In the latest episode of "Person to Person with Norah O’Donnell," veteran sports broadcaster Jim Nantz sat down with the CBS News anchor to discuss his final year covering the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the story behind his famous catchphrase "hello friends," and what viewers can expect from this year's Masters Tournament.
Nantz, who has been a staple in sports broadcasting for over three decades, is widely recognized as one of the best play-by-play announcers in history. He has covered every major sporting event from golf's Masters Tournament to football's Super Bowl.
During his interview with O'Donnell, Nantz revealed that he will be stepping down from covering college basketball after this season. He expressed gratitude for being able to cover so many memorable games throughout his career but admitted that it was time for him to move on.
"I just feel like it's time," Nantz said. "I'm going out on top. I've had some great experiences over my career, but there comes a point where you have to say goodbye."
Nantz also shared how he came up with his signature line "hello friends." He explained that he initially used it as a way to greet colleagues and friends when they would meet up at various events around the country.
"It stuck because people liked it," he said. "It became my trademark thing, and I still use it today."
Finally, Nantz gave viewers a sneak peek into what they can expect from this year's Masters Tournament. He explained that due to COVID-19 restrictions, things may look different than previous years but assured fans that the excitement level will remain high.
"We're not going back exactly how we were before," he said. "But we'll do our best to make sure everyone watching feels like they're right there with us."
Overall, Nantz's interview with O'Donnell offered viewers an inside look into the mind of one of sports broadcasting's biggest stars. His honesty and genuine nature made for a compelling watch, leaving fans excited to see what he has in store for his final year covering college basketball and beyond.