Tim Ellsworth

Some good news to start a Monday. From the Miami Herald:

College basketball commentator Billy Packer, who has announced 34 consecutive Final Fours on network television and created a few controversies along the way, will not be returning to CBS for a 28th season, The Miami Herald has learned.

CBS has decided to replace Packer, 68, with studio analyst Clark Kellogg on its lead announcing team.

Hat tip: Awful Announcing

Previously:
Why is Billy Packer still employed?

Final Four: Faith touches the hardwood
ESPN’s Hubert Davis receives Wooden award
Disgraced Baylor coach seeks forgiveness
All-star guard ready ‘to honor God’

So what’s your take on the NBA’s decision to suspend Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for leaving the bench after Robert Horry clobbered their teammate, Steve Nash?

I think it’s time for a rule change in the NBA. An automatic suspension for leaving your seat, even if you return to it and don’t get involved in the fracas, makes no sense. It’s a shame the NBA felt the need to butt into such a pivotal series.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard says his success comes from the Lord.

Howard said one of his favorite Bible verses is James 2:26: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

It’s easy to see that Howard takes that verse seriously and practices it in his life. He was the key note speaker at the Magic’s Faith and Family Night. He has hosted a prayer breakfast for 150 Central Florida high school students. He hosts an annual father/son basketball clinic in Atlanta.

In 2005, Howard received the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment award for Central Florida. He has a mentorship program and basketball camp.

Howard and the Magic are facing elimination tonight in their series against Detroit.

Congratulations to Peter Rieke, who won our NCAA Tournament Challenge contest on ESPN. Peter’s 1,290 points edged Mark Goldman at 1,260 and Di Winson at 1,250.

It came down to the last game between Peter and me. Peter had Florida, and I had Ohio State.

Thanks to all who participated.

I’d prefer two hours of listening to my dog trying to yack up a hairball than to sit through a game listening to Billy Packer. The extent of his analysis — for which he’s paid gobs of money — is, “They’re really tired.”

In watching the Ohio State-Florida game tonight, that’s all I heard from Packer. “Oden’s really tired.” “Conley’s tired.” “Ohio State is really tired right now.” Blah, blah, blah.

To Packer, nobody ever simply gets beaten. Florida didn’t win because they were better than Ohio State. They won because they weren’t as tired as Ohio State.

Let me get this straight. These guys are 18-22 years old, in peak physical condition, and have played 40 minutes of basketball about 40 different times this year. They’re playing in the biggest game of their lives. And yet, they’re tired. What brilliant insight.

I’ll tell you who’s tired, Billy.

Me. Of you.

Tubby Smith is apparently leaving Kentucky to take over at Minnesota.

1. Can SIU beat Kansas?

2. Who will be the first #1 seed to fall?

3. Who will be the lowest-seeded team to advance to the Final Four?

We’re on the honor system here. No internet searches allowed.

Q: Who’s the only player to lead the NCAA, the ABA and the NBA in scoring?

I haven’t had a chance to look over the bracket in detail, but I did notice that Illinois and Southern Illinois will meet in the second round, if they each win in the first round. That’s going to be more difficult for Illinois than it is for SIU. Have those words ever before been uttered in human history?

Anything interesting you’ve noticed about the pairings? What did the selection committee get wrong?

I’ve set up a group on the ESPN Tournament Challenge. Click here for the timellsworth.com group. Password to join is “ellsworth.”

Defending champ is the Zoner.

Everyone’s welcome, whether you’re a frequent contributor here, a regular lurker, or a new visitor.

Chief Illiniwek danced for the last time last night, as the University of Illinois bowed to pressure from the NCAA to eliminate the mascot.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard has written an incredible article about John Amaechi, the former NBA player who recently admitted he’s gay.

Broussard is a Christian who believes homosexuality is sinful. And yet he talks about his friendship with LZ Granderson, an openly gay colleague of his.

I know he’s gay, and he knows I believe that’s a sin. I know he thinks I get my moral standards from an outdated, mistranslated book, and he knows I believe he needs to change his lifestyle. Still, we can laugh together, and play ball together.

That’s real diversity. Disagreeing but not being disagreeable.

Broussard goes on to challenge the prevailing attitudes among the media that anyone who believes in the sinfulness of homosexuality is not tolerant or progressive.

Since Amaechi came out, I’ve read lots of columns about being “progressive.” The implication — or outright assertion — is that anyone who believes homosexuality is wrong is not progressive or enlightened.

That’s where this thing becomes problematic, because those who hold to that view are saying I must change my entire belief system/religion because of your belief system.

Where’s the diversity in that?

Those folks don’t want diversity. They want everyone to agree with their “enlightened” opinion.

Look, I’ll accept your right to have your own belief system and to live as you please, but I’m not changing mine. Diversity is not just accepting alternatives to what has long been perceived as normal, but it’s accepting the significant number of people who hold to long-standing “traditional” beliefs as well.

This is a great piece of writing. It’s worth your time this morning to read it. And thank you, Chris, for your thoughtfulness and clarity on this issue.

Hat tip: Brian

Notre Dame suspended point guard Kyle McAlarney for the semester after his arrest for marijuana possession. Good move on the part of the Irish, and I’m glad they take discipline seriously.

Unfortunately, McAlarney’s mommy isn’t happy about it. Said Janice McAlarney:

All I know is I’m ashamed of how they did this. … I’m ashamed of the university. My son is a great kid. He did not deserve this. The punishment did not fit the crime.

Oh, boo hoo hoo. Sniffle, sniffle.

Her son was arrested for drug possession, and she’s ashamed of Notre Dame for suspending him. Yeah, makes a lot of sense.