Visit: www.usbwa.com password: tipoff VOLUME 41, NO. 1 November , 2003 Help me help you by passing along ideas, suggestions The surest sign that it’s time for another college basketball season isn’t the start of practice. It’s not Kentucky fans howling and pacing over the latest recruiting news. It’s President’s Column not even the arrival in the mail of another book by Dick Vitale. Nope. By RICK It’s the e-mail I received from Basketball Times editor John Akers that it’s time for my Tip-Off column. BOZICH So rather than risk starting my administration with a Louisville Courier Journal bad record on deadline, I’ve decided to make deadline by enlisting your help. It might be my column. But it’s your organization. So I’m asking for your thoughts and ideas on the most That’s the way it’s been at a number of major-league fact, I used it to get on-line at the Starbucks adjacent to pressing issues facing writers today. I’ll even get you baseball parks for years. The University of Kentucky has campus at Syracuse when I was there for the Louisville- started by coming up with the first three – then you can send charged for Rupp Arena parking passes for many years. No Syracuse game. your ideas to me at [email protected]. problem. I don’t expect freebies. The makers of anti- Felt pretty cutting-edge – except for the $9.99 daily That way I’ll have a head start on next month’s column cholesterol medication sponsor most press box food. It charge. – and keep John Akers happy. helps increase their sales. I try to bring my own food – or eat I’ve heard – but not seen – that several press facilities 1. Schools charging for parking passes, meals and before I go to the game. around the country are set up for wireless Internet access. other items. All I ask for are an electrical outlet, a spot on press row, I believe several of the schools in Mississippi have wireless That appears to be the trend, folks. And I don’t have a a place to work away from the taunts of fans and access to capability for hoops. (Please advise if that is so.) problem with it – as long as the charges are outlined in the players and coaches I need to interview for my column. My questions, especially for the sports information advance and applicable to all media members, including Of course, the next question is: When are schools folks who are members of our organization, are: Is this the fan rags that seem to be crowding more and more press going to start charging for press passes? going to be the trend? Are more schools installing wireless rooms. 2. Wireless Internet Access. in press rooms? Will we see it at NCAA Tournament sites? In early October, I covered the Indiana-Michigan State One benefit of being the parent of two college students I hope so. Makes Internet access a snap. Simplifies football game at East Lansing. MSU charges for press is they’re able to teach me computer tricks I’d never learn filing. And eliminates the need to have a telephone installed. parking and it charged $6.50 to eat the pre-game meal (hot on my own. 3. Who are your picks for the Final Four? dogs, sloppy Joes, chips, soft drinks and the world-famous Today, I not only have a wireless router at home, I also Had to talk a little hoops, you know. Enjoy the 2003- MSU ice cream.) have the proper hardware to be wireless with my laptop. In 04 season and march toward San Antonio. Meet your new 1. Connecticut 2. Duke USBWA president USBWA picks Connecticut 3. Missouri Rick Bozich, a sports columnists with the Louisville 4. Michigan State 5. Kansas Courier-Journal, has worked at Louisville newspapers for in pre-season hoops poll 6. Kentucky 25 years. A 1975 graduate of Indiana University, Bozich 7. Syracuse worked for papers in Anderson (Ind.) and Bloomington Connecticut, which returns All-America A young and talented Michigan State 8. North Carolina before joining the Courier-Journal as a copy editor in 1978. candidates Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon squad, which reached the Elite Eight 9. Florida He replaced Dick Fenlon as the sports columnist of the among five starters, has been named during a 22-13 season, is expected to join 10. Gonzaga Louisville Times in 1981 and became a sports columnist at 11. Arizona USBWA’s pre-season No. 1 team. the Huskies, Blue Devils and Tigers in the 12. Wisconsin the C-J in 1986. He has covered 22 of the last 23 NCAA The Huskies, coming off a 23-10 season Final Four. 13. Texas Final Fours. He missed the 1982 Final Four in New Orleans and Sweet 16 appearance, also picked up Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, North 14. Illinois while awaiting the birth of his son, Alex. highly recruited freshman forward Charlie Carolina, Florida and Gonzaga round out 15. Oklahoma A two-time first-place winner in the Associated Press Villanueva. the Top 10. 16. Cincinnati Sports Editor writing competition, Bozich is also a college Duke, which returns all but Dahntay The second 10 consists of Arizona, 17. Pittsburgh 18. Notre Dame basketball correspondent for Sports Illustrated. He has won Jones from a starting lineup that went 27-6, Wisconsin, Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, eight Red Smith Awards for stories about the Kentucky 19. Louisville nailed down the No. 2 spot. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, 20. Saint Joseph’s Derby and 17 awards in USBWA competition. Missouri, which counts standouts Louisville and Saint Joseph's. 21. Wake Forest Bozich lives in New Albany, Ind. Besides his son, who Arthur Johnson and Rickey Paulding among Rounding out the Top 25: Wake 22. Stanford will be a senior at Indiana University-Southeast, Bozich four returning starters from a 22-11 season, Forest, Stanford, North Carolina State, 23. North Carolina State also has a daughter, Maggie, who is a sophomore at Indiana is ranked third. Marquette and Oklahoma State. 24. Marquette University-Bloomington. 25. Oklahoma State USBWA looking for a few good award nominees Welcome to another year with the U. S. Basketball Writers Association! This marks the association’s 48th year since it was Executive Director formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Today, the USBWA stands strong with nearly 800 members representing sports journalists BY JOE MITCH here and abroad who cover college basketball. The USBWA was founded to benefit basketball writers and to promote MVC the best interests of the sport. During the last five decades, the USBWA has promoted basketball and served the interests of its membership through cooperative efforts with the NABC, the Basketball Hall of encourage and recognize outstanding achievements in tragic plane crash that killed 10 members of the team. Fame, the NCAA, other writers’ and journalism sportsmanship, play, coaching, sports writing and other Katha Quinn Award. Presented annually in memory organizations and journalism educational institutions. fields contributing to the advancementExecutive of the college game. Directorof Katha Quinn, a former St. John's sports information The USBWA has strived to improve press services and To prepare you for the coming season and get you director who died following a courageous battle with cancer. facilities not only at the local level but also at NCAA thinking about people to nominate and others who might be The award honors SIDs who have excelled serving the tournaments. Many of the services now being provided for potential candidates, here is a capsule summary of the media and others who provide an inspiration to those in the media at the NCAA Final Four, regionals and first/ various awards the UBSWA will present this year: sports journalism. Past winners include Roger Valdiserri of second round games, are the result of efforts by the USBWA. Oscar Robertson Trophy. Goes to the men’s player Notre Dame; Rick Brewer of North Carolina; Bill Hancock An important objective by the USBWA each year is to of the year, named in honor of the former Cincinnati All- of the NCAA; Skeeter Francis of the ACC; Mark Asher of American and the USBWA’s first-ever player of the year. the Washington Post, who continued working while battling The United States Basketball Writers Association Henry Iba Trophy. Awarded to the men’s coach of serious health problems; and last year’s recipient, Jack the year and named after the legendary Olympic and two- Watkins of the Missouri Valley Conference, who with wife 1818 Chouteau Avenue time national championship coach at Oklahoma A&M. Genny cared for a disabled daughter – and eventually saw St. Louis, Mo. 63103 All-American Teams. First and second five-person her pass away – while serving as SID for the conference and squads are selected for both men and women. The USBWA media coordinator for several NCAA tournaments. Visit us at: www.usbwa.com also selects a women’s player and coach of the year. Hall of Fame. The USBWA honors members – both Most Courageous Award. Given annually to a person past and present – who have made significant contributions 314-421-0339 in amateur basketball – whether it's a player, coach, game to the organization and are recognized for their achievements Fax: 314-421-3505 Fax: 314-421-6120 official or administrator – who demonstrate extraordinary in sports journalism. To be eligible for consideration, an courage in life. Past award winners include coach and TV individual must have 20 years of service in the profession.