An Alternative Spring Break

As I sit in my apartment watching the 13-seed San Diego take on the 12-seed Western Kentucky, I think about how thankful I am Kansas wasn't playing in the Tampa Bay regional. I also reflect on the experience I was just blessed with. After one long four hour drive, that consisted of a lot of guessing and hoping, Kyle West and I safely made it home from Omaha. Like the day after any vacation I've ever been on, I woke up thinking I was still there. For a few seconds, I thought about what the tournament would be like today and how my stand-up and story would go. Then I remembered I was on 19th and Massachusetts Street and not a hotel across the street from the Qwest Center.

I know my friends will soon flock back to campus. They will roll in with a tan and some great stories, but I'll never wish, even for a second, I chose to go along with them.

Over the past week, from the Big 12 tournament semifinals and finals to the NCAA tournament first and second rounds in Omaha, I learned more about journalism than I have my entire time at Kansas. The experience I gained is irreplaceable. Although there is so much I could say about the experience, my last blog was much too long and I apologize to those of you who read it all the way through. As a reward I'll comprise a brief list of only the more remarkable things I was lucky enough to experience over the past week.

Sprint Center Kansas City,Mo.
Photo:Scootutopia.com

#1 Media buffets are awesome. At both the Big 12 and NCAA tournament the food was great. My taste buds still tingle when I think about the beef brisket in Kansas City or the Philly Cheese Steak in Omaha.

#2 Professionals get paid for a reason. Standing outside the Qwest Center I struggled to memorize my lines for the Kansas vs. Portland State post game stand-up. As I tried to pound the number of three pointers Kansas took into my head, I suddenly realized how much I had to learn. A reporter covering UNLV, and I'm not sure his name, set his tripod up just a few feet from my own. He then looked over his notes for only a minute or two and began to rattle off almost three minutes, although it felt like an eternity, of stand-up off the top of his head, on live television nonetheless. This sight was motivation for me. It made me realize that although I'm in the same media room as ESPN and CBS and Jay Marrioti, I'm definitely not even close to the same class. It comes through real world experience that can't be taught in even one of the best journalism school's classrooms. I'm so happy I've started to acquire first hand experience now, instead of later.

< Qwest Center Omaha, Neb.
Photo:Blogspot.com

#3 Press conference questions aren't always good ones. As I would sit in on the press conferences following games, I realized that I've definitely heard better questions directed toward guest speakers in my Journalism-301 class than I did in the press conference following the Kansas/Portland State game. I think Bill Self and Darrell Arthur were questioned about the Jayhawks three point shooting in six out of the total 10 questions asked. I realized that if I'm here I shouldn't be afraid to ask questions, because in a conference like that a good question could contribute to everyone's stories.

#4 Time flies when you're having fun. Being on deadline for a solid four days straight can be stressful, however when it's all set and done, it's 100 percent worth it. Seeing the excitement of the NCAA tournament is priceless. The first round is the best, obviously. With media and fans from eight different teams the city is abuzz. Cal-State Fullerton and Portland State may have been just slightly under represented, but still, with seasons on the line every team is accounted for. Tension and adrenaline penetrates the air. I'm not saying it was as magical as the Allen Fieldhouse student section, but hey, nothing is.

… At least I tried to keep it short this time.