And with that, one of the most legendary broadcast careers in the history of the NCAA Tournament, Final Four — all of men's college basketball — is over.
Jim Nantz called his last Final Four game on Monday, a 76-59 blowout victory for UConn over San Diego State. While it might not have been a climactic finish for Nantz, it was perhaps the most fitting. The University of Houston alum called his last NCAA Tournament game in NRG Stadium in Houston, where his broadcast career began in earnest in the early 1980s.
The finality of this final game was not lost on Nantz, who has served as CBS's lead play-by-play announcer since the 1991-92 basketball season. In his final call, the legendary Final Four announcer had this to say to his booth mates Bill Raftery and Grant Hill — as well as everyone who has watched him over the past few generations:
MORE: 'Goodbye, friends': Reliving Jim Nantz's greatest March Madness calls ahead of last Final Four
"Thank you for being my friend"
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2023
One final goodbye from Jim Nantz at the #NationalChampionship 👏 pic.twitter.com/mRgtmyQKU8
"One thing I learned through all of this, is everybody has a dream. And everybody has a story to tell. Just try to find that story. Be kind. ... Not to try to play off, 'Hello, friends.' But to you, everybody in the college game, my CBS family, my family, all the viewers:
"Thank you for being my friend."
It is not hyperbole to say Nantz has been the voice of the NCAA Tournament for generations. In that sense, it was only fitting he took a moment to say his goodbyes, not only to colleagues, but also to his career as a college basketball broadcaster.
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Nantz's farewell didn't end with his final message. He was later seen watching this year's "One Shining Moment" montage, which featured him prominently in both the beginning of the video, with his iconic voice saying, "Hello friends. Ready to make a few shining moments?"
Jim Nantz watching his last One Shining Moment ❤️#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/SjZPb2JtNI
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2023
Best shot from One Shining Moment pic.twitter.com/088OijQtmZ
— jordan mendoza (@jordan_mendoza5) April 4, 2023
Nantz's farewell wasn't a one-sided affair, either. Earlier in the day, dozens of people involved with the game — from coaches to colleagues to members of Nantz's beloved Phi Slama Jama team — all wished him a fond farewell after a job well done.
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Jim Nantz has been the voice behind countless memories of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 3, 2023
As he takes off the headset for March Madness, several key figures of the game pay their respects. pic.twitter.com/3FICYgfpDx
A fitting end to one of college basketball's best friends.