Published: June 19, 2007 10:46 pm      

VALVANO: CWS lives up to its hype

OMAHA, Neb. — I used to wonder why there seemed to be such a cynicism from people who cover sports for a living. I mean most of them would tell you they got into it because they loved sports, perhaps played them growing up, and yet seem so jaded once they got “inside.”

Then I remembered that they have to talk about a millionaire quarterback who allegedly organizes dog fights, amped-up, steroid-era baseball players who seem to have no regard for the game that provides their living, a rap sheet that seems to grow each day in the NFL, owners who lie to their own fans and hold cities hostage to make millions on top of their millions — and it goes on and on and on.

It’s not all like that of course — there are lots of good stories too, certainly. But by and large, it isn’t all that uncommon to get to the “inside” of these big events and ask yourself, as Peggy Lee sang decades ago, “Is that all there is?”

So it is then that when you find an event that not only meets your anticipation, but flies gloriously past it. It is a wonderful thing.

Such is the case with the College World Series. I am in Omaha as I write this, attending my first CWS, and let me say up front, one of the reasons it is so compelling is the achievement and character of the University of Louisville players and coaches as they compete in their first CWS.

The Cards’ players, including New Albany’s Daniel Burton, have displayed an amazing grace, cohesiveness, humility, poise, and confidence in their first trip to college baseball’s biggest stage.

But regardless of who is here, I am sure there are many of you that would be as impressed with the whole event as I am. It is an event that treats the players as the champions they are, celebrates the game of baseball and the people who play and coach it, and not coincidentally knows how to make the whole thing great fun.

It starts with the opening ceremony on Thursday. (Could you see the Final Four have an opening ceremony? I fear the players and coaches would not attend unless their respective agents allowed it, or were part of the promoters of it.)

One by one, each of the eight teams march in from center field, while the video screen celebrates their successful seasons. All of them are given huge ovations from the 16,000 people who are in the stadium, all of whom have been admitted free. They then take their seats, four teams each on either side of home plate.

At this point, Navy paratroopers drop into the stadium brandishing a flag for each of the eight teams, and the last with an American flag, an impressive sight to be sure.

Next, each team has its outstanding scholar athlete introduced to the crowd and comes to home plate for an award. The student-athlete with the highest GPA, has a short question-and-answer session with the master of ceremonies over the stadium public address system.

At this point, they introduced the surviving players from the Bluffton University baseball team. This is the team that had five members lose their lives in an early-season bus crash as they were making a Florida trip. All eight teams and the entire stadium gave these young men a standing ovation for courageously finishing their season, in honor of their fallen teammates.

It left many, including me, choking back tears, as each coach gave Bluffton team an autographed bat and other keepsakes. It was special to see these elite players honor the Bluffton kids in the highest way possible — as fellow baseball players.

After this, they shut down the stadium lights and then put on a 15-minute fireworks show that is big-time, Thunder-esque. When the fireworks are over, so is the program. It takes one hour from 9-10 p.m.

And then this is maybe the coolest thing of all.

Everyone leaves — via the main stadium entrance. The team’s buses are waiting right in the parking lot next to the fans’ cars, and they stroll right out with everyone else.

I walked out between the North Carolina team and the Mississippi State team. After a short walk I came upon the U of L team, shook hands with coach Dan McDonnell and was greeted by name by a number of the baseball players.

(It’s hard to remember when that happens with athletes in some other sports who take the fawning and media attention for granted. These young men appreciate the support which is admirable.)

I just can’t imagine another “big-time” national championship event (these games are all sold out, about 19,000-plus at each of the games) where fans can interact with the players so readily. They signed autographs all day during the afternoon of the opening ceremonies, and each game readily interacts with the fans going in, coming out, and even during the game.

There are too many fun and funny things that go on all week to mention, so I will pick just two.

One is the “hooding ceremony.” Across the street from the stadium are eight flamingoes, each dressed in the colors of the eight teams. When that team is eliminated, that flamingo has its head covered over with a black hood, until there is only one flamingo left, the champion.

It is part of the party atmosphere that literally surrounds the stadium, parties, tailgates, vending booths, lots of baseball manufacturers on hand. It’s common to see fans from rival teams chatting and socializing between and before games.

The other is a funny quirk I have never seen anywhere else.

There is a college-aged girl who sits behind the screen behind the plate, and when a foul ball goes on to the netting behind the plate, she leaps into action and tries to catch it as it falls off of the netting before it hits the field. She succeeds about half the time, and when she does the whole stadium — and I mean the whole stadium — gives her a huge ovation.

But when she misses, she is booed with equal enthusiasm. (It is the same with fans who attempt to catch foul balls ... everyone is fair game.)

The first eight people I met weren’t even there following a team. When I inquired who they were rooting for, they all said, “Oh, I follow (fill in the blank of a team not in Omaha this year), but I have come every year for the last (fill in the blank with number between six and 23).”

It is just part of their calendar now and they won’t miss it.

When you find something like the CWS that rejuvenates your love of sports, it is easy to see why these people attend it so enthusiastically every year.

Congratulations to the U of L Cards for being part of such a special event.

Bob Valvano lives in Sellersburg and can be reached via e-mail at bobvshow@yahoo.com. He is a former college basketball coach and current radio show host on ESPN Radio.