Could we perhaps tag along and see if Lutz and Gary Williams will be roomies on the trip?
[I][B]The USO and AFE Host Basketball Tournament for Service Members in the Persian Gulf [/B]
ARLINGTON, Va. – The USO and Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) are again sending top NCAA basketball coaches and sports personalities on a tour to the Persian Gulf region May 23-29, 2006. During the tour, called “Operation Hardwood II,” the participants will coach military basketball teams featuring the best military players who will compete in a championship tournament.
Fox Sports broadcaster Leeann Tweeden also is accompanying “Operation Hardwood” on her 8th USO/AFE tour. Support for Operation Hardwood II is being provided by NIKE.
The tour participants include:
• Rick Barnes, University of Texas
• Jay Bilas, ESPN commentator and former Duke University player
• Jim Crews, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
• Mark Gottfried, University of Alabama
• Tom Izzo, Michigan State University
• Billy Lange, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
• Bobby Lutz, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
• Reggie Minton, NCAA
• Dave Odom, University of South Carolina
• Kelvin Sampson, University of Indiana
• Tubby Smith, University of Kentucky
• Gary Williams, University of Maryland
Six of the participants – Gottfried, Odom, Lutz, Izzo, Sampson and Bilas – are veterans of Operation Hardwood I and were inspired to become involved again on this year’s tour. This tour continues the USO tradition of bringing professional athletes and sports-related events to troops serving far from home. Last year, NBA Legends Artis Gilmore and Darryl Dawkins visited military personnel serving in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.[/I]