The growing interest by the public in college athletics as a spectator sport and rapid emergence of college events as a prime recipient of entertainment dollars may not be in line with the primary value of college activities.  That conflict has caught the attention of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.  The Commission is calling on NCAA institutions to "restore balance" between academic and athletics spending. The watchdog panel's report recommends a series of actions it hopes will lead to more fiscal responsibility.

The terms “legend” and “icon” are pretty strong indicators of the impact that an individual makes on the lives of those around him.  Each seem to be too weak and ordinary, however, to accurately reflect the impact and the gravity of the life of John Wooden.

Nearly a century of time has been graced with presence of the Wizard of Westwood. Now that grace has moved on but the presence remains in the fabric of the lives he touched and the college game he loved.

It’s doubtful there is a coach anywhere in this country, and maybe the world, that hasn’t read, memorized, and/or internalized some phrase from the mentor of all mentors.

ESPN provides a wide variety of perspectives on his remarkable life.  Video Reflections and Columnist Rick Reilly's Take.

What are your personal memories?  The stories seem to keep rolling in.  All-American would like to know your best remembrances and the impact Wooden’s teachings, on and off the court, may have and continue to have on your life and your profession. Email your thoughts to ezine@allamericanpublishing.com. 

Whoever said that “winning isn’t the most important thing, it’s the only thing” certainly must not have hailed from New Jersey.  With “State Champions” being the highest mark that most high school athletes can shoot for, a current move designed to conserve limited funds for athletic activities looks to end that dream for many.

Working with people often give us the most rewarding and most challenging encounters in our lives.  Working with youth provide those involved in education-based activities a host of opportunities and challenges.  For one former NFL star, the opportunites missed, tragedies endured, and hope regained through perseverance provides a thread of encouragement for all us.  Kermit's Song is one that isn't played every day but has a melody that is adaptable many times over. ESPN provides a video version as well.

A lot of folks in their golden years will talk about how the high school years were the most wonderful years of their life.  At least one young man must have found that to be true long before he reached the twilight of his life - but his double-dip of a high school career could cost a Texas high school a lot.   

 Athletic Directors for high schools all over the country usually get together at least once a year to share concerns and ideas on how to deal with the challenges they each face.  In light of the on-going economic crunch that most schools are facing, the current season of state conferences appear to have move meaning and value than ever before.  Spring is actually the busiest time for these conferences as 33 of the 50 state AD associations hold their meetings in March, April and May. 

All-American Sports Posters is contributing to the conference season with financial support for its 21 partner associations and by exhibiting at a majority of those.  AASP representatives will be on hand at conferences in Missouri, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Illinois in the coming four weeks.  New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Connecticut, Maine and Vermont were all visited in March.  Hearing first hand the concerns that athletic directors have in regards to their mission to support and enhance education-based student activities is crucial to strengthening our commitment to those efforts.  

Make no mistake, a large part of the value of March Madness can be calculated directly in terms of dollars and cents.  The economic impact on host sites throughout the initial two weeks is significant but they seem to dim in light of the numbers that get crunched during the Final Four.  This year in Indianapolis, the three games packed into a two-day span is being translated into program saving revenue for some local high school athletic operations.