(Josh Krulewitz/ESPN)
In response to the news Thursday that ESPN stalwart Chris Berman will be transitioning to into a new role with the company at the end of the football season, many sports figures sang Boomer’s praises.
A six-time National Sportscaster of the Year who arrived at ESPN a month after the network launched in 1979, Berman became one of the industry’s most popular voices in the ensuing decades. While he is stepping away from his longtime position as the face of ESPN’s NFL studio coverage, NFL Draft and Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby, Berman will continue to contribute to the network’s coverage in various other ways including providing ESPN Radio play-by-play during the MLB Divisional Playoffs, providing commentary for Monday Night Countdown and more.
On Mike & Mike this morning, Berman discussed his first shows at the network, big moments for ESPN, when he knew the company had staying power and working on NFL PrimeTime.
Mike Soltys, Josh Krulewitz, Bill Hofheimer, Allie Stoneberg, Tara Chozet, Sheldon Spencer and Taylor Garrett contributed to this post.
Thursday, Mike & Mike co-host Mike Greenberg posted this video to Facebook Live:
Here’s a sampling of other social media tributes to Berman from colleagues in and out of ESPN, including NFL star Dez Bryant and former ESPN colleagues Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Rich Eisen and Bonnie Bernstein.
Damn… I love Chris Berman… I need to know who's taking his place.. regardless it will never be the same #Whoop!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 5, 2017
Nobody circles the wagons like you, Chris Berman.
Thanks for all your love over the years! The Bills family will miss you. #GoBills https://t.co/IX8Xb33qWM
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/CollinsworthPFF/status/817092645583540225
ESPN announced Chris Berman's retirement from NFL telecasts today & @richeisen paid tribute to the man who helped build the Bristol empire. pic.twitter.com/58jzHu2iqd
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 6, 2017
Nice to see, w #ChrisBerman stepping away from wkly ESPN NFL studio duties, the outpouring of kind stories. Legend & always wonderful to me
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) January 5, 2017
SBJ podcast: Chris Berman talks about why he stepped down as ESPN's main NFL studio host. https://t.co/Y6pw0x6QSK
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) January 5, 2017
Read our one-on-one interview w/ #Berman about what he wants on professional tombstone, losing 'NFL Primetime' + who he wants 2 succeed him. https://t.co/1g5W2siz25
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) January 6, 2017
.@jacobscourant: Chris Berman won't…go…all…the…way out the door at @ESPN https://t.co/6bjEGBHKnu pic.twitter.com/ibGRuvYYFA
— Hartford Courant (@hartfordcourant) January 6, 2017
Veteran Chris Berman changing his role at ESPN https://t.co/0Zbqvcl5pr
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) January 6, 2017
ESPN’s Berman “at peace” with moving on from NFL studio and other major assignments: "I'm OK.Part of me is sad.": https://t.co/BIPYOCxGAl
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 6, 2017
You cannot write the history of ESPN without Chris Berman. A generation of us got into the business because (cont) https://t.co/wXgb3W20gu
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 5, 2017
Chris Berman is one of the great guys of all time. I have so many super stories with him I wish I could tell you few. It won't be the same
— Barry Melrose (@NHLBarryMelrose) January 5, 2017
I will always be grateful to Chris Berman for his kindness, his mentoring and his support of my 49ers fandom, through thick and thin.
— Stephania Bell (@Stephania_ESPN) January 5, 2017
Berman and I were in Buffalo together for my first NFL game with ESPN. He says hi to EVERYONE and introduced me to every single person.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 5, 2017
Chris Berman stepping down as host of ESPN’s NFL studio programming, will remain with network…. https://t.co/0FrKOT7zXE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2017
Boomer on a busy NFL weekend chats w/ wide eyed 12 yr olds. That's Chris Berman, mentor & friend. #chrisberman pic.twitter.com/V85em9jW0o
— Chris McKendry (@ChrisMcKendry) January 5, 2017
Chris Berman inspired me & so many others to get into business of Sports Broadcasting. Much respect to what he did and continues to do @espn
— Craig Birnbach (@CraigBirnbach) January 5, 2017
.@Ourand_SBJ @dfbarron We all have our critics, but if passion & loyalty still matter? Chris is your guy. Onward & Upward to him at ESPN.
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) January 5, 2017
All the thanks from ESPN''ers 2 Chris Berman today r 2 b expected but the NFL owes Boom a standing ovation 4 promoting their product.#best
— Steve Levy (@espnSteveLevy) January 6, 2017
It has been a great privilege to take and toss my liveshots from one of the broadcasting greats every NFL Sunday. Thank you, Chris Berman
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) January 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/BDG0716/status/817155961852981250
Generous, funny and larger than life. Congrats to Chris Berman on a stellar 38 years and glad he's staying with us at ESPN.
— Adnan Virk, ESPN (@adnanESPN) January 5, 2017
One of the great thrills of my career has been talking football on TV w/HOFer Chris Berman. Thank you Boom! #NobodyCirclesTheWagonsLikeBoom
— Trent Dilfer (@DilfersDimes) January 5, 2017
Chris Berman on @MikeAndMike right now. What an Honor it is to call this man a colleague. Thanks for all you've done for us at ESPN Buddy!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 6, 2017
(1) Another Chris Berman story: my first month at ESPN, I'm working with a producer named Tom Reilly, a longtime friend of Chris'.
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(2) I'm waiting for the elevator. Chris walks up. "Stan, I'm Chris Berman." As if he needed to. "My buddy Reills tells me you can play!"
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(3) now, I'm shocked he knows who I am, and in disbelief that he actually cared about how I was doing. But that's who he is. The best.
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(1)years ago, Chris Berman, at home, watched me do a sportscenter show along with Neil Everett. This was early in our careers there.
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(2) Chris left each of us a vm. On it, he said our show reminded him of the old days, when the anchors had fun talking about sports.
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(3) afterwards, I ran over to Neil. "Did you get a vm from Chris?" "Yep, and I'm never going to delete it" "Me either!"
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(4) it was a great gesture from an icon of the place to let us know we belonged. It was about 20 seconds, 10 years ago. I never forgot it.
— stan verrett (@stanverrett) January 5, 2017
(1/5) With today's Chris Berman news, some thoughts. I know this man 45 years. Since we looked like this. He was a HS Junior and me, Frosh pic.twitter.com/27YaIzifky
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 5, 2017
(2/5) He helped me on to our radio station, yearbook, paper. I became his assistant editor at each. This may be a pic of him regretting it pic.twitter.com/fAJeml5nSC
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 5, 2017
(3/5) I've worked with them all in sports and news and for all his foibles I've never met anybody less affected or less affected by success. pic.twitter.com/6tgYTrp4Gy
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 5, 2017
(4/5) Still generous to his juniors, never condescending, subtly teaching, always worked his ass off, loved being him. Same guy as in '72 pic.twitter.com/dOSS2xX4v7
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 5, 2017
(5/5) So thanks Chris/Boomer/Swa/Clifford Ray/Ilie Nastase/Boss/Friend. I hope your innovation and joy in your craft is celebrated forever. pic.twitter.com/cqJq0lUDF7
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 5, 2017
During my ESPN tryout, you meet w several execs for interviews. I was doing everything I could to play it cool. Chris Berman walked in.. (1)
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
During one of the interviews.. Chris realized what was going on, complimented my tie.. it was a moment I needed to get me to relax (2)
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
I'll never forget leaving Bristol that day saying, if I don't get the gig, at least I met Boomer. The man has been so kind to me since (3)
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
A few yrs later, I ran into him and he stopped me and said, "Kevin, I watch you in the mornings and you really do a great job." (4)
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
For the last few yrs, every Monday we see each other, and he always brings up the Eagles. Whether it's something he saw in the game.. (5)
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
And some days, we would just talk football. Whether it was the NFL or the CFL.. it was always a joy for me.. Boomer is a living legend..
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
Boomer and TJ on Primetime was so ahead of its time. They changed how highlight shows were done.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) January 5, 2017
