Nantz backsteps

[ColdHardFacts]

Anyone else catch it? Thoughts?

[DUShock]

For those of us travelling, etc. or who just may have missed it what did Nancy say?

Go Valley!!

Go Shocks!!!!

[ColdHardFacts]

Nantz talking about WSU and Bradley in the sweet 16:

"They're proving alot of people wrong, including two (Nantz, Packer) who are sitting here courtside."

[ColdHardFacts]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/collegesports/2002876660_ncaanotes20.html

probably about the closest thing to an apology we can expect from these huge egos and blowhards.

[txsaluki05]

Maybe once Wichita carries the MVC flag into the Elite 8 we'll get an actual apology. Littlepage deserves one too from when they blatantly cut him off repeatedly on national television.

[Dr. Frankenvalley]

The doctor is finally back from the first round of the tourney and very pleased to see at least Nantz admitting his pre-tournament stupidity.

I'm convinced Packer shouldn't be far behind is his praise after WSU gets to 8. At least these two can own up and get to this point, but of course you won't see the likes of grave digger with any meaningful sorry. I will not accept any any apology from that know-nothing after his post-MVC tournament title rant.

Methinks the Valley has officially arrived when you do what you have to, back it up on the court. It's just a shame that we'll never know what Missouri State might have done as well. They and the highest RPI in the history of the world never to make it deserved better from the committee.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/ncaatournament/story/812569336181DBBB862571370047E552?OpenDocument

[CaliRdBrd]

Honestly, I would have preferred that UNC got past George Mason for the simple fact that when WSU beats GM, they (Diggger, and co.) will pass off WSU's appearance in the Elite 8 as a lucky draw.

If WSU would have beaten UNC to get to the Elite 8, the talking heads would have absolutley no ground to stand on.

Just a thought.

[tw805]

No offense, but that's a crap thought. I don't give a @#$@ what Digger and the boys think, I just want my team to go to the elite 8 and I don't care how they get there. If they want to throw a fit about it, so be it.

[ColdHardFacts]

Taken from SI.com interview http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/julia_morrill/03/20/packer.nantz/


SI.com: Now that Bradley, Wichita State and George Mason are through to the Sweet 16, would you take back what you said?

Packer: I think the games have been fixed by the committee through the referees, and there is no question the referees have been keeping the mid-major teams in this tournament, and they want to get them through under any circumstances. And if something's not done about this, I'm quitting.

SI.com: Are you serious?

Packer: Of course not! It's a great tournament, this is what it's all about.

Nantz: Best tournament ever. And obviously, the Missouri Valley has proven us wrong, so good for them, good for [MVC commissioner] Doug Elgin. As I said on the air, this has validated what they had been crowing about all season long, and now I see why they should have their chests stuck out so proudly.

Packer: I don't know. I don't buy that at all! (laughing)

Nantz: This is what the tournament is about. One thing -- I know you want to get it right and I know this will get edited, but our question had to do with the RPI, not with the committee. That's what got lost. It came across like we were challenging Craig Littlepage and the committee. We were saying, 'Wait a minute, the Big Ten this year beat one team out of conference that was a top 10 team, and yet they're rated the No. 1 conference, how can that be? How can teams like Hofstra be ranked 31st in the country and their best nonconference win was St. John's?' We were just confused by all of that.

Packer: You know what I think the big story line is this week? I think the big story line is the teams that played so well in their postseason conference tournaments but just imploded, like Syracuse and Iowa. There's three major conferences where teams imploded.


Nantz: Billy likes to be proven wrong because it happens so seldom. Here's the thing, the big question marks after the Selection Show: How did they get four from the Missouri Valley? How did George Mason get in the tournament? And all that stuff has proven that they were meritorious picks, and that's the way it goes. Good for them, it's great. I think it's great.

SI.com: Billy, do you agree?


Packer: No! No, I'm not buying any of it! (laughing)

Nantz: You're not?

Packer: No. It's the referees!

SI.com: You seem to be keeping quiet about all of this.

Packer: No, I think it's neat. I love it. I think it's tremendous.

SI.com: So do you now have more respect for the mid-major teams like Wichita State or George Mason?

Packer: Do you think we disrespected [them]? It's an opinion. You don't disrespect somebody. It's an opinion. I mean, you get everybody in a room, you say, well here's this team and here's this team. They had a difference of opinion. I have a difference of opinion. I have a right to that.

SI.com: Has your opinion changed now?

Packer: Well, obviously, if the teams prove what they did, you can't say, No, they're wrong.

SI.com: So, do you want to take back what you said?

Packer: No, I'm not taking back what I said, because I was making points that were accurate points. I think the last thing I said was that it makes no difference what opinions are, you gotta play the tournament. And then play the tournament and that's where you prove [things]. Was Villanova the best team in 1985? Everyone's opinion was no, but they proved they could win. That's why this is the greatest sporting event going.

Nantz: I said it on the air, I'll say it to you: Our comments obviously didn't play well in Peoria, and that's a good thing. Good for them. I hope they make it to the Final Four.

Packer: And this is not the first time for me on something like this. Back with Larry Bird's team in 1979, Al McGuire, Dick Enberg and I were doing a game at Duke, and Marquette got beat, and so Dick says, 'Al, who's Number 1 now?' And he said Indiana State. And I said, 'You gotta be crazy! Who have they played?' And so people at Indiana State got all bent out of shape. I have fun with it. I don't care. The reason I love doing this is because every year is a new chapter.

[bigbearfan]

packer and nantz suck. apologies are not accepted by those candy *****es. if what they said was an apology. i hate them. they are haters.

[hondo]

packer and nantz suck. apologies are not accepted by those candy *****es. if what they said was an apology. i hate them. they are haters.
What I love is that they totally ignore that these weren't just comments. Both looked like they were put out to have to even talk about the lowly MVC. The looks on their faces said it all to me. They had and continue to have no love for us or our conference, but they've been absolutely proven wrong and have no other choice but to eat a very little crow to maintain. Next year they'll probably even back off from those kinds of comments, but as soon as they can get back on the horse and slam all of us they will. Why? Because they are both BCS whores, and their Duke and UConn pimp daddies won't put up with too much lip.:ranting:


Sooner or later they'll get back on their knees and take care of business for daddy. They did it this year and they'll do it again. Wait Jim, you missed a spot.

[txsaluki05]

I still think we should egg their houses.

[kyyle23]

Packer: Do you think we disrespected [them]? It's an opinion. You don't disrespect somebody. It's an opinion. I mean, you get everybody in a room, you say, well here's this team and here's this team. They had a difference of opinion. I have a difference of opinion. I have a right to that.

Billy Packer thinks that an opinion cannot be disrespectful? If my opinion of him is that he is an arrogant ugly balding anal retentive BCS blowhard, is that not disrespectful(if not completely and entirely true)?

This guy has no sense of reality whatsoever. An opinion is and can be a damaging and dangerous thing.

[kevinmitchell]

What exactly are they supposed to "apologize" about?

They had opinions on the tournament. Just like us. Their opinions turned out a bit wrong. Nantz admitted as much. What else is he supposed to do?

Why do we get so worked up over this? We look like small potatoes complaining about this stuff. Let it go. Enjoy the ride.

[cpacmel]

What exactly are they supposed to "apologize" about?

They had opinions on the tournament. Just like us. Their opinions turned out a bit wrong. Nantz admitted as much. What else is he supposed to do?


They should apologize for having UNEDUCATED opioions. Packer hasn't seen the Valley all season.

Nantz says "you cant trust the computer". Okay Jim, if that is the case, then get away and see for yourself, before making UNEDUCATED statements.

[Ricky Del Rio]

Taken from SI.com interview http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/julia_morrill/03/20/packer.nantz/


SI.com: Now that Bradley, Wichita State and George Mason are through to the Sweet 16, would you take back what you said?

Packer: I think the games have been fixed by the committee through the referees, and there is no question the referees have been keeping the mid-major teams in this tournament, and they want to get them through under any circumstances. And if something's not done about this, I'm quitting.

SI.com: Are you serious?

Packer: Of course not! It's a great tournament, this is what it's all about.

Nantz: Best tournament ever. And obviously, the Missouri Valley has proven us wrong, so good for them, good for [MVC commissioner] Doug Elgin. As I said on the air, this has validated what they had been crowing about all season long, and now I see why they should have their chests stuck out so proudly.

Packer: I don't know. I don't buy that at all! (laughing)

Nantz: This is what the tournament is about. One thing -- I know you want to get it right and I know this will get edited, but our question had to do with the RPI, not with the committee. That's what got lost. It came across like we were challenging Craig Littlepage and the committee. We were saying, 'Wait a minute, the Big Ten this year beat one team out of conference that was a top 10 team, and yet they're rated the No. 1 conference, how can that be? How can teams like Hofstra be ranked 31st in the country and their best nonconference win was St. John's?' We were just confused by all of that.

Packer: You know what I think the big story line is this week? I think the big story line is the teams that played so well in their postseason conference tournaments but just imploded, like Syracuse and Iowa. There's three major conferences where teams imploded.


Nantz: Billy likes to be proven wrong because it happens so seldom. Here's the thing, the big question marks after the Selection Show: How did they get four from the Missouri Valley? How did George Mason get in the tournament? And all that stuff has proven that they were meritorious picks, and that's the way it goes. Good for them, it's great. I think it's great.

SI.com: Billy, do you agree?


Packer: No! No, I'm not buying any of it! (laughing)

Nantz: You're not?

Packer: No. It's the referees!

SI.com: You seem to be keeping quiet about all of this.

Packer: No, I think it's neat. I love it. I think it's tremendous.

SI.com: So do you now have more respect for the mid-major teams like Wichita State or George Mason?

Packer: Do you think we disrespected [them]? It's an opinion. You don't disrespect somebody. It's an opinion. I mean, you get everybody in a room, you say, well here's this team and here's this team. They had a difference of opinion. I have a difference of opinion. I have a right to that.

SI.com: Has your opinion changed now?

Packer: Well, obviously, if the teams prove what they did, you can't say, No, they're wrong.

SI.com: So, do you want to take back what you said?

Packer: No, I'm not taking back what I said, because I was making points that were accurate points. I think the last thing I said was that it makes no difference what opinions are, you gotta play the tournament. And then play the tournament and that's where you prove [things]. Was Villanova the best team in 1985? Everyone's opinion was no, but they proved they could win. That's why this is the greatest sporting event going.

Nantz: I said it on the air, I'll say it to you: Our comments obviously didn't play well in Peoria, and that's a good thing. Good for them. I hope they make it to the Final Four.

Packer: And this is not the first time for me on something like this. Back with Larry Bird's team in 1979, Al McGuire, Dick Enberg and I were doing a game at Duke, and Marquette got beat, and so Dick says, 'Al, who's Number 1 now?' And he said Indiana State. And I said, 'You gotta be crazy! Who have they played?' And so people at Indiana State got all bent out of shape. I have fun with it. I don't care. The reason I love doing this is because every year is a new chapter.

Packer is a waffling moron.

[dirty white boy]

Here's what else (fudge) Packer said to Yahoo sports(sorry if this was posted already):


PHILADELPHIA – CBS analyst Billy Packer drew the attention and ire of many commentators in the last week with his Selection Sunday remarks that the NCAA gave too much credit – and too many at-large bids – to the mid-major conferences at the expense of teams from the so-called power conferences. The committee this year gave at-large bids to three teams from the Missouri Valley Conference and one from the Colonial Athletic Association.

Fast forward one week from Packer's comments and, lo and behold, Wichita State and Bradley from the MVC and George Mason from the CAA are proving that they belong by upsetting their way into the Sweet 16.

"My hat's off to the them," Packer said between calling games at the Wachovia Center on Sunday. "Once the tournament starts, you have to play your way through."

Bradley has certainly played its way through. First, the 13th-seeded Braves knocked off fourth-seeded Kansas on Friday night. Then, on Sunday, with 28 points and seven rebounds from center Patrick O'Bryant, the Braves dispatched a highly-regarded Pittsburgh squad, 72-66. That's one Big 12 and one Big East victim so far. No wonder, with each victory, they are picking up new converts.

"They weren't intimidated at all," Pittsburgh forward Levon Kendall said of Bradley. "They were in our face the whole game."

Whatever happens from here on – Bradley's next opponent is top-seeded Memphis in Oakland on Thursday – is almost secondary. This is a team, after all, playing in its first NCAA tournament in 10 years, one many figured would never be here in the first place.

The Braves lost four of their first six conference games, and finished in sixth place during the MVC's regular season. Only a torrid streak at the end – winning seven of their last eight – secured the NCAA Tournament bid. The last time they reached the third round of the tournament was, believe it or not, 1955. The Braves, based in Peoria, Ill., are the first No. 13 seed in the regional semifinals since Oklahoma in 1999.

"We're running the gamut of emotions," said Bradley Coach Jim Les. "It hasn't sunk in yet, but it's going to be an enjoyable week. But we aren't satisfied."

With the performance of Bradley, Wichita State and George Mason, does Packer want to re-think his evaluation of the mid-majors? Not exactly.

"This is one year in the NCAA tournament and every year is one chapter in a book," he said. Packer reasserted that he believes the historical performance of NCAA teams should come into play when the selection committee must pick one team or another with similar credentials.

He pointed out that great teams from small conferences in the past, such as David Robinson's Navy teams in the mid-1980s or Larry Bird's Indiana State team, clearly stood out and earned bids that could not be denied. But despite the tournament wins this year from MVC and CAA, he still feels that when the decision is close, a school's reputation and past performance should come into play.

"Let's see (mid-majors) do it year after year," he said.

And if Bradley or George Mason or Wichita State were to advance to the Final Four?

"That would be the greatest thing that could ever happen for CBS," Packer said. "It would remind me of the 1979 Final Four when Indiana State made it with Larry Bird; that was the most watched Final Four in history."

[DawgFan]

Good to see Jimmy's team lose to an MVC team tonight. Listening to him beg for more C-USA inclusions turned my stomach far before WVU's 1-3-1 did.

On to the masters.

[1972Shocker]

Thoughts by Tony Mejia another CBS employee:

It's a trip to hear fans of Wichita State and Bradley shouting out "MVC" and those of George Mason chanting "CAA" after this weekend's upsets. Not only does it show the unity of the oppressed mid-majors, but it rubs it in the noses of the naysayers who were e-mailing me, "are you high letting all these garbage teams in?"

I prefer the term enlightened.

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/weblogs/entry/9280246

[Shocker79]

Did anyone catch Doug Gotlieb on the Dan Patrick show this afternoon? He really went off on Packer, talking about the way he (Packer) hadn't even watched film on any of the Valley teams before saying the negative things he did. Gotlieb has really said a number of nice things about all of the Valley teams, especially saying that Creighton and MS should have recieved bids over some of the lesser BCS schools.

:valley::shockers: :valley: :braves: :valley:

[iSASO]

Gottleib also picked GM to beat WSU.

[Shocker79]

Gottleib also picked GM to beat WSU.

Yeah, that was the bummer part of his interview. But, I enjoyed his Packer-bashing none the less.

:valley: :shockers: :valley: :braves: :valley:

[WuGameClan]

if any of you are thinking of forgiving these *** holes for their comments, just listen to this again. http://wfan.com/imusinstantreplay/