Standing the test of time
In the wake of analyst billy packer’s death, here are a few of his most memorable calls
As college hoops fans and broadcasters mourned the loss of longtime TV analyst Billy Packer, some recalled some of the famous calls Packer was known for during his storied career.
Packer died Thursday after being hospitalized in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the last three weeks. Son Mark said he died of kidney failure. Packer was 82.
Packer’s voice was synonymous with March Madness for decades. Broadcasting for NBC and then CBS, he was on the call for the men’s Final Four every year from
1975 to 2008.
Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, said Packer ‘‘set the standard of excellence as the voice of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.’’
Here’s a look at just a few of Packer’s unforgettable calls during March Madness through the years:
‘Simon says championship’
In the 1997 tournament, Arizona became the first team since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to defeat three No. 1 seeds.
In the title game, the Wildcats upset Kentucky 84-79 in overtime. Arizona guard Miles Simon dribbled the ball as the clock wound down before the Wildcats prevailed.
‘‘Simon says championship!’’ Packer said.
Simon had 30 points to lead all scorers.
‘They won it . . . on the dunk’
In the 1983 championship game, No. 1 seed Houston matched up against No. 6 seed North Carolina State, which was led by coach Jim Valvano.
In one of the biggest upsets in tournament history, the Wolfpack shocked the Cougars on Lorenzo Charles’ buzzer-beating dunk after a missed shot by Derek Wittenberg. The stunning finish had Valvano famously running onto the court looking for someone to celebrate with and gave Packer the opportunity to deliver one of his best-known lines.
‘This game is over’
This comment didn’t fare so well. In a Final Four game in 2008, Kansas had jumped out to a 38-12 lead against North Carolina when Packer announced, ‘‘This game is over.’’
The Tar Heels, with Tyler Hansbrough and Wayne Ellington, came back in the second half to get within five points, but the Jayhawks prevailed 84-66.
‘‘We sort of came out a little more casual than we would’ve liked, and they hit us right between the eyes,’’ said Roy Williams, the former Kansas coach who had taken over the Tar Heels.
It was the last Final Four that Packer would call. CBS replaced him with Clark Kellogg the next season.