Covering the tourney at the Rose Garden

This weekend I experienced probably the biggest thrill in my short career as a college journalist: I got to cover the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Rose Garden for the first two rounds of the tournament.

I was sent by the Gonzaga student newspaper to cover the team during its tourney run, and a spot in Portland for the South Region meant that I was going to be working at an actual NBA arena. This wasn't a small college gym anymore - this was the big time.

Entering through the club level entrance, I took an elevator two floors down, to a level called "courtside access." Walking through a short tunnel, I found myself in the underbelly of the Rose Garden, my first glimpse of things behind the scenes. I was below the seats - I could hear the sounds of fans cheering, muffled by concrete.

After walking through the spacious hallway, I saw another tunnel with a sign that read "courtside." I walked through it, and felt the bright lights of the RG hit me. I was courtside. Long rows of tables ran alongside the sidelines, filled with members of the media watching Purdue hold off Northern Iowa. I had never seen the RG from this perspective, and let me tell you, it's a lot better than up in the 300 level.

I went into the media room to get to work, and the area they cordoned off for us was huge. There must have been room for hundreds of media people: writers, radio, TV, photographers.

The writers semed to be wrapped up in their work. I don't want to say they were antisocial, but there wasn't a sense of friendliness to be found among their intense glares and frantic typing. I can relate: in a deadline-driven business there isn't much time for chit-chat. I said hello and inteoduced myself to the journalists I was sitting next to in the press room, but I didn't get much more than a simple hello.

The photographers, though, seemed like they all knew each other. They were joking, laughing, and having a much better time than everyone else. I guess that's what happens when you sit on the floor at the games, you're practically part of the action!

The one thing I can say about being media at the RG, is that they hook you up! They have a "courtside club" lounge, complete with free food, restaraunt-style seeting, and plasma TVs to watch the games. As for your work, there are limitless media guides, stats, even transcripts from the press conferences.

But the Rose Garden looks a lot different than how it does at Blazer games. The NCAA is doing everything to promote it's brand: All Blazer logos have been replaced or covered. Every Blazer banner has been taken down. EVen the Portland features on the scoreboard have been blacked out. It was almost like I was in a completely different arena.

As I was leaving the game on Thursday, pulling out of the parking garage, I passed by a man who was leaving the Blazer ofices at that moment. As he walked by my car, I suddenly realized it was Kevin Pritchard!  He looked like something was bugging him (probably the loss to the Cavs) so I decided not to annoy him further by trying to talk to him.

It's been such a great experience covering the Zags in Portland. As a Blazer fan, actually getting to work in the Rose Garden as a member of the media - something I hope to as a career - was such a thrill, and I couldn't be more thankful.

One more game to go, the Zags take on Western Kentucky in two hours.

-Which reminds me, I posted this in the open chat thread but it might have gotten lost in there: I want to give BlazersEdge a chance to get something into my next game recap. Send me suggestions for a particular word or phrase, and I will try to work it into my game recap later tonight.