Hey Everyone,*

Hey did any of you see that great game between LSU vs Rice or Fresno State vs North Carolina? I am going to say that 90% of you didn’t. I know the NBA Finals were on and most of you work during the day. But if the U.S. Open was on you would find time to watch it. www.cwsomaha.com

The point that I am trying to make is this “There is no love for College Baseball in America” I know you could say that I am a homer because the College World Series is in my town Omaha Nebraska, but I think this is something we all need to look at in general. Also I know that this is the only time all year that anyone outside of the teams competing does anyone focus on college baseball. ESPN does a great job on covering the series, but I think they could market it a lot better. Any other mainstream college sport in America gets flooded with media, but the College World Series flys under the radar. Euro soccer is on ESPN, but the Series is on ESPN2! Now correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t baseball the American past time? Hello the U.S.A doesn’t even have a team competing in the Euro league!

I’ve heard all the naysayers about college baseball, well lets see they use aluminum bats, the games are to long, the sound of the bats, no fan support etc. Well here are some facts about the college game. There are over 250 teams competeing in Division 1 baseball and only 8 teams make to the College World Series. Schools only offer 11 SCHOLARSHIPS! There are usually 35 guys on a squad so most of the time the guys have to share a scholarship or they divide into thirds. And sometimes good players play with no scholarship at all. They use aluminum bats because of budget cost. Imagine if they used wooden bats how much the cost to run a baseball program. Also with the technology today the bats are similar to wooden bats. The coaches for most of these teams don’t get paid much and do it for the love of the game. There are assistants on football teams that make more than most baseball coaches. But a university will pay a school to come to their stadium and play them in football for an easy win. Last I heard that figure was around $650,000 DOLLARS per game.

I know the speed of the game could be hurried up, but the same could be said about college football. And I love college football! This year was the first time there was a uniform mandate that forced all schools to start practice on the same day. Well that also forced schools to play 5 games a week and go to class too. But Dennis Poppe and the rest of the Directors say that football would have to miss a lot of school to have a playoff system. Dennis is the president of college baseball and football. Also most of the baseball schedule is played after the students finish for the semester, but most colleges don’t care about college baseball so most of the time its only family, friends, die hards. Although there is a few places that do well in attendance ie Miami, Nebraska, LSU, Florida State, Oregon State etc.

I love how every year MLB and other people wonder why only 8% of African American play in the majors! Here is a reason, baseball is never talked about on a national scale. Tell me when you hear about College Baseball any other time then the regionals or super regionals? I am going to say never, but you see on ESPN high school kids playing basketball or even some high school football. Yeah I know there is ESPNU but how many of us get that channel on our cable systems? This year alone there were 3 match ups of 1 vs 2 and not a word was said about it. Even the highlights of the games from the series are a quick and don’t give you an interest to see hmm I might want to watch that game etc. Besides the Little League World Series when is baseball ever talked about besides MLB? If you were a kid that had talent in sports which one would you choose? Football, Basketball or Baseball?

Ever heard of Jemile Weeks? Well he is the 2nd baseman for the Miami Hurricanes and probably one of the best African American players in baseball right now. He was drafted 12th overall by the Oakland Athletics. I know most of you are like who? That is what I am talking about, but some kid in high school playing basketball everyone is talking about them. Its an epidemic we live in right now. Eveyrone is or wants to be the next thing. You can blame the media and You Tube. Whatever happen to playing for the love of the game. Now its all about showing your opponent up and get mad when someone steals your 15 minutes of fame. You can watch Jemile Weeks play Wednesday June 18th @ 6pm central time on ESPN2. He plays for the love of the game and not showing up anybody.

Another thing about college baseball is the draft! Now imagine if your sport is holding the draft during the football bowl season or the road to the Final Four, everyone would be flying off the handle saying that is messed up! Well that is what happens in baseball, most kids that are first rounders can’t even attend cause they are playing in the post season. Its hard for these kids to focus because lets say you draft status dropped or not even at all your going to press about it. Baseball you can get drafted right out of high school or play 3 years in college and then become draft eligible. Also if you don’t like your position you can go back to school and get redrafted. When you do sign professionally your sent to the minors and that could be anywhere from rookie ball to Double A. Now you probably travel better in college than you do in small market clubs.

The 2008 College World Series is taking place in Omaha, Nebraska. Every year its held at Rosenblatt Stadium. The 8 teams who make it get two loses before being eliminated. This year field has the power houses and a Cinderella team Fresno State. The NCAA Men’s baseball tournament is also double elimination & 64 teams qualify for post season. Fresno State was a fourth seed in their regional. That would equal to a 16 seed in basketball.Now Fresno State is in the CWS. If this was basketball or football, they would be on Good Morning America and we all would know everything about them and support them along the way. But these guys find a way to win games. They have beaten 5 ranked teams and are undefeated in Omaha. On Tuesday they beat 2X runner up North Carolina. Also this team is the walking wounded and playing for each other and keep the miracle season alive. Earlier this year this team lost its first 18 of 20 games! There are some guys who have cracked ribs, dislocated fingers, bad shoulders etc. I think the Disney company should think about making a movie about this dream season. They are winning some would say on smoke and mirrors but they find a way to win. As they arrived in Omaha a fan said to them as they walked off the bus, ” Don’t unpack your bags you will be the first team leaving” Needless to say they are 2-0 and other ranked teams IE Florida State and Rice are home already. Also LSU beat Rice on a walk off 3 run double in the bottom of the 9th and won the game 6-5. If LSU would have lost they would have been going home.

So in the end I hope I have opened your eyes to college baseball. I know its hard to follow it but I think once you turn it on it will be hard to turn away from. Some of these guys this is the top of their playing careers and are putting it all on the line. Its ironic that College World Series is the 2nd highest money maker for the NCAA, but they don’t market the game or the series very well. I know it comes down to money, but sending an ESPN set to Omaha after the first weekend of games doesn’t make a lot of sense. Some people this is the closest they will ever come to witnessing a championship event. If you have never been to the College World Series, I urge you to come. Its one of the best things a sports fan can do in their lives. Omaha we love the series and glad that its here for another 25 years. I would compare it to; Tailgating at football games, Mardi Gras, Spring Break, Wrigleyville etc. Also its an ideal setting for families too. I have never met anyone who has ever came to Omaha for the series and hated it. Also a lot of future major leaguers played in the College World Series. Joba Chamberlain, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Braun, Jason Varitek, Micah Owings, Mark Pryor and many more. So what are you waiting for, see you in Omaha soon. Thanks again Michael Omaha, Ne. *
*