Essay: Saying Goodbye to NBC Sports Chicago

NBC Sports Chicago went off the air for the final time Sept. 30. Spanning two decades, the network brought countless hours of sports content to fans across Chicagoland. 

The network first hit the air Oct. 1, 2004 as Comcast Sports Network Chicago, providing coverage of the Cubs, Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawks. Once Comcast acquired NBCUniversal in 2011, the network was included in the collection of NBC Sports channels, ultimately rebranding to NBC Sports Chicago in 2017.  

As a passionate sports fan, I was fortunate to grow up during a golden age of Chicago sports. The Blackhawks were right in the midst of their dominant 2010s dynasty run, winning three Stanley Cups in a six-year period, while the Cubs ended their 108-year championship drought in 2016. 

I discovered my love of sports during this period of success, with my earliest memory coming on a quiet night in June 2013. I couldn’t sleep that night and went to get a glass of water. Upon leaving my room, I discovered my parents in the living room watching the final minutes of game six of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals. 

I arrived just in time to see the Blackhawks infamously score two goals in 17 seconds to win the series over the Boston Bruins. 

“This is history,” my father said.

In that moment, hockey became my life. I lived, breathed and died with the Blackhawks, trying to consume as much content as I could. NBC Sports Chicago was the first place I went to, as they broadcasted the majority of the Blackhawks’ games. 

As the years went on, the network became a consistent presence in my daily life. When the Cubs lost a close game, I knew I could count on hearing David Kaplan’s fiery takes. Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd were the calming voices who broke down each period of Blackhawks hockey during the intermissions. 

If I needed insurance help — thankfully I didn’t — my first instinct would’ve been to call Jeff Vukovich with Nationwide Insurance, as his name was read out in sponsorship reads for every Blackhawks game.

However, the two main figures I would go on to idolize were Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk, the iconic play-by-play duo of the Blackhawks. Paired together since 2008, the two became synonymous with Blackhawks hockey, bringing a flair to the booth only they could. 

While both are no longer with the team, I can’t think of the Blackhawks — especially those championship years — without instantly reminiscing about “Pat and Edzo.”

As I got older and it became clear a career in sports media was in my future — my dream was to one day see myself at the same network as my heroes. To my surprise, that dream was realized much earlier than I expected.

I’d just gotten off the bus on a cold day in October 2021 to work a Loyola men’s soccer game at Hoyne Field. My boss at the time, Bill Behrns, pulled me aside and said he had an opportunity to discuss with me. The next words that came out of his mouth would change my life forever.

“NBC Sports Chicago is broadcasting our men’s basketball games this year and they’re looking for a student to report on them,” Behrns said. “I told them you would be interested.”

In that moment, a thousand emotions swelled into my head all at once. I couldn’t answer him, as it took everything out of me not to faint on the spot. After the game, he introduced me to the network representatives and I anxiously prepared for my first game. 

That day came Nov. 13, 2021, as Loyola took on Florida Gulf Coast University in their second game of the season. I remember everything about the game, taking in the sights from press row for the first time. What I remember most was getting back to my dorm room and seeing the headline.

“Ramblers beat Florida Gulf Coast: 3 Observations – By Nick Neumayer.”

As I sit here writing, it’s still hard to describe what I was feeling that evening. I spent my childhood dreaming about seeing myself on NBC Sports Chicago. To see my dream realized in that moment was one of the best days of my life. 

Since then, I’ve written over 100 articles for NBC Sports Chicago across three years. Even after all this time, it still doesn’t seem real seeing my name on their website. It’s something I’ve never taken for granted and feel incredibly honored to have achieved. 

My sports teams have a new broadcast home now, as the new Chicago Sports Network owned by Standard Media launched for the first time Oct. 1., but I will always remember the impact NBC Sports Chicago had throughout my childhood. 

Regardless of what kind of day I was having, I knew I could come home, turn on the TV and immerse myself in whatever sports content I could find. NBC Sports Chicago has brought me countless memories I’ll never forget, experiencing both the highs and lows of being a sports fan.

However, what I will remember most about NBC Sports Chicago is how they gave an 18-year-old first-year the biggest opportunity of his life. The ability to collect hands-on experience almost immediately and learn how to craft content for a massive audience, all while fulfilling a childhood dream, can’t be overstated. 

I will forever be thankful to all the amazing people I have come across at NBC Sports Chicago for believing in me and helping me to achieve something truly spectacular. I’m incredibly honored to have spent three years with the network and will always cherish the experiences I had.