THE MAIN EVENT RUNDOWN
In the Main Event with Andrew Marchand, Marchand spoke with Jim Nantz for nearly an hour. Topics included Nantz’ first time ever on-air during John Sterling’s New York radio show, Marchand’s reporting on Nantz wanting “Romo money,” how Nantz met Mike Francesa and how he helped him land WFAN job, Marchand’s criticism of Nantz-Romo on the Super Bowl, CBS’ Peyton Manning pursuit in the middle of the Romo negotiations, how Nantz got to CBS and the emotions of his college roommate Fred Couples winning The Masters. Plus, A.I. Nantz at Masters?
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Here are the highlights of the chronological rundown:
* Nantz was the captain of his high school golf and basketball team, called into John Sterling’s talk show, which was the first time Nantz was on air.
* Nantz and his college roommate and teammate Fred Couples used to rehearse green jacket Masters ceremony at the University of Houston. Then they did it for real and Nantz thought he might meltdown on air because it was so emotional.
* Early in his career, calling BYU games with Steve Young and Utah Jazz’s games with Hot Rod Hundley.
* How he beat out Roy Firestone to earn his first CBS job at 26 years old.
* How he nearly lost the CBS job because he didn’t know what swordfish was when he went out with his future bosses.
* His relationship with his good friend, Mike Francesa, how he met him and how he helped him become a WFAN legend.
* When Brent Musburger was fired in 1990 during the Final Four and Nantz got elevated to the lead voice of the college hoops. What was his perspective.
* What was it like for him to not call the Final Four this past March after 32 years?
* He had planned to still do the NCAA championship tournament trophy presentation, but then didn’t, what happened?
* The future of Sports Media presented by WSC Sports: When he talks to his good friend, Al Michaels, does he speak with Al or A.I. Al?
* Nantz wants to call at least another 11 more Masters until he is 76.
* Nantz seemed to be considering some Nantz A.I. on the Masters one day.
* Nantz on getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
* How he replaced Greg Gumbel as the CBS’ No. 1 NFL play-by-player in 2004.
* What happened at the end with Phil Simms’ after their 13-year partnership.
* Nantz and Michaels both knew Tony Romo was the future of sports broadcasting long before CBS hired him.
* Romo decided to go to CBS in 2017 instead of playing for the Texans or Broncos.
* During the Romo negotiations that ended in Romo receiving a 10-year, $180 million deal, CBS reached out to Peyton Manning to replace Romo. Nantz said he didn’t call Manning to gauge his interest.
* Nantz and Marchand go at it about if he asked for “Romo money” or not in his latest CBS contract agreed upon in 2021.
* Players had to decide if money or legacy was more important in going to LIV or not.
* In his column in The Athletic, Marchand criticized Nantz and Romo on the Super Bowl, including the final call, Nantz responded to it.
* An agreement to do Round 2 of the Main Event with Nantz.
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