Cbs’ Packer Keeps Up Attack Of Nba System

Certainly, Billy Packer would concede that Pogo was half right when he declared to readers of the Sunday funnies: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

It’s just that, according to Packer, he isn’t us anymore.

“The NBA is now the enemy,” Packer said.

Packer, CBS Sports’ lead college basketball analyst, will work his 23rd NCAA Tournament beginning today in Tucson, Ariz., with the Georgetown-UNC Charlotte game. CBS will televise all 63 games from Thursday through Monday night, March 31.

So what’s got Packer so fired up this year?

It’s not so much that the NBA is raiding colleges and even high schools for players. It’s been doing that for a while now. What apparently has Packer really steamed are insinuations that colleges have failed as the NBA’s minor-league system.

“The NBA has created a monster,” Packer said, citing remarks by Portland Trail Blazers president Bob Whitsitt.

“What he said about high school kids being better off going to the NBA because they can prepare them better - that went over the line,” Packer said. “Instead of being part of the game, the NBA has become the enemy of basketball.”

The Trail Blazers made 17-year-old high school star Jermaine O’Neal of Columbia, S.C., their first pick in the draft last June. Whitsitt later was asked if the NBA is better equipped than colleges to prepare young players.

“It isn’t even close,” Whitsitt replied. “The top things about adjusting to the NBA are off the court the travel, the money, the lights, the lifestyle, the entourages and all of that. On the court, you get much more playing and practice time. There are so many restrictions in college.

“When you get them early, you can groom them right away. We can do a lot with them in the summer leagues, and with much better competition than they’ll ever get in college.”

Packer said he believes such callousness is indicative of a lack of concern for the game.

“Then, Whitsitt is going to fire coach P.J. Carlesimo because he can’t handle the young kids,” Packer said. “Why did he hire him from Seton Hall in the first place? It was because of his experience with kids.”

Women on TV

ESPN and ESPN2 will televise as many as 26 games of the women’s tournament beginning today, and studio host Robin Roberts has a Dream Final Four, too. It doesn’t include a Cinderella team.

“What better way to open than with a Connecticut-Tennessee game,” she said. “After that game last year, Chris Berman left me a voice mail, and when’s the last time he watched a women’s game?

“For the women’s game, I think we need the traditional powers. I don’t know if we’re to the point yet where a Cinderella team gets to the Final Four and draws that much interest.”

Kidding about Costas

Bill Cosby introduced NBC announcer Bob Costas at the recent Jackie Robinson Foundation dinner by saying: “Very seldom does he talk to or with Marv Albert, which makes him a great man.”

Later, Costas responded to remarks that he dresses well:

“If I am a sharp dresser, I’d like to thank Barney’s for having a fine boys’ department.”

Nasty analyst

Rob Dibble, fan friendly former “Nasty Boy” of the Cincinnati Reds, has been named a studio analyst for Fox Sports News’ baseball coverage.

Yes, that’s the same Rob Dibble who once compared strike-replacement players to child molesters, the same Rob Dibble who was once suspended for throwing a ball at a woman in the stands, and the same Rob Dibble who once quit baseball twice in one week because he couldn’t throw strikes.

You know what might save him? They don’t have live studio audiences at pregame shows.