Bob Trumpy, former All-Pro tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals and later a sportscaster, died this week at the age of 80.
Broadcasting Career and 1983 On-Air Incident
Trumpy transitioned from his NFL career into broadcasting, where he hosted "Sportstalk" on Cincinnati's WLW Radio. In 1983, during a broadcast, a caller identified as Sugar contacted the show. She stated she had been drinking, was in an abusive marriage, had not been employed for over a decade, and felt unable to support her 19-year-old son, indicating intentions to end her life.
Trumpy engaged the caller in a live, on-air conversation for two and a half hours. During this period, Sugar's son contacted the radio station, providing their residence. Emergency services were subsequently dispatched to the location and reached Sugar before she could harm herself.
Personal Impact and Subsequent Career
Trumpy received public acknowledgment for his handling of the call. He later informed the Los Angeles Times that the experience was impactful, leading him to seek therapy. He also disclosed to the Cincinnati Post that the incident evoked memories of his grandfather, who had died by suicide when Trumpy was six years old.
Following this event, Trumpy continued his broadcasting career, which included announcing NFL games, Super Bowls, and the Olympic Games for NBC Sports.