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Let’s Tip Our Caps to the Legendary Bill Raftery: TRAINA THOUGHTS

Bill Raftery’s versatility was on full display during Kansas–North Carolina title game

Jimmy Traina

1. Thanks to the massive salaries that have recently been given to some broadcasters, there has been a lot of discussion recently about the value they bring to a telecast.

The truth is, most sports fans were going to watch Duke–North Carolina on Saturday and Kansas–North Carolina on Monday night no matter who was calling the game.

But if you don’t think a broadcaster can enhance a game or make the viewing experience more enjoyable, then you must not pay close attention to Bill Raftery.

Raftery has mastered the art of being a character AND an excellent X’s-and-O’s strategy guy.

Most of the good X’s-and-O’s analysts are drier than the toast Jim Nantz enjoys at breakfast. Raftery is the complete opposite of dry.

On Monday, he was all over Kansas when it failed to take advantage of a five-on-four situation after North Carolina’s Armando Bacot got injured at the end of the first half. He criticized the Tar Heels for hoisting up difficult three-point shots in the closing minutes when they could’ve had easy two-pointers. As he always does, he calls out the refs for “nickel-dimers.” And he immediately pointed out that Kansas’s Dajuan Harris stepped out of bounds during a crucial moment in the final seconds.

What makes Raftery so special is his ability to be a little of everything during a game. He’s part coach, part analyst, part guy at the end of the bar. Actually, make that part guy who shuts down the bar.

That last trait was on full display Monday night.

Raftery turns 79 years young on April 19, and he’s as good as ever. An amazing man who should be celebrated, perhaps with a little Remy.

2. This was just wrong and disrespectful on so many levels, but this is also why we love Charles Barkley, who tormented North Carolina alum Kenny Smith after the Tar Heels’ collapse Monday night.

3. Stephen A. Smith cited a report from a parody Twitter account on Monday's First Take, and Kevin Durant was ready to pounce.

4. Great stuff here as Cubs relief pitcher Ethan Roberts learned Monday that he had made the major league roster.

5. HOT TAKE: The mixed fruit for $2 seems like the best bargain on the menu.

6. The latest SI Media Podcast features interviews with Greg Gumbel from CBS Sports and WWE superstar Seth Rollins.

Gumbel had some very interesting things to say about the massive increase in broadcaster salaries. He also talked about being in sports broadcasting for 50 years and working with some great characters, including Bill Walton, Terry Bradshaw and Charles Barkley.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch the SI Media Podcast on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: For those of us who grew up in the ’80s, We Are the World was a HUGE deal. Tuesday marks a significant anniversary in the song’s history.

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While the song itself is truly horrible, this clip of Cyndi Lauper trying to nail her memorable part is very cool.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

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Jimmy Traina
JIMMY TRAINA

Jimmy Traina is a staff writer and podcast host for Sports Illustrated. A 20-year veteran in the industry, he’s been covering the sports media landscape for seven years and writes a daily column, Traina Thoughts. Traina has hosted the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast since 2018, a show known for interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in sports media. He also was the creator and writer of SI’s Hot Clicks feature from 2007 to '13.

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