You will notice a new feature on the right hand side of our front page, listing links video and “livestats” updates from in-progress action. It is quite the useful tool for those who like to track multiple games at once. LiveStats is a different kind of way to watch a game and for those of us who appreciate Division III so much, different is good.

However, it should come with a warning…”Staring at LiveStats for too long can cause symptoms such as pounding-heart, increased blood pressure, and significant bouts of impatience .”

I experienced all of those on Wednesday night, when the team for which I normally broadcast, had two playoff games going at once, and I chose to work the women’s game, since the men’s contest had LiveStats capabilites.

My women’s broadcast ended before the men’s game concluded, so I let my listeners know that I’d be staying on the air until the men’s game was done. This led to what essentially was a broadcast of a broadcaster watching LiveStats, which is entertaining if you know me, and rather silly if you don’t. Listening to it now, I find it rather comical. I’m glad no one had a video camera to catch my facial expressions.

The go-ahead basket late in this game was scored by a player who hadn’t scored a point in conference play all season. Surely, I thought, this had to be a misprint, and I mumbled a few choice words under my breath for the scorekeeper, who, it turned out, was correct all along. Trust in the printed word is critical to LiveStat enjoyment.

The final seconds came down to free throws, and there was a good, long pause, between the first and second makes, just long enough for me to check that my heartbeats weren’t being heard over the air. The previous week, LiveStats had caused me moments of great angst, as in one viewing, an opponent made four 3-pointers with less than a minute to play to rally and win. This time, there was jubliation. “I believe that’s it….I believe that’s it!!!” is how I explained to my listeners that the team had won.

LiveStats may zap some of the descriptive process that comes with listening on radio, or if you’re lucky, watching a videocast, but the entertainment value can be just as great. So I encourage you to give it a try and maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll get as wrapped up in “watching” as I did on Wednesday night.

I never got to see Andy Panko or Devean George or any of the other names that we consider legendary at the Division III level. I’m not as adventurous as our publisher in terms of travel and prefer focusing on my gig as the voice of a particular team to traversing the landscape and seeing the various sites of Division III.

But given a free night, I figured it would be worth my while to make the 75-mile trip to Purchase, N.Y. to see not only the top-seeded Manhattanville men’s team in the Skyline Tournament, but to check out Mount St. Mary guard Mike Hoyt, whom I had profiled in Around the Nation a few weeks ago. It seemed hypocritical to pass up a chance to see the best in the game, especially considering that just before leaving, I went to the bookstore and bought a copy of “Maravich” to read about another game great.

I won’t get into the misfortunes that caused me to be 10 minutes late (let’s just say that the young lady who backed into my car in a parking lot mishap was fortunate that I’m not one to get road rage), but when I walked into the gym, I looked to my left and saw that the scoreboard showed the visitors in front, 15-8, which meant that I missed the best part of Mount St. Mary’s (k)night. I also saw a group of people whom I realized it would be worthwhile to sit with- Mike Hoyt’s family.

They were spread out over four rows but were easy to pick out because of the family resemblance. His grandmother, Evelyn, whom I spent much of the game chatting with, was behind me with Mike’s dad, and his mom and uncle were a row in front. I appreciated their indulging me, because I peppered them with a fair share of questions during timeouts and halftime. They also apparently are unaware of the “Around the Nation” jinx, a myth perpetuated by some who feel I bring bad luck by writing about their teams (I guess the fodder for them is that Manhattanville outscored Mount by 25 after I showed up).

Hoyt survived a conking to the head at the end of the first half to finish with 30 points and had one Maravich-esque moment, a juggling act layup which caused Mike’s uncle to turn around and say “I hope that was worth the trip for you.”

Mike’s mom told me one story that I’d like to share and hopefully it doesn’t embarass Hoyt too much as he readies for phone calls from agents and international interests, who figure to ask him to try out a professional basketball career overseas.

When Hoyt was playing travel basketball in fourth grade, he was, as he is now, small, tough, and very very good. At the awards ceremony, the coach presented him with a Wheaties box. The front was cut out and Hoyt’s picture was inserted in its place.

“Mike,” the coach said. “When I’m old and gray, there will be a day when I’m eating Wheaties and your picture will be on the front of the box.”

Hoyt still has that award, one of what I’m sure are many treasured basketball mementos. He also has the memories of a fine collegiate basketball career. And I can say I have the memory of having seen him.