Longtime college basketball commentator Billy Packer, who has been the voice of the NCAA tournament for over 30 years, died Thursday night. he was 82 years old.
Packer’s two sons, Mark and Brandt, announced the news on Twitter Thursday night.
Sad news from the Packer family. Our wonderful father Billy passed away. We take peace knowing he is in heaven with Barb. RIP, Billy. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/uFRixmgCcd
— Mark Packer (@MarkPacker) January 27, 2023
Mark Packer told the Associated Press that his father had been hospitalized in Charlotte for the past three weeks, had several health problems, and eventually died of kidney failure.
Packer was the Lead College Basketball Analyst for 34 consecutive Final Fours, first for NBC, then CBS, and also worked for Raycom as an ACC Games analyst. He won a Sports Emmy Award in 1993 for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio or Sports Analyst.
Packer was the son of longtime basketball coach Anthony Packer, who spent 16 seasons as Lehi’s head coach. After winning all-state honors while in high school in Pennsylvania, Packer attended Wake in 1961 and he was named to the ACC in 1962. He helped Daemon his Deacons to his three ACC regular season titles and their first Final Four appearance. 1962 when Packer was named to the all-regional team.
He briefly entered the coaching profession before starting as an announcer in 1972.
Within two years, however, Packer had qualified for the NCAA Tournament and the Final Four Games, and held on until he left the company in 2008.
“I decided halfway through my career that one day I would never do this. I really know the game and its history. And if I didn’t enjoy it, I would quit. And now it’s time to go back and do other things I enjoy. The last game I saw in person was the last one I aired. [2008] A national championship game between Memphis and Kansas. “
Packer has some of the most famous calls in Final Four history. Perhaps most notably, Miles said, “Simon says…championship” after he led Arizona to his 1997 National championship.
He also attended the broadcast with Dick Enberg and Al McGuire in 1979 when Magic Johnson’s Michigan team defeated Larry Bird’s Indiana team in the title game. It remains the highest-rated game in basketball history with his 21.1 Nielsen rating, which equates to an estimated 35.1 million viewers.
“He really enjoyed the Final Four,” Mark Packer told the Associated Press. Everything in life is timing. Frankly, it was a pleasure for him to be a part of something he was going to see anyway. And I think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird started college basketball and made college basketball fans fall in love with March Madness. “
CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said Packer “has been synonymous with college basketball for more than 30 years and has set the standard of excellence as the voice of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.”
“He had a tremendous impact on the growth and popularity of the sport,” McManus said in a statement. He was passionate about basketball, but at heart Billy was part of the family.He left a piece of basketball behind.”His CBS sports, college basketball, And most importantly, his legacy as a beloved husband, father and grandfather, who will be deeply missed by all.”
ESPN’s college basketball analyst Dick Vitale paid tribute to Packer on Twitter, writing, “So sad to hear of the passing of Billy Packer, who had a passion for college basketball.”
So sad to hear of the passing of Billy Packer, a passionate college basketball player.I’m going to my 🙏🙏🙏 Billy’s son @mark packer I have always had great respect for Billy and his partners Dick Enberg and Al McGuire.
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) January 27, 2023
Fran Frascilla, college basketball analyst murmured: “We fell in love [with] College basketball thanks to you. Your voice will stay in my head forever. “
When Packer stepped down as CBS’s main analyst in 2008 and was replaced by Clark Kellogg, the most important people in college sports praised Packer and his impact on the game.
“His understanding of men’s college basketball, his analysis of the game, and his love of its place in higher education ensured a legacy that anyone could envy,” said the late NCAA president Miles Brand at the time. “He was a friend of mine in intercollegiate athletics and I would like to thank him for his tremendous contributions not only to the NCAA Final Four tournament, but on many occasions over the years.”
“The only word to describe Billy is a giant,” former Big East Commissioner Mike Trangese said in 2008. Of those of us who are passionate about the game of college basketball, we truly miss him. “
Outside of his broadcasting career, Packer was involved in many business and real estate deals.
“Since my last basketball game in college, I’ve never been interested in competing in sports,” he told the Tampa Bay Times in 1999. sports. This is a game that adults can play. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
