Billy Packer Gay Slur

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am not a Billy Packer fan. But his comments had little to do with being gay.

fag out
v : exhaust or tire though overuse or great strain or stress;
"We wore ourselves out on this hike" [syn: tire, wear
upon, tire out, wear, weary, jade, wear out, outwear,
wear down, fag, fatigue] [ant: refresh]

Here is a definition of the term he used. I am sure if folks would just read a dictionary or do an internet search, you would understand the term. Not every word has just one meaning. Also Charlie Rose is a smart guy, he did not react negatively at all about the comment.

Peace

There is precedent for an innocent and accurate term that sounds similar to a politically incorrect phrase damaging someone's reputation.

That said, I'm not Packer fan, but would like to see his career ended for valid reasons rather than for ignorant ones.

[Junker]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

There is precedent for an innocent and accurate term that sounds similar to a politically incorrect phrase damaging someone's reputation.

That said, I'm not Packer fan, but would like to see his career ended for valid reasons rather than for ignorant ones.

If we're looking for valid reasons to dump him, can't we just go by 98% of everything he says is complete crap. I mean does CBS seriously think anyone enjoys listening to him. The radio announcers are 100 times better than TV.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Junker

If we're looking for valid reasons to dump him, can't we just go by 98% of everything he says is complete crap. I mean does CBS seriously think anyone enjoys listening to him. The radio announcers are 100 times better than TV.

Let us not be silly. We know there are people that like listening to him. For one his is controversial. He is similar to Howard Cosell with the fact that he says things that rub people the wrong way, but they listen. If Packer took away any ratings, then he probably would not be on. I am sure CBS has done the research and found that he works for their ratings. Also with all due respect he is rather good at what he does. Now he might get off on tangents where he says things that are out of line, but after all this is entertainment. It is not just about accurate information. If it was do you think Doug Gottlieb would have a job?

Peace

[Junker]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Let us not be silly. We know there are people that like listening to him. For one his is controversial. He is similar to Howard Cosell with the fact that he says things that rub people the wrong way, but they listen. If Packer took away any ratings, then he probably would not be on. I am sure CBS has done the research and found that he works for their ratings. Also with all due respect he is rather good at what he does. Now he might get off on tangents where he says things that are out of line, but after all this is entertainment. It is not just about accurate information. If it was do you think Doug Gottlieb would have a job?

Peace

If I weren't at least a little silly I wouldn't be dumb enough to enjoy getting yelled at on the court every night. I agree with what you say. He certainly gets a reaction from the audience. On the other hand, he gets the big games so of course his ratings are good. I'm watching the Final 4 no matter who I have to listen to. BTW, we should get rid of Doug Gottlieb as well. Around here, most of us had enough of him when he came up with the Rick Hartzell conspiracy theory a few years ago.

[JRutledge]

Funny you said that about Rick Hartzell. I ran into Hartzell at the Big Ten Tournament in March at the United Center. I had met his wife previously who also officiates. His wife was working Women's College game before I was working a Men's College game about 2 years ago. His wife was telling me a story about a game where Rick was working and Doug Gottlieb was doing some commentating. Sometime before or after the game, Rick had just had a copy of Referee Magazine (where he was featured in an article and the situation with Gotlieb was discussed in the article) and handed it to Gotlieb and walked away. I understand Gotlieb did not have much to say.

Peace

[Junker]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Funny you said that about Rick Hartzell. I ran into Hartzell at the Big Ten Tournament in March at the United Center. I had met his wife previously who also officiates. His wife was working Women's College game before I was working a Men's College game about 2 years ago. His wife was telling me a story about a game where Rick was working and Doug Gottlieb was doing some commentating. Sometime before or after the game, Rick had just had a copy of Referee Magazine (where he was featured in an article and the situation with Gotlieb was discussed in the article) and handed it to Gotlieb and walked away. I understand Gotlieb did not have much to say.

Peace

That's hilarious. I worked with his wife earlier this season at a JUCO game. She is a very solid official and we had a good time on a crappy game. I should see both of them at a JUCO camp next weekend.

[jkjenning]

Remember his age and how the phrase "we had a gay time tonight!" implied nothing more than it was a terrific night - we enjoyed ourselves! To say I'm all fagged out was common when I was a kid, and I'm younger than Packer, and we had no concept of it possibly applying to homosexuals.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Let us not be silly. We know there are people that like listening to him. For one his is controversial. He is similar to Howard Cosell with the fact that he says things that rub people the wrong way, but they listen. If Packer took away any ratings, then he probably would not be on. I am sure CBS has done the research and found that he works for their ratings. Also with all due respect he is rather good at what he does. Now he might get off on tangents where he says things that are out of line, but after all this is entertainment. It is not just about accurate information. If it was do you think Doug Gottlieb would have a job?

Peace

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.

[NewNCref]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

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.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by NewNCref

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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

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

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

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

There is precedent for an innocent and accurate term that sounds similar to a politically incorrect phrase damaging someone's reputation.

The first time I heard an older professor use the word "niggardly", I was shocked; until I found out that the dictionary meaning is "stingy". I don't think Packer deserves a whole lot of grief for this.

[BktBallRef]

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.

[deecee]

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

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

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

Geeze you're right.

That explains a lot...