Dave Pasch has touching tribute to longtime broadcast partner Bill Walton

Dave Pasch delivered some moving words this week about his longtime colleague Bill Walton.

The ESPN annoucer Pasch appeared on the network Monday to pay tribute to Walton, who died earlier in the day at 71 after a battle with cancer. Calling in by phone, Pasch shared a touching story about what Walton, who was known for taking good-natured swipes at Pasch when they were working games together, was like off the air.

“He used to tell me a lot, he would take the headset off during a commercial break, and just say to me, ‘I love you. But don’t tell anybody,'” said Pasch.

Pasch added that he had a “special friendship” with Walton and noted that Walton would pay for every meal that they had together.

"I love you, but don't tell anybody."

Bill Walton's longtime broadcast partner @DavePasch reflects on one of his favorite memories of his friend pic.twitter.com/zcBDQHlBOp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 27, 2024

Walton and Pasch worked together on ESPN’s Pac-12 college basketball broadcasts for 12 years. Pasch served as the stone-faced but good-sported foil to Walton’s very many zany antics on the air (including biting into lit cupcakes and getting the transfer portal hilariously wrong).

Pasch noted that his last game with Walton was on Feb. 1 of this year (a showdown between USC and Oregon). With 10 of the 12 schools in the Pac-12 set to officially leave the conference in August, it truly is the end of an era.