Jim Nantz is preparing for his final NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as the preeminent voice of CBS Sports. Nantz has been with the network since 1986 and has called 354 NCAA Tournament games, including 64 national semifinals and 32 championship contests. Nantz is particularly excited for this Final Four, as it is in his adopted hometown of Houston and with the University of Houston as one of the top seeds, he could get to call his alma mater playing for a national title.
Nantz has long been known for his impartiality and professionalism when calling games, and this will continue to be the case despite his vested interest. Bill Raftery, Nantz's colleague, says that "you couldn't tell, if you listened to that broadcast, that he had a vested interest whatsoever." Nantz will also have the Cougars’ first-round game on Thursday against Northern Kentucky.
In two years time, Nantz will step away from doing the tournament to devote more time to family. He will still be on the road 38 out of 52 weekends with the NFL and golf, and plans on calling the NFL through at least 2033. He hopes his final assignment will be the final round of the 100th edition of The Masters on April 13, 2036.
Nantz wants the focus to be on the tournament and the special moments that occur. “We’re gonna have fun. All I can say is we’re not going to be maudlin. We’re gonna have a lot of fun,” he said. With his wealth of experience and passion for the game, viewers can expect to enjoy the tournament as much as ever in Nantz's final year.