Gus Johnson Parts Ways With CBS

SI - The patron saint of March Madness buzzer-beaters will not be calling the NCAA tournament next year.

SI.com
has learned that CBS Sports recently parted ways with Gus Johnson, a
play-by-play mainstay on its college basketball coverage for 16 years,
after the two sides could not agree on a new deal. Johnson has also
worked as a play-by-play voice for the network's NFL coverage since
1998.



Johnson's animated style and signature calls
at the conclusion of tournament games earned him cult status among
younger college basketball fans. During his decade and a half with CBS,
Johnson also called college football, track and field, boxing and the
1998 Winter Olympics. 



Johnson's marketing agent, Christian
Gesue, initially declined to comment. Contacted again late Thursday
night, Gesue said Johnson's departure from CBS was not official. He
would not elaborate further.



Johnson is scheduled to work Showtime's pay-per-view coverage
of Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight. He has called college
basketball for the Big Ten Network for the past two years.

Gus Johnson is the one person in sports that I think should go on strike for not getting enough money.  This dude has been the best sports announcer around for the past few years.  It's time to get him some big money somewhere.  I would love to see him on a bunch of NFL games this year presuming that there are NFL games this year.  You will be missed on the NCAA stage that's for sure.



Here is some of Gus Johnson's best CBS moments.

-Dow



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