Of course there are, the ignorant masses don't know any better, because the networks force feed them schitck...Vitale over enthusiasm, Packer overly critical of calls, Rafferty kind of combines the two...they call the games to feed the fans view, the rooting fans view.

To knowledgeable basketball fans, especially those watching because they love the game and don't really have an interest in who wins or loses, they are as annoying as a hemorrhoid.

Just because "fans" may like them, doesn't excuse how poorly they actually call the game.

Unfortunately, as far as the networks are concerned, it does. If CBS though that what people really wanted was a portrayal of everything that happens in a game which is completely devoid of any personal factor, they would have fired almost every announcer a long time ago. The fact of the matter is, what they say doesn't matter to CBS, as long as they keep the people tuned in and watching. Sure, most people would watch the game without the commentators, but what about all the pregame (which brings in even more ad revenue) and all the little interjections they make about products or companies during timeouts.

CBS is a business, and as long as these guys are making them money, they don't care what they do.

I don't buy that argument, and here is why.

People tune in to watch the game, not the guys calling the game.

Undoubtedly the network does polls, and tracks mail to judge the popularity of their announcers, but I highly doubt CBS would lose one viewer of the final four if they canned Packer tomorrow.

I for one am tired of the delivery of product at the most basic level. Stop sucking the intelligence out of everything because you are afraid of losing viewers. Stop feeding the bottom feeders useless crap while making everyone else miserable.

This is the sports equivalent of the evening news spending more time on Anna Nicole Smith than real news.

Wasn't it the Flintstomes who used to "have a gay old time"?

BTW, I've NEVER heard anyone say they enjoyed listening to Billy Packer. :eek:

i enjoy listening to him -- in fact I have him tattooed on my arm and I just purchased the Anywhere you go Billy Packer boombox. It randomly spits out incorrect rules and strategies. in fact I just realized but the Cd player doesn't work and the radio gets no reception except for the Billy Packer channel. odd

Geeze you're right.

That explains a lot...

http://www.voicechoice.com/images/flintstone.jpg

Why do you think they still keep talking about Anna Nicole Smith? It is not because she was the most important person to our socieity or way of life.

Peace

Because she had big gabonzas?

No it is because the CIA FBI and NCIS are all in cahoots in cuasing her death because Dick Cheney is really the father of her Baby!
and
The referees for the NCAA tournement were kidnapped by some kid who bought a new car and hypnotized them before the game - I saw it on TV!

I hope Billy Packer never sings the Christmas Carol "Deck the halls" because when he sings "Don we now our gay apparel," some of you would think that means hes a crossdresser.

Does that mean (gasp) Anna Nicole Smith is actually Billy Packer in drag? That's disturbing!!!:D

Seriously, what he said SHOULD be a non-issue but that's not the media world we live in. I'm sure we'll have to put up with listening to him next season.

Here is what Dicitionary.com has to say about the verb fag:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
fag1 /fæg/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[fag] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, fagged, fag·ging, noun
–verb (used with object) 1. to tire or weary by labor; exhaust (often fol. by out): The long climb fagged us out.
2. British. to require (a younger public-school pupil) to do menial chores.
3. Nautical. to fray or unlay the end of (a rope).
–verb (used without object) 4. Chiefly British. to work until wearied; work hard: to fag away at French.
5. British Informal. to do menial chores for an older public-school pupil.
–noun 6. Slang. a cigarette.
7. a fag end, as of cloth.
8. a rough or defective spot in a woven fabric; blemish; flaw.
9. Chiefly British. drudgery; toil.
10. British Informal. a younger pupil in a British public school required to perform certain menial tasks for, and submit to the hazing of, an older pupil.
11. a drudge.


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[Origin: 1425–75; late ME fagge broken thread in cloth, loose end (of obscure orig.); sense development appar.: drooping end > to droop, tire > to make weary > drudgery, drudge (cf. relationship of flag1 to flag3); (def. 6) a shortening of fag end (a butt, hence a cigarette)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source fag 1 (fāg) Pronunciation Key
n.

A student at a British public school who is required to perform menial tasks for a student in a higher class.
A drudge.
Chiefly British Fatiguing or tedious work; drudgery.

v. fagged, fag·ging, fags

v. intr.

To work to exhaustion; toil.
To function as the servant of another student in a British public school.

v. tr.
To exhaust; weary: Four hours on the tennis court fagged me out.


[From fag, to droop (obsolete), perhaps from Middle English fagge; see fag end.]


(Download Now or Buy the Book) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source fagged

adjective
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted; "the day's shopping left her exhausted"; "he went to bed dog-tired"; "was fagged and sweaty"; "the trembling of his played out limbs"; "felt completely washed-out"; "only worn-out horses and cattle"; "you look worn out" [syn: exhausted]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.


I hope this puts an end to the idea that this was a gay slur. To be honest, I did not know the complete definition of the word, except that it was British slang for cigarette, until now. I am glad I looked up its definition, because now I have added a new word to my vocabulary. I guess this dog is not too old to learn new tricks.

MTD, Sr.

I don't know how big her gabonzas were but she had some bodacious ta-tas'!:D

Spoken as an *Officer and a Gentleman*.

Thanks for being the first to do some research.
What an absurd accusation about a basketball icon that has helped make college basketball.