The University Of Wisconsin Madison has not had a D-1 baseball team since 1991. It was dropped during a period of financial problems for the athletic department although the university brass also used Title 9 problems as a reason. Now, the club baseball team at madison is trying to bring baseball back. Led by head coach Jeff Block, the club team has issued a proposal outlining ways that baseball could be brought back as an intercollegiate varsity sport. According to a report at Sconnie Sports, the proposal includes solutions to the Title 9 debate, financial options, facilities and competitiveness. This seems to be a legitimate push by the players,coaching staff and alumni to return baseball to Madison. It was, after all, the first sport played at Wisconsin and as it stands now the Badgers are the only school in the Big Ten that doesn't field a baseball team. Lets face it, the Wisconsin athletic department is flush with the success of football and basketball, but even if they weren't…it's not about money anymore. Sconnie Sports obtained a letter to the Athletic Dept from three years ago that details an offer of $50 million dollars from donors to endow a baseball program that could be funded by the interest alone. The response was that “baseball was not in the 10 year strategic plan for the Athletic Dept and raising such an endowment would be considered as being in direct competition with other fund raising by the Dept. because it would likely solicit from existing donors to the Athletic Dept”. Excuse Me?? Shouldn't donors be able to decide where they would like a large donation to go? It would seem to me that turning down a $50 million dollar donation to bring the athletic dept back in line with every other school in the conference is outrageous. We also know that nothing is going to get done without Barry Alvarez on board. He seems to be in a position now to rule his fiefdom with an iron hand. If the numbers work and the Title 9 concerns are addressed, what could possibly be the reasons to not do it? Even a football guy like Barry should see that if you want to be considered an elite sports program, you can't be the only school in the Big Ten that doesn't have a baseball team.
The only D-1 baseball program in the state is at UW-Milwaukee and yesterday former Wausau West and Wausau Legion standout Dylan Detert led the Panthers to a 12-9 win over UI-Chicago. Detert was 3-4 with an rbi and two runs scored. He's joined on the squad by former Marshfield standout Daulton Varsho and Plover native Austin Schulfer.
How bout last night in the NBA? The Warriors set the record for wins in a season with 73. Kobe finishes his career with a 60 point night and a win over the Jazz. Granted he did take 50 shots to get those 50 points but lets not get picky.
The Brewers got a 9th inning two out home run from Domingo Santana to beat St. Louis. Milwaukee was 18-40 over the last three years against the Cardinals so any win is good, but to win it late against their closer is pretty sweet. They will finish the series this afternoon and you can hear the game on WSAU..pre game at 12:10
I'll have high school baseball today as Wausau East takes on Stevens Point for the second time this week. The game is scheduled for Jack Torresani Field but could be moved to Point if the East field isn't dry enough. It will be the second game of our DH on Foxsports Radio AM1390 & FM 93. 9 and streamed at foxsportswausau.com following the DC Everest game.
Songs of The Day _(Ferom my I-pod)
Shaky Ground-Phoebe Snow (1976) a funky number originally done by the Temptations a year earlier. from her album “Looks Like Snow”
