Jim Nantz Is Tough As Nails, Continues To Call Game Even After He Broke His Damn Wrist Trying To Peanut Punch A Ball Out Of JJ Watt's Grips
First of all, I just need to mention that this shit never happened when Tony Romo was up in the booth with ol' Jimbo. The only time Jim Nantz would ever need to be worried about getting hurt around Tony Romo is if he got into a car with him.
But now that JJ Watt is his broadcasting partner, Jim Nantz has to be a little more careful. JJ Watt has all of this boyish excitement and wonder. It's infectious. It's like playing with a new puppy, and you just can't help yourself but to go along with it. It's all too easy for Jim Nantz to get caught up and forget he's no spring chicken anymore. 67 is definitely a danger zone age. Your brain might not feel like it's ready for the retirement home yet, but your bones sure as shit are.
His brain still makes him feel sharp as a tack. Like it's 1973 again and he's back out there in the schoolyard playing ball with the gang. The only issue is that in this scenario, the gang is JJ Watt. 6'5", 280 lbs of pure muscle. Punching that ball might as well have been punching a brick wall live on air. Which gets you this reaction right there.
"Okay….alright….my wrist is broken". All with the same cadence Jim would actually call a game, so you know he's not playing anything up for a bit here. That's just a man coming to terms that he made a huge mistake in real time. In that moment right there--and it's only about 10 seconds--I'm sure all Jim Nantz could think about is how much that punch is going to destroy his golf game for the next several months. A broken wrist at 67? He's never going to be able to make contact with the ball the same way after that.
But Jim Nantz is a pro. He's a pro's pro. He's not going to let a little broken wrist in the broadcast booth stop him from doing his job. He still has an entire 2nd half to call. So he rubs some dirt on it, grabs and ice pack, and continues to do his job.
The rolled up sleeves is the big tell here. Once that adrenaline starts going, it starts to get a little toasty. Fully broken wrist confirmed by an X-ray or not, Jim Nantz got himself certifiably fucked up here. Poor JJ Watt, man. He's like a little kid on Thanksgiving who just got his grandpa hurt after he made him chase him around all over the backyard. Just sitting there knowing he's about to get his ass chewed out on the ride home like "goddammit, why did I make grandpa punch that football".
But again, this is why Jim Nantz is the best of the best. The only way to reach the top of the mountain is by battling through all the adversity along the way. Lose your broadcasting partner because he won't stop driving himself home after getting waffled on the golf course? Adapt and overcome. Shatter your wrist into pieces trying to punch a ball out of JJ Watt's hands? Adapt and overcome. If Bob Costas can do an entire Olympics with pink eye, then Jim Nantz can cover the 2nd half of a Bills game with a fractured wrist.
