Politics could play role in Big 12 hoops tourneys This year's March success might not prove to be enough Schroeder: Politics could play role in Big 12 hoops tourneys
Wait — make that hand-delivered. With cookies. Yes, really.
"Any time you can do something with a personal touch and make a memory, that's what we're gonna do,” said All Sports executive director Tim Brassfield of the quick roundtrip along I-35, which was made by two members of his staff.
Cookies aside, the memory that might make a difference is from March. Big 12 associate commissioner Tim Allen said the initial positive vibes from the Big 12 tournaments in Oklahoma City have persisted.
"Overall, it was without a doubt one of the most successful combinations of the entire package — student-athlete experience, coach experience, fan experience, media experience, the perception — it was as good as we've ever had,” Allen said.
That said, and despite all the sweet nothings that have been whispered since the Big 12 left town — the general theme was, "We'll be back,” — nothing is guaranteed.
It's hard to tell what is likely to happen — or even what factors might be most important — when the league's athletic directors and presidents meet later this month in Colorado Springs. Because the decision is not just about good vibrations or tickets sold.
Football and politics could play a role.
The proposals due Monday were for football and basketball, for a five-year period (beginning in 2008 for the football championships and 2009 for basketball). It's possible, and perhaps likely, the Big 12 won't award all five years in either sport.
Bids for the basketball tournaments were expected from several cities, including Tulsa, Des Moines and Omaha. But the serious players are Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Dallas.
Given the success here last March, you'd think that might be the right order of ranking, too. But hold on: an anchor philosophy could drag down Oklahoma City's hopes. And here comes the possible politics of it all.
Could Big 12 North schools agree to a permanent (or nearly permanent) southern home for the football championship? Jerry Jones' new stadium in Arlington, Texas, might make a nice spot. Houston is considered a serious contender, as well.
If football heads south, could the quid pro quo be anchoring the basketball tournaments in Kansas City on a permanent (or nearly permanent) basis?
In the process, could Oklahoma City get left out of the basketball mix? Remember, although it's not officially an "anchoring” situation, baseball and softball are essentially tethered to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark and ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Could that be seen as enough?
Here's the good news: Big 12 schools have been resistant to the idea of permanent anchors for the marquee sports. There's nothing to indicate a change of direction.
But a lesser variation of the anchor philosophy is floating around.
How about Dallas and/or Houston as the football hosts in four of five years (or three of five), with Kansas City an occasional host?
How about Kansas City for hoops in four of every five years, with Oklahoma City and Dallas fighting for the other year? Or Kansas City three of five times, with Oklahoma City and Dallas getting the tournaments once each? It could happen.
And not so long ago, Oklahoma City would have been perfectly content with such an arrangement. But if the success of last March raised eyebrows around the Big 12, it raised expectations in Oklahoma City.
Hosting once in five years would be a serious disappointment.
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Bidding for the future
Proposals for hosting the Big 12's football championships from 2008-12 and men's and women's basketball tournaments (2009-13) were due at the league office on Monday.
Hoping to capitalize on recent success of the basketball tournaments at the Ford Center and the Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City made what All Sports Association executive director Tim Brassfield called a "very aggressive” bid for all five years. But the All Sports Association placed particular emphasis on 2009, 2011 and 2013. (In 2010, Oklahoma City hosts an NCAA Tournament men's subregional. In 2012, the city hopes to host the NCAA wrestling tournament.)
Other cities expected to submit bids included Kansas City, Dallas, Tulsa, Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb. Kansas City will host the tournaments in 2008.
San Antonio, Texas, which will host the 2007 football championship, is among several cities that were expected to submit bids for football. Others included: Arlington, Texas; Houston, Kansas City and St. Louis.
By George Schroeder
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