Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991 TAG: 9103270076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
"I'm pleased, but I'm not satisfied," said the NCAA's assistant executive director for championships.
She was speaking Monday night at a gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the Final Four for women's basketball teams.
The statistics told the story.
Ten years ago, 26 reporters covered the event and fewer than 6,000 fans attended. This year, more than 300 media credentials have been issued and a sellout crowd of 9,000 is within reach for the semifinals and championship game at the University of New Orleans arena.
"I think if you look at it realistically, the growth we've had has been remarkable - so fast," Bork said. "The thing I compare it to is the way the men's tournament was 10 years ago. It was nowhere near the mega-event it is today, and their growth was over a period of 50 years."
The growth in interest can continue, she said.
"There is still so much exposure and national attention to the game that can be gained. We've got real strong pockets of women's basketball interest, and I think that has to become more national. I'm certainly not satisfied, but I am pleased."
In the past, the women's championship committee sought out those pockets of interest in women's basketball and located the Final Four there - a sellout in Austin, Texas, three years ago, a crowd of more than 20,000 at Knoxville, Tenn., last year.
This year, the New Orleans Sports Foundation campaigned to get the Final Four.
Semifinal play begins Saturday on nationwide television with Connecticut against Virginia, followed by Stanford playing Tennessee. The winners meet Sunday for the national title, also on network television.
"In the first few years of the tournament, we sought sites. We still do that. We are still soliciting interest as we go along," Bork said Monday. "But it was exciting that a city like New Orleans came to the committee and said, `We like your event. We'd like for you to come to our city, and here's what we have to offer.'
"That was really exciting. The event has gotten to a point where there is some competition for it."
Also for the first time, network television began its coverage of the women's tournament with the round of 16.
The NCAA has signed a seven-year agreement with CBS for exclusive coverage of both the men's and women's tournaments.
"The few games we've had televised, we've had good ratings. We've consistently beat out the programming opposite us," Bork said. "Obviously it was a package with the men's tournament, but it was a product that CBS was glad to have - the additional games."
by CNB