Jim Nantz was simply trying to pronounce the word “meme,” and now he has inadvertently become a meme himself.
During Saturday’s coverage of the Villanova-Kansas Final Four game on TBS, the veteran sportscaster was joking with broadcast partner Grant Hill about Hill’s funny reaction to Michigan big man Moe Wagner coming at him on the sideline in the game prior. Wagner, who was playing against Loyola Chicago in the other Final Four game, came barrelling in Hill’s direction during a second-half chase for a loose ball, and Hill looked absolutely petrified. Nantz called Hill’s reaction a new meme but butchered the pronunciation of the word horribly and said it as “me-me.”
HALL OF FAME ME-MEpic.twitter.com/Aiib7wzKdN
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) April 1, 2018
In a twist of irony, Nantz’s atrocious pronunciation actually became the bigger meme as the ridicule of the Internet soon arrived in full force.
When Jim Nantz nails a me me pic.twitter.com/eIv9IOZkQ7
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 1, 2018
The only Hall of Fame meme tonight is Jim Nantz saying “me-me” in 2018
— Eamonn Brennan (@eamonnbrennan) April 1, 2018
Jim Nantz pronouncing "meme" on national TV like he's Beaker the Muppet has made my entire tournament.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) April 1, 2018
Jim Nantz logging online pic.twitter.com/OTBExss1CC
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger_sherman) April 1, 2018
Someone below the age of 40 needs to talk to Jim Nantz about the way he says meme pic.twitter.com/6Kgyr2NsWq
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) April 1, 2018
Can't believe Jim Nantz pronounced it "me-me." It's clearly supposed to be "jif."
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) April 1, 2018
Jim Nantz out here like … #FinalFour #Villanova pic.twitter.com/7CZYODIulA
— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) April 1, 2018
This will now be the No. 1 Jim Nantz story behind him carrying around a picture of toast in his wallet to show waiters how he wants it cooked. https://t.co/b4gqnpZKtv
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 1, 2018
When Jim Nantz says ME-ME instead of Meme #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/xMybZo62A0
— Steve Angelovich (@angelsteve89) April 1, 2018
The 58-year-old Nantz sure seemed out of touch with that one. Now the only question is if his pronunciation of “meme” was worse than Bryce Harper’s.
