Put Your Dukies Up at Final Four

Mike Penner’s article [“Announcers Show True Colors,” April 3] was on the point. Although Billy Packer is a knowledgeable basketball man, his bias is difficult to stomach if you’re from the West, and probably a culinary delight in ACC country. This is fine, but as you point out, he is working for a company supposedly dishing out sports treats in an unbiased manner.

One could comment on the obviously biased officiating the first few minutes of the game, which set the tone. Who can’t love Shane Battier, but surely Jason Gardner was mauled a few times going to the paint with no foul called. But this is another column.

As a USC fan, I’d like to point out the Trojans also lost by 10 and that Sam Clancy pretty much shut down Carlos Boozer, while Jeff Trepagnier cuffed Mike Dunleavy. That’s bias coming from someone not currently employed by CBS.

JOHN TIPRE, Santa Monica

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Pardon me, but Penner has Packer all wrong. Billy Packer hates Duke with all his heart. Any other assertion is absurd.

Packer has called hundreds of games along Tobacco Road. I have heard nothing but complaints about Duke from Billy Packer for 30 years. Packer and his mentor, the late, great Bones McKinney, were known throughout the South for their disdain of Duke University and they never wasted an opportunity for a slam against the Blue Devils. When McKinney coached Packer at Wake Forest, he created the worst critic that Duke has ever had. Seeing them call games together in the ‘70s was a real treat if you didn’t like Duke. Nothing about Packer has changed.

A final note about Billy’s habit of saying “Duke University;” the longer form, for Packer, is a term of derision. Ask any lifelong ACC fan.

TIM HUFF, Santa Monica

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I’d have to say Maryland is the true national champion. With decent officiating, the Terrapins would have beaten Duke by about 17. Arizona would have beaten Duke only by about 10.

ROB OSBORNE, Redondo Beach

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To the NCAA committee:

Why not just skip the tournament next year? Just get yourselves, the refs, “Coach K” and Billy Packer in a room and appoint the champion. Sort of like the presidential election. It would save a lot of time.

RICK MASLIN, Irvine