Jim Nantz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Nantz
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Nantz in 2001
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| Born |
James William Nantz III
May 17, 1959 |
| Alma mater | University of Houston |
| Occupation | Sports commentator |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 3 |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Genre(s) | Play-by-play |
| Sports | National Football League NCAA March Madness PGA Tour |
Jim Nantz (born May 17, 1959) is a famous American sportscaster. He has been a voice for many major sports events on CBS Sports since the 1980s. You might know him from watching the National Football League (NFL), college basketball games, or PGA Tour golf.
Jim Nantz has been the main announcer for the Masters Tournament golf since 1989. He also leads the play-by-play for CBS's NFL games since 2004. For many years, from 1990 to 2023, he was the main voice for the exciting NCAA men's basketball tournament.
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Early Life and School
Jim Nantz was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up in different places like New Orleans, Louisiana, and Marlboro Township, New Jersey. When he was in high school, he was a co-captain of both the basketball and golf teams. He was even the top player on his golf team!
After high school, Nantz went to the University of Houston. There, he played on the college golf team. He even shared a room with future professional golfers Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister. In 1981, he earned a degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting. This is when he first started working in sports broadcasting, sending interviews to a CBS Radio show.
Broadcasting Career
Starting Out in Sports Broadcasting
Jim Nantz began his career in the early 1980s. He worked as a sports anchor for TV stations in Houston, Texas, and Salt Lake City. In Salt Lake City, he even called BYU football games and Utah Jazz basketball games.
Joining CBS Sports
Nantz joined CBS Sports in 1985. At first, he hosted studio shows for college football and basketball. He also reported from the golf course for PGA Tour events. He even called NFL games on the radio for a few years.
In 1989, he started doing play-by-play for college football games. Then, in 1990, after another famous announcer left, Nantz became the lead play-by-play voice for the NCAA Final Four men's basketball finals. He worked with different partners over the years, like Billy Packer and Clark Kellogg. In 2022, Nantz shared that he would step away from basketball coverage to spend more time with his family.
Jim Nantz often starts his broadcasts by saying, "Hello, friends." He began using this greeting to connect with his father, who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Nantz is known for sharing interesting historical facts or statistics about athletes during games.
The NFL on CBS
Nantz first appeared on NFL coverage in 1987 as a reporter. In 1988, he started calling NFL play-by-play games. He worked with different analysts over the years.
After CBS lost the NFL contract in 1993, Nantz returned to calling college football games for a few seasons.
When the NFL returned to CBS in 1998, Nantz hosted the pre-game show The NFL Today. In 2004, he became the top play-by-play announcer for The NFL on CBS. He teamed up with former NFL quarterback Phil Simms.
On February 4, 2007, Nantz called his first Super Bowl XLI. He is one of the few announcers to have called both a Super Bowl and an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game. He's also one of only two people to host a Super Bowl, announce an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game, and host coverage of The Masters.
In 2014, Nantz and Phil Simms also called Thursday Night Football games. In 2017, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo joined Nantz as his new broadcast partner for NFL games. Nantz and Romo have called several Super Bowls together, including Super Bowl LIII in 2019, Super Bowl LV in 2021, and Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
Other Media Appearances
Jim Nantz has appeared on TV shows like The Price Is Right and How I Met Your Mother. He also appeared as himself in the 1996 movie Tin Cup.
He has provided commentary for video games like Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge and the Madden NFL series. You might have also seen him in commercials, such as for Papa John's Pizza with Peyton Manning.
Career Timeline
- 1985–1988; 1997: NCAA Football on CBS – studio host
- 1986–present: PGA Tour on CBS (since 1994 as host)
- 1986–1990: College Basketball on CBS – studio host
- 1986–1989: NBA on CBS – play-by-play
- 1987–1990: NFL on CBS Radio – play-by-play
- 1987–1995: US Open (tennis) – play-by-play
- 1989–present: The Masters host
- 1989–1991; 1996–1997: NCAA Football on CBS – lead play-by-play
- 1990–2023: College Basketball on CBS/Turner – lead play-by-play
- 1988–1993; 2004–present: NFL on CBS – play-by-play
- 1992 and 1994: Winter Olympics – weekend daytime co-host
- 1998–2003: The NFL Today host
- 1998: Olympic Winter Games – primetime host
- 2014–2017: Thursday Night Football – lead play-by-play
Awards and Honors
Jim Nantz has received many awards for his broadcasting work:
- He won the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play twice (2009 and 2010).
- He has been named the NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year five times.
- In 2002, he received the Curt Gowdy Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- In 2011, he received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- He was inducted into the NSMA Hall of Fame in 2021.
Famous Quotes
Here are some of Jim Nantz's well-known lines from his broadcasts:
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Hello, friends! (Nantz's usual opening line on broadcasts)
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A tradition unlike any other, The Masters on CBS. (Used annually during promos for and coverage of the tournament)
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There it is, a win for the ages! (1997 Masters, referring to Tiger Woods, the first person of color to win)
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Just when everybody says you can't, you can, and U-CONN has won the national championship! (1999 NCAA Basketball Championship Game, Connecticut vs. Duke)
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And you can leave it to Cleaves! He has reinstated the Magic at Michigan State! (2000 NCAA National Championship Game)
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There it is -- as grand as it gets! (2001 Masters)
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Is it his time?...Yes!..At long last! (2004 Masters, as Phil Mickelson made the tournament-winning shot for his first major)
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A Kansas comeback for the history books, Rock Chalk, Championship! Kansas takes the title! (2008 NCAA Tournament)
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Picked off. Look out! Gets past Manning. And it's Tracy Porter taking it all the way! Touchdown New Orleans!" (Nantz calling Tracy Porter's interception return for a touchdown as the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV.)
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Villanova trying to go the length of the court, with Arcidiacono. Three seconds at midcourt! Gives it to Jenkins! For the championship... YES! Villanova! Phenomenal! The national champions, with Jenkins hitting the winner at the buzzer! (Nantz calling Kris Jenkins' famous buzzer-beater to win the 2016 NCAA Tournament for the Villanova Wildcats)
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Waited for years, many doubted we'd ever see it, but here it is.. the return to glory! (Nantz calling golf legend Tiger Woods' 15th major win at the 2019 Masters Tournament.)
Personal Life
Jim Nantz's first book, Always By My Side – A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, was released in 2008. In the book, Nantz shares personal stories from his career and how people he met reminded him of the good values his father taught him. The book's introduction was written by former President George H. W. Bush, who was a friend and golf partner.
Nantz's father, Jim Nantz Jr., passed away in 2008 after battling Alzheimer's disease. In 2011, Nantz helped launch the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. This center works to improve care and treatment for patients with Alzheimer's through research.
Nantz was married to Ann-Lorraine Carlsen Nantz for 26 years. They have one daughter, Caroline. In 2012, Nantz married Courtney Richards. They have a daughter born in 2014 and a son born in 2016. The Nantz family used to live in a home overlooking the Pebble Beach Golf Links. This home had a special feature: a smaller version of the famous seventh hole at Pebble Beach in the backyard! Many famous golfers and celebrities have visited and played on this backyard hole. If a visitor gets a hole-in-one, their name is carved on a rock next to the tee. In 2021, Nantz and his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee.
Winemaking
In 2009, Jim Nantz started a wine label called The Calling with wine producer Peter Deutsch. The name of the wine is a nod to Nantz's role in calling the Masters Tournament.
Images for kids
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Nantz in 2001
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Nantz interviewing Rick Pitino following the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game.
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Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alexander Valley produced for Nantz's The Calling label.
