The Best-Dressed in America

via cell phone to voice his opinion. "My man Tony needs to win," he told her. "He is definitely the most stylish."

But Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan had a different opinion.

"When we played UWM Tony had a bright yellow sport coat on," said Ryan. "It was so bright that I needed sun glasses."

Jones' competition Keating, who had earlier in the day made a trip to Sachs, was a bit more subdued about the fashion finale.

"Tony Jones is a very stylish guy," said Keating. "I have tried to get a little advance scouting from coaches in his region."

Keating's dad, Larry, who is the assistant commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, was also in New Orleans for the festivities. The former athletics director was asked about Jones' friend Jalen Rose calling Angela Lento. "Tony Jones may have Jalen Rose, but Kerry works for Buzz Peterson and Buzz knows Michael Jordan who is more stylish than Rose."

As the Jones and Keating camps exchanged blows, Gary Waters prepared for his contest against Willis Wilson. Waters had slipped past Memphis' John Calipari in the nifty national semifinals.

"Beating Calipari wasn't easy," said the Rutgers coach. "I had gotten to the fashionable four in the past, but was not able to advance to the championship. Beating Coach Cal is like winning the title, but I know that I still have to re-focus for coach Willis."

Coaches and fans began filing in for the first event of the evening, but before Jones and Keating would step onto the stage, Angela Lento announced the best-dressed coaching staff in America.

Two years ago Melvin Watkins' Texas A&M staff took home the honors and last season it was Tubby Smith and his Kentucky Wildcats staff. Both were finalists in 2003, along with Buzz Peterson's Tennessee contingent and Paul Hewitt's Georgia Tech group.

And the winner is? Georgia Tech.

"Paul Hewitt, Dean Keener, Willie Reese and Cliff Warren are all very sharp," said Lento. "Coach Hewitt brings a very classic and elegant look to the floor, while his staff is very hip and up-to-date."

THE ASSISTANT FINAL

Jones or Keating -- That was the question posed to the masses.

"Kerry has ties to the MAAC so you have to like his chances," said Marist coach Dave Magarity who was holding court in the lobby of the Hilton. A fan recognized Mr. Magarity and asked for a photo op and autograph.

"T. Jones is awful sharp," said UWM head coach Bruce Pearl. "His wardrobe is very sharp." Pearl, who was mistaken for entertainer Tom Jones, and his suspenders had advanced to the second round of the Runway competition.

Jones was trying to convince Pearl to sing, "It's not Unusual" at halftime of the event.

And Gary Waters was singing a Motown tune. "Tony is a Detroit guy," said Waters. "It would be great to see both titles go to guys from the Motor City."

As the competition began it was clear that Jones was going to ride his flamboyant collection of sport coats. Last year's runner-up came out with a colorful array of jackets, which seemed to throw Keating off his game.

The wide variety of colors prompted Bo Ryan to pass out sun glasses to fans and coaches a like, but the glare didn't burry Keating like some thought it might.

The Tennessee assistant continued to strut down the stage with his classic looks. His style approach kept it close, despite the best efforts of Jones.

As the first half winded down, Sonny and the rest of the Bronx Tale contingent began to roar, with Sonny saying, "He has five suits but he's only going to wear three today."

But it was Jones that took a slight lead to the dressing room.

"I feel good," said Jones. "I had a game plan and I am sticking to it. I have just twenty minutes to go and I don't plan on making a lot of changes."

Lento also caught up with Keating as he stepped off the stage.

"I was able to stay close through the first half," he said. "Tony broke out all his colorful attire but couldn't put me away."

At halftime, Doug Fish and BPI Collectibles was overwhelmed with requests for bobble head dolls. It seemed that many coaches wanted to be added to the Runway to the Fashionable Four collection.

Willis Wilson was signing his bobble head for fans, while the Magarity and Lento bobbles also attracted quite a lot of attention.

"The Angela Lento bobble head is a keeper," said Bo Ryan. "This is a one-of-a-kind and it will look good sitting in my office."

"There is no question that my bobble head is the most handsome of all bobble heads," said Magarity. "But I must say that Angela's is the prettiest that I have ever seen. BPI did a tremendous job of capturing her likeness."

Willis Wilson echoed those sentiments. "Doug Fish and his people did a great job with all the bobble heads," he said. "These are big time."

But Sam Houston State's Bob Marlin had one concern about bobble head transport.

"I am driving back to Huntsville and I am concerned that the Magarity bobble head will weigh down my car," he said. "I have a feeling it is going to cost a lot more in gas to get back home."

While Fish and BPI took pre-orders for next season, Jones and Keating returned to the stage.

Jones continued to stick to his array of colors, while Keating remained consistent with his classic and elegant approach. For the next fifteen minutes it was a one polished possession affair.

But at the five-minute mark, Jones committed a fashion foul. One button on his shirt had come undone and Keating went to the fashion free throw line.

The contest was tied.

The majestic miscue seemed to shake Jones up. Keating took advantage with an iron-pressing style and stepped past Jones with just seconds remaining.

But Jones regrouped and nailed the three-point pocket square to send the contest into overtime.

Through the first elegant extra session they remained deadlocked. Each took a temporary lead in the second OT, but the contest was still tied and went into a third additional period.

Once again neither gained an advantage and the contest continued through a third and then a fourth overtime.

It was the first time in fashion history that a contest had gone to a fifth overtime. And both Jones and Keating were laboring.

As the two were attending to some quick tailoring, an announcement came over the public address system.

There was a mixed reaction when Angela Lento announced, "For the first time in the history of the Runway to the Fashionable Four, we have a tie."

That's right. The title of 2003 Best-Dressed Assistant would be shared.

No sooner was the announcement made that the EMS rushed in with IV's for both Jones and Keating.

Too tired to speak in the post game press conference, Jones and Keating sat in as Sam Houston State's Bob Marlin defended the Lento's decision.

"If Bud Selig can have a tie than so can Angela Lento," he said. "This season we will have co-champions.

After a brief statement from Marlin, Magarity stepped up to the podium.

"I have already begun talks with BPI Collectibles about making Kerry Keating and Tony Jones bobble heads," he said. "This will carry over to next season."

THE HEAD COACH FINAL

Wilson was trying to do what only Jay Wright had done previously -- win back-to-back fashion crowns.

"One of the toughest things to do is to repeat," said Wilson. "Just getting to the Fashionable Four is thrill. Being one step away from a repeat is exciting, but it will not be easy."

For both it was a tough journey to the fashion finale. Waters had to overcome a tough test from Lute Olson and barely escaped Jay Wright before knocking off John Calipari. Wilson got stern tests from Perry Watson and Tubby Smith before getting past Mike Jarvis.

"This is the toughest fashion field I can recall," said Wilson. "In the past there has always been one or two contests that you felt confident about, but that wasn't the case this season."

Waters agreed.

"The competition was tough," he said. "There are a lot of stylish guys in coaching today and this year's field was very sharp."

Waters and Wilson are similar in many ways. Both bring very elegant looks to the floor, complete with all the accessories. But Wilson has been known to mix it up with a sport-coat and slacks approach, which is not the style approach of Waters.

Through the first half both went with the traditional classic looks and the lead swung back and forth. The defending champion, who was not about to let Waters gain too step too far ahead, broke out the three-point pocket square to change the pace.

But Waters, who first made the pocket square famous, responded with a four-point fold and took the lead into the dressing room.

"These guys are sharp," said Bo Ryan. "I hate to say it but this one could be a tie also."

The champion of 2001, Bruiser Flint shared his thoughts.

"Both guys are fly," said Flint. "Willis took home to crown last season so he has a little experience, but he was in his first fashion final last season when he beat me so experience might be overrated at this point."

Tennessee's Buzz Peterson also chimed in.

"Hard to call this one," said Buzz. "Both guys are style mavens."

And what about the tie in the assistant's finale?

"Of course I think Kerry should have won," he said. "But this will create a nice friendly rivalry through the summer and into next season. Somewhere down the runway it will be decided once and for all."

In the second half, Waters and Wilson exchanged striking poses, impressing the judges. But it was Waters who continued to knock down the four-point play with the pocket square.

Not to be outdone, Wilson stayed close with his three-point play.

The defending champion took full advantage of his tailor timeouts down the stretch, getting numerous adjustments from his famous tailor, Bee.

Wilson charged to within a tie and appeared ready to take the lead, but Waters countered with some impressive cuff links and dazzled the crowd with some tremendous footwork.

With five seconds remaining, and trailing by two, Wilson used his final tidy timeout.

It had all come down to this.

Waters was just seconds from his first-ever title, while Wilson had a second-straight crown in arms reach.

Wilson came out of the timeout running his patterned majestic motion. Using a screen from his tailor Wilson launched the three-point pocket square, looking for the win.

But it caromed off the spotlight. Gary Waters had survived.

"I went for the win," said Wilson. "I could have gone for two and the tie, but I thought the pocket square was a good play. I tip my cap to Gary. He was very stylish throughout the tournament and he deserves the win."

As for Waters?

"Willis is a quality person," he said. "He earned the title of best-dressed last season and could have easily had won it again. The pocket square was the key today. I guess I had just a little more consistency. I was fortunate."

And so another season on The Runway to the Fashionable Four has come to a close.

We will keep you updated on the status of the Tony Jones and Kerry Keating bobble heads.

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