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Bob Neumeier

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Bob Neumeier
Born(1950-11-03)November 3, 1950
Weymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedOctober 23, 2021(2021-10-23) (aged 70)
Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
Alma materSyracuse University
OccupationSports broadcaster
Known for
  • Boston-based sports reporting,
  • horse racing commentary
Spouses
Lynn McCann
​
​
(m. 1983; div. 1993)​
[2][3]
Michele Ucci
​
(m. 2009)​
[4][5]

Robert E. Neumeier[6] (November 3, 1950 – October 23, 2021) was an American sportscaster for several Boston-area media outlets. He also appeared on NBC Sports, specializing in Thoroughbred racing.

Early life

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Neumeier was born on November 3, 1950, and grew up in Weymouth, Massachusetts, where he graduated from Weymouth High School in Massachusetts in 1968.[7][8] After graduating from Syracuse University, Neumeier taught history for a short while at Weymouth High School, worked in the sports department of the Boston Globe, and did public relations work for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (who later became the NHL's Hartford Whalers).[9][2]

Broadcasting career

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Hartford Whalers

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Neumeier's first job in broadcasting began in 1975 on WTIC in Hartford, Connecticut, where he called play-by-play of the Whalers, working with Bill Rasmussen and Larry Pleau; among their calls was the famous "Brawl at the Mall" in April 1975 during a playoff series with the Minnesota Fighting Saints.[10] In 1979, Neumeier left the Whalers to become the sports anchor at WFSB in Hartford.[11]

WBZ

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In 1981, Bob Lobel replaced Roger Twibell as the principal sports anchor at WBZ-TV in Boston and recommended Neumeier for the position of weekend sports anchor. After only six months, Neumeier was replaced by Jerry Azar and reassigned to a reporting role. In 1989, WBZ promoted Neumeier to weekend sports anchor following the departure of Don Shane.[11] Neumeier also co-hosted the Patriots Game Day Pre-Game Show with Tim Fox on WBZ radio from 1993 to 1995.[12][13] In 1995, Neumeier became the play-by-play commentator for the Boston Bruins on WBZ Radio.[14] He was succeeded as weekend sports anchor by Steve Burton, but remained with the station. By 2000, Neumeier had tired of traveling with the Bruins and saw WBZ-TV, where Bob Lobel was entrenched as the lead sports anchor, as a dead-end.[15] He resigned as Bruins announcer after the 1999-2000 season and left WBZ-TV when his contract expired that summer.[16][17]

Other work

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From 1989 to 2000, Neumeier reported and handicapped on ESPN's coverage of Thoroughbred racing.[18] He was the play-by-play announcer for the 1990 Frozen Four, which was broadcast on WFXT.[19] In 1994 he was a reporter for some of the NHL on ABC's late-season and playoff games.[20]

NBC Sports

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In 1990, Neumeier defeated around 350 of the world's best handicappers to win the Caesars Palace World Series of Handicapping.[21] That October, NBC hired him to serve as a roving reporter for its coverage of the Breeders’ Cup.[22] For the 1991 Breeders’ Cup he was promoted to lead reporter, conducting interviews in the winner's circle.[23] In 1992, Neumeier was moved to the handicapper's role.[24] In 2001 he became a member of the broadcast team for the Triple Crown after NBC gained the rights to the races.[25] During a May 1, 2009, telecast from Churchill Downs, Neumeier collapsed off the air and was taken to Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.[26] He missed the 2009 Kentucky Derby, but returned later that month for the 2009 Preakness Stakes.[27] Neumeier was hospitalized after suffering a stroke on October 29, 2014.[28] He was unable to attend the 2014 Breeders' Cup or the 2015 Kentucky Derby, but did appear on the Derby broadcast in a pre-recorded segment. The stroke affected his balance and coordination, but not his motor skills or speech. He returned for NBC's coverage of the 2015 Preakness Stakes.[29]

Neumeier's work on NBC's horse racing coverage led to other opportunities at the network. In 1991, he was a reported for NBC's coverage of the American Cup gymnastics event.[22] He was part of the network's team at the 1992 Summer Olympics, covering equestrian events.[23] During the 2004 Summer Olympics, he was a reporter during track and field events.[30] In 2006, he signed a three-year deal with NBC Sports, which saw him report on Football Night in America and host the network's NHL coverage as well continue his horse racing and Olympic duties.[31] NBC did not renew his contract in 2009, but Neumeier remained a part of its horse racing coverage through 2016.[4]

WEEI

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After leaving WBZ, Neumeier freelanced as a college hockey announcer for FSN New England, a panelist on WSBK-TV’s "5th Quarter" Patriots postgame show, and as a Sunday morning co-host on WEEI during the baseball season.[15][30]

In February 2002, Neumeier replaced Eddie Andelman as Dale Arnold’s co-host on WEEI's midday show.[32] Neumeier joined WEEI at a time where the station, which was also home to Dennis and Callahan and The Big Show, experienced an explosion in popularity.[33] In 2005, Neumeier left Dale & Neumy, which was the highest-rated show in its time slot, after he and Entercom failed to come to terms on a contract.[34]

Later work

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After leaving WEEI, Neumeier spent most of his time in Miami. In 2009 he married a woman who worked in Boston, which resulted in him returning to New England. He worked as a fill-in host for both WEEI and its competitor WBZ-FM.[4] In 2010 he joined CSN New England as an anchor of its SportsNet Central program. He remained with CSN until 2016, when he was let go in a cost-cutting move.[35]

Death

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Neumeier died on October 23, 2021.[5][36] He had suffered from congestive heart failure and heart disease and had been in hospice care for the eight weeks prior to his death.[5] The city of Louisville subsequently named a street in his honor, Neumeier Place.[37]

References

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  1. ^ Dupont, Kevin Paul (October 30, 2021). "Bob Neumeier, great sportscaster and better storyteller, will be missed". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Craig, Jack (January 23, 1983). "Perseverance, talent, and fate". The Boston Globe. p. TV-11. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Fee, Gayle; Raposa, Laura (April 1, 1993). "Inside Track". Boston Herald.
  4. ^ a b c Finn, Chad (August 6, 2010). "Neumeier keeps channels open: Sports media; He proves that you can go back again". The Boston Globe.
  5. ^ a b c Finn, Chad (October 24, 2021). "Bob Neumeier, longtime Boston sports reporter and NBC horse racing expert, dies at 70". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Weymouth High School/Technical High School yearbook. Weymouth High School. 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Baker, Jim (November 4, 1994). "Shakeup continues at Ch.7". Boston Herald.
  8. ^ "More who made the grade". The Boston Globe Magazine. June 12, 1994. p. 32. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Susan Bickelhaupt (January 5, 2007). "Neumeier happy with second choice". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
  10. ^ April 11, 1975 Whalers-Fighting Saints brawl from YouTube
  11. ^ a b Craig, Jack (May 23, 1989). "Patience pays for Neumeier". The Boston Globe.
  12. ^ Baker, Jim (September 7, 1993). "Ditka turns diplomat". Boston Herald.
  13. ^ Greenidge, Jim (July 21, 1995). "Ordway prefers 2 voices, But his budget at WEEI is expected to have the final say". The Boston Globe.
  14. ^ Baker, Jim (February 3, 1995). "Neumeier is B's choice". Boston Herald.
  15. ^ a b Doyle, Bill (February 28, 2002). "WEEI, Eddie face off ; Neumeier ready for Andelman". Telegram & Gazette.
  16. ^ Greenidge, Jim (April 11, 2000). "Neumeier to leave radio job". The Boston Globe.
  17. ^ Baker, Jim (July 4, 2000). "Neumeier to sign off at Ch.4; Longtime reporter's future uncertain". Boston Herald.
  18. ^ Ferguson, John D. (July 18, 2000). "One Sure Thing; Lincoln is sport's ambassador". Tulsa World.
  19. ^ Craig, Jack (April 1, 1990). "Ch. 25 Dream Game Vanishes". The Boston Globe.
  20. ^ Baker, Jim (March 22, 1994). "Upsets don't upset CBS". Boston Herald.
  21. ^ Madden, Michael (August 5, 1990). "A mutuel admiration society: Neumeier became the chairman as he found Las Vegas to be no handicap". The Boston Globe.
  22. ^ a b Craig, Jack (December 23, 1990). "Ready for prime time: Neumeier, Edwards aren't weak end of the operation". The Boston Globe.
  23. ^ a b Craig, Jack (July 23, 1991). "Neumeier uses his horse sense". The Boston Globe.
  24. ^ Craig, Jack (October 14, 1992). "All bets off the air Ch. 4 blacks out Neumeier's coup". The Boston Globe.
  25. ^ Griffith, Bill (May 3, 2002). "Neumeier Set For Another Run". The Boston Globe.
  26. ^ Racing Analyst Bob Neumeier hospitalized[dead link‍], Retrieved on 2009-05-04.
  27. ^ "Rachel Alexandra Wins the Preakness". The New York Times (online). May 16, 2009.
  28. ^ Finn, Chad. "Bob Neumeier hospitalized after suffering stroke". bostonglobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  29. ^ Finn, Chad (May 1, 2015). "Neumeier thankful as he returns to work". The Boston Globe.
  30. ^ a b Griffith, Bill (October 24, 2003). "Versatile Neumeier is a Sure Bet at NBC". The Boston Globe.
  31. ^ Bickelhaupt, Susan (November 17, 2006). "Japanese star would bring a world of attention". The Boston Globe.
  32. ^ Griffith, Bill (February 14, 2002). "Neumeier is Talk of Town; He Appears to be WEEI's Choice". The Boston Globe.
  33. ^ Griffith, Bill (January 28, 2005). "Options for Neumeier; Timing is Perfect for a Big Payday". The Boston Globe.
  34. ^ Bill Griffith (February 11, 2005). "Gamble fails for Neumeier". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
  35. ^ Finn, Chad (December 22, 2016). "Bob Neumeier, Sean McAdam to be let go by CSN". The Boston Globe.
  36. ^ Rabello, Kevin. "Veteran Sportscaster Bob Neumeier Dies". boston.cbslocal.com. WBZ 4. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  37. ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (August 2, 2024). "We're still wondering exactly what the Red Sox are, and other thoughts". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

Further reading

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