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As Saturday was the first day of games, and our side of the 8-team bracket didn't play until today, we had a chance to catch more of the sights and sounds of Rosenblatt Stadium from a different perspective Saturday: kicked back in the stands.

We do not get many complete afternoons off here in Omaha, but when the chance is available, we enjoy it.

Though signing autographs never gets old, it is nice from time to time to be able to walk a hop, skip and a jump in under a half hour between every 13-year old girl asking for pictures and every age boy asking for a Dustin Ackley signature.

I hope people in Omaha have learned two things: 1) No, I am not Alex White, Kyle Seager, Dustin Ackley, Mark Fleury or Brian Moran, and 2) No, I do not know where they are.

Our practice (Saturday) was held at Creighton University's field, and no offense to their confines at their ballpark, but when you are used to the brand-spanking-new Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium, it is tough to go to anything else.

The outfield and bullpen at Creighton was some weird type of Astroturf which turned every baseball into oversized quarter machine jumbo bouncy balls. All of us were left questioning how Creighton had not set the NCAA record for ground rule doubles. After catching three bullpens, my shins and inner thighs were questioning who would ever create that kind of torture.

Catching the sights and sounds of a live-game in action just amplified our desire to get on the field and play. Seeing the amount of people watching college baseball really got the blood flowing, and I think everybody is gnawing at the bit to actually face an opponent in our fourth day out here without playing.

I hope it needs no invitation, but to all those who are baseball fans, I hope by the time you are reading this you can feel a little warmth from the Carolina blue sky and pull for the Tar Heels.

Besides, what fun is it pulling for a Sun Devil?