January 2003
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Visit: www.usbwa.com password: tipoff VOLUME 40, NO. 2 January, 2003 President’s Column A message By STEVE meant for a few RICHARDSON I want to thank you all for your comments, e-mails domains as athletic directors cut corners and budgets. As the media to answer questions. and phone calls about the recent column I wrote regarding a result, the flow of information from SOME offices and Bill is working out of his home in Kansas City the concerns of some writers about the services SOME the ability to cover SOME teams has dwindled. during most of December. But he will be in Indianapolis SIDs are providing. And I want to underscore the word It’s a case if the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn’t, don’t. full-time after the first year and leading into the NCAA some SIDs. ***** Tournament. A few, but not the majority of callers or e-mailers, The USBWA Board is extremely happy that the ***** believed I was commenting about all SIDS. That was NCAA has tabbed Bill Hancock as its director of media One of the more interesting media ventures this never the case. And it was never intended to be the case. services for the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. season is going on at the St. Petersburg Times. The paper Basically, when you identify some members of a The USBWA officers were particularly concerned has adopted the Southern Illinois University Salukis as group, there tends to be a pack mentality apparently. who would replace Jim Marchiony. Marchiony, who has its team. First and second round NCAA Tournament I assume that if in CoSIDA Digest an SID listed 10 been a long-standing proponent of the print media and games will be held at the Ice Palace Arena in nearby things which bug him about writers, there might be some has fought to keep the media on the floor of the arena Tampa. writers who would be offended. I wouldn’t be one of them. covering the Final Four, took a post in the Connecticut Before the season, the paper ran a big story on the I would try and see what, if anything, I did on the list. athletic department after the 2002 Final Four in Atlanta. Salukis. And the parents of SIU guard Kent Williams Many SIDS who called or wrote me took it this way. Fortunately, Hancock has the same priorities and has received a copy of the story from relatives. Williams’ Others didn’t. Basically, there wasn’t anything new on the a print media background, although he has been on the relatives were surprised when they opened up the paper list of concerns. It all has been discussed at CoSIDA other side of the fence administrating the tournament for before the college basketball season and greeting them before. And I assume many of the points will be discussed awhile. was a picture of Williams and a large story about the again. Actually, the media will have the best of both worlds. Salukis. The basic purpose of the column was to help point out Hancock knows more about the bracketing procedures Each time the Salukis play, the paper runs an account some SIDs have less and less control over their own than probably anyone. And he will be very available to of the game. Well-intended grievance aired on wrong platform To the Members of the USBWA, seating at a neutral site and he was successful to a certain touch with SIDs who work with those “chilly” SIDs and Please accept my heartiest holiday wishes from the extent. Did he get everything he requested, no, but he explain your situation. Sometimes a little one-on-one College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). battled on behalf of the media. communication from your peers is helpful, and if not, the I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the column Battling and communication are my major points of next stop should be an athletic director. written by Steve Richardson, the President of the United emphasis. The SIDs are the people battling for members of SIDs are trying to balance a number of things, including States Basketball Writers Association. the media. Steve correctly points out the SIDs are in the whether members of the media prefer a hard copy of a The column titled “A Cold Shoulder” dealt more with middle and even admits there are those in a no-win situation. spring prospectus, or if they prefer an electronic version. the relationship between sports information directors (SIDs) After speaking with Steve on the phone, he explained Hopefully, a skilled SID can achieve that balance between and sportswriters, and it appeared in the USBWA newsletter. he was only trying to assist the SID who would battle arena assisting the media and keeping his job within the athletic Many members of the organization are SIDs. personnel and other athletic administrators. With a copy of department and making sure everyone stays on the same The case presented was the basketball press row his column, quite possibly a particular school would not page as far as communication is concerned. situation at Providence where the media has been moved move press row. His purpose was not to make broad Many thanks for the time and space in your publication. off of press row to provide more room for “big donors”. generalizations, but “if the shoe fits for some SIDs, maybe CoSIDA and the USBWA are two excellent organizations Many of the playing arenas are community-owned and the a little constructive criticism is warranted.” who will continue to work together. athletic departments are tenants. Discussions on press row I do feel like his heart was in the right place, but he seating can get heated between the owner of the building chose the wrong platform to air the grievance. Indeed, if Sincerely, and the tenants. there are those SIDs who fail to return phone calls, who do Alan Cannon, Texas A&M University My particular basketball SID battled for press row not try and work with the media, then by all means get in CoSIDA President Katha Quinn, Hall of Fame nominees are needed Nominations are now being accepted for two USBWA major sporting events awards given annually to recognize individuals for their while battling serious service to the organization and achievements in the sports health problems, some- Executive Director journalism profession. thing he’s done for close to The first is the Katha Quinn Award, which was 20 years. established in 1991 by past USBWA president Malcolm Asher suffers from BY JOE MITCH Moran in memory of Katha Quinn, the former sports diabetes and has had information director at St. John’s University who passed kidney and pancreas MVC away a year earlier following a courageous battle with transplants. cancer. But he has managed The award has two criteria: Nominees must either 1) to overcome those have rendered a special service to the USBWA and sports problems with a remarkable spirit and will that fellow Herald and the Daily News covering Dayton Flyers, Mid- writers who cover college basketball or 2) like Katha writer and friend Ken Denlinger spoke about so eloquently American Conference and Big Ten. Now retired. provide an inspiration to sports journalists. when he introduced Asher at lastExecutive year’s USBWA awards DirectorConnors, Bill (Tulsa World) – Late columnist and Last year’s recipient, Mark Asher of the Washington ceremony in Atlanta. sports editor for the Tulsa World. Regularly covered the Post, was the first person to meet both criteria. Asher long Prior to Asher the award was presented primarily to Big Eight, old SWC and Missouri Valley Conference and has been known for his superb columns and stories with the sports information directors, who also like Katha were was a frequent contributor to several preseason college Post but few knew that he continues to write and cover passionate about their careers and devoted to servicing the basketball magazines. Passed away two years ago after a media. long and distinguished career with the Tulsa World. Among them were Marvin “Skeeter” Francis, ACC Furfari, Mickey (West Virginia) – Has covered West and Wake Forest; Roger Valdiserri, Notre Dame; Rick Virginia sports for 50 years, through the eras of Hot Rod The United States Basketball Writers Association Brewer, North Carolina; Craig Miller and Amy Early, USA Hundley, Jerry West, Rod Thorn, and Fred Schaus. He 1818 Chouteau Avenue Basketball; Al Shrier, Temple; Tim Tolokan, Connecticut; retired after 40 year as a daily writer for the Morgantown Bill Hancock, NCAA and the Big Eight Conference; and Dominion Post but is still active as a columnist for a St. Louis, Mo. 63103 Mike Tranghese, a former SID who now is Big East syndicate of seven West Virginia newspapers. He was Visit us at: www.usbwa.com Conference Commissioner voted West Virginia sportswriter of the year five times and The second USBWA award is the organization’s Hall is considered dean of sports writing in the state. of Fame, which was established in 1988 and now numbers Hochman, Stan (Philadelphia Daily News) – Covered 314-421-0339 42 members. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, individuals college basketball in Philadelphia in the 1960s and 1970s Fax: 314-421-3505 Fax: 314-421-6120 must be nominated by a member of the organization, have for the Daily News. Later became a columnist with that 20 years of service in the business and have either made a newspaper. PRESIDENT significant contribution to the USBWA or are recognized Jauss, Bill (Chicago Tribune) – Long-time college Steve Richardson for their achievements in the sports journalism profession.