Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78.

“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement.

In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.

In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.

Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.

He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime.

But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004.

He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.

mlb

Tigers sign Torres away from Yankees

The Detroit Tigers signed former New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres to a $15 million, one-year contract.

The two-time All-Star gets a slight raise from his $14.2 million salary with the Yankees. His agreement includes a one-time assignment bonus of $500,000.

Torres hit .265 with 138 home runs and 441 RBIs in seven seasons with the Yankees, who acquired him from the Cubs in the July 2016 trade that sent closer Aroldis Chapman to Chicago.

The 28-year-old infielder hit .257 with 15 homers, 63 RBIs and 26 doubles last season while helping the Yankees win the AL East and reach the World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

Mets, Manea finalize 3-year, $75 million deal

Sean Manaea and the New York Mets have finalized a $75 million, three-year contract that keeps one of the team’s best pitchers last season at the front of a remodeled rotation.

The sides agreed to financial terms earlier this week, subject to a successful physical.

His return gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to help complete its reconstructed rotation.

Manaea emerged as New York’s top starter in 2024 during his first season with the club, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 outings.

Athletics president Kaval to step down Dec. 31

Athletics president Dave Kaval will resign from the organization after being the public face of the organization’s planned move from Oakland to Las Vegas.

Kaval has been president of the A’s for the past eight years and will step down from the role on Dec. 31 to pursue new business opportunities in California.

Sandy Dean, a longtime business partner with the Fisher family that owns the team, will serve as interim president and a search to fill the full-time role will begin in 2025.

Kaval made the decision to step down after the team had cleared its final major hurdles to get a stadium built in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority approved lease, non-relocation and development documents earlier this month for the Athletics to construct a $1.75 billion stadium on the Strip.

Other details remain to be worked out, such as a development agreement with Clark County, but groundbreaking likely will take place in the spring and the team expects to be in the new stadium in Las Vegas for the start of the 2028 season.

NHL

Ovechkin could return to Capitals Saturday

Alex Ovechkin could return to the Washington Capitals lineup when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first game back from the NHL’s Christmas break.

Several signs point to Ovechkin returning Saturday night after missing five weeks with a broken left leg.

Ovechkin skated with regular linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas and took part in power play drills in practice.

Coach Spencer Carbery said things were trending the right way for Ovechkin to play but wanted to see how the 39-year-old comes out of a full practice before making a decision Saturday.

Avs ink Blackwood to five-year extension

It didn’t take goalie Mackenzie Blackwood long to establish himself as the Colorado Avalanche’s starter for the present and future after signing a five-year $26.25 million contract extension.

The Avalanche announced the signing, and a person with direct knowledge of the contract confirmed its value to The Associated Press. The team did not reveal the monetary figure first reported by Sportsnet.ca.

The new contract runs though the 2029-30 season, and validates what the Avalanche expected out of Blackwood in solidifying their goaltending upon acquiring the 28-year-old in a trade with San Jose on Dec. 9. Blackwood has gone 3-1 since the trade with a 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

PGA

Scheffler cuts hand, will not play in PGA opener

Scottie Scheffler injured his right hand on a broken glass preparing Christmas dinner, forcing the top-ranked player to withdraw from the PGA Tour’s season-opening event in Hawaii.

Scheffler withdrew from The Sentry tournament Jan. 2-5 at Kapalua Resort.

— From news services