Billy Packer’s Observations Nearly Always on the Money

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Michigan Coach Steve Fisher had it easy for the NCAA final. They were coaching only one team, their own. On CBS, the indefatigable Billy Packer was coaching both teams, as well as advising most of the players on strategies or criticizing them for errant moves, and even dispensing an occasional tip to the officials. Packer was not, however, hawking souvenirs or setting up basketball camp deals, as far as I know.

The thing about it is, Packer is most often correct in his analysis. He was, of course, quick to worry about Christian Laettner’s lethargic play in the first half, and just as quick to point out that Krzyzewski had set up Duke to go to Laettner to get him going in the opening moments of the second half. Packer is irrepressible in analyzing a game and wants to spur viewers into doing the same. If you are old fogeyish enough to believe that announcers shouldn’t talk so much, there is this gadget known as the mute button.

Some years ago, NBC tried the stunt of telecasting an announcerless NFL game. It turned out to be a technical flop because, among other things, NBC didn’t pick up enough sound from the players and the crowd to make up for the absence of an announcer. The telecast lacked the ambiance of the arena. But if there is an event where the scene is so raucous and colorful that the microphones could convey the hubbub, it would be an NCAA Tournament basketball game. When Packer is on one of his verbal binges, it makes me think that another attempt at an announcerless game might not be such a bad idea.