First of three parts:

This is the week Jim Nantz always has circled on his calendar. It is perhaps the best Daily Double in sports broadcasting: The Final Four with the championship game on Monday followed by the Masters.

Throw in the fact that Nantz did the Super Bowl in February, and it becomes a Trifecta.

Yes, it is good to be Jim Nantz.

Yet there are some who wonder if Nantz should have a monopoly on the big events, especially in college basketball. After calling CBS’ opening telecast in December, Nantz didn’t do another game until March. Should he call an entire season if he’s going to do the Final Four?

The guys at Awful Announcing recently addressed the issue.

Said Ken Fang:

How does Nantz get the Final Four when he only calls one regular season game a year? What’s up with that?

Said Matt Yoder:

It’s like Joe Buck just dropping in for a game or two in late September and then calling the World Series or Mike Breen showing up in April just before the NBA Playoffs.  Jim Nantz isn’t someone you associate with college basketball… until the Final Four when he says “Hello, Friends” and then “Goodbye, Friends” just as quickly.  Jim Nantz isn’t bad at all, in fact I think he’s stepped up his game a bit the last couple years, but does he need to announce every single major sporting event CBS televises till the end of time?

CBS apparently thinks so, as they want their signature voice on the tournament.

I addressed that issue and more in a two-part interview with Nantz:

This is the third time you’ve done the Super Bowl, Final Four, and Masters in the same year. What is that like for you?

It’s the ultimate sports ticket. I don’t take it for granted. I’m very fortunate. I’ve done this before so I know how to pace myself. I get the proper rest, eat right and exercise. I find the nooks and crannies of time management where you can squeeze everything in you can.

I embrace it. I feel a certain freedom with this. I’m having more fun with this.

You don’t do a full college basketball schedule. What do you say to people who contend someone else should be calling the biggest college games of the year?

People say all these guys have been doing college games all season. That’s not true. Maybe they’ve been doing NBA games, but that’s not the same.

I always do our season opener. I did Baylor at Kentucky on Dec. 1. Then I immediately flew out to do Pittsburgh-Baltimore the next day. When I show up at an NFL game less than 24 hours prior to kickoff, I’m twitching. But I want to do our first college game.

If you look at it in full context, I’m doing a ton of games in March: 15 in 24 days. Would doing four or five weeks more of college basketball make a difference? I don’t think so. Suffice to say, I’ll be prepared.

How difficult is it to be prepared when you see limited regular season games in college basketball?

First of all, I’m never far away from any of my sports (NFL, college basketball, golf). I follow college basketball all year round. I am always up with what’s going on. Golf, you know how much I follow that. And I’m constantly studying the NFL.

I don’t spend much time watching the other sports. I don’t concern myself with the NBA. I watch baseball as a fan, but I don’t pour over box scores.

(Regardless of the event), preparation is my biggest concern. I’m fanatical about it. I’m always looking to round up fresh stories. It’s more than calling a game. The voices of my youth were great storytellers. They told me things I didn’t know. For me, it’s not stat driven. It’s more about telling people about the people they’re watching.

This is the 30th anniversary of North Carolina State stunning your school, Houston, in the title game. What are your memories?

I sat at the other basket as I watched Lorenzo Charles dunk our national championship hopes away. I was trying to forget about it. Now that you brought it back up again I’m sure I’ll be feeling the weight of that anniversary.

Tuesday: Nantz talks his signature event: The Masters.