Gumbel Jumps Back Into Sports Arena

Bryant Gumbel is back in sports broadcasting, something he said he would never consider 13 years ago when he became host of NBC’s “Today” show.

“I never thought I would get back,” Gumbel said. “I’ve always enjoyed watching, but I’ve got a great job that’s already pretty time consuming.”

On Wednesday, Gumbel joined Home Box Office, the premium cable station owned by Time Warner, in announcing he would be host of a new sports magazine series that will bear his name, “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”

Although he worked at the Seoul Olympics and has done some golf for NBC, Gumbel has not had a regular sports job since leaving NBC Sports to join “Today” on Jan. 4, 1982. At the time, Gumbel had become host of virtually every NBC Sports studio show, including the NFL pregame, which his brother Greg now hosts.

Gumbel said he also will do some reporting for the new HBO show, although he is not yet sure how much time he will have to devote to it.

“It’s funny, but when I left sports at NBC to do the `Today’ show, there was a huge concern than I would always be perceived as just a sports guy,” Gumbel said. “Now, 13 years later, I’m viewed as a news guy, and people are wondering why I’m back in sports.”

Gumbel said several factors prompted him to accept HBO’s offer, including the all-star staff HBO has put together to work on the series, the changing nature of sports in society, and HBO’s ability to operate without the constraints of commercial sponsorship or huge rights deals with leagues.

HBO, which reaches more than 20 million American homes, plans four hourlong shows in 1995.

Billy Crystal will do the first “Extra Point,” joining a star-studded cast that HBO has put together. Also working on the show will be HBO regulars Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Gary Myers, Fox studio host James Brown, Vanity Fair contributing editor Frank Deford, New York Times staff writers Ira Berkow and William Rhoden, and Sports Illustrated staff writer Sonja Steptoe.