It was announced today that Billy Packer will no longer serve as the featured analyst for CBS Sport’s presentation of the Final Four. With widespread speculation about it during the 2008 Final Four, it’s no surprise that after 27 years on the job, the polarizing Packer was sent to the bench.
Every March, legions of college basketball fans wondered how much longer they would have to put up with Packer’s overly critical arrangement… today they got their answer.
Most sports fans can appreciate an analyst who describes the game the way he sees it. Unfortunately, Billy Packer viewed the game in a way that seemed disconnected from the majority of his audience. Packer made it his mission to keep the standard of play incredibly high…it never seemed appropriate. He loved to point out how awful a particular play was, or the agony a coach must have felt after one of his point guard’s insane turnovers.
Packer’s tilt was the only sour note in college basketball’s beloved March. The fact that the NCAA tournament is such an unstoppable force in today’s sports landscape is probably the only thing that has held Packer back this long. Surely no one can put a total damper on the most wonderful time of the year!
Packer’s biggest flaw was that he never seemed to understand that he was criticizing students and not professionals. Instead of enjoying the raw elegance of the pitch in front of him, he was constantly getting caught up in the mistakes of the younger players. Luckily, Packer finished. You don’t have to treat him like that grumpy old uncle during the holidays anymore.
And after…?
CBS decided to keep him in the family by giving Clark Kellogg a chance to succeed Billy. Kellogg, who in years past spent the month of March in the CBS studio coming up with lame scripted versions of various NCAA basketball topics, should do an adequate job. But with far more talented analysts for CBS to capitalize on (namely Len Elmore), it’s a shame to see such an easy choice. Fortunately, with Packer before him, Kellogg doesn’t have much to live up to.
Jim Nantz, your prayers have been answered!
