Spring Break
CBS Analyst Billy Packer: The Grinch that tries to steal March
Andrew Ramspacher
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Sports
Two years later, history repeated itself. Once again, not hiding his big-school bias, Packer uses Selection Sunday as his stage to bash the NCAA Selection Committee for giving bids to teams from smaller conferences such as the Missouri Valley and the Colonial Athletic Association, rather than catering to his beloved ACC.
Three weeks later, Cinderella hit Packer right in the face.
Not only did little Wichita State and Bradley advance into the tournament's Sweet 16, but the CAA's George Mason defeated the ACC's North Carolina and the Big East's Connecticut on their way to the Final Four. Packer, embarrassed once again, responded by saying during the Final Four that he was "often wrong, but never in doubt."
Never in doubt? I am in never in doubt that this guy is a moron.
Was he never in doubt in 1996, when he called Allen Iverson "a tough monkey?" Where was the doubt in his actions in 2000 at Duke when he questioned the women who checked for his press pass by lashing out, "Since when do we let women check who gets into a men's basketball game?"
As Selection Sunday 2008 looms, and if you're still questioning whether or not you should mute the television when Mr. Packer appears, I'll leave you with one final example of his joke of a legacy.
In 2005 at the ACC Tournament in Washington, D.C., the conference honored Packer not only for his playing days at Wake Forest and for his "contributions to the game" through his broadcasting. Packer was greeted to a round of boos upon walking on the MCI Center Floor.
Yes, that's right. North Carolina and Duke fans coming together to boo the same man.
Did you find that mute button yet?
Andrew Ramspacher can be contacted at ramspacher@marshall.edu.
Three weeks later, Cinderella hit Packer right in the face.
Not only did little Wichita State and Bradley advance into the tournament's Sweet 16, but the CAA's George Mason defeated the ACC's North Carolina and the Big East's Connecticut on their way to the Final Four. Packer, embarrassed once again, responded by saying during the Final Four that he was "often wrong, but never in doubt."
Never in doubt? I am in never in doubt that this guy is a moron.
Was he never in doubt in 1996, when he called Allen Iverson "a tough monkey?" Where was the doubt in his actions in 2000 at Duke when he questioned the women who checked for his press pass by lashing out, "Since when do we let women check who gets into a men's basketball game?"
As Selection Sunday 2008 looms, and if you're still questioning whether or not you should mute the television when Mr. Packer appears, I'll leave you with one final example of his joke of a legacy.
In 2005 at the ACC Tournament in Washington, D.C., the conference honored Packer not only for his playing days at Wake Forest and for his "contributions to the game" through his broadcasting. Packer was greeted to a round of boos upon walking on the MCI Center Floor.
Yes, that's right. North Carolina and Duke fans coming together to boo the same man.
Did you find that mute button yet?
Andrew Ramspacher can be contacted at ramspacher@marshall.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Gerry Ramspacher
posted 3/13/08 @ 9:08 AM EST
Andrew, I couldn't have said it better myself. Great article.
Jason
posted 3/17/08 @ 2:41 PM EST
I agree, Packer is a bore. What's sad is that this wasn't always the case. Back in the late 70s-early 80s, Packer worked for NBC on a three man broadcast team, with Dick Enberg and Al McGuire. (Continued…)
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