The College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., has been a great event for me.
I am now living in Oklahoma, and this will be the first CWS in 6 years that won't be able to attend. In those six years, I made a lot of memories.
In 2003, I thought I saw Joe Namath standing on the concourse. Turns out it was just an old guy with a tanning bed wearing a Joe Namath jersey. I couldn't imagine why anyone would do that.
It sure seems like Joe Namath to wear his own jersey in public, though. My girlfriend broke up with me right after Miami lost that game. I can only imagine what might have happened if that really had been Joe Namath.
One year later, I witnessed a great championship game between the Titans of Cal-State Fullerton and the Texas Longhorns. My best friend and I took a long whiskey break after the fifth inning (It's hot! Black Velvet was a bad choice).
Huston Street's family was sitting right behind us as we obnoxiously cheered on the Titans down the stretch. We were put on notice that if we continued to disrupt the ESPN interview with Street's parents, that we would be exiting the premises. It wasn't a subtle approach, but it still worked.
Two years ago, my brother locked my keys in my truck right before a night game with eventual champion Oregon State. I had a few tallboys sitting in the bed of the truck while we waited for AAA to show up.
I couldn't believe how many people came up to me claiming they had lost their ID and needed a buyer. Luckily, AAA had a roaming service provider in the very parking lot where my truck was. They had me unlocked in no time.
Last year, I was able to go to the Championship Game with my Dad for Father's Day.
One of the great traditions is the team houses that line 13th Street across from the stadium. The tenants of these houses leave during the series and allow the houses to be rented out by fans of the teams.
In most cases, all of the fans from a particular team all stay in one house. The fans hanging out of windows to give their team's cheer and conversing with the masses walking on the street make the atmosphere electric.
In this same vein, the South represents at the CWS. Caravans of LSU fans populate the parking lots and throw great barbecues and post-game parties.
My first CWS experience actually came when I was working for the Open Door Mission in Omaha. My group of volunteers had the experience of attempting to take a large group of kids to the Omaha Zoo (right across the street on the other side of the stadium) in the middle of the first weekend of the CWS.
Parking was a nightmare. The kids were impatient. I was never more thankful than when a group of LSU fans told me they would save me a parking spot near their RV when I returned. After dropping the kids off, I returned to Rosenblatt and enjoyed an LSU pregame tailgate.
The CWS has provided me with some wild times and good memories. If you ever get a chance to go, you should do so. I know personally, that even if you don't have a place to stay, a case of beer and a good story will get a you spot under the canopy of an RV of the great fans from LSU who caravan to Omaha.
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3 months ago
great to hear that you had a good experience with LSU fans!
3 months ago
Nice article Jay. Omaha holds a special place in Tiger Fans hearts. Hope you get to get back there next year!
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