Jim Nantz reflects on a partnership unlike any other with the late Billy Packer
The memorable on-air partnership between Jim Nantz and the late Billy Packer saw them call 18 Final Fours together for CBS from 1991 to 2008.Jim Nantz spent two decades at courtside with Billy Packer, calling dozens of regular-season and conference tournament games and 19 Final Fours for CBS Sports, and he says each game had one constant.“Even Wake Forest, his alma mater that he helped take to a Final Four in 1962, thought Billy was too hard on them,” Nantz said.
Nantz grew up in North Carolina and New Jersey watching Packer, who called games for the ACC’s regional network as well as the Final Four for NBC from 1977-81 and for CBS from 1982 through 2008., and Nantz will recall memories of their partnership as he calls NCAA Tournament games for the last time, culminating in his 32nd Final Four assignment at NRG Stadium.
Packer grumbled and fans returned the favor when St. Joseph’s was picked as a No. 1 seed in 2004. Two years later came the great George Mason brouhaha, when Packer complained that worthy teams from major conferences were left out to admit the Patriots as a No. 11 seed. “We introduced ourselves, and the players looked at us with some suspicion. But Billy gave a great talk about how in life you're not always right, how he is paid to have opinions, that he was thrilled to be proven wrong and that we were going to give them a great call in their game coming up.”
“It was the play of the game, and it was exciting to call a championship game. I had no idea I would still be in the same chair years later.” “I said to Fred, ‘You know, we used to practice this back at Houston. We've dreamed about it. We've practiced it. And next week is when it’s going to happen. I’ll see you in Butler Cabin.’”
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