Clark Kellogg Posts -- FanHouse

Jim Nantz Believes That Billy Packer Should Have Been In Hall Before Dickie V

ESPN's college basketball analyst Dick Vitale was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this past September. According to CBS's Jim Nantz, broadcast partner Billy Packer deserved to be there first.

When it was put forth to Nantz that the opinion of his former partner among sports fans, blogs and radio types was, um, less-than-favorable, it clearly struck a nerve.

Packer is the "greatest friend college basketball has ever had," said Nantz, "He looked after the sport and made sure there was an honesty and an integrity to it."

Whoa! No offense but I cannot say "honesty" when thinking about Packer. Sure, he called it like he saw it but he never admitted when he saw it wrong. As for "integrity", does that mean making sexist comments to a couple of females at Duke or to continuously belittle mid-majors?

I'm not as down on Packer as most people since I grew up in ACC country listening to him call games. But there is a reason that it's taken this long to nominate him for enshrinement into the Hall.

Report: Billy Packer Out at CBS

Many basketball fans of the world are set to rejoice. The Miami Herald is reporting that CBS is replacing Billy Packer with Clark Kellogg on the top college basketball broadcast team.

CBS believed the time was right for a change and that Kellogg deserved a chance to work with Jim Nantz on the lead team.

Packer, who had been going year to year with his contract, confirmed through a CBS official Sunday that he no longer will broadcast for the network but is pursuing other projects in basketball. Packer declined to comment further.

Packer has called every Final Four since 1975 and every NCAA Tournament championship game since 1977. However, he has been full of controversy for his "know-it-all" style of broadcasting and has been one of the most hated TV analysts in college basketball.

Despite all of that, college basketball won't be the same without Packer. Again, he always got the big games at CBS during the season and especially during the NCAA Tournament.

In related news, CBS is looking at ESPN's Greg Anthony to replace Kellogg as a studio analyst. Kellogg, one of the more knowledgeable assets the network has (albeit not one of the better broadcasters), moves from the studio to replace Packer as Jim Nantz' partner on college hoops. Anthony would team up with Greg Gumbel and Seth Davis in the studio.

Also at FanHouse:
Cartoon Looks at Packer's Career
Packer Doesn't Care How You Remember His Career

Sports Broadcasting Blunders

Bernstein's Palestinian Connection
ESPN reporter Bonnie Bernstein issued a public apology this week after appearing on a radio broadcast and saying "People in Palestine are taught to think that dying in the name of God is a good thing ... They grow up wanting to be suicide bombers. "

Brian Ach, WireImage.com

"... Looks Like the Guy Who Cleans Tiger's Swimming Pool"
NBC Sports golf analyst drew the ire of U.S. Open watchers when he said contender Rocco Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool." Miller has apologized for his description, saying it had "absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity."

John Shearer, WireImage.com

"We've Gotta Do This ----ing Thing Over"
The ever-salty Bert Blyleven, pictured here after winning the 1987 World Series, cursed up a storm on live television during a Minnesota Twins pregame show in September 2006.

Getty Images

"Lynch Him in a Back Alley"
Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman gained notoriety during a 2008 PGA Tour telecast when she suggested young golfers might want to take Tiger Woods and "lynch him in a back alley."

Getty Images

Finding Romo's Roots
ESPN analyst On an ESPN radio show in 2006, Michael Irvin said the athletic ability of Cowboys QB Tony Romo is due to his black ancestry, stating, "I don't know who saw what or where, his great-great-great-great-grandma ran over in the 'hood or something went down."

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Broadway Joe Gets Fresh
Jets' legendary quarterback Joe Namath talked about how he is more interested in ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber than his struggling Jets during a 2003 game. During a live interview, Namath says (twice) "I want to kiss you" to Kolber.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

"That's Some Nappy-Headed Hos There ..."
Broadcasting legend Don Imus' show was canceled by CBS Radio in April 2007 because of the firestorm that followed his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

One Too Many
In May 2006, former Cy Young winner Rick Sutcliffe was invited to join a local San Diego Padres TV broadcast, but gets his microphone cut off because of his slurred speech.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

"Are You Retarded?"
ESPN's Tom Jackson asked Michael Irvin that question in 2006. He later apologized to viewers for snapping at him on-air.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

"Don't Go Outside If You Have a Wallet"
After ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose made jabs at the area around the Devils' new Prudential Center in a 2007 ESPN.com video segment, he became persona non grata in Newark, New Jersey.

Graham/Getty Images

Clark Kellogg Gives Western Kentucky Buzzer Beater a Lame Name (Hey! That Rhymes!)

Many of the greatest plays in sports have catchy names, from the Immaculate Reception to the Hand of God. So CBS analyst Clark Kellogg decided to try his hand at giving a title to the buzzer beater Western Kentucky's Ty Rogers hit against Drake on Friday:

Yes, Kellogg came up with "Much Clutch," and his on-air partner, Greg Gumbel, could barely conceal his contempt. And I have to say, Gumbel was right not to be impressed: Just because the words "much" and "clutch" rhyme, that doesn't make it a catchy name, and "much clutch" is a phrase that could be used to describe basically any big play in any sport. Try again, Clark.

Hat tip: The Big Lead.