Mac-knifed

Best Seat in the House column by Chris Graham
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I can’t say anything bad about Mac. I know a lot of people who can.

Does that list include the powers-that-be at UVa.?

Have to wonder, don’tcha?

“Representing Virginia Athletics and being the voice has been a true passion for me. I now have an opportunity on a couple fronts to move forward in my career and pursue a couple goals that I have had for some time. I will always treasure my time with the players, coaches and administration,” Mac McDonald said in a statement issued on Wednesday, a day after his departure from his perch as the Voice of the Cavaliers was confirmed.

McDonald officially resigned his post, and he told Doug Doughty of the Roanoke Times that his departure was solely of his doing – though he also told Doughty that he was planning to remain in Charlottesville and work out of his home, which has to make you wonder …

A five-time Virginia sportscaster of the year, McDonald didn’t always strike the right chord among the Virginia faithful. Me personally, I thought he was a solid lead guy in the radio booth, but I heard from many fellow ‘Hoos over the years who had harsh things to say about him, and expressed feelings that he was a distant second to my favorite play-by-play announcer of all time, Bill Roth down at Virginia Tech.

So for those folks, then, the news that the Mac Daddy is gone but for the cryin’ is good news.

The question now – who fills his airtime?

“Finding the right talent to serve as the voice of the Cavaliers is the top priority of our staff at Virginia Sports Properties,” said Doug Paschal, vice president and general manager of CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, the multimedia rights partner of UVa. athletics.

“We are committed to the fans, student-athletes and staff at Virginia, and we will utilize our corporate resources and industry relationships to make the right choice for this important position. We look forward to an exciting 2008-09 season,” Paschal said.

But that doesn’t answer the question. Who should be Da Man?

Crazy Idea Time – what about Dan Bonner? Great voice, experience out the wazoo, UVa. grad. Yeah, I know he’s short on play-by-play experience, but he could do it, easy.

Jed Williams comes to mind next. Jed, an alum and former sideline reporter on UVa. football who also handled the lead duties on women’s basketball and baseball, left Charlottesville for Mobile, but it couldn’t be that hard to get him back from Mobile.

I’m sure we’ll end up getting somebody that we all end up hating. I mean, come on, we’re UVa. fans. Right?

Drop me a line if you have any other good ideas.