Billy Packer has provided commentary on the last 33 Final Fours ... he might not see a 34th. From Bill Simmons' latest column at ESPN.com comes this YouTube video of a clip that aired on the Jimmy Kimmel show, in which Billy Packer accuses PBS interviewer Charlie Rose of "fagging out."
That is not okay. I don't think CBS is looking for a reason to let him go, and I don't think they will (watch them hand Packer a very stern 11-month suspension, so he comes back just in time for next year's tournament ... awesome) because of this. But they should fire him.
If you're broadcasting the Final Four, and you're the voice that accompanies the most watched college basketball game of the year, and you've been doing this for 33 years ... I don't think it's asking much to keep the word "fag" out of your mouth in public. He's promoting the tournament, he's promoting athletic competition between amateur athletes, and he can't do it without throwing around a term that hurts a lot of people? Not acceptable.
There are plenty of other guys who can do this job (Bill Raftery comes to mind, followed by about a million other guys) without ever accusing someone of "fagging out."
If CBS is Looking For a Reason to Fire Billy Packer, Here They Go
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4/03/2007 8:04 PM ET By mjd
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Read More: March Madness NCAA Basketball Media Watch Billy+Packer, BillyPacker
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Comments (Page 1 of 3)
We are just waaaaay too sensitive these days. Come on, it's just a phrase. Don't get all PC on us! I've had enough of PC anyway!
Ugh ... puh-leeze mjd.
People are way too sensitive to words they don't even know the meaning of in the first place. I grew up in a house that if you didn't know what a word means, you had no right to use it. This reminds me of when the guy said "niggardly" and had to resign.
http://www.cnn.com/US/9901/27/word.flap/
I hate Packer as much as the next guy, but the phrase means to tire out, has nothing to do with sexual orientation.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fag+out
I really feel sorry for you if you don't see a problem with this. It's just like the Tom Jackson "Retarded" thing.....it's not cool to make fun of someone at another group of people's expense.
Ever.
Come on...there about 14 million other ways to make fun of Charlie Rose.
Just because it doesn't offend you, doesn't mean it doesn't offend someone. You're right, I didn't know the other meaning of "fag out," but who does? Packer's intent is irrelevant ... you and I both know the practical use of the word "fag." If you tell a gay man he's "fagging out," he's got every right to be pissed off about it.
He's a dumbass that should be fired for being a moron. And the person that said niggardly didn't resign, he's still the Press Secetary who has cancer
whether or not packer used that term CBS should have got rid of him along time ago. The last several years i have watched the NCAA with the mute on....he is terrible
Just because you're offended or think that someone *might* be offended by a perfectly legitimate use of language doesn't mean that someone should be fired or even reprimanded. If someone is offended by that phrase, they're the ignorant one.
The only thing anyone could say that offends me is when they say they're punishing someone for what they've said.
I hate Billy Packer. But I don't really give a shit if he says, "Fag out." Who cares... just my opinion.
Since when was it a big deal if someone gets offended. Free speach can hurt sometimes, but so what. I get offended all the time, but I'm a grown up, I can take it and I don't go around whinning about it. All you offended people are just f***d out! Grow up you bunch of whimps.
Steve Benfield
Durham, NC
It isn't like he said "He's desiring sexual relations with his own gender" he just said, fagging out, maybe he should have said tender-footing, would that offend anyone? LOL
I don't think the "offensive comment" is such a big deal. But Billy Packer stinks now and and he stank 10 yrs ago. He is terrible and he always states the obvious. Jim Nantz isn't much better either. They should have Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery doing the Final Four.
MJD, does Kimmel deserve firing for a "fudge" [packer] reference?
He's the one who actually used a term in a derogatory fashion ... what's the difference? I haven't heard any outcry about that ...
big deal, who in heck is Charlie Rose anyway, and I agree with some of the others. No matter what you say or how you say it, someone somewhere will take offense real or imagined. Grow thicker skins people
"If someone is offended by that phrase, they're the ignorant one."
So you're saying that if a gay person is offended by the word "fag" it makes them ignorant? Not quite sure I follow your logic there. "Fag" has a negative connotation and is used in a negative way to describe gays by some people. I don't think being offended by that makes someone ignorant.
Just unload this guy, he's HORRIBLE!!...talk about losing touch...and the meathead comment in the Duke vs. UNC game about the broken nose not being intentional was just too much....SUCH a company guy its sickening....DUMP HIM!!!!!....Just DUMP him so we can get someone on the telecasts that will be honest and not into the Duke thing as he has always been!!!!
The term fag derives from old English and stands for a piece of firewood. Fagging out is runiing out of wood ie: running out of steam etc. Get a life....read a book.
Packer is the face and voice of the NCAA. Who the hell cares if fags are upset anyway?
Packer was a wise sort when he played at Wake Forest.Over the years he has repeated himself so often that it may be time for him to give up so much airtime and concentrate on the ACC regionally.
ignorant..you are trying to find problemss when we have enough real ones..It means week,weasle out, running out of steam,