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Visit: www.usbwa.com VOLUME 52, NO. 2 January 2015 Remembering Bryan Burwell with his stories As it usually goes in our business, where one press at a group of four people box and media room blends in with the next, I can’t who are sitting at a table say I remember the exact moment I met Bryan Burwell. and one of the guys imme- I recall encountering him once, back when the Ea- diately stands up and gives gles played at the Vet. To make the on-air atmosphere Burwell a hug. Dana O’Neil more authentic, the radio folks insisted on taking out It’s . the windows, so we are all freezing and kvetching Barkley tells the maitre d about it. that we’re with him and to ESPN.com Except, of course, Bryan. bring us menus and what- He greeted me then as he always did – with a hug, ever we want. Burwell President a smile, and a “Well hello, young lady.” gives the maitre d this “I That was Bryan Burwell. told you so” look, and the When Bryan died, too suddenly and too early, I guy scurries away. asked people to send memories about him. They are, as From of the you’ll read, funny and heartfelt, but they also followed Boston Globe: you could see his face light up when he described the a common thread – how much Bryan loved his job. I go back 30-plus years when he was in NYC cov- potential rewards to these students, and you could feel We could all talk about what a gifted writer he was, ering the Knicks. We were part of a group that played a his resolve in reminding the rest of us that the USBWA and the grace he exuded on television - even after that lot of basketball during the NBA playoffs. Did many a needed fresh energy to survive. medium became more about shouting than intellect. Sports Reporters show with him. He was always mea- From former USBWA president Kirk Wessler, of But Bryan’s real gift to journalism, his real gift to sured, a common sense voice of reason. the Peoria Journal-Star: all of us, is the enthusiasm and joy he brought with him The last time I saw him was in Bristol not all that We’re at Scottrade in St. Louis, when some to work each day. long ago. He was discoursing on an important topic: mid-level shift manager walks into the media work- From Yahoo’s Graham Watson, who worked with namely that too many people falsely label a benign room about 7:45, less than an hour after the Illinois- Bryan at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Cookout” a “Barbecue,” which he thought was sacri- Mizzou game ended, and announces we all have to be (From the 2006 Final Four in Indianapolis) It was legious. Throwing hamburgers or a hot dog on a grill, gone in 45 minutes. I get the guy to call his supervisor, really late, and Burwell and I are starving. We ascended he said, was a long way from having an honest-to-God who comes down and we’re going at it in the hallway. the escalator that attaches the arena to the Westin and Barbecue, which is truly culinary art. The super tries to tell me this is the way things always happened upon Shula’s Steakhouse. We walked up and From Pat Forde, of : go there, that even the MVC tournament is out of the the maitre d told us they were closed, no longer serv- The thing I liked and respected about Bryan was building by such-and-such time. I say, “Really? I cover ing food. Then Burwell takes a quick glance inside the his enthusiasm for the assignment, whatever it was. He that every year and we’ve never been run out of here restaurant and sees someone he knows. He grabs my worked in a pro sports town, but every time I saw him before we’re done.” He says, “Well the Blues …” Bur- arm (now remember, at the I’m a pretty timid 26 at the Missouri Valley tournament, he was totally into well overhears this and he comes out. The super looks year old) and he rushes me past the maitre’ d and into it. He wasn’t half-stepping it; he knew the storylines at him like, “I know you!” And Bryan quietly says, the restaurant. Of course the guy follows us, protesting, and the teams and the personalities. That was about the “That’s bull. When the Blues are playing, we’re here while Burwell is basically waving him away. We stop 50th most important thing for him to cover in a year, till we’re done.” And the guy backed off. but he covered it like it From Kansas City Star columnist Vahe Gregorian, was the most important. who worked along Bryan for more than a decade: Because it was that day. A few weeks ago, I had the incredible fortune to It’s a fun job and I never get to see Bryan one last time. His wife, Dawn, ushered saw him fail to have fun me down the stairs where he was sitting. Neither of us doing it. knew quite what to say as I walked toward him, trying From ex-USBWA not to seem despondent. Then he just started crying, president Lenox Rawl- or maybe I was first, and I leaned in to hug him up a ings: minute. During Bryan’s time And that was enough of the sappy stuff. as president, I was most A Mizzou football game was on in the background, impressed by his pas- and we had a lot of catching up and laughing to do. He sion for helping young was eager to get the “preseason” of testing behind so folks understand what he could begin the “regular-season” grind of treatment. they faced if they want- Bryan could drink only water by then, and at one ed to take up our line of point Dawn came down the stairs and offered Perrier work. He was encourag- for a change of pace. Bryan took a few sips as she was ing yet candid about the walking back up the stairs. possibilities, and he was And then he called her back, almost giddily thank- downright blunt about ful and excited about how good the Perrier tasted. the practicalities of en- To the end, that was him: always cheerful, always tering the field during the same person, always the optimist. such economic and jour- A person you were always happy to see coming Bryan Burwell (far left), with Jimmer Fredette and . nalistic convulsions. But and so hated to see leave. BASKETBALL T IMES

The Basketball Writers Association USBWA has treasured 803 Wildview Lane; St. Louis, Mo. 63021 Visit us at: www.usbwa.com 314-795-6821 relationship with Oscar

The USBWA has PRESIDENT – Dana O’Neil, .com; enjoyed a long and C: 215-313-3425; [email protected] rewarding relationship FIRST VICE PRESIDENT – Pat Forde, Yahoo! with perhaps the greatest Sports; H: 502-253-9761; C: 502-472-91633; player Joe Mitch [email protected] of all time – two-time THIRD VICE PRESIDENT – Ed Graney, Las USBWA player of the year USBWA Vegas Review-Journal; C: 702-524-3553; Oscar Robertson. [email protected] My friendship with Executive Director THIRD VICE PRESIDENT – Vahe Gregorian, Oscar goes back some Kansas City Star, C: 816-799-6041; vgregorian@ 35 years ago to the mid- kcstar.com 1970s. Oscar was a color analyst on the Metro EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Joe Mitch, Conference game-of-the-week telecasts. I served as In addition to the player-of-the-year trophy, the H: 636-227-9113; C: 314-795-6821; assistance commissioner of the Metro for media relations. USBWA’s Coach of the Year Award, the [email protected] When the USBWA decided to name its national Freshman of the Year Award and the WEBMASTER – Ted Gangi, C: 214-909-9314; player-of- the-year award after a former player or coach, Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award are also presented [email protected] the organization looked no further than to Oscar to put at the dinner in Oklahoma City. BOARD MEMBERS his name on the award. The Iba Award is named after legendary Olympic DISTRICT I – Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire After all, Oscar is a national treasure. He was voted and Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) coach Gazette, [email protected] the greatest player in the 20th Century in all of basketball. Henry Iba, who won 655 games in his career and led the DISTRICT II – Nicole Auerbach, USA Today, He was the USBWA’s first national player of the year in Aggies to NCAA championships in 1945 and 1946. He O: 703-854-5317; C: 908-672-2840; 1959 and was coming off a 1958 season in which he was also coached the U.S. Olympic team to gold medals in [email protected] named a consensus All-American at . 1964 and 1968 and a silver medal in 1972. DISTRICT III – Laura Keeley, Raleigh News & The USBWA named the award the Oscar Robertson The Tisdale Award for the freshman of the year, first Observer; C: 724-816-7401; Trophy in 1998, and in the 17 years since then the awarded in 2011, is named in honor of the late Wayman [email protected] Robertson Trophy has become one of the nation’s most Tisdale. Tisdale was a three-time USBWA All-American DISTRICT IV – Kevin Brockway, Gainesville prestigious player-of-the-year awards. at Oklahoma and in 1983 was the first freshman to be There are other player-of-the-year awards – the named a first-team All-American by the USBWA. Sun; O: 352-374-5054; C: 352-514-7189; Wooden Award and the Naismith Award being the most Following a stint on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, [email protected] notable – but what makes the USBWA’s Robertson he played 12 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1997 DISTRICT V – Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune; Trophy so unique is that it is the only one named after to focus on a blossoming jazz music career. In March O: 574-235-6153; C: 574-229-1234; a player and the only award whose namesake is living. 2007, Tisdale was diagnosed with cancer and, following H: 574-272-6223; [email protected] Since its inception, 49 players have won the award. a courageous battle, he passed away in May 2009. DISTRICT VI – John Bohnenkamp, Burlington Virginia’s and UCLA’s are The Devon Energy gala is hosted by the Oklahoma Hawk Eye; O: 319-758-8133; H: 319-754-7523; the only three-time winners. Texas’ and City-based non-profit charitable organization Access C: 319-759-8367; Kentucky’s are the only freshmen to win Sports, which provides funding for basketball programs [email protected] the award, although Walton did earn USBWA national in Oklahoma for disadvantaged youth. DISTRICT VII – Randy Rosetta, New Orleans player of the year in his first season of eligibility. Aside Funds from the gala are also used to support the Times-Picayune/NOLA.com; C: 225-505-0667; from the “Big O” himself, Hall of Famers USBWA’s scholarship programs and for contributions to [email protected] (Ohio State), Lew Alcindor (UCLA) and various charitable groups, including the National Kidney DISTRICT VIII – Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming (LSU) are the other two-time recipients. Foundation in honor of Oscar, who donated a kidney Tribune Eagle; O: 307-633-3130; The original Robertson Trophy, a sculpture made of several years ago to his daughter Tia. BURWELL TRIBUTE C: 307-421-1861; [email protected] bronze depicting Oscar rebounding a basketball with his . Bryan Burwell served the legs spread-eagled, is on display in the foyer of Bankers USBWA well when he was president of the association DISTRICT IX – Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Oscar’s hometown. The in 2010-11. He provided the USBWA with outstanding Star; O: 520-573-4147; H: 520-529-8483; USBWA commissioned world-renowned sculptor Harry leadership, especially in the areas of diversity and student- C: 520-349-1159. [email protected] Weber to produce the sculpture of Oscar and the trophy. journalist education. He pushed for more minorities and WOMEN – Mel Greenberg; C: 215-815-5943; The USBWA membership votes on the player-of- women in the USBWA Hall of Fame and was always [email protected] the-year award at the end of the regular season, along with ready to participate as a panelist in the USBWA’s writing AT-LARGE – Eric Prisbell, USA Today; the USBWA’s coach and freshman-of- the-year awards. workshops for student sportswriters. C: 301-708-5022; [email protected] The winner is announced each year at the NCAA Final Bryan was the USBWA’s first black president in 33 AT-LARGE – Chris Dortch, Blue Ribbon College Four and then is presented with the trophy at the Devon years and only the second in its 59-year history. Basketball Yearbook; O: 423-468-3875; Energy College Basketball Awards dinner the week after As has been written by many who knew him, Bryan C: 423-400-9488; [email protected] the Final Four on April 14 at the National Cowboy & Burwell was a giant in the sports journalism profession. SID – Brian Morrison, Atlantic Coast Conference; Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. He will be missed. O: 336-369-1002; H: 336-852-4975; C: 336-337-4896; [email protected] NEW MEDIA LIAISON – Chris DiSano; College Chalktalk; C: 401-578-7538; Ex-Nebraska SID Bryant passes away Longtime USBWA member and former Nebraska years at the school. Bryant served as a member of the [email protected] sports information director Don “Fox” Final Four media relations crew. TIPOFF EDITOR – John Akers, Basketball Bryant passed away on Dec. 5 at the age Steve Wiseman has been promoted Times; H: 704-849-8627; C: 980-422-1294; of 85. Bryant was the sports editor of the Lodge Notes to sports editor of the Durham Herald- [email protected] Lincoln Star from 1954 until Nebraska Sun. He will continue to cover Duke hired him as SID in 1962. He retired in 1997 after 35 basketball. BASKETBALL T IMES Jernstedt named 2015 Katha Quinn Award winner By JIM O’CONNELL Tournament Selection Commission. “He later, the sides agreed on the 11-year, $6 billion deal. Receiving an award is certainly was the guy in the NCAA who kept the “As the NCAA Tournament expanded dramatically nothing new for . Final Four going and kept it out there for in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s, there was one He has been presented with the John everyone to see. His name is synonymous constant: If Tom Jernstedt told you something, you could Bunn Award, the Naismith Memorial with the Final Four and that holds true in take it straight to the bank,” said , who Basketball Hall of Fame’s highest honor so many ways with anyone involved in was honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall short of induction; the Edward S. Steitz any degree.” of Fame with the Award and who was a Award, USA Basketball’s recognition for Before the 2005 Final Four, the St. close friend of Katha’s who helps maintain the high stan- service to international basketball’ and Louis Post-Dispatch published a list of dards of the award. “The same was true when the news induction into the National Collegiate the 50 most influential people in college was not so flattering, when USA Basketball reached a Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor. basketball. Jernstedt was No. 1. low point during the disappointing 2002 World Cham- The USBWA would like to add to “Tom was the heart, soul and the pionships at Indianapolis. On the day following the final that impressive list with the 2015 Katha passion behind the NCAA basketball defeat, there was Tom, standing in the middle of the press Quinn Award. Katha was the first recipi- tournament for a long time,” former Big room, surrounded by reporters looking for explanations. ent of the award for service to the media East commissioner Mike Tranghese told He answered every question, never ducked an issue, and or inspiration to journalism in 1988. It Basketball Times when Jernstedt’s tenure offered some of the thinking that would eventually lead was later named after the former sports at the NCAA was ended abruptly in 2010 to much more successful days. information director at St. John’s when Tom Jernstedt by president Mark Emmert. “Whether “I know that Katha would be very proud to have her she passed away at age 35 following a you were a coach or an administrator or name linked with his.” long battle with cancer. anybody – if you had a question about the tournament, A graduate of Oregon, where he was the Marcus Tom Jernstedt fills both of those criteria as well be- that’s where you went – you went to Tom Jernstedt.” Mariota of his time, the 25-year-old Jernstedt started ing someone who has served all of college and interna- That included the media. Jernstedt was always avail- with the NCAA in 1972 as a director of events. He left tional basketball in a manner worthy of all those awards. able to those who covered the Final Four for an answer, the organization as an executive vice president. A 38-year employee of the NCAA and a former an explanation or a reason. No matter how many other In 2013, Jernstedt joined the Big East as a senior president of USA Basketball, Jernstedt had one respon- duties he was responsible for – and that included being a adviser for men’s basketball. This year, he was a mem- sibility that showed his importance to college basketball. sounding board for the Selection Committee starting in ber of the 12-person committee to decide the four teams “When one thinks of the Final Four, one name im- 1973 – he had time for the media. playing in the first Football Bowl Series tournament. mediately comes to mind, and that is Tom Jernstedt,” He was an integral part of the negotiations of the Thankfully, college sports disagreed with Emmert. said Wayne Duke, the 2006 Katha Quinn Award winner first contract between CBS and the NCAA for the tour- Tom, his wife Kris, and son Cole live in Indianapo- and former commissioner of the Big Ten and Big Eight nament rights, a three-year, $50 million contract in 1982, lis, the same city where the organization he served so as well one of the prominent chairmen of the NCAA as well as extensions in 1989 and 1994. Just five years well for almost four decades is located. USBWA to honor Clarkson’s eye, 60 years of Final Fours By DAVE DORR He has mentored nearly 100 Take a bow, Rich Clarkson. photographers, some of whom have won Your practiced eye, your mastery of telling a story Pulitzer Prizes, some of whom are photo with a camera set you apart. Way, way apart. editors at major publications. All carry What has distinguished Clarkson’s acclaimed work his weighty influence, inspiration and for decades was his gift for seeing through his camera principles of photojournalism – news and lens what everyone else was missing. Writers know it sports – he drilled into them. They’re still as imagery. It is the uncommon, the remarkable, the learning from him. They are his legacy. dramatic, the powerful. It is what brings a story or photo Clarkson grew up in Lawrence, Kan. alive. Clarkson’s best pictures need no accompanying His family lived above his grandmother’s text. One look really is worth a thousand words. restaurant. In the world of sports photography, Clarkson stands His basketball baptism came at age alone. His peers and proteges alike use words like seven at the knees of basketball nobility. transcendent to describe his talent. He always was a step One day he wandered into a KU practice. ahead, searching for ways to make each picture better introduced him to James than the last. He was the first to mount a camera on a Naismith. basketball backboard, which speaks to his creativity. By the time he was in junior high he His photos have appeared on dozens of Sports already was serious about journalism. He Illustrated covers, on the pages of Time and Life produced a mimeographed newspaper magazines and in countless books. with 35 subscribers. Another interest was Rich Clarkson will shoot his 60th Final Four. His favorite sport is college basketball. His favorite airplanes. This led to his first big-time event is the Final Four. Fittingly, the USBWA will honor interview. At dinner that night his dad asked if he came Clarkson demanded perfection from himself. Detail Clarkson and his legendary career on April 6 at the Final back with an autograph. The story, as Clarkson told the and innovation were up front. He pursued his passion Four in Indianapolis. Denver Post, went like this: “I said, ‘Dad, journalists in a lifetime of storytelling that began on the day he This Final Four will be Clarkson’s 60th. His first don’t do that.’ And that is why, to this day, I don’t have borrowed his mom’s box camera. was in 1952 when he was a freshman at Kansas. Orville Wright’s autograph.” His achievements as one of America’s premier These days he heads his Denver-based Rich In high school, he was covering the Jayhawks and photographers are displayed at the Richard C. Clarkson Clarkson and Associates LLC, a multimedia company, selling his photos to newspapers in Topeka, Lawrence Gallery. It was dedicated in 2012 at the William Allen and, at age 82, does so with a spirited, unending appetite and Kansas City. He devoured photography magazines. White School of Journalism on the Kansas campus, for new challenges. Winston Churchill said success He studied lighting techniques in photos. He worked at where it belongs. Why? Because Clarkson is KU to the is never final. The secret, Clarkson says, “is a martini a camera store. core. every night.” His group provides photography for all 89 Years later, as his reputation flourished, he got access Someone once asked him what makes a great NCAA championships. His series of workshops bring at sports events no one else got, thanks to the widespread photographer. He said, “Uniqueness. I can’t define it, but together annually a faculty of world-class photographers trust and respect he earned. let him shoot I know it when I see it.” and networking opportunities, a Godsend for aspiring from the Kentucky bench. Then, again, you always make Yes, he knows it well. His camera, his pictures, his photographers. your own luck. storied career sum up the very essence of unique.

BASKETBALL T IMES USBWA shares special day with Lauren Hill By MEL GREENBERG trinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, and At a recent function here in Phila- was given at best two years to live. It delphia, popular Saint Joseph’s men’s was just 48 days after Lauren, a star at coach approached and nearby Lawrenceburg High in started a conversation by noting: “Lau- who wears No. 22, had committed to ren Hill, there won’t be a bigger story in the Lions. all of women’s basketball this season.” She continued to play last season Indeed, the well-chronicled stand while taking treatments for the disease that the 19-year-old Division III fresh- but soon after arriving at Mount St. Jo- man player at Mount St. Joseph’s in seph’s in September, she learned the tu- Cincinnati has taken in pursuing her mor was growing and doctors gave her love of basketball and raising aware- until December, at best, to live. ness in the face of suffering with a ter- At that moment, she still yearned minal and rare form of pediatric brain to play in her first collegiate game. cancer has captured the hearts of the Lauren’s story became known through nation and many in the sports world be- social media, with many initiatives in- yond the basketball community. volved to raise money for the Lauren And on Nov. 2 at Xavier’s Cintas Hill Tribute Fund at The Cure Starts Center, before a sellout crowd of 10,000 Now. that included top stars from the WNBA The USBWA will be making a do- and some from the NFL and also before nation as it has for causes specified by a nationwide TV audience, Lauren real- previous Most Courageous men’s and ized her goal of reaching her first col- women’s winners. legiate game and scoring. At halftime, To help Lauren realize her dream, the USBWA was there to help celebrate coach Dan Benjamin was able to get the realization of her dream with the Hiram to agree to move the season presentation of the Most opener to Mount St. Joseph’s and play Courageous Award that involved an un- two weeks earlier if the NCAA gave an precedented action by the organization. exemption, which it did in an unprec- “Today has been the best day I’ve edented action. ever had,” Hill said after her team had A few days later, during a USBWA Lauren Hill gets a hug from Pat Summitt, with Mel Greenberg looking on. beaten Hiram College. “Thank you. I board teleconference to prepare for the don’t know what else to say but thank you.” made a special trip to help with the presentation, as season, it was suggested that perhaps we might take In a surprise appearance, Tennessee women’s did former Tennessee star of the the unusual step of presenting the award right now to basketball coach emeritus Pat Summitt, for whom the WNBA Indiana Fever. give to Lauren while she could still accept it in person. award is named and is battling Alzheimer’s disease, A year ago, Hill was diagnosed with diffuse in- The motion was approved in a flash. The school was then contacted and, thrilled with the honor, offi- cials suggested that it be given to Lauren at the game with halftime built around the presentation. Paige, Okafor head preseason lists Meanwhile, between that time and the actual ST. LOUIS – The ; Caris LeVert, event, Xavier offered to take the game from the 100 or USBWA announced Michigan; , so seat-gym at Mount St. Joseph’s to its larger venue. early season watch lists LSU; Larry Nance Jr., A week later, tickets were gone within an hour of go- for national player and Wyoming; , ing on sale. freshman of the year. Iowa State; , Fox- was going to telecast the game, but by Heading the lists are Duke; , North Nov. 2, Fox put it on any outlet not involved with Sun- preseason picks Marcus Carolina; Kevin Pangos, day NFL contests. At those places that aired football, Paige of North Carolina Gonzaga ; , the game was aired on a delayed basis. for the Oscar Robertson Nebraska; Bobby The network executives also said they wanted to Trophy for player of the Portis, Arkansas ; Angel air the entire USBWA presentation. When the half ar- year and Jahlil Okafor Rodriquez, Miami ; Juwan rived, the running clock between periods would not of Duke for the Wayman Staten, West Virginia; Karl- start until Lauren had received the plaque. Tisdale Award for Anthony Towns, USBWA member Debbie Antonelli, who was the freshman of the year. Kentucky; Fred VanVleet, analyst for the broadcast, said beforehand, “Hardest The player and Wichita State; Justise thing I ever had to do. I was around at the end when freshman of the year Winslow, Duke; Delon (her college coach) passed away, but this is awards, along with the Wright, Utah. much different.” for Marcus Paige Jahlil Okafor Wayman Tisdale Likewise from here, it was the most challenging national coach of the Award – , speech to write and present, but it was well-received. year, will be announced in March and presented to Kansas; James Blackmon Jr., Indiana; Daniel Hamilton, In the interest of space, you can read the transcript at the winners at the Devon Energy College Basketball UConn ; Justin Jackson, North Carolina; Robert my womhoops guru blog – http://womhoops.blogspot. Awards gala at the National Cowboy and Western Johnson, Indiana; Stanley Johnson, Arizona; , com/2014/11/transcript-of-guru-usbwa-pat-summitt. Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City on April 14. Duke; Kaleb Joseph, Syracuse ; , UCLA ; html. Following are the complete watch lists: , Kentucky; Chris McCullough, Syracuse; Jahlil Needless to say emotions flowed greatly, es- 2014-15 USBWA MEN’S WATCH LISTS Okafor, Duke; , Louisville; Kelly pecially when Lauren was announced in the lineup, – Ron Baker, Wichita Oubre Jr., Kansas; D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State; Karl- when she scored right at the outset and when she got State; , Michigan State; , Anthony Towns, Kentucky; Reid Travis, Stanford; Myles back into the game and scored again right at the end. Wisconsin; , Notre Dame; , Turner, Texas; , Kentucky; , Recently in a call, coach Benjamin noted, “Lau- Louisville; , Kentucky; Andrew Harrison, UNLV; , Seton Hall; , ren achieved what she desired. Our job going forward Kentucky; Stanley Johnson, Arizona; , Duke. is to carry her legacy every day.”