Columnist Ron Kantowski: College baseball needs TV

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 9:52 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's notes column appears Tuesday. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or 259-4088. Regular columnist Dean Juipe is on vacation.

It's a pretty big deal in Omaha (but then, so is Marlon Perkins). But if you wonder why the College World Series hasn't captivated the casual sports fan the way its NCAA basketball and football counterparts have, consider this statement from Dick Rockwell, the baseball selection committee chairman.

Minutes after the committee made South Carolina the No. 1 seed in the 64-team bracket, Rockwell said, "I can't wait to see South Carolina play. Any team that wins 50 games I would think would have to be favorite."

This team that won 50 games did not even make it to the World Series. Upstart Louisiana Lafayette (which is what Southwest Louisiana is calling itself these days) knocked off the obviously overrated Gamecocks in the Super Regional, but that's not really the point.

It does say something when the tournament selection chairman has never seen the tournament's top seed in action. That would be like Roy Kramer of the Bowl Championship Series not having witnessed Florida State prior to the Sugar Bowl. Or Craig Thompson, the chairman of the men's basketball selection committee, not having peeked in on Duke or Michigan State prior to March Madness.

Until the networks deem college baseball worthy of television coverage, the game simply won't catch on beyond your local diamond or the one at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

Although getting rid of those lightning rods -- the aluminum bats still used in college -- might be a start.

The College World Series was not listed. Good thing, given the Rebels didn't even make it out of the Mountain West Conference tournament that was played here.

So you can now add women's basketball to the roster of "legitimate" sports. Several casinos are taking action on the WNBA this summer, hoping to capitalize on the wave of interest in women's hoops.

According to one source, more than $10 million was wagered in Nevada during the NCAA women's basketball tournament, including a whopping $4 million on the championship game pitting perennial distaff powers UConn and Tennessee.

I'm sure that's just what the NCAA wants to hear. Now it's going to have to send out its Men in Black to talk to the women as well as the men about the evils of gambling.

As part of a centuries-old tradition, a herring from the season's first catch is presented every year to a Dutch celebrity. This year, it went to the Dutch soccer team, a favorite in the upcoming European Championships.

"It's an honor," said star player Patrick Kluivert. "And delicious. Dutch herring is always delicious."

* AROUND THE HORN: Joe Newman, one of the founders of ABA 2000, yet another new minor league basketball league that is struggling to get started, confirmed Monday there would be only one minor league professional basketball team operating in Las Vegas next year. But in that merger talks between the ABA and International Basketball League are still ongoing, he said it remains to be seen what league the Silver Bandits -- or what remains of them -- will play in. ... Stop the presses: Florida Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo tried to fine himself after failing to lay down a sacrifice bunt in a game with the Reds. Manager John Boles did not accept a wad of bills that Castillo tried to shove in his hand. ... Fans at Texas Motor Speedway will be able to bring coolers full of beer to their seats, effective immediately. If Las Vegas Motor Speedway made the same offer (state law apparently doesn't permit it), its attendance problems would probably be over. ... The Giambi brothers, Oakland Athletics sluggers Jason and Jeremy Giambi, have built a home in Las Vegas and plan to hang out here during the off-season. ... If you subscribe to the notion that everybody deserves a second chance, then John Rocker blew his Sunday. Forget fining himself -- he should suspend himself for the rest of the season. ... With Fusaichi Pegasus and Red Bullet having been scratched, I make Mr. Ed a 4-1 choice in Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Trigger is even money.