Veteran college basketball broadcaster Bill Raftery is preparing for an unusual assignment in Rome, where he hopes to keep some of his trademark commentary phrases in check while calling a game honoring Pope Leo XIV.
Raftery will serve as Fox's analyst for Sunday's matchup between Villanova and Notre Dame at the Eternal City Tip-Off. The event celebrates the first American pope, who attended Villanova's fellow Catholic institution, and brings together the men's and women's basketball teams from both universities.
Known for colorful expressions such as “Onions!” after clutch shots, “Lingerie on the deck” when a defender gets fooled and “With a little kiss” for a soft bank shot, Raftery joked that he might need to adjust his vocabulary with the pope potentially 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.”
A Special Return to Rome
The trip carries personal meaning for Raftery, who is making his first visit to Rome since his honeymoon in 1969.
The event includes a doubleheader featuring the men's and women's teams from Villanova and Notre Dame. Raftery will call only the men's contest, while the four teams and their supporters are scheduled to attend a private audience with Pope Leo XIV on Saturday.
Raftery is also bringing a large family group, with more than 10 relatives expected to join him.
He said the trip offers an opportunity to enjoy some of Rome's historic attractions alongside his broadcasting responsibilities.
One person he wishes could have shared the experience is legendary Villanova coach Rollie Massimino, who guided the Wildcats to the 1985 NCAA championship in one of college basketball's most memorable upsets. Massimino died in 2017.
“I would love to see Rollie [meet] the pope,” Raftery said, joking that the former coach would have plenty of advice about religion, business, basketball and food.
A Broadcasting Career Built on Personality
Raftery began calling college basketball games in the 1980s after coaching Seton Hall for 11 seasons. Alongside broadcasters such as Dick Vitale, he helped popularize memorable catchphrases and energetic commentary as college basketball attracted a wider television audience.
His approach has always focused on adding entertainment without interrupting the action.
“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.
Despite his long career and devoted following, he did not become CBS' lead Final Four analyst until 2015.
After leaving ESPN in 2013, when the Big East's media rights moved to Fox, Raftery continued building his reputation across the network's college basketball coverage. He regularly works alongside play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson.
Raftery believes every game deserves the same attention, regardless of the conference or teams involved.
Raftery Shares Concerns About College Basketball's Changing Landscape
Raftery also discussed the challenges facing modern college basketball, particularly the transfer portal, name, image and likeness payments, and conference realignment.
He acknowledged that coaches and players must adapt to the current system but expressed concern about the long-term opportunities available to student-athletes.
“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.
His biggest concern is ensuring players receive an education that prepares them for life beyond basketball, particularly those who do not reach the professional level.
However, Raftery said those wider issues take a back seat once a game begins.
“The greatest thing for anybody that does what we do is between 7 and 9 [p.m.], nobody cares about the rules, the eligibility,” he said. “They just want to watch the game.”
Retirement Is Not on Raftery's Mind Yet
Despite being in his mid-80s, Raftery has no immediate plans to walk away from broadcasting.
Asked whether calling a game in Rome would be a fitting way to end his career, he joked, “What a way to go out, right?”
However, he made clear that he remains enthusiastic about his work and would rather let his employers decide when his broadcasting days are over.
“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.”
For now, Raftery is looking forward to another season of college basketball — even if he has to be a little more careful with his famous catchphrases in front of the pope.
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