, first of all, my dad, my dad passed away too early to see either my brother or myself on the air. And we, you know, whenever we're having dinner and over a glass of wine or a martini, we'll, we'll talk about the time, but no, he basically taught us everything that we knew and know about sports and how to appreciate aspects of the games and yet and, and, you know, he would like for our birthdays, you know, be special things, box seats at a Cubs or a White Sox game. And now we're at, we're at a position where we could get him box seats for the season and, and he's not around. He did, he did pass at an early age and we were both Bryant and I, and my sisters were, were deprived of so much, but I think that the basic lessons that he taught us you know, how to go about things, how to try to go about things intelligently, how to to treat people and, and how to persevere all of those things, which, and I'm not the only child who, who had a parent who dispensed those values. A lot of people did, but, but I do know that that I and my brother too, we just attribute my dad, especially with all of those things he used to emphasize, you have to have a proper set of values and that proper set of values, where it comes from, you know, it could be molded when you're in high school. It could be molded when you're in college. But, but the fact is you have to determine how you're going to conduct your life, and if it's going to be a respectable approach to life. And I know that we're, we've always been grateful to him for that. And, and it's, it's just, it's, it's a little bit depressing at times, but he wasn't around to see the success that we have been fortunate to enjoy. But, but we're always grateful for it. Always.

Brian Lord:

What are those, what are like maybe two or three of those values that he was, he was intentional about teaching you?

Greg Gumbel:

Just a matter of doing the right thing at the right time and, and being, being honest and straightforward in your approach to anything, you know, meet problems, head on. And I mean, we always, we, we were known like the gumball kids were known as, as the most polite kids on the block or in the area, or whenever we would go down to, and my dad was a circuit court judge in Chicago, and we would go down to to his chambers and say hello to all the other judges. And they would always talk about, you know, what terrific kids we were. And I guess in retrospect, we were in a way. Now, we had our moments. We, we, we were altar boys and we used to serve the family mass in our parish church on Sunday morning. And my mother was so proud, "Oh, look at them up there on the altar," you know, and, and my dad was an usher and he passed the basket for collections and stuff. And then they're outside afterward talking to other people. And it's "Oh, Greg and Bryant looked so wonderful up there," meanwhile, Greg and Bryant are in the back of the sacristy drinking the left of the whole wine from mass, you know, "Hi, how are ya?" "Oh, good job." "Thank you so much." You know? But, but, but by and large by and large, it was go to church every Sunday. And you know, any summer job that we had, give part of the money you make to your mother little things, you know, he always told me, he said, you're the oldest, you know, the most important thing you do in life is look after your brother and your two sisters. And, you know, those are, those are the little things. And sometimes people take those things for granted and a lot of people, they missed the mark and they really don't get that sometimes until it's too late.

Brian Lord:

Well, one of the things you were just mentioning that, that you know, your miss, your dad being able to see you do so many amazing things. So, so for me, one of my favorite things, part, part of this job for me is, is an actual job. But part of it is, is fun and excitement. And for me, I'm a huge, huge fan of March Madness. And you know, whether it's, you know, announcing where the seeds are and what regions, or just the, you know, during the game, I always hope cause I never have enough vacation time it seems like. So I always hope that I'm actually sick. You know, that, those middle two, that, that Thursday and Friday in March, but what is it like every year being the voice of March Madness and being a part of something like that?

Greg Gumbel:

Well, it's always been a grind. I don't think there's any doubt about that. You know, before, before we entered into this partnership with Turner Sports, it was me in the studio and I had a couple of partners, but basically it was me. And I don't think people realize that the typical, you know, the typical week I'd fly up to New York on Wednesday. And then on Thursday you arrive in the studio at about 7:30 in the morning to get ready for the first games that starts to be played right about noon. And then there's half-time for that game. And then meanwhile, there are other games that are starting elsewhere around the country and you do intros for that. And you probably that first day, there are 16 games and you get out of there at about one or 1:30 in the morning, go back to the hotel, wash the makeup off, get a couple hours sleep and come back and do the same thing on Friday because it's another 16 games. And then on Saturday you come in and it's down to eight games on Saturday and Sunday. And, and those are, those are pretty grueling days. But, but as you say, it's an exciting time and you don't feel it as much simply because number one, it's so much fun and so enjoyable to do. And number two, I know that there are so many broadcasters in my business who would give their right arm to be able to do that. And I've never, ever, ever doubted how, how fortunate I've been to be able to do events like that. Now, since the Turner people have arrived, Ernie Johnson and I split the duties, which is kind of nice, you know, he'll, he'll do half a day and I'll do half a day, but it's fortunately it's only a three week run and it's an exciting weekend. And the strange thing about it is it gets easier the closer you get to the finish because there are fewer games. So there are fewer games there's still about as much airtime and maybe a little bit more fill than you would like, as opposed to during the first part of the tournament where you simply say hi, and here's the score and Hey, let's check in on this game over here because there's so much else going on. But still, I mean, I agree with you. It is such a unique, unique event on the sports calendar. And I'm just happy to be a part of it.

Brian Lord:

Now, one of the things that we were putting out for some questions, but one that everyone kept coming back to are, what are some of the highlights or the high points, the most memorable events that you've had during March Madness?

Greg Gumbel:

You know, I'm not trying to duck the question, Brian, but I have never been one of those guys who like, like I've been in groups of what other broadcasters who have worked at events at CBS and journalists will say, "Hey, what's your favorite?" And they'll go, "You know, back in such and such a Syracuse made a heck of a run and..." I'll sit there and go. I don't remember any of that.

Brian Lord:

[Laughing]

Greg Gumbel:

There's way too- "Well, do you remember when Ohio State...?" No, I don't because it doesn't, it doesn't register on my hard drive. I, you know, once it's done for me, it's done and I don't look back on it. Sure. You remember certain jump shots you remember game-tying or game-winning baskets, but there are other people who are just so into about, you know, "Northern Iowa made that incredible run and they knocked off Indiana." "They knocked off Houston." I don't remember that. Well, now that you mention it, it does sound familiar. And I admired these guys, you know, who remember all of those things and it's, it's, it's, it's so impaled on their brain and I go, "Wow, I admire you for being able to that, but I don't, it just doesn't hit me." So I'd be hard-pressed. There are guys, there are guys who can go, well, the final four last year with this team and this team and this team and this team, really? No, maybe it's because I'm kind of tied up with other stuff or the rest of the time, part of the year, like just ahead of March Madness, is the NFL season. So, but I've never, ever been... Gosh, we had, we have seminar a couple of weeks ago as we do prior to the beginning of the season. And these, these reporters sat me down and they put a microphone on me and I go, "Ask me anything you want." And the guy says "Name your five favorite moments from last NFL season." And I said, "I can't name one. I can't name me one." I mean, I enjoyed the season. I watched the playoffs, then it's over and it's good. And now you don't move on to another thing. I don't do too much dwelling in the past and I'm not. So, so I apologize that I just don't think that the, that the whole remembering certain moment, and I know rabid fans are totally into it, but I just kind of had a little bit more to deal with. And, and they, they kind of at times washed together. You know what I mean?

Brian Lord:

Well, I know you have been a part of, you know, so many iconic events, you know, whether it's the NCAA tournament and the other one, I'm curious about the Olympics. I know you've been with, you know, with Atlanta and Lillehammer and others and, and what, how has the Olympic experience different than maybe March Madness or something else?

Greg Gumbel:

The Olympic experience- and I think most anyone who has ever done an Olympics, they will tell you that it is tough. It is extremely difficult for a number of reasons. Number one, you're dealing with sports that you don't normally deal with. I mean, you were in Lillehammer and I'm supposed to know everything. There is about the four-man luge. I went, "Really? Well. The team from Finland, I can't even pronounce their names." Or you know, or, or the cross country skiing and, and the, and the guys who ski and stop and shoot, you know, I was on Conan O'Brien immediately after the Lillehammer Olympics. And I said, "To me, it's like, if you ski and take a shot at somebody now, that's something that's exciting." But the fact is the fact, the fact is that there are those part of our job is to educate the public that is tuning in because they don't know that much about it either when it comes to the Olympics, you're about events that even the broadcasters aren't that familiar with when I did Lillehammer as the prime time host, I spent an hour and a half with researchers twice a week for a year prior to the Olympic games, just being educated on the sport past history, who's won before, who were the main contenders this time around. And they did that for every single sport and every single country and pronunciation is tremendously important because if you mispronounce a game guarantee, there's at least one person out there who knows you screwed it up. And, and, and, and those are, those are things that you have to get, right. So there's a great thing that I studied every single week for a year and a half before the Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, and then you get over there and then you just do the best you can and trying to set the scene. And it's, it's really not unlike hosting a studio show because you're you're, you're a bit of a traffic cop and you know, this is what's happening here. Now, we're going to take you over here. And here's the situation here. And here's what just happened here. And we'll go back to this. Um it's, it's fun because it's so different. You know, mine was Albertville, France in '92, Lillehammer Norway in '94, and the Atlanta Olympics in '96. And it's unusual. And, and, and it was, and it was fun, but for people who do that on a regular basis God bless them because it is, it's a difficult chore. It's interesting because they are with the exception of Atlanta, obviously in such a unique location. And part of the experience is being able to experience Lillehammer, Norway, for instance, you know, because my first question was "How do you get there?" Well, you can fly to Oslo. And then you're driven to Lillehammer. I go, "Driven? How long?" "About two and a half, three hours." And that's, if the weather is good and know, meanwhile, this was the Winter Olympics and right in the middle. Oh, and by the way, you're a hop, skip, and a jump in the Arctic circle. I remember we were in the studio about midnight. One night, everybody came running in, "Hey, you got to come see the Northern lights. You got to see it." Everybody runs out the back door out into 10 below weather. And they point to a Hill and there's lights on the other side of the hill. And I said, "That's it?" "Yeah, the Northern lights!" "It looks like a traffic jam on the other side of that hill. And I'm freezing. I'm going back inside."

Brian Lord:

You know, you're talking about this tremendous amount of preparation that goes into this. I've got a question from our producer, Eric here, who's an NFL guy. As I mentioned, he, he wants to know, you know, you've got the, with CBS having the Super Bowl this year or coming up in 2019. What, what's the preparation like for that for you?

Greg Gumbel:

There's a whole season-long preparation, Eric. The fact of the matter is every single week that you do games and that you follow the activity in the national football league helps you prepare for the post-season and whatever you might be doing relative to it. You cannot, you cannot go into, let's say any discussion about the playoffs with last four teams involved. If you haven't been following them and following how they got there all season long, you know, if suddenly the, if you find the Rams there, you can't be shocked that, "Oh, they started the season at 5 and 0." Well, yeah, they did. And so did the Kansas City Chiefs and all of that is knowledge that is built up. In fact, it's kind of, it's kind of the opposite of what happens with the Olympics because the Olympic sports, you're not following day to day, week to week, month to month in the National Football League, you are. And so you're kind of prepared for that conversation to know that this guy was injured for the first part of the season, or this guy was suspended for the first four games of the season, Martavious Bryant was suspended, and then he joined the Oakland Raiders and he's been tearing it up and things like that. So, so regarding the Superbowl, I think that with any football game, really the preparation that we do during the week leading up to the game is more statistical. Now I make out, I made a couple boards and I put down names and numbers and height and weight and what school they went to and what year this is. And then, you know, like for instance, this weekend I'm headed up to New York and under the Jeff Cole's team, and you talk about Robbie Anderson and how many touchdown catches he has and how Isaiah Corwell has you know, ran for over 200 yards last week and things like that is there, there's a lot of stuff that's common knowledge. And you just add details to what you already know. That's in football, that's in basketball, that's in baseball. But, but, but in the Olympics to go back to that for a second, you don't have any of that. And so it's a whole new learning experience. It's like, you're starting from scratch.

Brian Lord:

What advice I know you were talking about having your brother as a mentor, if you were to go back to, to your time there, when you were first getting started, what advice would you give to yourself?

Greg Gumbel:

Oh, probably. And it's not something that I, that I, I think that you have to, that you force, I think it either comes naturally or it doesn't, and that's to have a bit more self-confidence. People have asked me, you know, the main difference between my brother and me Bryant brims with self-confidence. He always has, I truly had some questions as to whether or not I could do the job when I first started. I was known as waterfall back in the videotape room because I sweat profusely on the air. And, and, and people kept telling me to smile. Remember we talked earlier about, you know, people don't like watching people who aren't smiling. And I thought, well, you know, that's a little bit disingenuous because there's nothing to smile about. I said, well, you've got to smile anyway, because people will like you more and sure enough, it happened. And, you know, as I said, it took a while for me to get started. But the fact that Bryant had all this confidence, he was an instant success. And it took me a little bit longer, as you said, to get comfortable and to learn what I was doing. And once I did I thought it was okay that I would, I would just try to be a little bit more relaxed, have a little bit more self-confidence and, and go about my job, knowing that I can do it as opposed to hoping that I could do it.

 

Beyond Speaking is hosted by Brian Lord and produced by Eric Woodie