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WEYMOUTH — Tributes are pouring in for Bob “Neumy” Neumeier, a veteran Boston sports-talk radio personality, horse racing expert and Weymouth native, who died Saturday of heart failure. He was 70 years old.
“Bob Neumeier was the consummate professional in TV, radio and as a horseplayer. His knowledge and wry delivery made him a favorite of sports fans – but he was even more beloved by those who knew him or worked with him,” NBC Sports’ Randy Moss tweeted. “’Neumy’ was one of the nicest guys in any room he inhabited.”
Neumeier was born Nov. 3, 1950, attended the Nash School in Weymouth and graduated from Weymouth High School, where he was manager of the basketball team. He attended Syracuse University and went on to teach history in Weymouth before moving on to work in sports at “The Boston Globe.”
Neumeier first carved out a niche in the pantheon of local broadcasters as a sports anchor and reporter for WBZ-TV, where he worked for 20 years. He also called the Bruins on WBZ radio from 1996 to 1999.
In 2000, he left TV and accepted a position subbing in for vacationing co-hosts at WEEI 850 sports-talk radio, cementing his role as a fixture in the then-growing medium.
“I enjoyed it more than I thought I would,” Neumeier told The Patriot Ledger in 2002, admitting sports-talk radio was the furthest thing from his mind when he left WBZ. “My big question mark was, ‘Can I be myself or do I have to go into some kind of actor’s role and put on phony airs?’ I was hoping I could just go in, be me and see how it flew.”
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Judging by the results, it flew really well.
Soon after, he accepted a fulltime role co-hosting the freshly minted “Dale and Neumy show” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday opposite Dale Arnold until 2005.
In 2010, Neumeier joined NBC sports and was best known for his expertise on horse racing, a lifelong love. In 1990, Neumeier won a $50,000 handicapping contest in Las Vegas. He also analyzed horse racing for ESPN and ABC, and was a staple of Triple Crown coverage.
NBC Sports paid tribute to Neumeier during its Sunday Night Football segment.
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Tributes from fans and friends poured in from across the country over the weekend.
“RIP to one of the nicest guys anyone could ever meet, Bob Neumeier. Neumy was extremely supportive of me when we began working together and that’s something I’ll forever be grateful for. A truly kind person,” Matt Bernier of NBC Sports tweeted.
“Like thousands of sports fans – I was lucky to be able to watch and listen to Bob Neumeier here in Boston. Even luckier to have had a chance to work with him, talk horse racing and sports and get to know him,” Mike Mutnansky of WEEI tweeted. “Neumie was one of a kind. Condolences to his family and friends”
Jerry Thornton of Barstool Sports, a current Hanover resident, tweeted about how he and Neumeier had the same 9th grade English teacher.
“Great family too. His mom and dad were the best,” Weymouth Mayor Bob Hedlund replied.
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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.
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