Five things I will remember from Wednesday's Via All-Star banquet

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

t was a long night at the Sands, stretching until about 9:40 by the time it was over, but I am sure it was a memorable night for the high school players, coaches, parents and other adults who were among the 610 there last night for the Via All-Star Banquet.

There's a lot to do at these Via banquets.

They want to make sure everybody knows what Via is all about.

They want to induct new members into the Hall of Fame.

They want to introduce everybody who is playing in the event's "Super Saturday."

They want to honor their "teams of the year" and the "players of the year."

And they want to have a main speaker who will make people come who otherwise might be on the fence.

Wednesday's speaker, Bill Walton, could have easily spoken for an hour-and-a-half, but had to confine his words to as close to a half-hour as he could get. He came in at 32-and-a-half minutes, fitting for a guy who wore No. 32 at UCLA and with the Portland Trail Blazers.

It was long, but it all worked out.