MH Notes from Omaha (Days 3 and 4)

A few more thoughts from Omaha days #3 and 4 while writing this from a plane about to leave Denver 5 hours late for Omaha:

Sunday started with breakfast at team hotel with the boys who were a little nervous but all-in-all loose and goofy as ever.

I received the annual Happy Fathers Day greeting -- usually playng golf on this day but happy to be in Omaha even without knowing what was to come that day.

We learned just after breakfast that 10-year old Little League all-stars were announced and Kenan had made it -- it was the topper of an unbelieavble weekend for him. Entire Bulldog team gave him standing-O at breakfast.

We passed out 6 dozen T-shirts to fans -- that Karen can work that stuff. We had to order 3 dozen more for Tuesday game and I am not sure that will be enough.

Boys left for Rosenblatt about 1030AM for their 1PM game. All dressed, they loaded the bus and got police escort to the stadium by two motorcyle cops.

Got to the field at about 1130AM and parked in somebody's front yard for $20 -- cheap compared to an SC game.

Met other fans and parents at the pass gate where we pick up tickets -- sure could have used a beer (or 3) at thus point.

Went inside and found our seats in Bulldog fan section about 15 rows behind the dugout -- watched batting practice and noticed we seemed to really be mashing the ball.

Karen's Dad and Mom arrived about noon after flying in just for the day returning from an east coast trip -- they really enjoyed the whole thing.

It was very hot and muggy at game time and we seemed to be outnumbered by Rice fans maybe 2 to 1 -- reverse that for noise level though. "Is there a Dog in the House?? WOOF!!"

I had a sign made for Father Day that I carried in -- it said " My son sent me to Omaha for Fathers Day -- Thanks #29!" I don't think it got on ESPN but did get seen by local media. Gavin saw it before game and laughed.

We were interviewed in the stands by NCAA.com and Fresno press about the T-shirts and the meaning of this game on Fathers Day.

The game finally started and our guys still seemed loose. Danny Muno started the 4-run 4th but I think Gavin's double down the right field line (again with 2 strikes and 2 outs) that brought in two runs and the way we ran the bases set the tone for the whole game -- did I mention how much I loved that kid??

My good friend and hero Ken Scavo (who hates Chinese food) asked for a real ass-whipping of Rice and that is just what happened over the next 7 innings and the game was not really as close as the 17-5 score indicated.

We weren't supposed to be able to play with these guys -- Rice #6 in the nation -- and pretty confident at the start but in shock by the end. Karen overheard somebody in the bathroom ask "where is Fresno anyway?" It is the place where the baseball team that beat 5 top 10 teams in the last 13 days is from!

We celebrated post-game at the bus waiting for the guys to come out. Gavin did post-game interviews for almost an hour with our pitcher and a couple other guys.

We finally went back to the hotel around 530 PM and met in the 5-star steakhouse in the hotel for dinner in a room with a big screen where we watched the highlights of the their "shocking" win over Rice and also the last 4 holes of the US Open -- with a good bottle of red wine, it does not get much better than that.

I woke up early and got on a 6AM plane back to OC to get Kenan back for his last 3 days of school and the start of baseball for him. Then went to work in LA for 6 hours before the marathon to get back to Omaha where I hope to land about 3AM Tues morning but in plenty of time for Tuesday night's game. UNC will be tough and we are really thin at pitcher with our #3 guy now out. Oh well, this kind of thing has been going on for 4 weeks and we have won 13 of last 15 games against some of the best.

All-in-all it was the best Fathers' Day I could have ever dreamed of, but then again, every day watching your son play baseball at the College World Series in Omaha is like Fathers' (and Mothers') Day. Thanks for all of your support and kind thoughts -- it has meant so much to us that so many people have taken such an interest. Go Dogs!!