This is how bad it's gotten for the Great Alaska Shootout

[Frozen]

The TV play-by-play for the consolation game and the championship game is being done by a guy who three years ago handled boxes at UPS.

 

[rstone7727]

Alaska, i'm told is a lot like the wild west, Doctor, Sheriff, Undertaker, Plumber is the same guy.

 

[PeteCalvin]

The TV play-by-play for the consolation game and the championship game is being done by a guy who three years ago handled boxes at UPS.

You mean Sarah Palin wasn't available? They should have hired that "Tougher in Alaska" guy. He could have gone on about how hard it is to shoot, jump and dunk in Alaska, and told the story about how Carlos Boozer and Trajan Langdon were raised by wolves and polar bears until Coach K found them on a hunting expedition.

That tourney used to be one of the premier pre-season events. The NCAA killed it with their pre season tournament rule. Another great decision they made.

 

[bevosu]

I've run into a lot of baggers in Wegmans who could do a better play by play than half the so called professionals that I've heard in recent years.

 

[cto]

Alaska, i'm told is a lot like the wild west, Doctor, Sheriff, Undertaker, Plumber is the same guy.

and he's also the postmaster. it's all about who you know

 

[Czar]

Good article about it all.

http://www.basketballtimesonline.com/2009/12/bto-exclusive-alaskas-fight-to-save.html

 

[CuseTroop]

I live in Fairbanks, and frequent a sports bar.. Not one local spoke about the great Alaskan shoot out... No good teams, no advertising up here.. I hardly knew it was going on. They get some talent, I'll make the trip, other than that, I'll watch D2


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=64.844865,-147.863820

 

[Czar]

Attention: If you have YES Network, they're about to play the final in about 15 minutes. Murray State vs. Southern Miss.

 

[cto]

Good article about it all.

http://www.basketballtimesonline.com/2009/12/bto-exclusive-alaskas-fight-to-save.html

Great article. Worth reading.

 

[AlaskaSU]

What was not mentioned is that Alaska is actually basketball crazed. Players like Boozer and Chalmers would otherwise be a statistical anomaly. The State also produces a fair number of D-1 players. Every remote interior arctic village and coastal native fishing village, has a gym full of kids shooting hoops and dreaming of the big time as a way out of the village. There are also all sorts of adult regional leagues that travel to play each other at annual regional tournaments, each with their own rich history and local legends. Even small villages will field A,B, C and D level teams. The Shootout used to draw fans from all over the State. The original intent of the NCAA exemption was to expose the outlying areas (AK, HI, Puerto Rico) to big time college ball, to make it a truly national sport. The sad thing about the demise of the Shootout is that the original purpose of the the NCAA exemption is still valid and without it there will be no first hand exposure to D-1 ball in Alaska. RIP

 

[OrlandoCuse]

The TV play-by-play for the consolation game and the championship game is being done by a guy who three years ago handled boxes at UPS.

That's a little misleading. It looks like he worked at UPS for a short time period while getting his degree at UAA. Looks like he graduated a year ago and got the play by play gig. It's Alaska-Anchorage, it's not like he went from college to ESPN in a year.