MATTHEW BROWN: All that’s green, grass and …

Published 5:30 pm Friday, August 2, 2024

Don’t give them any ideas, Gil. After all, breaking (can’t call it breakdancing, wouldn’t want a crew out there doing headspins in your freshly mown yard) isn’t slated to return to the Olympics in 2028.

This reminds me of an idea for Novelty Olympics, only the ‘Big Three’ events wouldn’t be gymnastics, swimming and track and field. No, this one would feature a hot dog eating contest, a spelling bee and Texas Hold ’Em poker.

Yep, there I go putting ideas out there that just might make it to the medal platform in Los Angeles, along with cup stacking, Rubik’s Cube solving and rock, paper, scissors. Half of the physical challenges on “Survivor” might some day qualify.

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Now comes the eye-popper, a bit of college sports news that we knew was coming. But who would have thought it would take this form?

It comes from the world of softball. Yes, softball. Love it. Very entertaining. Not the offensively-challenged sport you might be led to believe. No, it’s not just pitcher and catcher having fun. If I never have to cover another slow-pitch game – and I haven’t in two decades – celebrate good times.

But last week, dollar bills spoke like never before, and the best pitcher in the nation was listening and gave ‘follow the money’ a whole new meaning.

Her name is NiJaree Canady, the 2024 college player of the year for Stanford. For the past two seasons, Stanford made the College World Series as Canady struck out 555 batters in 365 2/3 innings and posted a 0.67 earned run average. The Cardinal program as a whole has enjoyed modest success with two other appearances in the national tournament.

But Canady entered that transfer portal this summer. Where did she emerge? Not Texas, the NCAA runner-up. Not Oklahoma, the four-time NCAA champion (both now in the Southeastern Conference). Close. Good guesses if you don’t know the story.

Try Texas Tech. Texas Tech softball will be on its 10th head coach since getting the program back going in 1995. Only three of the previous nine had a winning record there. Six times these Red Raiders played in the NCAA tournament, but no WCWS.

The only number that matters in this story is seven, as in the number of figures in the reported Name, Image, Likeness deal Canady has. And it’s all because of two related boosters.

The report also states Canady made visits to UCLA (12 NCAA championships), Tennessee and Alabama (Again, SEC? SEC?). She says she was drawn by new coach Gerry Glasco, formerly of Louisiana and once a UGA assistant who has also never been to the WCWS as head coach (one Super Regional in 2023). More likely, it’s due to what Patrick Mahomes can pour into his alma mater.

It supposedly came down to Texas Tech or returning to Stanford for a mere six figures. Was she not keen on playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference and all of that nationwide travel? Texas Tech you could say is in the hub of the new Big 12, old foes Colorado, Utah and Arizona on one side, UCF, West Virginia and Cincinnati on the other side.

This may also be groundbreaking territory for a female athlete, but it’s not like the ladies aren’t cashing in already. Three are in the 2024 top 10, and two of those now earn professional paychecks (and hate each other for it apparently) in the WNBA. Do I need to mention their names? Is there a special prize for the 1,000,000th?

Seven figures, gotta love them.

I’ll write it again. Ultimately, what a college athlete makes in NIL doesn’t impact me at all. Congratulations to Canady. Hope you find the grass just as green deep in the heart of.

Where does my problem lie? Did she have to choose the Red Raiders to get it?

(If at all possible, give pet adoption a try through the Animal Rescue Foundation in Milledgeville. Donations of any kind are also in great need. ARF is a little red building at 711 S. Wilkinson St., and more information is available at animalrescuefoundation.org.)