Hello friends.
Any commentary on Jim Nantz needs to start with Nantz’s trademark opening line for any telecast whether it be the NCAA Final Four or some mid-year PGA tournament that does not feature Tiger Woods.
Simply put, Jim Nantz is the best play-by-play man in the business today. Of course, there is not much competition right now. ESPN/ABC is being led by Mike Tirico, the former SportsCenter anchor turned play-by-play man who heads the network’s golf and NFL package. Al Michaels would be in the running, however since he only does NBC’s NFL package it’s hard to place him in the top category anymore, just out of lack of airtime. Then FOX has Joe Buck, nice guy, great at baseball, horrible at football.
But then there is Nantz. Perhaps only because he works for CBS, Nantz has been able to live the sports fan’s dream this year. Since February, Nantz has done the play-by-play for the Super Bowl, March Madness/Final Four, and next week will lead CBS’ coverage of The Masters from Butler Cabin.
We the average sports fan is lucky to attend one of these events in our lifetime. Nantz does two of the three every year and is paid for it in the process.
Ah, the life.
Now if only he could get rid of Billy Packer as his analyst for college basketball. One game into the Final Four and I’m disliking Janet Jackson more. For without Janet Jackson’s nipplegate we might be able to mute the game and listen to Westwood One which is featuring Bill Rafferty, CBS’ version of Dick Vitale without the annoyances of rooting for Duke.
Rafferty would be more entertaining than Billy Packer. Then again, Digger Phelps - his color-coded pens and ties and all - would be more entertaining.
