College Sports Information Directors of America

by Jim Burton, Ogden Standard (March 10, 2009)

The following is a true story. In fact, I'm guessing some of you were listening the night it happened.

In 2003, as the Weber State men's basketball team was muscling its way to an undefeated Big Sky Conference, I was was with the Wildcats in Bozeman, Mont.

With me were then-WSU radio play-by-play man Scott Miller and Weber State assistant athletic director/sports information director Brad Larsen.

Now, I'm going to preface this by noting that Miller had been feeling under the weather the entire trip and was slamming some sort of a honey-and-lemon concoction throughout the game, all in a brave attempt to keep his voice intact.

Larsen, on the other hand, was battling his usual case of the tight-game jitters.

Anyone who knows Brad knows he loves basketball and cares deeply for his Wildcats. Now in his 30th season at WSU, Larsen has been known to get so nervous near the end of close ballgames, he'll leave his seat on press row and go for a little walk.

Well, anyway, on this particular night, Miller was trying to do the play-by-play, while Larsen was attempting to sit still long enough to provide some color commentary for the radio audience back in Ogden.

Late in the game, with the Wildcats in a battle to keep their undefeated season alive, Brad just couldn't take it anymore, so he took the headset off, waved to Scott and went for a walk around Worthington Arena.

Not long after that, Miller looked over to me -- I was sitting there next to the radio team, minding my business, dutifully taking notes for my Standard-Examiner accounting of the game -- pointed to his throat and mouthed something about laryngitis.

He then shrugged his shoulders, took off his headset and slid it over to me.

Listeners at home may have heard dead air. However, anyone with access to my brain heard, "Huh?! Are you kidding? Me? Play-by-play?"

Well, the show must've gone on.

Frankly, I don't remember much about the harrowing few seconds that ensued. Details are somewhat unclear, but I'm confident it could've passed for a Tim Conway-Harvey Korman sketch on the old Carol Burnett show (I dated myself with that one, didn't I?).

I think Scott took mercy on me, guzzled some of that honey-lemon stuff, and took the headset back.

Brad eventually came back, too. The Wildcats went on to win the game, the conference regular-season crowns and the tournament as well.

OK, so now maybe you're asking, "Hey, funny man, what does any of that have to do with the Big Sky Conference tournament semifinals, which begin tonight at the Dee Events Center?"

Well, first of all, thank you for mentioning the tournament in your internal monologue. You saved me from having to do it myself.

Secondly, because the tournament is back here at Weber State, I feel it is my duty to immortalize my buddy Brad right here in glorious newsprint.

Larsen -- Lars to those who know -- loves the game of basketball and because he's worked in the WSU athletic department longer than a good chunk of the population has even been alive, he's filled with Big Sky hoop knowledge.

Having the Big Sky tournament here in Ogden for the third time in seven seasons means Lars will be in his element. He'll be there roaming around the Dee Events Center, directing the media, passing out updated statistics, occasionally barking at officials, and pacing back and forth when the Wildcats are playing.

"This is what it's all about," Larsen said.

And he's right, it is what it's all about.

The postseason college basketball is a wonderful thing and to have it in our own backyard makes it even better.

And leave it to Lars to find some greater meaning to all of it.

The economy is down, times are tough and the future? Well, who knows?

But for the next couple days Big Sky basketball can serve, if nothing else, as a distraction.

"With all the turmoil going on in the world, at least this is something to get your mind off what's going on," he said. "I know money is tight.
I say God bless the people who bought tickets. It's a tough economy right now and I just hope we can put on a good show."

So, if you get the opportunity to make it up to the Purple Palace this week, take advantage of it.

Have fun. Watch the show. Say hello to Brad if you get a chance.

And who knows?

Maybe you'll wind up with a funny story to tell.