Jim Nantz gets emotional following incredible on-air tribute during Final Four pre-show

Legendary CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz received an incredible video tribute during the Final Four pre-game show, leading to a touching speech. Nantz sat on the analyst desk alongside his co-hosts and watched the roughly three-minute video prepared by CBS, highlighting his 32 seasons of calling the NCAA Tournament.

After the video finished, Nantz was visibly emotional and choked up — joking that he couldn’t believe they “expected him to talk after that.”

Behind every great sports moment, there’s a storyteller.

For decades, Jim Nantz has been the storyteller of the Men's Final Four. pic.twitter.com/8DPVx2WZki

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 1, 2023

Jim Nantz receives incredible tribute video

With Nantz obviously already emotional, the moment was made even sweeter as his co-hosts stood up to give him a standing ovation in celebration of his career. Nantz announced before this year’s March Madness that it would be his final time calling the tournament for CBS Sports after 32 years of lending his voice to the tournament’s historic moments.

The knowledge that it would be his final time on the call — at least as the leading commentator, according to Nantz when he revealed his decision — gave the CBS broadcasting team a chance to give him his flowers on air. The tournament won’t be the same without Nantz’s voice coming through the broadcast, and his special moment before the first Final Four game tipped off appeared to drive the reality home for Nantz.

After finally composing himself, Nantz proceeded to share a touching message of his own — thanking everyone he had been blessed to work with at CBS. He thanked everyone from the behind-the-scenes crew to the legendary sports personalities he shared a microphone with.

The first day of Final Four action lived up to the expectations for Nantz’s curtain call as well. With three teams in their first-ever Final Four, the games started with No. 9 Florida Atlantic versus No. 5 San Diego State. After falling down big, the Aztecs mounted a tremendous comeback and won the game on a last-second buzzer-beater in a one-point finish.

Following the drama of a game-winner, Miami took on UConn for the final spot in the NCAA Championship Game. The Huskies handled their business again with a 72-59 win over the Hurricanes — their closest margin of victory all tournament long as they dominate their opponents.

Now with the UConn and San Diego State matchup the only game left on the basketball docket for the 2022-2023 college basketball season, Jim Nantz has just one more game in his illustrious March Madness career. Like Saturday, hopefully, it lives up to the hype.

Regardless, Nantz and his smooth play-by-play style will ride off into the sunset or at least to Augusta for the Masters.