Billy Packer had become old-school -- and not in the good way of paying attention to detail or studying hard before he would go on the air, but in the way of a crotchety old guy who chases neighborhood kids out of the yard.
"Get off my grass, younguns," became "How dare the NCAA tournament committee let in all those Bradleys and Wichita States and George Masons instead of . . . (insert any bottom-feeder from the Atlantic Coast Conference).
Packer will no longer be part of the CBS college basketball broadcast team, it was announced Monday. In a statement, Packer, 68, said he was leaving to "pursue other basketball projects." He will be replaced by Clark Kellogg, 47.
Kellogg is knowledgeable, fair-minded and, most of all, seems excited to be doing college basketball.
Do a five-minute Google search on Billy Packer and you will find him described as "arrogant," "pompous," "imperious," a "blowhard," an "ACC apologist," "angry," "rude," a "fuddy-duddy" and "stubborn."
You will find stories that say Packer didn't cotton to cellphones and computers, though he wasn't quoted directly as saying he didn't own such gadgets. (And, as a matter of fact, I know people who have Packer's cellphone number.)
Packer, who played college basketball at Wake Forest, has been part of every Final Four television broadcast since 1975. His best years were when he was teamed with Dick Enberg and Al McGuire.
Packer's cranky complaints fit in well with Enberg's graceful descriptions and McGuire's emotion-based enthusiasm. (Even if McGuire didn't have command of all the facts, he still let you know he loved being at games.)
Having interviewed Packer, Enberg and McGuire (who died in 2001) dozens of times over the last 15 years, it was always fun to speak with Enberg and McGuire and intimidating to talk to Packer. Enberg and McGuire would stop, say hello, tell a story, praise a story. A hello to Packer might elicit a grunt in return.
Where it's hard to stay mad at Dick Vitale no matter how biased his views are for the fabulousness of anything Big East, ACC or Big Ten because he is genuinely excited to watch every college basketball game ever played, it seemed as if Packer was always wishing things were like they were in 1975.
His dyspeptic rant during the 2006 CBS NCAA tournament selection show, when he unapologetically savaged the choice of four Missouri Valley Conference teams, offered a couple of good points missed because of his red-faced anger. Oh, and no apology from Billy when Bradley and Wichita State went to the Sweet 16.
