LSU Tiger Blog

Father’s Day - Mainieri Style

Sunday, June 21st, 2009      Email Print

LSU's Paul Mainieri spent Father's Day exactly where he wanted, inside Rosenblatt Stadium on Sunday. He spent the day with his coaches and players but they aren't his only support system here in Omaha. His dad Demi is here, which has made this whole experience that much more special. Demi Mainieri was one of the best small college coaches in the history of the sport, He transformed Miami-Dade community college into a national power leading them to the 1964 JUCO World Series and churning out future major leaguers like Mike Piazza, Bucky Dent and Mickey Rivers. He also had the most profound impact on a future coach, some guy named Paul.

In an ironic twist of fate, it was Demi Mainieri that introduced his son to Skip Bertman way before either would take LSU to Omaha. Bertman was the head coach at Miami Senior High when he built a relationship with Father Maineri who often recruited Skip's players. As a result, down the road Bertman would give young Paul Maineri saw hitting tips when he was coming to his own as a player, a relationship forged by Demi. Its hard to believe how this story has come full circle?

Paul Mainieri told me he didn't grow up wanting to be a major leaguer, he always wanted to be a college head coach. In essence, the son wanted to be just like his father. Mainieri smiled when reliving conversations at the dinner table growing up which always revolved around his dad's coaching stories and strategies. Its clear, Maineri was focused on following his father's footsteps and always saw himself on college's baseball's biggest stage one day. That day has come and winning his first National Championship with Dad in the stands would be the best kind of belated Father's Day offering he could have ever dreamed of.

SUNNY SKIES: If you listen to the Omaha doppler forecast, the rain the rain seems to be going away over the next three days but the temperatures are expected to peak in the high 90's.

COOL COLEMAN: Tiger Ace and Game 1 starter Louis Coleman is ready to go "long" innings versus the "long"horns but says knowledge isn't always a good thing in prepartaion. He told us he wants to know some info about Texas but not too much so he can just concentrate on his game.

2 OUT OF 3 AIN'T BAD: When pressed on the CWS format, both Maineri and Texas Head Coach Augie Garrido said they prefer playing two of three in the championship round instead of the winner take all format.

GOOD ANSWER!: It may be hard if you're a college coach to defend having your pitcher throw 12 and a half innings which totaled 169 pitches but Garrido did his best in talking about Austin Wood's regional outing against Boston College last month. Garrido said it was a situation Wood demanded telling him "don't even think about taking me out of this game." He went on to say if Wood was in the military he would earn a Congressional Medal of Honor for his effort on the mound and if his arm is sore at anytime in the next 10 years, "it will be my fault."

ZESTO'S!! I have had lots of shakes and burgers over the years but after dining at World Famous Zesto's across the street from Rosenblatt I have found my fast food utopia. Simply put, they delivered the best cheeseburger I've ever had and when your're here you must get a shake to wash it down. I highly recommend the peanut butter malt!

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

Post Comment | Read Comments (0)