https://twitter.com/markpacker/status/1618810076533243904?s=46&t=rgnumWmJomiGoiqr9okuVw
He's up there with Al tonight arguing over some esoteric point about basketball strategy.
Dick Enberg is sitting on a nearby cloud barking, "are you idiots still at it?"
Wow. Al and Billy both died on January 26. RIP. What a trio they were with Enberg.
RIP billy but you're among great company!
what announcers are left who could carry any of these guys bike supporters
Mid-major event, aina?
They were the standard by which all others are measured. RIP.
Well remember that back then, there were only a few announcing teams because games were usually just on CBS and NBC. Now that every game is televised you have to find a lot more of these guys, which is why you end up with the likes of Dickie.
Anyway Billy Packer was firmly entrenched in "get off my lawn" territory when CBS dropped him. Believe me I don't need boosterism like Vitale's, but everyone understands that college basketball ain't what it used to be cause the top talent departs early. He just couldn't call it for what it was.
I'm jealous of those who got Packer in his heydey. By the time I was able to appreciate/notice announcers in the mid to late 90s, he'd become a cranky ornery old bitter whiner.
Quote from: JWags85 on January 27, 2023, 09:42:52 AM
I'm jealous of those who got Packer in his heydey. By the time I was able to appreciate/notice announcers in the mid to late 90s, he'd become a cranky ornery old bitter whiner.
He was that way in his heydey too. He just had Al to balance him out.
The ACC lost one of its biggest fans.
I guess we are left with Vital to remind us that Duke, UNC, and the ACC are the greatest of all time and the rest of college basketball is YMCA level basketball.
Quote from: The Sultan of Semantics on January 27, 2023, 09:49:31 AM
He was that way in his heydey too. He just had Al to balance him out.
This is true.
I never was a fan of Billy Packer. IMO, without Al he never would have reached the big time.
Quote from: The Sultan of Semantics on January 27, 2023, 09:49:31 AM
He was that way in his heydey too. He just had Al to balance him out.
Thats sort of what I meant. Anyone my age isn't thinking "RIP", they are thinking "man he sucked on the mic".
Quote from: JWags85 on January 27, 2023, 09:42:52 AM
I'm jealous of those who got Packer in his heydey. By the time I was able to appreciate/notice announcers in the mid to late 90s, he'd become a cranky ornery old bitter whiner.
He was always a cranky, ornery, bitter whiner. He was almost universally hated.
That being said, he was an outstanding college basketball analyst. He and Vitale were most responsible for the huge uptick in CBB interest and growth. In fact, a combo of Packer's analytical skills and Vitale's personality would have produced an almost perfect basketball announcer.
Quote from: Jockey on January 27, 2023, 10:56:30 AM
In fact, a combo of Packer's analytical skills and Vitale's personality would have produced an almost perfect basketball announcer.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtIEaSxHp9g2CR1tG04x-GmviyxsMTXNB7GQ&usqp=CAU)
Quote from: The Sultan of Semantics on January 27, 2023, 11:13:10 AM
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtIEaSxHp9g2CR1tG04x-GmviyxsMTXNB7GQ&usqp=CAU)
Nailed It!
Quote from: The Sultan of Semantics on January 27, 2023, 11:13:10 AM
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtIEaSxHp9g2CR1tG04x-GmviyxsMTXNB7GQ&usqp=CAU)
Good call.
Quote from: Jockey on January 27, 2023, 10:56:30 AM
He was always a cranky, ornery, bitter whiner. He was almost universally hated.
That being said, he was an outstanding college basketball analyst. He and Vitale were most responsible for the huge uptick in CBB interest and growth. In fact, a combo of Packer's analytical skills and Vitale's personality would have produced an almost perfect basketball announcer.
I agree with this analysis.
Rodney King is smiling tonite.
Am interesting article on Packers playing career where he led Wake to a Final Four
https://journalnow.com/news/before-he-talked-about-college-basketball-on-tv-billy-packer-helped-wake-forest-get-to/article_d876c4e8-9e4d-11ed-8deb-1793f0c53e78.html