Where were YOU when...?

We'll all be talking about it for years, decades even, telling our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Cousins and friends. Everyone.

Where were you when the 2008 Diamond 'Dogs won the College World Series championship?

Me, I picked the worst week of the year to leave town, flying to a Hawaiian destination wedding for a family member. But I'll tell you what, if ever you want to find out just how many Fresno State faithful are in the Hawaiian islands at a given time, go there during the "Wonderdogs" run to the CWS title fully clothed in your baseball gear.

I saw a guy with a backwards red 'Dogs cap hanging with his fam along the beach, a guy with a blue Fresno State golf polo at the pool bar, some casually dressed fans who said their pastor is Mitch Ribera (DH Jordan Ribera's pops), a hostess in the middle of a small jungle town who said she's from Fresno, a group of four site-see-ers from Caruthers, and the list goes on -- including at least half of the 80-something visiting for the wedding.

I'll always remember where I was for this miraculous postseason run. Any other week and you can bet bottom dollar I'd be in Omaha with the Diamond 'Dogs, but this week called for extraordinary measures -- catching the 'Dogs on TV between rehearsal dinner, crater trips and limo rides to the wedding. As a matter of fact, I was in that limo as Fresno State recorded the final out in a 6-1 championship game win over Georgia.

A good friend called. I picked up without saying hello, heard my closest pals screaming, and just hung up. That's all I needed to know. We won. I sat staring out the limo and into the Pacific Ocean in silence, years of Fresno State baseball memories rushing through my mind. A dream come true. For all of us.

I've got that Bulldog Spirit ...

(sing along) up in my head, deep in my heart, down in my toes!

I still haven't regained enough composure to post what I want to yet, but it was the greatest day in my life yesterday as the Fresno State baseball team won the national championship. Best part was, they did it while showing the entire country (and reminding some in our Valley) the characteristics we stand for and represent: heart, guts, pride, loyalty, determination, passion, spirit, undying effort, toughness and perseverance. No other school on Earth can brag about this combination. It's why I'm so proud to be a Bulldog and a HUGE part of why I am who I am today.

Thank you so much to the Fresno State baseball team, you'll never know what this means to me.

I'm still at a loss for words and I've been crying off and on for a while now. Some of you may understand, while some won't. Those that don't, I hope you get there at some point (maybe not the crying, but the understanding).

Please feel free comment and share any and all stories related to Fresno State's CWS run. We'd love to hear them.

Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred, I'll be a Bulldog 'til the day I'm dead!

Heart and Soul

We've heard a lot about heart and soul this week in the college baseball world.

For me, it started during the Tony D. show on 1550 AM when guest interview Augie Garrido (the current Texas coach and former CS Fullerton coach) was talking about his life documentary that aired tonight on ESPN2. Garrido, who was a player on Fresno State's 1959 College World Series team, and whose number is retired on the Beiden Field wall, told Tony D. his heart is in Texas but his soul is in Fresno.

Then we heard Diamond 'Dogs coach Mike Batesole talk about Game 1 starter Justin Wilson being all heart on the mound. That heart helped him limit No. 6 Rice to two runs in seven innings in the 'Dogs 17-5 CWS win.

Shoot, the ESPN announcers and all the other media have been talking all week about how these 'Dogs aren't supposed to be here. They're the first No. 4 Regional seed to ever make it this far, their lineup has the lowest team average of any CWS squad, they score the least runs per game and blah blah blah. But they have big hearts everyone keeps saying.

Everyone on planet Earth, meet Fresno State. That's what we've been trying to tell you for years -- decades even. Pat Hill talks about it. The football team talks about. It's what the Red Wave and Fresno State athletics is built upon and generated by. Heart and soul is what puts the chip on our collective shoulder. We know we're capable of beating anyone. We don't take moral victories. We come to win the game.

Our players play harder than yours, our yellers in the stands yell louder in the stands than yours and our coaches coach better than yours. If you try to argue that with us, we'll argue better than you too.

Tell us we're not good enough and it's like putting a baby Gremlin in a pool of water. It makes our heart grow more motivated and our soul more attached to Fresno State. Keep telling us we shouldn't be here, we strike out too much, we don't field clean enough or throw fast enough or run quick enough or hit far enough or have enough players batting .400. Keep talking about your paper advantages. Go ahead. Just be ready to prove it on the field.

Fresno State Dream Team: Punters

Who are the best punters in school history? Let's find out. Each Bulldog Bounce blogger has turned in his own votes for each position already, but we want to hear what you -- the readers -- think. Then, at the end of all the voting we'll compare our results to yours.

We're going position-by-position with the idea of starting healthy debate about why so-and-so is better than such-and-such? YOU decide the criteria! What's more important? College stats or pro? Four-year starters or JC transfers? Single-season greatness or consistency?

Next up is punter, and the nominees are:
--Craig Holworthy
--Rusty Karraker
--Mike Lingua
--Mike Mancini
--Lance Oberparleiter
--Jeff Roberts
--Brad Seagle
--Jason Simpson

The Bulldog Bounce voting was pretty consistent on this one, with Jeff Roberts receiving three first-team votes and one second-team. Mike Mancini received the other first-team vote and one second-team, while Jason Simpson had two second-team votes.

Have fun, voice your opinion and let the voting begin! The nominees will remain posted in the right-hand column for you to choose from, but please add comments to this blog entry as well.

I still remember crying...

There's not supposed to be any crying in baseball, but I admit it, I broke the rule. It's one of my very first memories, and I was reminded of it tonight after Fresno State out-pounded No. 3 Arizona State to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1991.

It came in the form of a text message from one of my best pals, and the only guy I know who follows the Diamond 'Dogs as closely as I do. I sent him a text message saying, "NO 'DOGS DOWN!!!" His reply was simple: "On the verge of tears over here."

That's what triggered one of my first-ever memories. I was 6 years old, months away from my seventh birthday, and spending a little time cleaning my room. While I thought it was cruel of my dad to make me clean, I have to thank him for making sure I had a radio handy. It was 1988, and the Diamond 'Dogs were the No. 2 seed in the College World Series, with a record of about 56-8 on the year.

I was a little kid, already believing I was Bulldog Born and already sold on my dad's words of wisdom saying that Fresno State might win a national title in baseball and football in my lifetime.

And then I cried. I sat on my bed in tears, as Fresno State dropped the CWS opener to Stanford. I don't want that this time. This team might be less talented, but that doesn't have to stop this dream season. It hasn't yet...not even against arguably the best lineup in the nation in Arizona State. Because this team has heart. And I hope they make me feel like crying again -- but this time I want it to be because of a win. A national championship.

The next mayor of Fresno

If I could rewind to last Tuesday, I would strongly consider voting for Gavin Hedstrom as mayor.

Nothing against Ashley Swearengin (I think she's a very attractive candidate) but she didn't hit a grand slam to give the Diamond 'Dogs the lead in an eventual Game 2 win over third-ranked Arizona State.

After Sunday's 8-6 victory, the Diamond 'Dogs are one win from reaching the College World Series to face Rice. An old WAC rivalry renewed. The only two teams to win the WAC title in about 10 years or so.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, at least nine innings of baseball remain. And the 'Dogs have every reason to believe they can finish this thing off tomorrow. It could be pitching by committee, or Tanner Scheppers could shock the world and take the mound.

All I know is a team whose fans chant, "Let's go Devils" on a Sunday sure as heck didn't deserve to win.

What's the deal with the conspiracy!?

Is it just me, or does Fresno State keep getting screwed by ESPN in the non-football sports?

Let's connect the dots:

--men's basketball has exactly ZERO games on ESPN this past season.

--women's basketball makes its first ever NCAA tourney and gets advertised all over the place, including the previous game on ESPN, and then when game time comes what happens? They show Vanderbilt or someone from so far away no one around the Valley cares. And then Comcast pretends it has no control over it...bull!

--baseball makes the Super Regionals and Game 1 is said to be on ESPNU. It is on ESPNU, but not until after about two full innings have been missed by all the viewers who were forced to sit through a UC Irvine blowout over LSU...

--baseball Game 2 of the Super Regionals said to be on ESPN2. Here we sit, six diehard Diamond 'Dogs fan in my living room, waiting, watching Miami and Arizona make pitching change after pitching change, load the bases and not score anyone and seemingly find every way possible to delay the Fresno State game coming on.

SHOW THE 'DOGS ALREADY!!! Would it be THAT hard for ESPN to just put 30 minutes between games so there's no overlap for cryin' out loud!?

Fresno State Dream Team: Kickers

Who are the best kickers in school history? Let's find out. Each Bulldog Bounce blogger has turned in his own votes for each position already, but we want to hear what you -- the readers -- think. Then, at the end of all the voting we'll compare our results to yours.

We're going position-by-position with the idea of starting healthy debate about why so-and-so is better than such-and-such? YOU decide the criteria! What's more important? College stats or pro? Four-year starters or JC transfers? Single-season greatness or consistency?

Next up is kicker, and the nominees are:
--Asen Asparuhov
--Barry Belli
--Scott Darrow
--Jeff Hanna
--Steve Loop
--Johan Lyssand
--Derek Mahoney
--Clint Stitser
--Armen Torigian
--Brett Visintainer

For the first time ever, The Bulldog Bounce voting resulted in a tie between Barry Belli and Derek Mahoney as the two best kickers in Fresno State history. Belli had two first-team votes, while Mahoney had one first-team and two second-team votes. Asen Asparuhov and Brett Visintainer were the only other vote-getters. Visintainer had a first-team vote and Asparuhov two second-team votes.

Have fun, voice your opinion and let the voting begin! The nominees will remain posted in the right-hand column for you to choose from, but please add comments to this blog entry as well.

IS THERE A 'DOG IN THE HOUSE!?

WOOF!!!

Fresno State Diamond 'Dogs = Regional champs!

2 wins over No. 6 San Diego.
1 Clayton Allison complete-game shutout.
1 win over host No. 11 Long Beach State.
2 dislocated Tommy Mendonca fingers.
1 right field wall body-checked by Steve Detwiler.
2 enormous RBIs by Gavin Hedstrom.
1 Regional championship.
No. 3 Arizona State is next...

Holden Sprague and Brandon Burke pitched like true Bulldogs. Allison and Justin Wilson made it all possible with their mound gems in the days prior. And now it's time to do it all over again.

A College World Series berth would go a long way in restoring fans' confidence in coach Mike Batesole after the team disappointed throughout the regular season. But now we see what the 'Dogs really are capable of, the bats are hot and the arms are firing. Let's hope for a great showing by the Red Wave in Tempe...

Big props to all the 'Dogs fans who traveled to Long Beach, especially on Monday night...and especially to that guy with the giant Fresno State flag and old-school '91 baseball jacket running around the stands!