Curmudgeon Sports Break: Packer Watch ...
<< ID: Now it's time to root against Duke. It's fun to watch Billy Packer cry. >>
Factoid: CBS' Billy Packer beat the Hawks as a Demon Deacons guard in the 1962 NCAA tournament.
Payback time ...
>> Packer Likes What He Sees
CBS analyst can't say enough good things about Hawks
Dana Pennett O'neil
phillynews.com
Mar. 26, 2004
Billy Packer likely never had such a captive audience.
Usually he and partner Jim Nantz, like every other television announcing team, are the white noise in the background, the guys who mix in a valid point or two as they tell you what you already know and overstate the obvious.
Last night, though, every Philadelphian tuned into Saint Joseph's Sweet 16 battle with Wake Forest probably hung on Packer's every word, straining to hear a hint of sarcasm or some sort of innuendo, listening intently for hidden digs.
But for those looking for the CBS analyst to incite their ire as he did on Selection Sunday, when he seemed practically apoplectic that the folks on the selection committee actually might give someone outside the big-name school fraternity a No. 1 seed, they clicked off their TVs disappointed.
Packer was, just as Hawks coach Phil Martelli predicted, professional.
He threw down his challenge at the beginning of the game - "What's really interesting? How this is working out, Oklahoma State, that's the team I thought belonged on the 1-line. We'll find out tonight exactly who belonged on the 1-line."
He never came back to answer his own question, so we'll allow the Hawks to answer it for him.
St. Joe's 84, Wake Forest 80; 40 minutes from the Final Four.
So what now? Well, as much as the 2 weeks' worth of verbal spats leading up to this game fueled the anticipation, the fact Packer thinks second-seeded Oklahoma State is more deserving of the top spot ought to make tomorrow night's call every bit as intriguing.
Maybe it actually was seeing the Hawks live, maybe it was Martelli's made-for-the-media olive branch at Wednesday's shootaround, but somewhere along the line, Packer actually discovered this team ain't exactly bad.
As the first half drew to a close, Packer pointed out what Philadelphians have known for a very long time.
"This is a beautifully coached team," he said.
If anything, Packer's biggest flaw was overly praising the Hawks. When the Demon Deacons rallied to make it uncomfortably close in the final minute, Packer seemed as mystified as people wearing their St. Joe's gear. Just minutes earlier, when the Hawks led by 11, Packer intoned, "You just have the feeling these [St. Joe's] guards have this thing under control."
Hey, don't sweat it, Billy. Most people getting their first live glimpse of the Hawks have a hard time believing a college basketball team can play such unselfish, fundamentally sound hoops.
"They're always in control, this St. Joe's team," he said. "They don't seem like they're ever in a hurry."
It was a little funny, actually. Packer was so enraptured of the Hawks in the first half, it was hard to believe Wake led by one at intermission.
Not surprising, he couldn't stop saying good things about Jameer Nelson. No one is so stupid as to deny the Naismith player of the year his due.
Packer quickly defused the expected showdown between Nelson and Demon Deacons freshman point guard Chris Paul, explaining, "It's asking a lot of a freshman to go against a guy as crafty as Nelson."
Later, he likened Nelson to fleet-footed Syracuse superstar Pearl Washington and eventually summed up Nelson's prowess by saying, "The thing you have to like about Nelson, in addition to his ability to shoot the ball, dribble the ball and play great defense, he has great basketball IQ."
But Packer didn't stop his lovefest at Nelson. He sent an equal number of bouquets to Nelson's backcourt mate, Delonte West, and did everything but extend a valentine to Tyrone Barley.
"This isn't the first time Barley has given them a lift," he said after St. Joe's great sixth man sunk a three-pointer.
Later Packer added, "I really like the way Barley is putting a lot of pressure on the ball."
And this: "I realize he's playing with two more heralded players, but he's having a terrific game. He's fun to watch."
Apparently, so is St. Joe's.
Maybe even fun enough to deserve a No. 1 seed? <<
Win, lose, or draw, Hawks meet No. 2 seed Oklahoma state in the East (Rutherford) Saturday at 7 p.m.
Illinois meets Duke tonight in Atlanta.
Who'll advance to the Final 4?
Flashback to April Fools day 1985 and the 8th seeded (East) Cinderfella Cats 66-64 win over the NCAA #1 Hoyas.
The 1985 All NCAA Tournament Team:
Dwayne McClain Sr. F Villanova
Patrick Ewing Sr. C Georgetown
Ed Pinckney Sr. C Villanova
Harold Jensen So. G Villanova
Gary McLain Sr. G Villanova
Not to forget Villanova's junior guard Harold Pressley, or junior guard Dwight Wilbur.
- Eric - |
