RIP Billy Packer

[TallTitan34]

https://twitter.com/markpacker/status/1618810076533243904?s=46&t=rgnumWmJomiGoiqr9okuVw

[dgies9156]

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?"

[Dr. Blackheart]

Wow. Al and Billy both died on January 26. RIP. What a trio they were with Enberg.

[rocket surgeon]

RIP billy but you're among great company!

  what announcers are left who could carry any of these guys bike supporters

[4everwarriors]

Mid-major event, aina?

[tower912]

They were the standard by which all others are measured.   RIP.

[The Sultan]

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.

[JWags85]

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.

[The Sultan]

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.

[WhiteTrash]

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.

[Sir Lawrence]

He was that way in his heydey too. He just had Al to balance him out.

This is true. 

[Goose]

I never was a fan of Billy Packer. IMO, without Al he never would have reached the big time.

[JWags85]

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".

[Jockey]

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.

[The Sultan]

In fact, a combo of Packer's analytical skills and Vitale's personality would have produced an almost perfect basketball announcer.

[WhiteTrash]

Nailed It!

[Jockey]

Good call.

[Herman Cain]

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.

[Uncle Rico]

I agree with this analysis.

I agree with this agreement

[Jockey]

Rodney King is smiling tonite.

[Herman Cain]

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