Billy Packer: Son Speaks On The Basketball Commentator’s Death

Billy Packer, College Basketball Commentator’s Son has spoken on what killed his father, who had passed on Thursday, aged 82.

The Eagle reports that the late Billy Parker gained national sporting acclaim through his reportage of college basketball which spanned over three decades.

He is reputed to have covered epic basketball games for notable media outlets like NBC and CBS, providing incisive commentaries and analyses.

The son, Mark told the Associated Press that his late dad suffered kidney failure after an extended stay in a Charlotte hospital.

“He really enjoyed doing the Final Fours,” Mark Packer told the AP. “The ability to get involved in something that, frankly, he was going to watch anyway was a joy to him. And then college basketball just sort of took off with Johnson and Bird, and that became, I think, the catalyst for college basketball fans to just go crazy with March Madness.”

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The late Packer retired from the booth in 2008 after many years of active engagement covering the spot.

Agency reports say his final call was the overtime thriller of a title game between Kansas and Memphis. He was followed by Clark Kellogg.

Ever since his death, condolences have been coming from individuals within the game

“As passionate as he was about basketball, at his heart Billy was a family man,” said Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports. “He leaves part of his legacy at CBS Sports, across college basketball and, most importantly, as a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He will be deeply missed by all.”, Dick Vitale and Fran Fraschilla.

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One report quotes Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, as describing Billy Packer as “synonymous with college basketball for more than three decades and set the standard of excellence as the voice of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.”

“He had a tremendous impact on the growth and popularity of the sport.” McManus said. “In true Billy fashion, he analyzed the game with his own unique style, perspective and opinions, yet always kept the focus on the game. As passionate as he was about basketball, at his heart Billy was a family man. He leaves part of his legacy at CBS Sports, across college basketball and, most importantly, as a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He will be deeply missed by all.”