Kellogg, Papa are two welcome changes in the broadcast booth

By Mel Bracht

Published: July 18, 2008

Thanks to two network talent changes announced this week, I'll be less likely to use the mute button during the upcoming NFL and college basketball seasons.

In college basketball, Billy Packer is out as CBS' lead analyst after covering 34 consecutive Final Fours. Studio analyst Clark Kellogg, 47, will join Jim Nantz on the No. 1 broadcast team.

The NFL Network has hired New York Giants play-by-play announcer Bob Papa to replace Bryant Gumbel on its late-season package of Thursday night telecasts. Cris Collinsworth will return as analyst.

Packer, 68, had turned into a crotchety old know-it-all who clearly didn't. He had become a constant complainer about college basketball, and his commentary was stained by his pro-ACC bias.

Packer showed particular disdain for mid-major teams when they received bids to the NCAA Tournament, complaining when four Missouri Valley Conference teams were selected in 2006 and St. Joseph's received a No. 1 seed in 2004.

He also had his share of controversial incidents. In 1996, he called Georgetown guard Allen Iverson a "tough little monkey,” and in 2000, he made sexist comments to two female Duke students who were checking his credentials before a game.

The Washington Post reported that Packer knew during the 2007-08 season that it would be his last year working with Jim Nantz, who also was aware his long-time partner would not be returning. But Nantz apparently was sworn to secrecy by Packer, who wanted nothing to do with a farewell tour.

Although Kellogg is a solid choice, my preference would have been Jay Bilas or Bill Raftery, who is known for his colorful description.

As for the NFL Network change, Gumbel arguably was the worst network play-by-play announcer. His conversational voice failed to bring the proper emotion to the telecasts and he didn't stay on top of day-to-day NFL news. Both areas should show a big improvement with Papa, the New York Giants' radio voice since 1995. He will continue his Giants' duties.

"We think Bob's profile in New York was always a successful one,” NFL Network president Steve Bornstein said. "And the fact that the Giants did have that incredible postseason run, were in the Super Bowl, certainly contributed to broader exposure for him.”

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