Andy Katz

Friday morning breakfast will continue to get bigger, better

By ANDY KATZ / ESPN
andy.d.katz@espn3.com

The USBWA breakfast at Conseco Fieldhouse was a huge hit and should be our annual marquee event.
But we might need to expand it, even more.

There's no reason to get rid of the Monday morning breakfast, but I did notice a different tenor to the two and felt like we cheapened one of our most cherished awards.

I'd like to see us incorporate the Most Courageous Award as part of the player and coach of the year Friday morning breakfast. Every year, without fail, I get choked up when our most courageous recipient receives his or her honor.
That was the case again this April. The entire basketball community, not just the core writers, should have seen Tennessee Tech coach Mike Sutton and how courageous he was to continue his quest to coach. They should have heard his story, his struggle to return to the bench. And everyone needed to hear him thank his beloved wife Karen for the courage that she has shown in helping him through his rehab.

The program Friday morning had its highs by honoring the Indiana teams from 1976 and ‘81. But it could have been shorter with maybe only one question instead of three per person. If you include the most courageous award winner as part of our program, then you're putting that person on a larger stage. The award should be shared with as many people as possible, not just in a banquet room where the numbers aren't as high and more people are thinking about bolting for the Hall of Fame announcement or some other event.

Joe Mitch and Co. did wonders with this event. But we can make this better and more inclusive.

A few issues:

• We need to continue to push for more wireless access at all arenas around the country. The dial-up situation is archaic. The cost is an issue, but I'd like to know how many editors are concerned, or if this is more of reporters worried about turning in the high expense. Even though it can be a high expense, using the wireless is worth it and less stressful.

• The food needs to change in the NCAA Tournament. I may be speaking only for myself, but I know I'm tired of being drawn toward the salty snacks. I know I'm not alone here. I'd be glad to pay for regular lunch meats. Maybe it's a self-control issue, but the choices make it difficult. We are covering an athletic event, right? Yet, the food is clearly not something you'd want to eat around any kind of exercise.

• A thank you to David Worlock and Greg Shaheen for their hard work on making the NCAA Tournament a success again.
And, once more, a public thank you to the tireless work of the SIDs from the Final Four schools. All were extremely helpful throughout the tournament.