saw this-

Packer was only 82. I seem to recall Packer, Al McGuire and Dick Enberg comprised perhaps the first trio used to broadcast college basketball games. That was a fine team.

Who remembers his spat with Phil Marteli the year St. Joseph's almost went undefeated?

Packer's best work was with Jim Thacker.
Thacker and Packer did the ACC game of the week (CD Chesley/Jefferson-Pilot/Raycom).

RIP

Very sad, I grew up with him calling college basketball games.

(01-27-2023 08:30 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Very sad, I grew up with him calling college basketball games.

We all did.

Hopefully on Sunday they'll have a time where Jim Nantz can say something about him on the AFC title game broadcast. Definitely would be deserved. And also hope tomorrow on ESPN gameday they mention him as well.

(01-27-2023 08:30 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Very sad, I grew up with him calling college basketball games.

That's a key point, QV, related to those of us posters 50 and older. Packer was important because he was a major figure to those of us growing up as college sports fans in the late 1970s to mid-1980s. I always thought he did a very solid job, if anything because he understood coaching strategy.

He lost me when he turned into a pro-power league guy and wanted the cinderella's limited in the NCAA tourney. Then George Mason, VCU, Butler, and others all started making it to final 4s and he doubled down about having fewer places for small conferences.

(01-27-2023 09:27 AM)mlb Wrote:  He lost me when he turned into a pro-power league guy and wanted the cinderella's limited in the NCAA tourney. Then George Mason, VCU, Butler, and others all started making it to final 4s and he doubled down about having fewer places for small conferences.

I agree. He could have had a much better legacy had he not gone off in 2006 about the Missouri Valley getting 4 teams into the tournament (Bradley and Wichita State made the Sweet 16 that year) and the CAA getting 2 spots (one of which went to Final 4 participant, George Mason). He also went off the deep end (was it 2008?) when Kansas was laying waste to North Carolina in the first half of their Final 4 semifinal. It was painful to listen to, and I really liked Billy Packer. I thought he was a good analyst while at CBS, and some of his banter with Al Maguire when they teamed up on NBC was excellent stuff!

(01-26-2023 11:03 PM)stever20 Wrote:  RIP Billy Packer

Equal parts curmudgeon and basketball elitist

Doubt we'll ever see another 3-man booth in College Basketball even close to the standard set by Enberg, McGuire and Packer



(Thank goodness the best two-man team — Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery — is still with us)

(01-27-2023 05:19 AM)XLance Wrote:  Packer's best work was with Jim Thacker.
Thacker and Packer did the ACC game of the week (CD Chesley/Jefferson-Pilot/Raycom).

I remember The Thacker - Packer Show.

(01-27-2023 10:10 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(01-26-2023 11:03 PM)stever20 Wrote:  RIP Billy Packer

Equal parts curmudgeon and basketball elitist

Doubt we'll ever see another 3-man booth in College Basketball even close to the standard set by Enberg, McGuire and Packer



(Thank goodness the best two-man team — Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery — is still with us)

I'm not that big of a Gus fan honestly and it's not like he calls a ton of games even. Folks better enjoy Raft as he's not getting any younger.

(01-27-2023 10:20 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(01-27-2023 10:10 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(01-26-2023 11:03 PM)stever20 Wrote:  RIP Billy Packer

Equal parts curmudgeon and basketball elitist

Doubt we'll ever see another 3-man booth in College Basketball even close to the standard set by Enberg, McGuire and Packer



(Thank goodness the best two-man team — Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery — is still with us)

I'm not that big of a Gus fan honestly and it's not like he calls a ton of games even. Folks better enjoy Raft as he's not getting any younger.

Gus Johnson is very talented, experienced and knowledgeable ... but for whatever reason, his work does not appeal to me. Bill Raftery ranks among my faves.

Kids today grow up making YouTubes and stuff. I expect a fantastic new crop of talented sportscasters.

RIP Billy Packer. One of the voices of my life.

saw this-

(01-27-2023 02:15 PM)Claw Wrote:  Kids today grow up making YouTubes and stuff. I expect a fantastic new crop of talented sportscasters.

RIP Billy Packer. One of the voices of my life.

He's definitely way up there with John Madden IMO. On a Mount Rushmore it'd be those 2 for sure. Not sure the others- have so many great ones. I'd probably go Keith Jackson and Vin Scully.

RIP, Billy will be truly missed. He was the voice of many young people's youth along with Vitale.

I grew up listening to Billy Packer. He knew ACC basketball and I was in the heart of North Carolina. He was a special voice. Rest in Peace, Billy Packer.

I’ll be 45 in about a month and I too grew up on Billy. Was great at CBS. (Too young to remember him at NBC)