The Sweet Sound of Aluminum

The College World Series is a staple of a Nebraska summer. If you grew up here, you went, even if you hated baseball (which in this day and age would qualify you for a seat on the no-fly list, you unpatriotic swine). Recently, ESPN writer David Albright posed the question, "Why does it have to be in Omaha?" Listen, Dave. Every year we go through this same song and dance. Other mid-to-large sized cities throw a fit over why Omaha should get the privilege of hosting this event.

Now I'm not the first person to champion every Nebraska-based event -- in fact I think most of our attempts at entertainment and culture fall pretty flat. But I'll stand by the College World Series.

Albright's column questioned the validity of Omaha's "stranglehold on one of the premier college sports championship events," postulating that Indianapolis or Chicago (among other places) could deliver the same level of fervor as Omaha if given the opportunity to host the CWS. But there's a difference between Omaha and those cities: Omaha doesn't have a major professional sports franchise. The closest thing O-town has to a major sports draw is the CWS, the importance of which is intensified by cross-sections of Omaha sports fans who are reluctant to support the Lincoln-based Huskers (go UNO Mavericks!?!).

Move it to Indy. Move it to Chicago. Then tell me what happens when Joe Sports Fan sells his CWS ticket to the highest bidder because he scores last minute Cubs tickets. An Indiana Pacers meet-n-greet would draw more attention than the CWS, because the city has the luxury of professional sports franchises that are, frankly, more appealing than a second-tier college sporting event - even if it is a championship.

As I'm writing this I just muted my iTunes to watch the last pitch of the CWS. The Oregon State Beavers just stormed the field after winning their second straight title while the play-by-play man said, "The team that almost didn't make the field of 64 just won their second straight!" This is the kind of thing that a small Midwestern town -- that doesn't know what it is to have a professional sports team -- could only really appreciate. It's a state that raised children to cheer on those mid-90s Husker football teams full of small town Nebraska kids that never would've played at a bigger school. That's the kind of community that welcomes 8 teams to their homes each year and treats a bunch 18-22 year old kids like family.

The venues may be nicer in Chi-town. The BBQ may be tangier in Memphis. But the key to a successful neutral playing site is a town that understands, respects and appreciates the heart and soul of the game. Omaha does. If you don't believe me, go to a game next year. Sit next to an Omahan with no allegiances to any team in the field. And watch him enjoy the game more than most sports fans cheering on their favorite baseball team.

The CWS is what pure sports joy looks like, and it belongs here.