One of the great events on the sports calendar concluded last night with an all-time great game between Kansas and Memphis.
As Kansas overcame a nine point deficit in the final two minutes, I thought to myself that there was only one thing that could make this game even better.
As Mario Chalmers sent the game into overtime with one of the more clutch shots in tournament history, my thought was confirmed.
This game needed Gus Johnson.
This is not at all a knock on CBS's first team of Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. Nantz was excellent as usual, and Packer's reaction to Chalmers was the most excited I have ever heard him.
Nantz, however, is more of a low-key announcer, and Packer is typically more on the critical side when discussing players and coaches.
A game of this excitement level needs a little bit more, and Johnson delivers. This game is the second one this year that I actively thought during the game that Gus would even turn it up another notch (The first being the Super Bowl; just think of Gus announcing David Tyree's catch).
For the color role, I'd let Bill Raftery complement Johnson. A signature "Onions!!!" delivered from Raftery would not only have been expected after Chalmers' shot, but required. Yet again, nothing against Len Elmore, but his reserved demeanor would not give this historical moment its due.
If you have trouble imagining what Gus' call would have sounded like, this might give you an idea. I can only imagine what Gus' reaction would have been like in a tournament final.
For now, we will have to live with a good call from Nantz and Packer, and the team shows little sign of slowing down. One can dream, however, of a day where Gus Johnson is the voice that is heard whenever sports history is made.
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6 months ago
All I have to say is that Jim Nantz and Billy Packer will not be unseated anytime soon.
6 months ago
Packer is horrible. He should have been canned after last year's Duke-UNC game for his comments on the intentions (or lack thereof) of the Duke player who clearly elbowed Psycho-T in the nose on purpose.
6 months ago
I don't have a problem with Nantz and Packer, but I love listening to Gus Johnson on big games. I'm glad he at least got a regional this year (Midwest). His voice is one of the things I love about March Madness. Good article.
6 months ago
Did anybody else notice Packer openly pining for Memphis the entire game? It got sickening after a while. At one point he tried to refute a Kansas basket by claiming Sherron Collins should have been called for traveling.
There was another sequence where a Memphis big man had jumped over the back of a Kansas player to tip the ball out of bounds where it was rewarded to Memphis that had no comments from Packer.
Moments later Kansas got away with an over the back on the other side of the court (which I had no qualms with when calling a game both ways) and Packer went into a hissy fit about how Kansas went over the back.
I thought it was a pretty-well officiated game, but Packer did his best to gripe. I like Nantz and think it's time for a change, but it won't ever happen.
6 months ago
I agree there needs to be a change, but not Gus Johnson.
The man who wets himself on a halfback run up the middle.
He gets overly excited too easily.
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