CBS'
News Judgment Hurts By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--I was going to write about how CBS analyst Billy Packer, doing his 25th Final Four, remains one of the most insightful basketball analysts ever. Then, I was going to say that Jim Nantz's calm, easygoing call is refreshing in these days of shouters for announcers. But I can't talk about the fine work by Packer and Nantz before I rip their network for its disgraceful handling of the Yugoslavia story.
During the second half of Connecticut/Ohio State, CBS ran a "special report" scroll at the bottom of the screen, saying Yugoslavia television is showing footage of a burning NATO plane that the Serbs claim to have shot down. I have no problem with CBS using a scroll at that point to report the news - as long as the network expanded on the scroll with an actual news report between games. I'm not asking for an in-depth report, just a minute or two update to satisfy the curiosities of the millions who read that scroll. CBS, though, not only didn't go to a news break in the more than 30 minutes between games, but it instead wasted the time of every single viewer with a stupid, inane, worthless two-minute interview with Craig Kilborn, who is starting a new show on CBS Tuesday. CBS should be ashamed of itself. I want to hear how the network can justify that the Kilborn interview was more important than spending one minute updating viewers on the breaking news from Yugoslavia. Network officials were unavailable for comment Saturday night, despite numerous phone calls. Because I was watching CBS' NCAA coverage, I don't know how ABC, Fox or NBC handled this story. Nor do I care. All I know is that CBS had a brief moment to shine Saturday by providing viewers with exciting Final Four coverage and the latest news on a huge international story. Instead, the network ignominiously dropped the ball. CBS should be ashamed of itself. [NOTE: CBS broke in during its coverage Sunday of the Texas 500 to show remarks by President Clinton - a move that further questions the network's decisions Saturday. Click here to go to this weekend's Notes & Quotes to read more about CBS' move Sunday.]
Game stuff What I enjoy most about Packer is that his analysis is always more insightful than just unending praise for a job well done. In a small-but-perfect example from the second game, Duke point guard William Avery drove the lane and made an impressive layup in the first half. Most analysts simply would have gone gaga over Avery's impressive basket. Packer instead calmly explained that Avery took advantage of his defender, Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves, turning his head to look for a screen. That's only one small example, but Packer shined all night, especially in the second half of the Duke-Michigan State game, when he heavily criticized the officiating, recalled obscure but relevant moments from past tournaments and analyzed decisions made by coaches and players. My favorite moment was when Duke's Elton Brand was called for his fourth foul, for a silly charge into Cleaves, with about 10 minutes left. The moment was dramatic because both players were carrying three fouls at the time of the charge. Before the call, Packer was urging Brand to give up the ball. After the foul, he immediately remembered another foul of similar drama - a second round game between Indiana and Alabama in 1976 when two players with four fouls apiece collided. No other announcer would have made that connection so quickly. But while Packer was weaving insight, history and trivia throughout the two telecasts, Nantz was just as impressive, calling the game in his normal calm, controlled, understated manner. After Packer brought up the 1976 game, his play-by-play partner showed he knows his college basketball history by recalling a game in which Clyde Drexler received his fourth foul on a charge call against Terry Gannon that would have been Gannon's fifth. Overall, an excellent effort by both announcers Saturday. Notes, quotes and anecdotes from CBS' two games Saturday: Top tips: Good lines: Good
stats: Good
call: Best
shots: Voodoo
everywhere: Unanswered
questions: Fox
me: Do you agree with our assessments? Do you have items to add to our page? Then SPEAK OUT or E-MAIL US. Back
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Start Seems To Unnerve By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--CBS' Final Four Show started 15 minutes late Saturday and never seemed to get on track. The show suffered from a couple technical glitches, such as audio problems that delayed a taped interview with Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, and from a sense of uncomfortableness among the CBS announcers, even the unflappable Greg Gumbel seemed flapped at a couple moments. The show, which began late because of rain at the Coca-Cola 300, did have some good features, such as:
Grade: B-. Would have liked to have heard more from Utah coach and current studio analyst Rick Majerus. Can't say I missed that Dean Smith fella... Do
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