Courtesy USA Today

(March 25, 2011) Ex-players turned analysts on college hoops used to be college stars themselves. Meaning, they have alma maters and face questions about whether they're objective about them on-air.

But with NCAA men's tournament top-seed Ohio State, CBS lead analyst Clark Kellogg isn't just an ex-Buckeye star still living in Columbus — he's on the school's board of trustees.

He has to sound objective on-air, and says he hears from fans at home that he should pull more for the Buckeyes. But he's human: "I'm a fan, I love the university and I'm involved with it and want all its teams to do well. No question, I'm a proud alumnus. … But I have a job to do. I never cheer."

Jim Nantz, Kellogg's on-air partner, says if the Buckeyes are about to win the title game he'd stay silent and let Kellogg call the final moments. "I think he was serious," says Kellogg, adding that he's not already practicing lines. "I try not to over-rehearse anyway, it can stifle spontaneity."

He does, however, carry a notebook to jot down any snippets of language he can turn into on-air catchphrases. Kellogg, who also calls 20-25 Indiana Pacers local TV games, says "basketball is a pretty redundant game so it helps if analysis can connect to something everybody can relate to." Which makes food ideal: "I'm big on food analogies because everybody eats."

That's led to "squeeze the orange" (grabbing a rebound) and "buffet-style, plenty of seconds" (getting repeated offensive rebounds) and fouls that are "good cholesterol" or "bad cholesterol," meaning smart or dumb fouls. But "spurtability" doesn't refer to mustard bottles. It dates back Kentucky's 1996 team going on scoring spurts.

And who decides what phrases get on his on-air menu? "My wife is my sounding board. If she gives me the high eyebrows, they don't go in my notebook."

Kellogg strayed from food last weekend in recalling CBS/Turner colleague Charles Barkley as a rebounder with "the arms of an orangutan." He says he meant it to be "endearing. … It wasn't a characterization of him. I could have said 'wings of a condor.' " With candor.

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