“It’s Over” — CBS Cans Billy Packer
Posted July 14th, 2008 at 7:19 AM by Jeff A. Taylor
Some Carolina fans figure it is about 25 years too late.
The former Wake Forest player and ACC TV analyst fixture might have survived his declaration that “this game is over” with about 8 minutes left in go in the first half of the UNC-Kansas Final Four match-up if Packer had not used to the national title game between Memphis and Kansas to repeatedly declare that the teams were screwing up. Packer had eventual champion Kansas dead-and-buried several times.
Network execs heard an earful from fans — and advertisers. You cannot have your color guy telling the TV audience — many of whom accidentally cruise into a prime-time sporting event — that they should flip right on by, the game is over. Not and charge umpteen million dollars for ads. No, sir.
But guess what? Packer is being replaced with an even worse announcer in Clark Kellogg, the man who famously declared that Carolina could not run with Michigan State at halftime of the 2005 semifinal. UNC outscored MSU 54-33 in the second half.
I’ve watched Kellogg, a former Cleveland HS phenom, for a long time. If not for bad wheels, he might’ve been an NBA All-Star, maybe even won a title. He cycled into broadcasting smoothly enough if with a Big 10 homer outlook. But more importantly Kellogg has never provided remotely the depth of analysis that a Packer or Al McGuire did. CBS no doubt thinks that it is a ratings improvement to go younger and blacker with Kellogg while removing Packer’s boorish negativity — an act I think he deployed in order to standout and cause controversy. Perhaps that is true.
But I’ll still miss the good, insightful Billy
Bonus McClatchyism: How the hell does the Miami Herald break this story?
Update: As of a few minutes ago, the only thing MNI Carolinas had on this big Carolinas story was a single two-line blog post at the N&O. That is just weird. It is almost like the local guys do not believe the Herald report and are out trying to knock it down.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I’ve had my fill of Billy and won’t miss the old crank, take Vitale with you into retirement, and Tim McCarver while you’re at it. My favorite color commentators are Jay Bilas and Doris Burke, they actually provide intelligent game insight without trying to become part of the story.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Bilas or Hubie Davis are miles better than Kellogg.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
The truth is hard to hear sometimes, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hear it.
Packer never cushioned an ass beating to the Heels or any team, nor did he cushion an ass beating by them. He was the patron saint of objectivity, and that’s what I love about him. If he won’t be at the Final Four, I hope he still continues to call some ACC games.