All aboard the Omaha Express

GAINESVILLE -- The Florida Gators are but one weekend series away from the College World Series and all that stands in their way is a Southern Miss team making its first appearance in a Super Regional.

The Gators are heavy favorites to advance past this weekend. Southern Miss (38-24) is the only regional No.3 seed in the NCAA baseball tournament to advance to a Super Regional. The Golden Eagles defeated Georgia Tech 12-8 on Monday to win the Atlanta Regional.

Game 1 of the Gainesville Super Regional begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday (ESPNU). Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2). In necessary, Game 3 will be played at 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. on Monday (ESPN or ESPN2).

SOFTBALL
The Gators advanced to the Women's College World Series championship series on Sunday in dramatic fashion -- a walk-off grand slam -- but then lost the first game of the finals 8-0 to Washington on Monday. The Gators and Huskies return to action on Tuesday night.

-jo-

Comments

[Adam S.]

I just don't see how softball being in a championship game is a blurb rather than a whole post. You need to explain this to me. First softball title game in school history, possibly first SEC team to ever win, one of the best players in the country...

[RicoPallazzo!]

Look at the outrage pouring forth from the one poster whom has provided 2 posts on the subject. I agree it's a story that deserves recognition, and I actually anticipated and watched last night's game as well as the ones against Michigan and Bama. However, that doesn't mean it needs a blog entry. you and I are literally the only 2 people to post about Gator softball on here, this very post included in the paltry tally. I understand you want to be the contrarian or simply pan Jo's every blog entry (it seems that way), but the dearth of posts sort of speaks for itself.

[Adam S.]

Rico, first of all, you are misconstruing my statements.

1) I want him to post on Gators softball because they were No. 1 from the second-half of the season on, were the 1-seed in the women's college world series and are now in the national championship game. I literally think it is ridiculous that they are barely being mentioned on here.

2) To say "that doesn't mean it needs a blog entry" is absolutely ridiculous on your part. And I've been talking about them for months, not just days.

3) I am not outraged. I am *surprised* that he is concentrating on UF baseball (which is just about to begin a Super Regional) and all-but ignoring a team in the championship game.

4) I previously worked for UF's University Athletic Association and did a lot of work with the softball team, so I have an additional emotional investment. ALSO, I would be saying the same thing for ANY UF team at such a high level of competition that I felt was being ignored by a Gators blog. If it was men's tennis, women's golf, whatever.

5) I do not "want to be the contrarian" or "simply pan Jo's every blog entry." In fact, I'm one of the few people that compliment him the majority of the time. But I do voice my displeasure where I see fit, and this is one of those instances.

If you don't like it, don't read my posts. I'm just being honest and am surprised that he is not covering a national championship appearance!!!

[13-1LiftTheTrophy]

The non-stop character asassination of Meyer and UF athletics has gotten too tiresome for me. I can't be bothered to defend UF against these hacks and their ongoing half-truths.

I don't want to see anyone on any team get arrested. The incessant attacks towards UF have pretty much ruined my blog experience. It's no surprise that lately I surf by Deadspin and go on my way. I can see people being critical of bad behavior but these obsessed cane fans are an entirely different thing. Do they hate UF so bad that they (him) feel compelled to post dozens and dozens of half truths every single day? It's probably more of a case of seething with jealousy since they were once dominate and are now doormats. Whatever.

Enough of these obsessed fanatics. The odious, lying, jealous cane fans will soon be in the past.

The launch of OnlyGators is mere weeks away. Increase the RPM's Adam.

[Adam S.]

To correct your statement, "the launch of OnlyGators is [hopefully] mere weeks away."

Thanks, though.

[RicoPallazzo!]

Adam, I agree with you that it needs to be covered more, or at least mentioned with more frequency. But sometimes, things are posted on here and the responses are, to say the least, minimal.

You are an everpresent poster here, why would i not want to read your posts. I'm just saying Jo had a blog entry on softball a few blogs ago (time and space become fuzzy in this Al Gore internet world), and it received little appreciation/response, save for you and 2 others.

Bro, don't take what I say personally, i like the opinions you express, don't always agree with them, but those are far outnumbered by what the rational passionate and loyal but capable of disagreement Gator fans typically say on this blog. You certainly aren't a kool-aide imbiber like some guys on Gatorcountry and GatorBait.

At least,as Kruk would say, the "Girls ... i mean young ladies..." are on the scoreboard tonight.

[13-1LiftTheTrophy]

Tough break Lady Gators. You should be proud. It was a hell of a run.

[Adam S.]

Rico, I just felt you misrepresented me in your last post and wanted to be thorough in my response so you understood where you misjudged.

Disappointing finish to a great season...63-5 and SEC Champions. Apparently Tim Walton has already said no other UF softball player will ever wear No. 42. Stacey Nelson = amazing.

[RicoPallazzo!]

Adam, given that you had earlier admonished him and demanded an explanation similar to the one you insisted upon at the beginnig of this comment section, i don't think i misrepesented you at all. Additionally, given the length of your responsive post, I clearly didn't misjudge anything, and my perception of your posts remains unchanged.

Not that you care, but I want to emphasize I'm certainly not riding your ass or crticizing you for that. It makes things more interesting here. Many times, given the lack of activity around here, many times you're the only guy saying anything provocative on these blogs. Only folks that bother me (aside from the Miami clowns ineloquently trying to bash UF, ironically at the school's athletic program historical zenith, quite amusing) are the orange and blue koolaid drinkers. That's not so much a problem here.

We don't disagree on this topic, on the need to report on softball success more frequently the last two weeks given the team's post season achievements. But Jo had an earlier softball blog which received very little interest apart from your initial admonishment that Goodman needed to write more on this subject, a topic his readers had heretofore not really shown much interest in.

On a lighter note, Francesca Enea is not an ugly girl, that's for sure.

[RicoPallazzo!]

Adam, reread what I originally wrote, did characterize your responses a bit harshly. You pannig contrarian you.

[Adam S.]

Jo does a perfectly fine job of defending himself on here when he feels it necessary. He understood exactly where I was coming from.

The length of my response post gives no credence to the tone and misjudgments made in your original post.

And saying someone needs to write more on a subject WITHIN a post on that subject is not a bad thing. As you said, it is an admonishment. The difference is, I think you believe "admonish" to be a bad thing, when in all actuality, it is not. Here is the definition for ya...

1 a: to indicate duties or obligations to b: to express disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner 2: to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement to

I felt it was his duty to cover it, and I expressed disapproval in a gentle & earnest manner. Sounds pretty in-line with the definition.

So yes, in that regard, I did admonish him. I didn't know that was a bad thing?!

And in your second post, thank you for realizing that.