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.
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
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]
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
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
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
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]
^ abCraig, Jack (May 23, 1989). "Patience pays for Neumeier". The Boston Globe.
^Baker, Jim (September 7, 1993). "Ditka turns diplomat". Boston Herald.
^Greenidge, Jim (July 21, 1995). "Ordway prefers 2 voices, But his budget at WEEI is expected to have the final say". The Boston Globe.
^Baker, Jim (February 3, 1995). "Neumeier is B's choice". Boston Herald.
^ abDoyle, Bill (February 28, 2002). "WEEI, Eddie face off ; Neumeier ready for Andelman". Telegram & Gazette.
^Greenidge, Jim (April 11, 2000). "Neumeier to leave radio job". The Boston Globe.
^Baker, Jim (July 4, 2000). "Neumeier to sign off at Ch.4; Longtime reporter's future uncertain". Boston Herald.
^Ferguson, John D. (July 18, 2000). "One Sure Thing; Lincoln is sport's ambassador". Tulsa World.
^Craig, Jack (April 1, 1990). "Ch. 25 Dream Game Vanishes". The Boston Globe.
^Baker, Jim (March 22, 1994). "Upsets don't upset CBS". Boston Herald.
^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.
^ abCraig, Jack (December 23, 1990). "Ready for prime time: Neumeier, Edwards aren't weak end of the operation". The Boston Globe.
^ abCraig, Jack (July 23, 1991). "Neumeier uses his horse sense". The Boston Globe.
^Craig, Jack (October 14, 1992). "All bets off the air Ch. 4 blacks out Neumeier's coup". The Boston Globe.
^Griffith, Bill (May 3, 2002). "Neumeier Set For Another Run". The Boston Globe.