• 11:21 PM ET  07.14
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Bye Bye, Billy - Six Reasons I Won't Miss You 

"This was a decision CBS and I made over a year ago." The statement made by Billy Packer disputes claims that he was let go by CBS.

No matter how I look at it, it's a beautiful day for college basketball fans, because Billy Packer not calling games anymore will allow for many of us to unmute our televisions. It's also perhaps one of the few days during the calendar year when even UNC and Duke can smile for the same reason.

Grey Blackwell of the News and Observer (AKA The News and Disturber) correctly summarizes Packer's career had he entered other career avenues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W6pMlysHn8

That said, here are 6 reasons I won't miss Billy.

6) In 2000, Packer reportedly made sexist comments to two Duke University students before a men's basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. When asked to show his press pass, he responded, "Since when do we let women control who gets into a men's basketball game? Why don't you go find a women's game to let people into?" Packer later apologized. I'm certain the two women found his apology sincere.

5) "Simon says ... championship". Those are three words that haunt Clement.

4) During an on-air broadcast of a game between Georgetown and Villanova, Packer described Hoyas guard Allen Iverson as a "tough monkey". Neither Iverson nor then-head coach John Thompson were offended by the remark, and Thompson said Packer doesn't "have to explain to anybody about Billy being a racist because he's not." He is living a few centuries behind us though.

3) "I've never really been a sports fan." One sentence never made so much sense to me.

2) "That's a poor decision by [insert name of fallible player, coach or referee]." Packer's constant negativity has made games that market themselves tough to watch. Only Dick Vitale and Mike Patrick make games tougher to watch. Sadly, all three cover ACC games and I live in the Mid-Atlantic region.

1) Packer's blatant ignorance towards mid-major schools gaining at-large bids in the NCAA and weak-minded half truths have entered the brains of those who have not yet muted their televisions. During the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, Packer criticized the selection committee's decision to include Bradley, Northern Iowa and George Mason. He noted that teams from the Missouri Valley Conference and Colonial Athletic Association had won only one game during the last three NCAA tournaments, while teams from the ACC had won 25 games. As a result, three of the four teams made it to the Sweet 16 and one made the Final Four.
If only Packer would have shared with the audience how many of those wins were by mediocre ACC teams with lower than a #10 seed. He didn't. Why? Facts aren't important to those with agendas or those with uncontrollable egos that makes oneself think they're bigger than the game. Check. Check.

Bye bye, Billy.

Note: In the making of this post, Billy Packer would have pointed out that a traveling violation was not whistled exactly 6209 times.

Comment has been removed
Comment has been removed
July 24, 2008  11:15 PM ET

Do you actually know of people who turned off the TV just because Packer said that?

All in all, I didn't take much offense to that instance of Packer's stupidity.

August 26, 2008  04:39 PM ET

Good blog. I'm with you..Billy Packer will be missed by very few people..except for maybe the false sincerity of Jim Nantz if he every mentions it during a broadcast, I like Nantz..so I wasn't trying to insult him.

September 17, 2008  07:33 AM ET

I'm with you man .. glad to see him go !! He will not be missed by many.

November 16, 2008  06:05 PM ET

I always enjoyed listening to Packer's comments.

March 15, 2009  06:23 PM ET

Considering that Billy Packer's career has spanned several decades, hundreds of broadcasts, and thousands of on-air hours, I would say that your list is extremely weak, at best. Moreover, if you had any sense of history you might consider giving him some credit for helping to raise the game, and especially March Madness, to it's current level of popularity.

 
March 26, 2009  11:13 PM ET

Wait, people love college basketball? And actually watch it? Since when should march madness be in April? And why does anyone care about making the semis? how about the final game? yeah, who gives 2 patooooots.

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