Greg Gumbel Criticized for How He Addressed Murder Charges Facing Former Alabama Player

He said Alabama ‘sidestepped a situation involving criminal activity.’

Greg Gumbel is facing criticism for how he addressed the capital murder charges against former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles during Selection Sunday. 

Miles was indicted by a Tuscaloosa County grand jury on Friday for the murder of Jamea Jonae Harris on Jan. 14. A police officer later testified that Crimson Tide star forward Brandon Miller had driven the gun used in the killing to Miles. Miles and his friend Michael Lynn Davis have both been indicted while Miller has not been charged with any crime.

After the Crimson Tide were announced as the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Gumbel commented on the ongoing legal situation. 

“They [Alabama] sidestepped a situation involving criminal activity in which Brandon Miller was associated,” Gumbel said. “He was not charged. They are here as the No. 1 overall seed.”   

"[Alabama] sidestepped a situation involving criminal activity in which Brandon Miller was associated... he was not charged... they are here as the No. 1 overall seed."- Greg Gumbel pic.twitter.com/FerwPRD4iH

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 12, 2023

People on Twitter didn’t care for Gumbel’s phrasing or his failure to flat out call it a murder. Here are some tweets from those upset. 

Greg Gumbel saying Alabama "side-stepped a situation" is certainly one way of putting that.

— Caroline Darney (@cwdarney) March 12, 2023

CBS and Greg Gumbel are making a ton of mistakes today.

— Brandon Walker (@BFW) March 12, 2023

Nice of Greg Gumbel to mention that Bama “Sidestepped a situation”.

Someone’s dead because their best player brought a gun to a murderer and no one cares.

— John Monroe (@MinisterofD) March 12, 2023

Greg Gumbel burying Alabama’s murdering problem, that’s fantastic.

— Anonymous Eagle (@AnonymousEagle) March 12, 2023

Greg Gumbel: Alabama "sidestepped criminal activity" to get the #1 seat. Euphemism alert.

— KC Johnson (@kcjohnson9) March 12, 2023

The freshman, who is also a top prospect for the 2023 NBA draft, was named the SEC’s Player of the Year.