Cal dumping baseball

[novelist_wannabe]

ESPN news is reporting that the University of California is doing away with baseball. Noted alumni Jeff Kent is not happy ...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/29/MNL21FKPBF.DTL

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Interesting that this happens after two schools without baseball joined the Pac-10.

 

[Moderator1]

ESPN reporting? That's not an ESPN story you posted.

We had something yesterday, as I'm sure many others did:

http://www.fanhouse.com/2010/09/28/cal-cuts-baseball-demotes-rugby-in-budget-move/

 

[Mizzougrad96]

This wasn't a surprise at all.

 

[slappy4428]

ESPN reporting? That's not an ESPN story you posted.

We had something yesterday, as I'm sure many others did:

http://www.fanhouse.com/2010/09/28/cal-cuts-baseball-demotes-rugby-in-budget-move/

DEMOTES CAL RUGBY?!? IT'S A PROVEABLY AND DEMONSTRABLY HOT SPORT!!! [/jdvstdhiv]

 

[tapintoamerica]

Wait. The guy played 2,6323 consecutive games and now he's abandoning the game? What gives?

 

[LongTimeListener]

So a bunch of upper-middle-class white kids, whose parents have spent $5-10K a year (or more) on travel ball since Junior was 8 years old, no longer have this end-around to the admissions requirements and might actually have to study if they want to go to Cal. Boo hoo. I fail to see what baseball is really bringing to the student body, and I especially fail to see what good it does to justify a budget shortfall.

 

[TigerVols]

According to Baseball Reference.com, Jeff Kent made at least $86 million playing baseball. Not to mention endorsements.

If he's so disgusted by this, maybe he should have put his money where his mouth is.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

According to Baseball Reference.com, Jeff Kent made at least $86 million playing baseball. Not to mention endorsements.

If he's so disgusted by this, maybe he should have put his money where his mouth is.

You think that prick ever had an endorsement?

 

[Batman]

According to Baseball Reference.com, Jeff Kent made at least $86 million playing baseball. Not to mention endorsements.

If he's so disgusted by this, maybe he should have put his money where his mouth is.

Seemed like a pretty rational response to me:

"I figured baseball was pretty close to untouchable, just because it's one of the bigger sports," Kent said. "But if I stop to think about it, attendance probably has been really poor and they haven't done a whole lot in the national rankings. I guess, business-wise, baseball had a target on it."

 

[Iron_chet]

Nothing to add, just wanted to note that I appreciate random JDV references, now back to my Raiderette.

 

[AgatePage]

Interesting that this happens after two schools without baseball joined the Pac-10.

Utah has baseball. Colorado does not. So now it's back to 10 teams.

 

[apeman33]

Quote: "Rugby, which has won 25 national championships in 30 years, will no longer be considered an intercollegiate sport at Cal, but will be able to remain in its current competitive situation. It has been given a 'varsity club' status, a new designation by the university and will have to rely on endowments and donor support to maintain its current level of competition."

And just how, exactly, does rugby maintain its current level of competition? There can't be any way for the sport to maintain its current budget if it has to rely on donations.

 

[Batman]

Quote: "Rugby, which has won 25 national championships in 30 years, will no longer be considered an intercollegiate sport at Cal, but will be able to remain in its current competitive situation. It has been given a 'varsity club' status, a new designation by the university and will have to rely on endowments and donor support to maintain its current level of competition."

And just how, exactly, does rugby maintain its current level of competition? There can't be any way for the sport to maintain its current budget if it has to rely on donations.

The story said rubgy was more or less self-sustaining anyway because it already gets a crap-ton of donations and endowments. Demoting it was more about staying in line with Title IX.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Quote: "Rugby, which has won 25 national championships in 30 years, will no longer be considered an intercollegiate sport at Cal, but will be able to remain in its current competitive situation. It has been given a 'varsity club' status, a new designation by the university and will have to rely on endowments and donor support to maintain its current level of competition."

And just how, exactly, does rugby maintain its current level of competition? There can't be any way for the sport to maintain its current budget if it has to rely on donations.

The rugby program basically bought its way into the athletic department. It gets a ridiculous level of alumni support for a club sport.

It was dropped for Title IX reasons.

 

[Stitch]

Quote: "Rugby, which has won 25 national championships in 30 years, will no longer be considered an intercollegiate sport at Cal, but will be able to remain in its current competitive situation. It has been given a 'varsity club' status, a new designation by the university and will have to rely on endowments and donor support to maintain its current level of competition."

And just how, exactly, does rugby maintain its current level of competition? There can't be any way for the sport to maintain its current budget if it has to rely on donations.

The rugby program basically bought its way into the athletic department. It gets a ridiculous level of alumni support for a club sport.

It was dropped for Title IX reasons.

Nice rugby field. I wonder if Jack Clark can't push players through the admissions office now.

 

[HanSenSE]

According to Baseball Reference.com, Jeff Kent made at least $86 million playing baseball. Not to mention endorsements.

If he's so disgusted by this, maybe he should have put his money where his mouth is.

Um, but he has ... sponsors a fundraiser for Cal baseball and women's sports every year.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Rugby is a much bigger deal at Cal than baseball.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Quote: "Rugby, which has won 25 national championships in 30 years, will no longer be considered an intercollegiate sport at Cal, but will be able to remain in its current competitive situation. It has been given a 'varsity club' status, a new designation by the university and will have to rely on endowments and donor support to maintain its current level of competition."

And just how, exactly, does rugby maintain its current level of competition? There can't be any way for the sport to maintain its current budget if it has to rely on donations.

The rugby program basically bought its way into the athletic department. It gets a ridiculous level of alumni support for a club sport.

It was dropped for Title IX reasons.

Nice rugby field. I wonder if Jack Clark can't push players through the admissions office now.

He can.

 

[TigerVols]

According to Baseball Reference.com, Jeff Kent made at least $86 million playing baseball. Not to mention endorsements.

If he's so disgusted by this, maybe he should have put his money where his mouth is.

Um, but he has ... sponsors a fundraiser for Cal baseball and women's sports every year.

Um, but "his" program has still gone belly up. Clearly, he didn't do enough.