Passes away at 82. Loved his announcing, a good man. Godspeed.
Billy Packer RIP
- Thread starter Bkmtnittany1
- Start date
Always thought he was a good announcer. Told it like it was. Some didn’t like that.
I have always been a CB nut. Dick Enberg, Al McGuire and Billy Packer were the voices of my youth. They are all gone, sad.
I was never a big Billy Packer fan, but watching as much college basketball as I have, I heard him many times. He was passionate about college hoops, and I respect well-directed/well-intended passion from people (for the most part!), especially from sports professionals with wide audiences. So, I was always rather neutral about him - I didn't turn him off when he was on, but did not go out of my way to catch a game he was calling.
Anyway, late summer 2006, we were taking a red-eye from Las Vegas to Charlotte. Billy lived in Charlotte, and there was some event or other in Vegas for either HS or college hoops. It's about 11:00 pm or so, and I plop myself in one of the few remaining waiting area seats at the gate, at the far edge of the area. I'm not paying attention, but there is a guy sitting across the narrow aisle from me, with his eyes closed. Looks familiar... and his boarding pass is in his hand, angled for all to see: William Packer. I look at him, look at the pass again, and confirm it is indeed Billy Packer. I have no intention of engaging him in any way other than perhaps a nod, but his eyes are closed anyway.
At that moment, he opens his eyes, sees me looking at his pass, quickly turns the pass around so his name cannot be seen, and closes his eyes again. He was understandably in no mood to be engaged, and I thought to myself about how lucky he was that I was not a fanboy who wanted to chat and get an autograph - I was just another tired traveler looking to board and get a little high-altitude sleep.
Anyway, RIP Billy Packer. He had a great run.
Anyway, late summer 2006, we were taking a red-eye from Las Vegas to Charlotte. Billy lived in Charlotte, and there was some event or other in Vegas for either HS or college hoops. It's about 11:00 pm or so, and I plop myself in one of the few remaining waiting area seats at the gate, at the far edge of the area. I'm not paying attention, but there is a guy sitting across the narrow aisle from me, with his eyes closed. Looks familiar... and his boarding pass is in his hand, angled for all to see: William Packer. I look at him, look at the pass again, and confirm it is indeed Billy Packer. I have no intention of engaging him in any way other than perhaps a nod, but his eyes are closed anyway.
At that moment, he opens his eyes, sees me looking at his pass, quickly turns the pass around so his name cannot be seen, and closes his eyes again. He was understandably in no mood to be engaged, and I thought to myself about how lucky he was that I was not a fanboy who wanted to chat and get an autograph - I was just another tired traveler looking to board and get a little high-altitude sleep.
Anyway, RIP Billy Packer. He had a great run.
I always thought he did a very good job and regarded him as a media celeb. Anyway, I was fortunate enough to be working in sports media and I hung out with the media beneath the arena at the ACC championship in 1998, 99, and 2000. What struck was how much the various media members disliked Billy. They literally didn't speak to him. I'll give him credit for a great career but what I saw always stuck with me.
Back in the day ... watching college hoops on Sunday was one of my passions, especially with Enberg, Packer and Al McGuire.
Enberg called the game, period. Packer and McGuire discussed the nuances of the game and traded barbs as necessary.
Enlightening and entertaining. The way the media is supposed to do their job.
RIP, gentlemen. You were simply the best.
Enberg called the game, period. Packer and McGuire discussed the nuances of the game and traded barbs as necessary.
Enlightening and entertaining. The way the media is supposed to do their job.
RIP, gentlemen. You were simply the best.
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