OFF THE TOP OF MY BALD HEAD
Barry Warner: A truly humbling interview with Jim Nantz of CBS
Mar 27, 2018, 6:47 am
UH alum Jim Nantz covered a variety of topics with Barry Warner. Rob Carr/Getty Images
Former Houstonian and now CBS lead announcer Jim Nantz and I have been friends since his freshman year at the University of Houston. On last Friday’s Reality Check Jim granted me an exclusive interview.
I started of asking about all of the behind the scenes preparation. ‘‘ In Charlotte last week, I did four games in one day noon-to midnight. That was followed by two games on Sunday. Six games in 48 hours. What the public does not see are the hours of preparation, the work behind the scenes, that’s the grind. You cannot worry about being live and focused on every syllable that leaves your lips. But that’s not a complaint, I love the process,” the man with the blazer told our listeners.
‘‘It’s part of what makes March Madness so special, trying to dig up stories no one has heard of before that may or may not make the telecast. The University of Maryland-Baltimore County biggest upset in college basketball history, beating Virginia 74-54, the first No. 16 seed ever to beat a No. 1 seed in the men's NCAA tournament. You can’t make up drama like this.’’
Has Nance ever seen anything like Sister Jean Schmidt? “No, what a special story that has turned out to be. I’ll be in San Antonio next week and so looking forward to meeting her.’’
A couple weeks ago, Nantz finally checked something off his bucket list when he did his first ever Cougar game. What was that like? “It was a real wish list for my career. When I was rooming with Freddy Couples and Blaine Mc Allister, masquerading as a golfer, coach Dave Williams knew I always wanted to be a broadcaster. So, he called the legendary Guy Lewis ,who pulled some strings. I became the Public-Address announcer for games at Hofheinz Pavilion, that led me to being the host of Lewis’ weekly television show on KPRC-TV, the NBC affiliate.
‘‘Several years later, with my former roommates, we endowed the first basketball scholarship to a UH player. This year it was Armani Brooks played on our scholarship. I got to call two of Kelvin Sampson’s exciting games in March and I’m thrilled the direction the program is going.”
I asked Nantz to relive the gut-wrenching 1983 NCAA championship game at the Pit in New Mexico where the Phi Slamma Jama team lost the heartbreaker final to Jim Valvano’s North Carolina State team.
“I did not have a ticket, but rode into the Pit on the team bus. I sat right next to the set where Brent Musburger was broadcasting. I literally was so close it was possible to reach under the table and tie his shoes. My next thought was how cool it would be to wear the blazer and broadcast the game. Three years later I sat in the set in Dallas wearing the blazer as the studio host.’’
In 1991, Nantz replaced Musburgur to become CBS' play by play voice. He is now broadcasting his 27th Final Four for CBS.
The only thing that has changed since first meeting Nantz is the size of his bank account, not his ego.
He does not forget his friends. Humility should be his middle name.
Originally, we were told by his assistant that Jim had only eight minutes for the segment. On his own volition, the interview lasted 12:30 and is available on last Friday's podcast/arena.com.
But there was one more pertinent question I thought our audience would enjoy. Since his first days at the network he has enjoyed a unique relationship with
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. What are some of the things he learned from the Duke legend?
‘‘When I’m around Coach K there is always something new to be learned. Yesterday he came over to talk about when he got hired. The all-time winningest coach in college basketball talked to me about the power of believing in someone — the gift it is.
“It was a faith and belief system instilled in him by then AD Tom Butters. It’s the power of believing in someone. And it is not something he uses lightly. Now, 1099 wins later at age 71, he talked about the power of believing in someone. What a gift that is!
"I got to thinking as I’ve gotten older about giving back to young, aspiring broadcasters. But here’s my point. It reminded me of when I was a young kid just starting out, the power of someone believing in you. That was you to me,’’ he stated.
“I met you and you believed in me and it made a huge difference. The power of someone believing in you – that was you believing in me. It made a huge impression in my life and career. It took someone like Coach K to put it in the right context. Yesterday, it was about the gift of believing in someone. And I thank you for that.’’
Talk about getting blindsided, this floored me. I was damn near speechless, gathering my senses to thank him.
Humility has never been a word to describe me over the years.
After that interview, I am truly humbled.
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Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.