TALES FROM ABOVE THE RIM

Gonna change it up from the usual "fix-someone-else's-problem" format and go with random thoughts. I just returned from attending my first (hopefully of many more since I am obsessed with the NCAA tournament) Final Four and wanted to share some things I noticed

-The city of Atlanta is doing a great job as host of the event. If nothing else, the city promoted itself as a town receptive to large crowds for events of this magnitude and a place with a lot to do. Centennial Park was a zoo, but is serving as a great meeting/gathering place--free concerts all weekend, stands with merchandise, food and games, free concerts all weekend, and a big screen to air the championship game Monday night. In addition, ESPN was broadcasting television at Atlantic Station (creating another fan gathering zone) and CNN Center. In all, just a great atmosphere for an event like this.

-With such a large crowd, several companies made great (even if minor on the surface) PR moves to create awareness. LifeSavers, Hardees and Vault were giving out freebies, and ESPN radio was passing out t-shirts; a cheap and easy way to get people to promote/display your product. In addition, State Farm put its logo on seat cushions awaiting each fan inside the Georgia Dome. Who knows, maybe someone will think, "Wow, I like State Farm since they cared to make my backside comfortable"

-The ESPN radio team of familiar faces (Andy Katz, Pat Forde) and not so familiar (Bob Valvano, Atlanta's own John Kincaid) presented themselves very well, but they may want to rethink analyst Doug Gottlieb's representation of the organization. While the rest of the broadcast team and their guests (NCAA coaches) were dressed formally and took pride in being live on the radio at CNN Center, Gottlieb looked like he just rolled out of bed in a t-shirt and jeans. I know you're on the radio and don't need to worry about what you look like, but it just came off to me as lazy and unprofessional.

-Nothing comes cheap at the Final Four...I'll leave it at that.

-Florida coach Billy Donovan dodged a PR crisis...sorta. Hours before tipping off tonight, word broke that Donovan was going to be offered the head coaching job at Kentucky. In answering questions, Donovan seemed to dodge the news and preach remaining focused on the game tonight. However, if he really is intent on staying at Florida, wouldn't he have just put everyone on ease and said, "I'm withdrawing my name from consideration"? Even if he does want to wait until after the Final Four (and understandably so) to deal with his future, this did put somewhat of a dark cloud over the Gator camp.

-Everyone who has dogged this year's NCAA Tournament for being "boring" and "uneventful" should watch another sport. Yeah, this year's tourney hasn't had the traditional Cinderellas and buzzer-beaters to replay over and over again as past years have had, but the competition has been great. The Cinderellas were there--they were just disguised as an underappreciated No. 2 (Memphis) and an overachieving No. 5 (Butler). More importantly, in the end, the two teams that played the best consistent winning basketball all year (Florida and Ohio State) will be playing for the championship, and that's how it should be.

Should be fun to watch Monday night...the "One Shining Moment" recap video is among my favorite 3-minutes of the year.

JC