Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Dance review

By PETE YOUNG
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 2, 2002

After three fervent weeks and culminating on April Fool's Day, March Madness has come to an end. The NCAA Tournament concluded in Atlanta, meaning we won't see (or hear) Dick Vitale on ESPN for another seven months.

WHAT'S TO CHEER ABOUT?: Neither Maryland nor Indiana fans were factors during the first half of the final, presumably because both teams were playing terribly. The Terrapins were ahead throughout but botched numerous close-in shot attempts, while the Hoosiers missed their final five free throws of the half. A minute into the second half, announcer Billy Packer said, "This game is one of the poorest played games I've seen in a Final Four in a long time."

TRADE OFF: Multiple giant television screens inside the Georgia Dome were broadcasting the action live but not on replay. Every time play stopped, the screens would -- annoyingly -- show a still image of the Final Four logo instead of a replay of a foul call or great play.

THE COW TURTLE: Good plays by Maryland's Byron Mouton elicited a loud "Mooooooo" from Terrapin fans.

GONE IN 11 SECONDS: A lay-in by Indiana's Jared Jeffries gave the Hoosiers their first lead, 44-42, midway through the second half, at the 9:53 mark. With 9:42 left, Maryland's Juan Dixon made a 3-pointer to put the Terps back on top for good.

ATLANTA, INDIANA: There is no empirical evidence to back this up, but Indiana was the unofficial winner of "Most Supported Team" in Atlanta. The Hoosier Nation edged hearty contingents from Kansas and Maryland by having the most fans in the building and around the city.

DIVIDED SUPPORT: Football school Oklahoma was a distant fourth in fan support. Perhaps most Sooner hoops followers were in San Antonio, Texas backing the women's team.

BAD CONFERENCE?: The Big Ten took a lot of flak for its alleged mediocrity this season. Indiana's tournament performance gives the conference's backers some ammunition to return fire.

SANS SPECTACLES: Kansas guard Kirk Hinrich was serenaded by Maryland fans during Saturday's semifinal with a chant of "Har-ry Pot-ter" while he was shooting free throws.

RED TIDE: Indiana and Maryland nearly have an identical shade of red as their primary color, and it dominated the landscape inside -- and elsewhere. At Turner Field, where the Braves hosted the Phillies on opening day Monday, Indiana/Maryland red was scattered throughout.

WHAT CAUSED IT?: The slick court, especially noticeable late in the second semifinal Saturday, was the product of a rainy, humid day and the 50,000-plus crowd, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, the Kansas City Star said there also was a leak in the roof. Kansas' Keith Langford slipped and injured his wrist late in the game.

PRICEY DUCATS: Tickets were scarce Saturday, and bad seats were being hawked outside the dome for $500 a pop. After the first game tipped off, and as scalpers grew weary of the rain and chill, prices dropped. By the second half of the opening game, decent seats could be had for $250 each.

MORE ECONOMICAL: Tickets for the title game were in large supply and much cheaper, primarily because most Kansas and Oklahoma fans unloaded theirs after the Jayhawks and Sooners lost.

HOMETOWN HEROES: Indiana's A.J. Moye and Jeff Newton, who both played high school ball in the area, were the toast of Atlanta. The Journal-Constitution dedicated a significant amount of its coverage to the local products, and IU fans in a packed Buckhead bar Sunday night repeatedly chanted their names.

THEIR CARS LOOK NICE: Sunday's giant headline in the Kansas City Star: "TURTLE WAXED"

WHEN 20/20 ISN'T ENOUGH: Upper deck sections at the far end of the dome were sold as "distant view" seats, and several thousand opted to test their vision. A photo in the Journal-Constitution from one of the farthest seats -- measured at 528 feet from midcourt -- made it look like another viewing option, television, would have been much better -- and cheaper.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright