The Events Center has the Student Association concert planner, Pat Craig, “tossing cashews” over a request to bid for Dane Cook.

Craig submitted a “request to bid” for comedian Dane Cook two weeks ago, but it was denied because of a scheduling conflict with the men’s basketball team over the Events Center.

The request, which was for a comedy show in early March, has been approved by the BU police and Student Association business manager Jackie Zagorsky. It would also need to be approved by the director of the Events Center, Eric Backlund, before a bid could be placed with Cook’s agent.

The proposed date for the show, March 8, would coincide with the week before the America East Conference men’s basketball championship game, and should the basketball team qualify, they would need the Events Center for practice.

“It’s not like I’m trying to put off a game, by any means,” Craig said. “It’s the Events Center, not a field house. Team practices should be able to accomodate us.”

The men’s basketball team will be hosting the opening rounds of the America East tournament on the weekend of March 3-5. According to Backlund, the Events Center will also be used for team practices during the post-season.

“Planning requires us to view potential post-season play at that time,” Backlund said.

If the basketball team should make the championship game, there is a chance that the game would be held in the Events Center. While the actual March 11 game is not in conflict with the date Craig has proposed for the show, the team would need a space to practice during the previous week, including on the show date.

The team has lost five of its six games this season.

“If they needed to, the team could practice in the morning,” Craig said. “Or they could practice in the West Gym, and they could cancel a gym class. It wouldn’t be so bad to cancel a gym class for 20 people so that 5,000 could see a show.”

Cook has other shows booked in the area in the first weeks of March, and his booking agent confirmed he has availability in the Spring, Craig said.

“This came about, and I wanted to jump on it,” Craig said. He added that there would be a chance to get another show if the Cook performance fell through, but it would be easier to plan it after the basketball season. According to Craig, athletic events and games often conflict with other uses of the Events Center.

“The comedic act, as presented to the S.A., is available only on certain dates, none of which coincide with the agreed upon available dates,” Backlund said.

“I understand the fact that people don’t want to cancel gym classes, but if the basketball team for some reason needs to practice there’s a way to do that and have a show,” Craig said.

According to Craig, Cook has more control over the price of tickets for his shows than other performers do, making them slightly more expensive. “I wouldn’t want them to be over $20, however final decisions on ticket prices are up to Dane Cook.”

Cook, who has headlined at the 50,000-seat Carnegie Hall, hosted the Dec. 3 episode of Saturday Night Live.

The overwhelming positive response that Dane Cook recieved on a recent S.A. poll suggests that he would easily be able to fill the Events Center.

“I’d give my left nut to see Dane Cook,” said Nate McKenney, a sophomore biology major.