Just a little example of pro-UNC pre-game hype was CBS's keys to the game. I didn't have the sound on, so I don't know who was talking, but the captions for UNC's keys were cute (but extremely lame puns) "Can McCants?" or "Sean May-Be Champ" whereas for Illinois, it was (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Illini must play D" and "Make the outside shot". It wasn't quite that bland, but I didn't see anything enthusiastic or creative about Luther Head or Dee Brown or any other U of I player. And there had to be plenty of bad puns out there to use. For example "Get in Their Head" or "Play Some Dee" or "Why Settle For a Two When You Can Shoot a Dee?"
Any other suggestions?
Yeah Mike, get over it! Most of the pre-game talk that I heard was all about how UNC couldn't win because they didn't have the "heart of a champion", or "they don't play as a team." I'm so sick of hearing from the detractors. Illinois didn't lose because of the refs or because of the pre-game stuff. They just got beat.
And BTW, the pregame coverage actually had 3 of the 5 guys picking Illinois. Let's talk about Digger Phelps, and why he seems to hate Carolina. He's the only guy that I saw on TV that didn't pick UNC for the Final Four, and all he did was try to knock them down all tournament. He picked Villanova to beat them, MSU to beat them, and Illinois to beat them. He said after the Villanova game that Carolina didn't have a guy that could step up, and that the refs were right that the guy traveled, but it's only because he got fouled and should have been at the line. I mean it wasn't even sugar coated. It just seemed like he was PO'd that Carolina screwed up his bracket.
John,
I'm not sure Mike C. has to get over anything. He just made a little point about the tools CBS has employed. They're really quite bad. But it wasnt' an anti-UNC comment, I think.
ASIDE:
Jim Nantz should stick to golf, IMO.
People like Dickie V when their team is winning. Packer is more complicated. I don't mind him because of his knowledge of basketball history and his outspokenness. When you get right down to it, what difference does the announcer make anyway?
And if you are wondering about bias, Packer and/or Nantz twice down the stretch, yelled "in" as Illinois missed 3 pointers, the same thing he did in 93 in our game against Michigan when they missed at the end too, but what difference does it make?
Golly, williamo, you'da thought you coulda read some of the links I provided before you wrote exactly what some of them said.
But, nahhhh, that'd be too easy.
Here's the scoop, guys... Packer doesn't hate your team, he hates all teams. Wake Forest fans think he's especially harsh on their team to overcompensate for being an alum. Fans of every team in the ACC think Packer hates their team above all others.
The truth is that Billy Packer is a negative commentator. Rather than talking about a great fake move, he'll say "you can't let him get by you like that". On EVERY play he'll concentrate on the negative rather than the positive.
Since the only thing you hear about your team is the negative, you tend to forget that he hasn't really said anything good about your opponent.
Ugh... I hate Billy Packer.
Great point, pschwaller. Hate for Packer is ubiquitous.
Great minds think alike and anyway, I probably read more of your links than anybody.
Are you saying my mind is great?
I kinda like that.
Like Birkel said, I have nothing to get over. It's baseball season now. We have an NCAA champion born of a championship game involving two schools I didn't attend. Somehow, my life continues without skipping a beat.
This now being my favorite sports season of the year, I am personally in the middle of enjoying DC baseball's first winning streak in 34 years. One game and counting!
And your boy hit for the cycle, Mike C.
Already with the milestones!!
Didn't mean to fly off the handle like that. The comment sounded a lot harsher today when I read it again, than it sounded yesterday when I first posted it. My apologies Mike. No excuse, but I'm just sick of hearing all of the commentary (not on this sit) about how Ill. didn't play to the best of their abilities. I actually heaard a guy on the radio here in Phoenix say that "he was disappointed that the game turned more on Illinois' mistake, then great plays by Carolina." Which he then qualified by saying all of the missed 3's are what he considers mistakes, because they usually shoot a lot higher percentage. WTF is that about?
I know that Birkel and Ed would say that I don't need to qualify or apologize for what I wrote, but I am. Sorry about the personal attack, Mike.
The audio feature I want on my TV is the ability to mute the announcers without muting the game and crowd noise.
I found very little Packer/Nance stuff to gripe about this year because I watched without sound for most of the tournament. Tha side benefit was that I listened to the Gillian Welch and Allsion Krause during the games. A bit surreal to think about, but having the sound off means I get to evaluate the game myself and do not have to filter out the often incorrect comments from Packer and Nance.
Doug,
That's part of what the petition wants. They want an option that allows only the crowd noise and the noise of the game without the announcers as a part of the Direct TV package.
It sounds interesting to me.
OTOH, I guess they'd still pump the commercial noise in, sadly.
No need to apologize, John. I always take abuse in the comments, but I'm a glutton for punishment. Comes with the territory.
The only bad thing about DirecTv is the five second delay, so it is very difficult to turn down the audio and listen on the radio.
you left my rant out:
http://ronhudson.blogspot.com/20...two-on-
one.html
Billy actually likes the Tar Heels relatively.
Hate to beg for an anti-Packer link to my site, but... 
Here's my rant.
Who hired Billy Packer to a long term contract? This guy is the one who is should be fired. He didn't know what Packer represents, a second guesser, a jr. high basketball coach wanna be.
Billy Packer is the worst!!! I was watching the Villanova/UConn game and wasn't able to enjoy it because that idiot wasn't announcing the game he was giving his personal opinion on it...don't want to listen to what you think ...just announce the game, isn't that what your being over paid for?
I just wish someone would inform Packer that Iowa's best player's name is pronounced Brooner even though it is spelled Brunner. It drives me nuts that this guy is paid a ton of cash and can't pronounce the player's names.
As a Bradley University alum, I was there (In the old barn) in 1981 when Bradley was unjustly snubbed by the NCAA and Dave Gavitt, the Big East's cheerleader for life. The great combo of Mitchell Anderson and David Thirdkill were relagated to also-ran status in the NIT, and Dick Versace had to wait again to get his just rewards. Bradley easily trounced the competition and sent Purdue packing in the NIT finals that year.
Nothing was sweeter than seeing a composed and talented Bradley Team dispatch Kansas last night with talent and poise, and not a last second prayer. Billy Packer can kiss my butt.
Go Bradley Braves! The Mid-Major alumni of the World will be watching and rooting for you against Pitt in the second round.
A victory over Pitt would be sweet vindication for us all!
Jim Powell
What is the deal with Billy Packer and his ties and magic markers. Color coordinated every day........seems real strange to me. He ought to be focused on learning more about the various teams, but maybe someone picks out his ties and markers every day.
Billy -
You are cordially invited to dinner in Fairfax, Virginia. Crow is being served and fittingly you should be eating it....
GMU proved you wrong ...lets see if you are a big man and can at least give credit to a team that made your statements look ridiculous.
I hope they go all the way!
Go GMU .... and Jim Larranaga.
Billy again shows he's an idiot and a terrible announcer. Oh yeah, that wasn't a punch to Hansbroughs nose at the end of Sundays Duke Carolina game in Chapel Hill. Henderson was just going after the ball and had no intention to hurt anyone ...bull crap. How does Billy see what no one else does? It is because he is one terrible biased announcer who shouldn't be doing that level or work any long. I. Stancil
i hate that "billy packer against UNC " idot
Commenting by HaloScan
