Packer stays upbeat in face of exit

Days before last season's Final Four, I asked Billy Packer if they'd be his last CBS games. His answer: "Who knows?"

He knew. So did his replacement, Clark Kellogg, who'd heard about his promotion from CBS execs months earlier. Monday, Packer said he didn't want TV overshadowing games, which happened in 1990 when CBS fired Brent Musburger, then had Musburger call the NCAA title game.

Packer says he never tired of his TV work -- "even at that last game, I loved the preparation, loved working with Jim (Nantz)" -- and doesn't sound downbeat that CBS wouldn't renew his contract. "It's neat to walk away to do things that, to be honest, are more challenging."

That includes tending to his business interests, such as his North Carolina golf course and a new TV project he can't yet discuss except to say it involves TV ratings ...