Tuesday, May 1, 2001

[ COLLEGE BASKETBALL ]

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Coaches and media
against proposal that
feeds the rich

Basketball figures from around
the nation agree that Hawaii's
tournaments are good
for everyone

Rainbow Classic a special tournament
coaches want to save from extinction

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By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Editor's Note: "Up In The Air" is a three-day series exploring the issue of certified events in college basketball and how it impacts Hawaii and the national scene. >> Sunday: How Hawaii became basketball paradise during the holiday season. >> Monday: What the future holds if proposed legislation by the NCAA -- which would eliminate exemptions for teams coming to Hawaii -- is passed. >> Tuesday: Dick Vitale and others tell the Star-Bulletin why the proposal is bad for all of college basketball.

MANY WHO FOLLOW college basketball closely love Dick Vitale, while many find him obnoxious and overly opinionated. But most agree on one thing -- he reflects the passion and conscience of the game.

So when Vitale speaks out on an issue, people tend to listen (as if they have a choice).

The veteran broadcaster and former coach is among those to have come out loud and direct against the NCAA's proposal to eliminate the exempt status for certified events like the Maui Invitational and Rainbow Classic.

"I feel very strongly opposed," Vitale told the Star-Bulletin last week. "It's very unfair, mostly to the kids (college basketball players). Those tournaments give kids an opportunity for cultural experiences they wouldn't otherwise have.

"Plus, they're a great kickoff to the college basketball season. Mid-major teams don't have many other opportunities to share the court with the bigger-name teams and make a name for themselves."

Other respected national college basketball media voices like Andy Katz of ESPN and Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News have also blasted the proposal -- and not just because it could cost them an annual trip to Hawaii.

"I've still not met anyone but mid-level NCAA administrators who support it," Katz said. "I get a sense there's a chance (to get it overturned). You hope they will be sensible and not push it through."

The NCAA's board of directors -- perhaps feeling the heat of the media, coaches and athletic directors, potential lawsuits and lobbying by U.S. senators (including Hawaii's Daniel Inouye) -- backed off a bit last Thursday. The board, made up of university presidents, sent the proposal back to its management council for further study.

The main reason the media is against the proposal is that they foresee the very rich getting richer and the teams on the verge of greatness losing opportunities in a sport where Cinderella often gets ready for the Dance in November on Maui.

Previously unheralded Gonzaga now has three consecutive seasons where it has won at least two games in the NCAA Tournament. It is a perfect example of a program on the rise that uses exempt events to get an even chance against elite teams -- teams that won't play on the road unless they absolutely have to or there is lots of TV money involved.

Upper-crust teams don't want to travel to Spokane, Wash., and Gonzaga's 4,000-seat Martin Centre, better known as "The Kennel." Why risk a loss for a small payout when it can make money playing -- and probably winning -- at home?

But a nationally televised game on Maui is a different matter.

"Gonzaga is opposed to changing anything," Bulldogs athletic director Mike Roth said. "Our president signed a petition to override the NCAA proposal. Those tournaments are great opportunities for schools like Gonzaga to play against Top-10 competition."

And there are coaches of big-time programs who are vehemently against the NCAA's proposal.

"I can't imagine a worse decision for college basketball," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told ESPN.com. "Those tournaments were the greatest thing about November and December. I have yet to speak to someone who actually supports this. The whole month of November had big games, but they won't be there now."

So the issue is bigger than Hawaii's teams and their unique problems.

Vitale said it's about hypocrisy. For example, the NCAA cited lost school time as one of the reasons for the proposal. But many of the tournaments are played during school holidays.

"It's greed and power," Vitale said. "Money prevails over what should be important -- the kids and good competition."