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There is much to like about the Womenās College World Series, even though it has changed much in the 27 years since Iāve been covering it.
The ESPN presence has multiplied mightily. The crowds have mushroomed. The game itself has changed, with 1-0 or 2-1 no longer the norm, though not exactly the exception either. The format is different. The uniforms are different (no team wears shorts anymore). The players are different (much bigger and stronger than in the old days). The stadium is different.
Itās all different.
But one thing hasnāt changed much. The appreciation by the participants. Thereās still a sense of wow among the players and coaches that softball has ascended to such a stage.
And the initial comments by Alabama coach Patrick Murphy on Sunday night, after his Crimson Tide was eliminated by OU 7-3, reflect that.
Remember, Murphyās season just came to an end. He no longer would coach the seniors on his team. No longer would chase an NCAA championship with this group of women. In many ways, the moments after the final game are quite emotional.
But Murphy used his microphone to thank people for the event.
āWell, I got to get all my thank-yous out,ā Murphy said. āIs that OK? Everybody involved with the
championship, the Hall of Fame Stadium, people at our hotel, the Waterford Renaissance, everyone there, every place we went to eat.
āThe media, you guys are awesome. You make softball to the average fan important. I really appreciate all the coverage, the local paper, everybody, including ESPN, espnW. We really appreciate it because you make these girls rock stars. There's all kinds of little girls in the stadium that are now looking up to our kids, Oklahoma kids, all of them.
āI really appreciate that. I know our kids do because they have an attitude of gratitude.ā
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Let me tell you who has an attitude of gratitude. Me and the rest of the media. For a coach to thank us like that is rather rare and much appreciated. We donāt get response much. And for Murphy to even specifically thank The Oklahoman is a nice gesture.
The truth is, we donāt cover the World Series as well as we once did, because of some limitations with deadlines and space and manpower. But we still try to cover it well, and in the old days, before ESPN was all-in on softball, we made the World Series a big deal and I think had a small part in making the WCWS an Oklahoma City institution.
And for someone like the Alabama coach to acknowledge our efforts is frankly flattering.
We donāt have bad relationships with the people we cover. The occasional Mike Gundy or Russell Westbrook or even Bob Stoops gets upset over something, but it blows over. Well, doesnāt blow over Westbrook, but thatās more of a schtick than an issue.
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We know OU football and the Thunder would survive without The Oklahoman, or the Sports Animal, or Channels 4, 5, 9 and 25. But we do stoke the fires of the interest that makes them thriving economic engines, and we know that they know it. And sometimes representatives from those organizations even say so. Sam Presti, particularly, says it every year when he addresses the media.
But a lot of the expressed courtesies are perfunctory. Patrick Murphy wasnāt on cruise control. He spoke from the heart about not just the media, but everyone involved with the Womenās College World Series that has turned it into a world-class event.
Classy thing to do. And much appreciated. Hard to cheer for SEC teams in this part of the country. But itās hard to cheer against a Murphy-coached team. Roll Tide.
