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This is a Fantastic Marc Zumoff Quote
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Marc Zumoff announced his retirement on Tuesday following 27 years as the Sixers’ play-by-play announcer. He wants to do other things while he still can, which I think is a boss move. There’s nothing better than leaving on top, and on your own accord, instead of having to be told to hang ’em up by some corporate suit in Stamford.
Zoo talked about learning another language and maybe an instrument, so perhaps he’ll be down there with Sammy Hagar in Cabo, speaking Spanish and strumming the acoustic guitar.
Meantime, he went on Cataldi’s show this morning and was asked how he wanted to be remembered, and gave this great response:
“Basically, I am a fan. I am one of all of you who are listening right now. I am no different than that guy. I grew up rooting for all of the Philadelphia teams. I’ve lived a died a thousand deaths with every one. I was in Minneapolis with the Eagles when they won the Super Bowl. I have vivid memories with the Phillies in ’80 and 2008. I’ve seen all the Sixers titles in ’67 and ’83, the two Stanley Cups with the Flyers. I am a Union season ticket holder. I am you. I am no different than the guys on top of some building right now in Center City, or the guy who is going to occupy that building as a highly paid attorney. There are a lot of things in this life that I can’t do. I am not gifted in a lot of different things. This just happens to be a gift for me, the fact that I was able to announce games. But, in my very heart, I am no different than the people who listen every day. So, everyone out there, I am one of you and if you see me in the street please stop me and we can commiserate or celebrate depending on the situation, as Philadelphia sports continue to unveil themselves.”
I love that answer. Zumoff is a guy who gets it. There are a lot of egos in Philadelphia sports media, and Marc is not one of them. He goes on my Mount Rushmore of nicest guys in Philly sports, and I’m not just saying that because he’s a soccer fan. Truly, you won’t meet a better guy than Zoo, who is humble and down-to-Earth and is the same guy in person that you see in all of these interviews and podcast appearances. I’m sure there were people out there who weren’t fans of his broadcasting, but I never met any of them. He was always very steady and consistent and professional, and the overwhelming outpouring of support he got yesterday confirms that Zumoff was very well-liked and respected in this town.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com