Veteran college basketball announcer Bill Raftery is preparing for his first broadcast of the season, a special event in Rome that requires him to consider his famously colorful commentary. Raftery will be the Fox analyst for the game between Villanova and Notre Dame on Sunday in Rome, an event dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off created to honor Pope Francis, the first American pontiff.
Raftery, known for his enthusiastic catchphrases like "onions!" for clutch shots and "lingerie on the deck" when a defender is faked out, said he plans to moderate his language out of respect for Pope Francis, who could be listening. "I’ve got to refrain from some probably in deference to the pope," Raftery told The Associated Press. "But something might pop out that might cost me a day in the confessional booth."
The game is one part of a doubleheader involving the men's and women's teams from Villanova, Pope Francis's alma mater, and Notre Dame. Both teams, along with their fans, are scheduled for a private audience with the pope on Saturday.
Raftery, who is in his mid-80s, sees the trip as a business assignment with opportunities for sightseeing in Rome, a city he last visited for his honeymoon in 1969. More than 10 members of his family will accompany him.
He also expressed a wish that his former coach at Villanova, Rollie Massimino, who led the team to the 1985 NCAA title, could have been there. Massimino died in 2017.
Raftery began his broadcasting career in the 1980s after an 11-season stint coaching Seton Hall. Alongside Dick Vitale, he was an early pioneer in popularizing distinctive catchphrases in college basketball broadcasts. He believes his role is to enhance the audience's enjoyment of the game.
"Part of what you’re doing, not that you think of it as entertainment, but it’s to make the audience enjoy what they’re watching," Raftery said. "I can’t express deep enough to just be a small part of a lot of kids’ lives and a lot of great institutions."
Raftery has been a consistent presence in college basketball, working with CBS at the Final Four and calling games for Fox, where his partner is play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson. He has also commented on the current landscape of college basketball, including the impact of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.
"I don’t know of anybody who likes it, but if you’re in it, you’ve got to play by the rules," he said regarding the changes. "My only concern is these kids that don’t make it to the level that they’re all playing for. And are they sure they have a degree? Are they sure that they have a major that will help them contribute in life, raise a family?"
Despite these concerns, Raftery remains enthusiastic about broadcasting. He has no immediate plans for retirement and intends to continue commentating as long as he feels he can contribute and his employers want him.
"I’m just as enthusiastic as I was when I started," Raftery said. "I enjoy what I’m doing. It keeps you young, interested, and you feel like you can still contribute. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that until the bell rings."