Jeff Lund

I saw UCLA's Tyus Edney go coast to coast to beat Missouri at the buzzer in 1995. I can remember sprinting outside and trying to duplicate Christian Laettner's turn-around jumper that shocked Kentucky. a few years prior.

I forced my family to keep the television on during dinner, just so I could watch underdog Arizona take it to three No. 1 seeds in 1997 to win the title.

Despite all of this, nothing I have seen could prepare me for this edition of March Madness.

This year the madness is all too real. Every shot of the war, broadcasted over and over again, is being displayed in an eerily similar manner to the images of the basketball games.

This type of coverage was probably inevitable, but war reporting seems to have become grossly similar to the color commentary of the NCAA tournament.

This type of coverage was probably inevitable, with advances in technology, but war reporting seems have become grossly similar to the color commentary of the NCAA tournament.

I have no problem with the pursuit of Saddam Hussein, a man that has continually been problematic and made his people suffer under his rule, but there is a time for blow-by-blow coverage and the current war is not one of them.

I deserve and appreciate knowing what is happening with the forces that defend my freedom and allow me to say my piece.

All Americans can be informed if they want. Some will choose to be, some won't, but they should be able to decide.

Every time "breaking news" is flashed across the screen, hundreds of families and friends of troops begin to worry because of preliminary reports involving one division of troops or another. For hours until the report is confirmed or elaborated upon, those families must be afraid that they have lost someone close to them.

Give me the facts, the whole story, and the day's events. I am not interested in following the campaign by clicking "refresh," like I do on ESPN.com when Arizona isn't televised.

When I want my war update, which I do, I will check out a news station for the complete story. I completely understand and appreciate the importance of the war, but more war updates than game peeks is a bit much.

As a fan I am annoyed at the interruption. As a citizen of the United States, I think of my friend aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and hope the road to Baghdad will be swift and successful for the troops. As a human, I am saddened by the reports of death.

After the update, it's back to basketball, and the less important road to the Final Four in New Orleans.

But the thought of war is still in the back of my head. It's because of the constant bombardment of emotions.

The exhilaration of watching Luke Walton fall to the floor after pulling down a game ending rebound abruptly turns to sadness, as fellow Americans are carried in front of the camera on stretchers.

Casualties are piled up and reported as points for the other team. Meanwhile, some fans at home, in the home team's arena, boo the purpose and boo the effort. They boo from afar, all the while still enjoying the benefits from previous victories.

Finally a commercial, and I can take a breather.

It's a mess this March.

It sounds much like my job description. Be there for the reader or viewer. Tell the readers or watchers what they don't know, the ins and outs of the matchup, and present it in an appropriate, accurate and professional manner.

An American will die, and a reporter complete with cameraman and helmet will be there to broadcast the death for our country before the body is cold or the cause of death can be identified.

This is war, not a basketball game.

I don't feel I need to know every single detail about the war. U.S. scouting reports are all over the news. I find myself wondering if I should really know all I am hearing, or if all I am hearing is even true.

All I see is how many Americans are killed or injured, along with all the anti-war sentiments. That is somewhat cushioned by reassurance that we are the No. 1 seed and will prevail. However, the time left on the clock is unknown.

The campaign has brought a new intensity and madness to the month of March. Unfortunately along with it, "press row' has been given a whole new meaning.