FINAL FOUR ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Felton wins Cousy award: North Carolina's Raymond Felton was a winner before the NCAA championship game began on Monday, receiving the Bob Cousy Award as the top college point guard. Felton got 11 of the 23 first-place votes, with Chris Paul of Wake Forest and Travis Diener of Marquette finishing second and third, respectively. Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph's was the inaugural winner of the award last year. "A pure point guard is an extension of his coach while the game is in progress, and has more to do with elevating skill level that possibly any player on the team," Cousy said. Felton's parents, plus coach Roy Williams, attended the awards ceremony at the announcement of the Basketball Hall of Fame 2005 class. Felton credited teammates on the receiving end of his passes. "What can I say?" Felton said. "Without them I wouldn't be able to receive this award."
Nosebleed section: The worst part about the worst Final Four seats in the Edward Jones Dome was the acoustics. Mark Trampe and his 72-year-old father, David Trampe, of St. Louis had $110 seats for the Final Four in Section 448, more than the length of a football field away from the court. They had a better view of a loading dock and a dozen trailers than they did of the action. "It's a little strange. You can see the baskets, but then it takes a few seconds for the noise to bounce up here," Mark Trampe said. "It takes some getting used to." Canadians Jerome Ell and Dave Ross were in Section 447, so far away and at such a bad angle they couldn't see one of the baskets. "And we don't hear the referees' whistles," Ell said. "We just have to take their word for it." Getting food and drinks also was a challenge. The Trampes attended both games on Saturday night and said no concessionaires made the steep, demanding walk to serve them. Still, no one was complaining. "It's not just about the games," Ell said. "We're here for the whole experience." "I just wanted to get in the building," Mark Trampe said. "I wouldn't have missed this for anything."
St. Louis' bid: The first Final Four in St. Louis in 27 years appears to be a success. Members of the local organizing committee are shooting for the tournament to return as soon as 2012, the start of the next bid cycle. "I think we've made a huge statement in terms of proving we're Final Four-worthy," Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin said. "The facility lays out better than any I've seen for a Final Four. I think people will leave here with a very good taste in their mouth about our city, and about the way in which the Final Four was conducted." Bids on Final Fours for 2112-15 are expected to be made in the summer of 2006, with decisions made in 2007. Journalists generally gave the city high marks. Wendell Barnhouse of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has covered the last 20 Final Fours, and ranked St. Louis at the top with Indianapolis. "There seems to be a consensus that Indianapolis and St. Louis are the two best Final Four venues," Barnhouse said. "You can walk to everything. There are no shuttle buses, no hassles. And there's been plenty of helpful people."
Associated Press
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