Commentary by Josh Goff (3-2-05)

Technology’s a great thing. A couple years ago, who would have thought you could lie in bed in a $55-a-night hotel in the state of Mississippi and peruse the Internets, all without tying up a phone line?

Here we are in 2005 and that once-unthinkable feat is now reality, so I’m sprawled out here at 1:45 a.m., thinking back on Day 1 of the Gulf South Conference Tournament.

After four games, three hours of driving, two unsuccessful fast-food attempts, and one little navigational mishap, this is what I’ve learned on the trip:

- Tupelo, while much greater than Cleveland, Miss., is absolute junk (Not the people. Everybody in Tupelo is nice. The town is not). Already, three locals have asked us “what are you doing in Tupelo?” and snarled as if there is no good reason to be here unless you absolutely have to be. In particular, one Wal-Mart associate seemed to be pretty tore up about living here and couldn’t fathom one visiting here just to watch basketball. Also, more importantly, Taco Bell shuts down at 10 p.m. and McDonald’s is done at 11. This is unacceptable.

- Kudos to the BancorpSouth Center for joining the Technology Era and rigging up wireless Internet throughout the facility. Last year it was dial-up or bust, which is just about enough to make you wrap that useless Ethernet cable tightly around your neck.

Big resounding boo to whoever laid out the media-accessible pathways. Last year, you entered, went through a curtain that took you right behind the court, went through another curtain and you were right there on the court and just had to find your seat along press row. When you needed to go to the media room or the hospitality room, you simply followed that same path back the other way. Simple enough.

- Well, not this year. That made entirely too much sense. Now you go in and stare longingly at the curtain before making a right turn to go down a hallway and then make a left through some double doors which leaves you in the exact same spot you would’ve come out of the old way … it just adds 2390838 steps. It’s bad enough reporting to press row, but it’s worse when you want to go from press row to one of the rooms. Instead of going through the curtain, making the right turn and walking about 10 feet, you have to go around the concourse level of the center and take that extra ?-mile hike.

-This was done, evidently, due to a couple instances last year where coaches had some altercations right after games. So now we have walkways partitioned off, but the teams also now leave one at a time to avoid conflict. That makes sense, sure. But because a couple coaches get heated doesn’t mean media members can’t quietly coexist in a large open area for about 8 seconds with a coach and team.

- Seeing Grimes Tire Shop on Lamar Ave. in Memphis is amusing, at least to a couple people who know their UCA basketball.

“The Way You Move” isn’t an Outkast original piece. Who knew? Evidently Earth, Wind, and Fire and Kenny G collaborated on this joint years ago. Never heard it until today. You gotta love that Mississippi radio.

- Traffic congestion in Tupelo will make you feel right at home if you’re missing Conway. Just find Main St. and spend the next six hours traveling two city blocks.

- Don’t mess with the Harding Bisons or the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. Both teams are playing some of their best ball of the year, and at the right time. As if things weren’t convoluted enough heading into the tourney, with these two teams playing at a ridiculously high level, there’s no telling who might win this thing. We do know, however, that it won’t be North Alabama. Probably not a good sign when your starters get 22 points and your bench guys 36. Way to go.

- Sleep is good. I’ll be back with more tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the message boards.





			Technology is king

		Commentary by Josh Goff (3-2-05) Technology’s a great thing. A couple years ago, who would have thought you could lie in bed in a $55-a-night hotel in the state of Mississippi and peruse the Internets, all without tying up a phone line? Here we are in 2005 and that once-unthinkable feat is now reality, so I’m sprawled out here at 1:45 a.m., thinking back on Day 1 of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. After four games, three hours of driving, two unsuccessful fast-food attempts, and one little navigational mishap, this is what I’ve learned on the trip: - Tupelo, while much greater than Cleveland, Miss., is absolute junk (Not the people. Everybody in Tupelo is nice. The town is not). Already, three locals have asked us “what are you doing in Tupelo?” and snarled as if there is no good reason to be here unless you absolutely have to be. In particular, one Wal-Mart associate seemed to be pretty tore up about living here and couldn’t fathom one visiting here just to watch basketball. Also, more importantly, Taco Bell shuts down at 10 p.m. and McDonald’s is done at 11. This is unacceptable. - Kudos to the BancorpSouth Center for joining the Technology Era and rigging up wireless Internet throughout the facility. Last year it was dial-up or bust, which is just about enough to make you wrap that useless Ethernet cable tightly around your neck. Big resounding boo to whoever laid out the media-accessible pathways. Last year, you entered, went through a curtain that took you right behind the court, went through another curtain and you were right there on the court and just had to find your seat along press row. When you needed to go to the media room or the hospitality room, you simply followed that same path back the other way. Simple enough. - Well, not this year. That made entirely too much sense. Now you go in and stare longingly at the curtain before making a right turn to go down a hallway and then make a left through some double doors which leaves you in the exact same spot you would’ve come out of the old way … it just adds 2390838 steps. It’s bad enough reporting to press row, but it’s worse when you want to go from press row to one of the rooms. Instead of going through the curtain, making the right turn and walking about 10 feet, you have to go around the concourse level of the center and take that extra ?-mile hike. -This was done, evidently, due to a couple instances last year where coaches had some altercations right after games. So now we have walkways partitioned off, but the teams also now leave one at a time to avoid conflict. That makes sense, sure. But because a couple coaches get heated doesn’t mean media members can’t quietly coexist in a large open area for about 8 seconds with a coach and team. - Seeing Grimes Tire Shop on Lamar Ave. in Memphis is amusing, at least to a couple people who know their UCA basketball. “The Way You Move” isn’t an Outkast original piece. Who knew? Evidently Earth, Wind, and Fire and Kenny G collaborated on this joint years ago. Never heard it until today. You gotta love that Mississippi radio. - Traffic congestion in Tupelo will make you feel right at home if you’re missing Conway. Just find Main St. and spend the next six hours traveling two city blocks. - Don’t mess with the Harding Bisons or the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. Both teams are playing some of their best ball of the year, and at the right time. As if things weren’t convoluted enough heading into the tourney, with these two teams playing at a ridiculously high level, there’s no telling who might win this thing. We do know, however, that it won’t be North Alabama. Probably not a good sign when your starters get 22 points and your bench guys 36. Way to go. - Sleep is good. I’ll be back with more tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the message boards.