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Jim Nantz
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Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any OtherThe title of his talk is the same as his best-selling book and is written as a tribute to his father, who he said is the real "Jim Nantz."
America's most visible sports commentator tells the stories of some of the most dramatic moments in American sports and pays tribute to the man who inspired him to pursue his broadcasting dream— his beloved father, who has fallen victim to the ravages of Alzheimer's disease.
In his program, Always by My Side, Jim shares an insider's look into an unprecedented sixty-three-day stretch from February to April of 2007 when he became the first broadcaster to call the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and the Masters. Because Nantz was unable to share the voyage with his dad, however, this remarkable journey through America's premier sporting events took on a bittersweet tinge. Nonetheless, the devoted son felt his father's presence every step of the way, and used this championship odyssey to celebrate the people, venues, and moments that tapped into all the goodness that his dad—and his dad's generation— represent.
In recounting the highlights of more than two thrilling decades with CBS Sports, this broadcasting hall of famer recalls the legends of the industry—Dick Enberg, Curt Gowdy, Jim McKay, Chris Schenkel, Pat Summerall, Jack Whitaker, and others—who sparked his imagination and shaped his style.
Always by My Side traces Nantz's career, from creating his own imaginary studio as a boy to his college days rooming with future PGA Tour golfers Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister to his successful network audition at age twenty-six. Along the way, you are treated to an array of memories, including Nantz's special relationship with the former president George H. W. Bush, as well as his friendships with such sports royalty as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Mike Krzyzewski, John Wooden, and many others. Poignant stories that explore the theme of fathers and sons who have bonded through a common love of sports complete this sparkling narrative.
Speaker Information
Jim Nantz, the 2008 National Sportscaster of the Year, has covered virtually every sport for the CBS Television Network since joining it in 1985. This year marks Jim's 24th year covering the NCAA Men's Division I National Championship. He took over as lead play-by-play announcer for college basketball in 1990 where he was teamed with Billy Packer until 2008. In 2009, Clark Kellogg will join Jim mid-court to call the action of the regular season and NCAA Championship games. He has called the play-by-play on more network broadcasts of the Final Four and Championship game than any other announcer in the tournament's history.
From 1986 to 1990, he served as host of CBS's coverage of the NCAA tournament and Final Four. Jim has been the lead play-by-play voice for THE NFL ON CBS since the 2004 season joining lead analyst Phil Simms on the Network's number one NFL announce team. For six years, he anchored the Network's NFL pre-game studio show, THE NFL TODAY.
In 2007, Jim in a 63-day span became the first commentator in history to complete a rare broadcasting triple - calling the Super Bowl, NCAA Men's Final Four and the Masters®. His extensive credits include serving as host of THE SUPER BOWL TODAY, CBS Sports' Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XXXVIII pre-game show; anchor of CBS's golf coverage, including the Masters and the PGA Championship; lead play-by-play announcer for college basketball, including the Final Four and Championship game; and primetime host of CBS Sports' coverage of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games.
In 2008, Jim co-authored with Eli Spielman the New York Times bestseller, Always By My Side. The book climbed to No. 3 on the New York Times list making it the highest ranking achieved this year by a sports book. Always By My Side spent seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Jim told his personal stories from football, basketball and golf and how he met people along the way who reminded him of the virtues his father instilled in him. The foreword to the book was written by one of his father figures and dear friend, former President George H.W. Bush.
Jim was named the 2008 National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. This marks the fourth time in his career that he has been named the National Sportscaster of the Year as he also won the prestigious award last year, as well as in 2005 and 1998. Jim also was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as the youngest recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2002.
Jim joined the CBS Sports golf team in 1985and has hosted CBS Sports' coverage of the Masters® since 1988 and the PGA Championship since 1991. His myriad assignments for CBS Sports include play-by-play at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships for nine years overall, co-hosting the weekend daytime coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games and coverage of NCAA track and field, skiing, speed skating, baseball, swimming and diving, gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Festival and Pan American Games and even polo. He also served as host of the Network's coverage of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1994, 1995, 2000 and 2001. In addition, he had a prominent role in Kevin Costner's 1996 hit movie "Tin Cup."
In 2005, Jim established his own production company, Jim Nantz Productions. As executive producer, his company annually produces a Masters Sunday special. This special was nominated for a 2007 George Wensel Technical Achievement Sports Emmy Award.
Jim graduated in 1981 with a degree in radio/television from the University of Houston, where he was recruited as a member of the golf team. He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from his alma mater in May 2001 in recognition of his contributions to his profession and to the university.