Viewers who tuned in to the regional semifinals and finals of the NCAA men's basketball tournament this weekend may have seen one noticeable change from past years - the lack of anyone screaming like a maniac as they announced the games.
Unfortunately, for anyone who can call themselves a real fan of the annual March insanity college basketball brings us, CBS demoted their best announcer, Gus Johnson, from Sweet 16 and Elite 8 broadcasting duties this season, leaving him with only the first and second rounds.
It would be one thing if the network had moved Johnson in favor of a seasoned college basketball veteran, someone who could adequately describe the end of a close games like only Gus can. But this was not the case.
The network dumped Johnson in favor of James Brown, who was hired away from Fox, where he held the same NFL role, before the 2006 football season. As part of his hiring, Brown also received Gus Johnson's old job as the No. 4 guy for college basketball - meaning Brown, beginning this year, took over those pivotal tournament games. Brown, of course, had announced one college basketball game in the previous 13 years.
In short terms, once again office politics trumps actual talent.
Ask a true college basketball fan about Gus Johnson, and their eyes light up as they recount their favorite Johnson moment.
March 2005: Ohio State Universty upset unbeaten University of Illinois in the final regular-season game. As Buckeyes students stormed the court in celebration, Johnson yelled, "It's over! Ohio State! Has shocked the nation!"
2006 NCAA tournament, regional semifinal: UCLA came all the way back from down 17 against Gonzaga University. When the Bruins capped off their comeback by snatching the ball away from the Bulldogs, Johnson, overcome by the moment, screamed, "What a game! What! A! Game!" as his color man, Len Elmore, kept repeating the word "Unbelievable!"
1999 NCAA tournament, regional semifinal: Then-unknown Gonzaga pulled off a late victory over the University of Florida to move on to the regional finals. Johnson coined one of the tournament's most memorable phrases, "The slipper still fits!" in an obvious reference to Gonzaga's status as a Cinderella team in the tournament.
No matter what moment you choose, hearing Johnson go nuts at the end of a close game is what March Madness is all about.
Say what you want about Brown, who is an extremely good studio host, but he doesn't seem to get it. During Friday's game between Butler University and the University of Florida, on two different occasions Brown incorrectly identified a foul as a jump ball and said the wrong team would be getting the ball. Most importantly, when the game came down to the wire and the Gators were hanging on by a thread, Brown did not rise to the moment and get the fans more excited, as Johnson is so well-known for doing.
In stark contrast to that came Johnson's moment in this year's second round, with Ohio State and Xavier University the players. On the three-pointer with two seconds remaining that gave the Buckeyes second life in overtime, Johnson said, "[Ron] Lewis lets it go....OH! He ties it at 62!"
If you don't believe me when I say Johnson is the most exciting announcer in sports today, or if you don't know about the magic of Gus, do an Internet search for "cubdumb gus johnson", without the quotes. The first result that comes up is a sampling of Johnson's greatest hits, including the three moments I detailed above, and if you don't get goose bumps, write me and I'll give you a full refund of zero dollars and zero cents for this column.
Write to Andy atndistops@hotmail.com
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