College World Series Wanderlust

When traditions clash with cash flow and revenue older generations of fans hit the fight button on their fight or flight ejection panel while younger generations ask what’s in it for me.  My generation (Gen X) says, As long as it doesn’t effect me or anyone I know personally, who cares?  I understand each groups plight.  Insert eroding African-American interest and fandom and you have yourselves a major concerns.  Where those concerns and tradition interest there are also opportunities.

*The College World Series ‘LIVE’ from Omaha enters the chat.* 

In 2008 the NCAA along with the City of Omaha agreed to a 25 year contract to keep the mid June eight team celebration in the Husker State.   A 25 year contract for anything is absurd.   25 years ago the BCS didn’t exist on College Football, Nick Saban was the head coach of Michigan State and Tom Brady was Still in college.  Frank Sinatra was still alive and Harry Caray was the voice of the Chicago Cubs.  25 years is a long time and to long to agree to anything, even marriage!  

So let’s face facts.  Evolution is a part of life and it’s time for a change.   It’s time for the CWS to enter a rotation that features Chicago (Wrigley Field), New York (Yankee Stadium), Boston (Fenway Park) and Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium).

Yes, Yes I know what it means to Omaha.  I lived in Lincoln, NE in my late 20s and attended the CWS when Oregon State beat North Carolina when the event still occurred at Rosenblatt Stadium. 

But with the Super Bowl open for bidding and rotating every year and college football’s playoff now rotating it only makes sense for the CWS to follow in their footsteps.  For crying out loud the NFL Draft and even conference basketball tournaments rotate cities.  It’s time for college baseball to leave the Nostalgia of yesteryear behind and mature into the potential nationwide sport it can and should be. 

So what’s the plan.  To me it’s simple.   A 12 year deal that features a rotation of four MLB parks and stadiums.   Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium.   It’s best for the growth of the sport, It’s best for the enteraininment value of the fans on off days (Seriously what are you doing outside of baseball in Omaha), and it’s in the best interest of the players.  Ask yourself this:  If you were playing in the CWS what would mean more hitting a walk off home run to win the sucker at Yankee Stadium or in Omaha?   Then apply that scenario to every situation you can think of and tell me what athlete and or player would rather play, win or lose in Omaha as opposed to the other four facilities.  

Now factor in the new TV rights package, the monster exposure to new fans in three of our biggest cities in America, and having the chance to play at Fenway.  Not only the will those traveling get to experience college baseball being played on these stages over 30 million Americans who live in these four cities metros will now be able to experience the CWS in person.  For a sport that continue to lose interest among African Americans over two million adults (350,000+ African American young men under the age of 18) will have the opportunity see what college baseball has to offer.  If baseball is serious about reaching out and starting to fix it’s lack of development among this particular minority group here is your chance.  

I have no doubt that his will be a heartbreaking blow to the city of Omaha and the people of Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa.   But let’s face facts.   50 years ago, prior to beginning his HOF career, Dave Winfield dominated the B1G while playing for the University of Minnesota.  He would go on to win the CWS MVP in 1973.  40 years ago Barry Bonds shined collegiately in the CWS while at Arizona State. Over 30 years ago Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas glowed while playing at Auburn.  Just 20 years ago Ryan Howard dominated the MVC while at Missouri State.  A decade ago Jackie Bradley Jr helped the South Carolina Gamecocks win back to back CWS titles.  He has gone on to win a pair of World Series titles for the Boston Red Sox while playing a cavernous center field at Fenway Park. 

It’s time that baseball moves forward by looking back to it’s past greats.   What better way to do this by showing young African Americans that some of baseball’s greats got their start in college baseball.   But you need to hit the road and put the game in their back yard.  Watching it on TV from Omaha just isn’t enough.