31 Facts About Jim Nantz

James William Nantz III was born on May 17,1959 and is an American sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the National Football League, NCAA Division I men's basketball, the NBA, and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s.

Jim Nantz has anchored CBS's coverage of the Masters Tournament since 1989 and been the lead play-by-play announcer on CBS's NFL coverage since 2004.

Jim Nantz was the lead broadcaster for the NCAA men's basketball tournament from 1990 to 2023.

Jim Nantz was a member of Bamm Hollow Country Club.

Jim Nantz then matriculated at the University of Houston where he played on the Cougars men's golf team, rooming with future professional golfers Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister.

Jim Nantz graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio and Television Broadcasting in 1981.

Jim Nantz started as an anchor and sportscaster for KHOU in Houston, Texas in the early 1980s and then became a weekend sports anchor on KSL-TV in Salt Lake City where he called BYU football games and Utah Jazz games along with Hot Rod Hundley.

Jim Nantz joined CBS Sports in 1985, initially working as a studio host for CBS's college football and basketball coverage, and as an on-course reporter for PGA Tour golf, as well as calling NFL games on Westwood One.

Jim Nantz has anchored CBS' coverage of the Masters Tournament since 1989.

In October 2022, Jim Nantz announced his intention to step away from basketball coverage to spend time with family and will be replaced by Ian Eagle.

Jim Nantz opens each of his broadcasts by saying, "Hello, friends".

The greeting came about as a way for Jim Nantz to identify himself to his father, who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

On October 4,1987, Jim Nantz made his first on-air appearance during an NFL game when he served as a reporter during the Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets game during the NFL strike in a game which featured replacement players, he appeared outside the stadium and in the crowd interviewing fans, in a time before sideline reporters were commonplace at regular season games.

In 1989, Jim Nantz would call three more NFL games, and in 1990 he would call two games with analyst Tim Brant.

On February 4,2007, Jim Nantz called the play-by-play of Super Bowl XLI.

On January 3,2021, Jim Nantz worked with Boomer Esiason, who filled in for Romo, for a Week 17 game featuring the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.

Jim Nantz has appeared on episodes of The Price Is Right to present a Showcase prize that involves CBS Sports properties, one to attend the 2009 Final Four in Detroit and another in 2010 for Super Bowl XLIV, as part of changes to the long-time game show to use product placement models and CBS crossovers, including sports packages.

Jim Nantz appeared as himself in the 1996 film Tin Cup and has appeared in episodes of several television series including Arliss, Yes, Dear, Criminal Minds, and How I Met Your Mother.

Jim Nantz portrayed the announcer for the fictional baseball team in the short-lived series Clubhouse, and his voice can be heard in the 1998 film Scrapple.

Jim Nantz appeared in Fantasy Football, a film produced by CBS' sister network Nickelodeon.

Since 2009, Jim Nantz has guest commentated on the final round of The Open Championship for the BBC, and in 2019, when FOX was broadcasting the US Open at Pebble Beach, Jim Nantz made a guest appearance with fellow broadcaster Joe Buck and called a couple of shots, becoming the only person to commentate at all four of golf's majors.

Jim Nantz teamed with Gary McCord to provide extensive commentary in the 1999 PC golf game Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge, and his commentary is featured in the Golden Tee Golf arcade game series.

In 2013, Jim Nantz appeared in a Papa John's Pizza ad with Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, and founder John Schnatter.

Jim Nantz was referring to John Wooden, the legendary coach of UCLA.

Jim Nantz tells personal stories from football, basketball, and golf, and how he has met people along the way who remind him of the virtues his father instilled in him.

Jim Nantz was married to Ann-Lorraine "Lorrie" Carlsen Jim Nantz for 26 years before divorcing in 2009.

In November 2009, Jim Nantz was ordered to pay his ex-wife $916,000 a year in child support and alimony.

On June 9,2012, Jim Nantz married Courtney Richards in a ceremony at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, specifically at the tee of the course's famed seventh hole.

Jim Nantz and his wife have a daughter born in 2014 and a son born in 2016.

In 2009, Jim Nantz partnered with wine producer Peter Deutsch to launch a private wine label The Calling with its first vintage released in 2012.

The wine's name is in reference to Jim Nantz's calling of the Masters Tournament.