Retiring Verne Lundquist Returns To March Madness; Reveals How He Met His Wife
The veteran sports news broadcaster Verne Lundquist has the record of broadcasting 20 different sports for CBS. Verne has been an integral part of the broadcasting community for the past 53 years, and on December 2016 Verne retired from his job.
But shortly after retiring he returned to his previous job as a broadcaster. So why did Verne return to March Madness after retirement? Let's find that out.
Verne Lundquist Return To March Madness!
CBS’s broadcaster Verne Lundquist returned for March Madness in March 2017 as CBS and TNT needed their employees the most. And Verne broadcasted the Basketball game along with his broadcast partner Jim Spanarkel. While broadcasting the game, he took the basketball on his face, when West Virginia’s Teyvon Meyers hit a carom as a warmup shot.
Caption: Verne Lundquist's takes rogue basketball on his face in March Madness and gets captured on camera.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
Verne reacted on the replay clip of being hit by the basketball.
“Oh, that hurts on replay, it’s a tougher sport than I thought. That was Tavon Meyers, No. 0 at the time. I got him back. I went out and tore his jersey so he had to change to No. 22. … You gotta come tough and ready with these guys.”
Following the goodbye from CBS, Verne surprised everyone with his return in March Madness; and referring to his return, back on March 18, 2017, he said,
"I'm not going into hiding. I'll see all of you during March Madness, and I'll yell at you from the 16 tower [the broadcast tower that was moved from one side of the 16th hole to the other, in order for Lundquist to better see the ball later in the day] at The Masters."
In December 2016, CBS Sports announced that Verne Lundquist would not be the voice of play-by-play of the SEC on CBS following his retirement on December 10, 2016. And in honor of Verne, CBS gave a tribute with a video and bid a tearful goodbye.
Caption: CBS bids a tearful goodbye to their veteran broadcaster Verne Lundquist on December 2016.
However, Verne would continue to fixture, CBS Sports’ covering major events in college basketball and golf.
Verne highlighted his most significant years while being a part of SEC on CBS. Cherishing the height of the career, he said,
"Being a part of the SEC on CBS since 2000 has been the most significant assignment I've been given in my more than five decades in this business, now, it's time to step back and take in the aroma of those tulips, those roses, and those daffodils that friends have been telling me about for years. In 2017, I'll happily step aside from college football and welcome Brad to the booth.
Verne continued,
“I've known Brad for more than 30 years and have always admired his work ethic and his on-air presence. He shares the same passion for college football that I do. The SEC on CBS is in great hands. Brad and Gary will form a great partnership in the years ahead."
Moreover, chairman of CBS Sports Sean McManus spoke volumes about the contribution of Verne and said,
"Verne has set the standard for college football broadcasting, together with Gary Danielson, he has played a key role in making the SEC on CBS the highest-rated college football package in America. After an incredible 17 years, he will be handing the reigns off to Brad, who in his own right is highly acclaimed and respected as one of the premier play-by-play broadcasters in the business. I am very pleased that Verne will still have a prominent role in our college basketball and major championship golf coverage. We are fortunate to have one more football season to appreciate Verne's one-of-a-kind storytelling as we pave the way for a seamless and smooth transition to Brad."
Verne Lundquist Reveals How He Met His Wife:
Verne Lundquist met his wife Nancy Lundquist in an upscale bar, Dallas in 1980. The pair got married two years later on April 8, 1982.
Going down the memory lane, Verne shared the detailed description about how he met his wife and it’s really interesting because when Verne met Nancy, she was someone else’ date so how did he steal someone else’ date and made her his life partner? In Verne’s words,
We met in a bar -- and I hasten to add it was an upscale bar in Dallas. It was a place called Arthur's. I walked in after I did the 10 o'clock news (at WFAA-TV in Dallas) and I just didn't want to go home. Nancy and her date were at the bar and her date recognized me from local television and invited me over to have a drink. He introduced me to his date and her name was Nancy Miller. It was their first date, a blind date. So we sat and chatted and her date, Raymond Willie, said to me, "Listen, I know you are single. I'm going to fix you up with a friend of mind and we can all go to dinner." He looked at Nancy and asked her, "What are you doing Thursday night?" She said, "Nothing." He said, "Good, you'll be my date and we'll fix Verne up with this schoolteacher friend of mine and we'll go to dinner." Meanwhile, I'm looking at Nancy thinking she is the prettiest thing I have ever seen in my life. So, Raymond finally left to take care of his business and I asked Nancy, "So, how involved are you with Raymond? She said, "Oh, this is our first date and it's a blind date." So I said, "Well forget what he is talking about on Thursday night. What are you doing on Saturday night?" She said, "I think I am doing whatever you are doing." *Whom we have never, ever heard called "Drunkquist." Who are these people? Can we fight them?
Photo Credit: steamboattoday.com
Verne shares an adorable relationship with his wife Nancy which is evident in his tweets, where he has given an insight into his relationship with his long-time wife, Nancy.
Before Nancy, Verne was married to Patricia Lundquist (June 24, 1967, to July 23, 1971) and Kathy Vernon (March 10, 1972, to November 26, 1980).
Verne Lundquist played basketball and baseball in his young days, and with his golden voice he began his broadcasting career of a sports anchor for WFAA in Dallas and for KTBC in Austin and became the voice of Dallas Cowboys as well.
In 1967, he went to become the voice of Cowboys Radio Network and remained with the team in 1984. Moreover, he worked with ABC Sports (1974-81), CBS (1982-95), and TNT (1995-97), and then he returned to CBS in 1998.
Since 1998, Verne worked for CBS, and he retired from broadcasting college football games on December 10, 2016, but he will continue to contribute in the college basketball and golf.
Verne has significantly contributed in CBS, and his hard work, dedication, and passion must have rewarded him with a handsome salary and impressive net worth which he has kept a secret till now.
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