Monday, July 14, 2008

Packer out at CBS

Veteran college basketball analyst Billy Packer will not be returning to CBS television for his 28th season with the network, according to the Miami Herald.

The controversial Packer, 68, who has announced 34 consecutive Final Fours on network television, will be replaced by studio analyst Clark Kellogg.

CBS representative Leslie Anne Wade confirmed the decision to the newspaper on Sunday.

Packer has been the color analyst at every championship game since 1977 and a part of every Final Four broadcast since 1975. He spent his first seven years at NBC, where he originally teamed with Curt Gowdy before moving on to an entertaining three-man booth that included Dick Enberg and former Marquette coach Al McGuire.

In 1981, Packer jumped to CBS and has been teamed with Jim Nantz since 1991. He differed from most college commentators that offered only effusive praise and often found himself in hot water for his views and comments.

Packer has been under fire for calling then-Georgetown guard Allen Iverson "a tough monkey" in 1996, and for alleged sexist comments made to two Duke University students in 2000. Packer has also criticized the inclusion of mid-majors in the NCAA Tournament and blamed the NBA for raiding the college game of its young stars.

No comments: