Bill Raftery may kiss Pope’s ring at Rome college basketball opener

Bill Raftery, the veteran ESPN analyst known for catch‑phrases like “On fire!” and “Man, oh man!,” said on Tuesday that he might give “a little kiss” to the Pope’s ring while calling the season‑opening college basketball game in Rome on Saturday. The comment came as ESPN prepares to broadcast the first U.S. college‑basketball game ever staged at the Vatican‑adjacent Stadio Olimpico, where the University of Dayton and the University of Alabama‑Birmingham will tip‑off at 7 p.m. local time.

The game is part of ESPN’s new “College Basketball Italy Classic,” an effort to bring American college sport to historic European venues and to showcase a cultural bridge between sport and the city’s Catholic heritage. Pope Francis will attend a brief blessing ceremony before the tip‑off, a rare moment of papal involvement in a secular sporting event. Raftery, a former St. John’s star and long‑time voice of the Big East, is aware that his trademark exuberance could clash with the solemnity of a papal audience. He told producers he is considering dialing back his usual patter out of respect for the Pope’s presence, a move that has sparked conversation among fans and commentators about the role of religious symbolism in sports broadcasting.

ESPN has not confirmed whether Raftery will actually reference the papal ring on air, but the network said the broadcast will include a short segment highlighting the historic setting and the Pope’s blessing. Vatican officials welcomed the invitation, noting that the event offers a chance to “share a message of unity through sport.” Social media reactions have been mixed, with some fans cheering the light‑hearted nod to tradition and others cautioning against mixing religious reverence with entertainment. The game will be streamed worldwide, and if Raftery’s comment lands, it could set a precedent for how broadcasters navigate cultural and religious contexts in future international events.