[Willie Bee]

At 77, he deserves to retire. Always liked him, especially since he always gave the old Tom's Barbecue joint a plug when he worked Texas A&M games

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/5545438

NEW YORK (AP) - Keith Jackson thinks this is the right time for him to retire.

Jackson, widely regarded as the voice of college football, has decided to stop broadcasting games, The New York Times reported Thursday.

"I'm finished with play-by-play forever," he told the newspaper.

Jackson spent some 40 years calling the action in a folksy, down-to-earth manner that made him one of the most popular play-by-play personalities in the business. He also announced he would retire after the 1998 season, but ended up continuing with ABC Sports. He said this time is different.

"This is the perfect time," Jackson told the newspaper. "I don't want to get back into the pressure cooker of play-by-play and worry about travel. I don't want to die in a stadium parking lot."

Jackson, 77, began calling college football games with ABC in 1966. He also worked NBA, NFL games and the Olympics, but was always best known for college football.

An ABC Sports executive said they tried to keep Jackson, but respect his decision.

[isetcap]

We'll see if he really does retire this time. Let's hope so. It's 10 years too late. His broadcasts have been horrible. It would be really nice if he'd take Fouts with him.

[BuddyBear]

lot of mess ups lately during games on really obvious things too...not just messing up player names but things like saying there was a delay of game when a timeout was called....he was certainly one of the best no doubt but as a midwest guy rarely got to hear him except on big marquee games or bowl games.

[bigboydan]

he should have stayed retired back in 1998. thats when he first said he was going to.

[Illusion]

We'll see if he really does retire this time. Let's hope so. It's 10 years too late. His broadcasts have been horrible. It would be really nice if he'd take Fouts with him.

His Rose Bowl broadcast was icing on the cake. He was horrible during that game. I hope he stays retired this time.

[isetcap]

His Rose Bowl broadcast was icing on the cake. He was horrible during that game. I hope he stays retired this time.

When he was calling that game you would have thought the Dave Chappelle Show was on I was laughing so much.

[isetcap]

I stopped considering him a real person in the mid 90's.

Really lacks the knowledge one should have in calling games.

Correct.

Whoa Nelly only goes so far in today's age of information demand.

[slacker00]

he should have stayed retired back in 1998. thats when he first said he was going to.

I watched his "final" broad cast back in 1998. It was tearful and emotional and I thought I was witnessing a historical moment in sports broadcasting. As far as I'm concerned he's been retired all this time. Any broadcasts he might have done since them were just some bizarre incompetence by the broadcasting companies, propping up a broadcasting "corpse".

[pags11]

yeah, this is like the third time he's retired...good announcer, but I'm over all of the retirements...

[BrentCrude]

Do you ever picture Keith Jackson with his wife in bed climaxing and yelling out,Whoaaa!!!!Nelly!!!

[Seattle Slew]

These big-time announcers never know when to quit, and because they are so well known, the networks won't fire them for fear of bad publicity. I think Jackson was good in his prime, but he slipped, as any 77-year-old would.

What is silly is Dick Enberg is just as bad, if not worse, than Jackson. I heard he was demoted to 3rd string NFL team on CBS next year. About time. He can't call a football game. Tennis he can still do.

These guys have made enough money to retire and live well. Why they keep working with the travel is beyond me.

[onlooker]

RIP Keith Jackson....oh wait, you said he was retiring. Ok, well wake me when he really retires. I will believe it when we dont hear his azz on the air.

[Mudcat]

Not a lot of love here for the Keithster.

[pags11]

listening to him as I watch the rose bowl replay...I will definitely mis him...