As the water rises, the umpires shout "play ball"

All around the Omaha metro, communities are bracing for the worst flooding the area has seen since 1952. While volunteers fill sand bags and reinforce levees, the Omaha area is ready for the annual start of the NCAA Men's College World Series. This year, the series opens in a brand new stadium in downtown Omaha, built specifically to meet the requirements of the NCAA.

In the hospitality industry, we look forward to the annual trek of the faithful to what is still "the greatest show on dirt." There are no better fans than those who come to the CWS. They cheer for every great play, support their own teams, and then are good sports if their teams should get knocked out. They come by the tens of thousands, and every Omaha business welcomes their arrival.

I grew up watching the College World Series. My dad would load all of us into the station wagon, giving my mother a summertime break, and off to the series we'd go. He taught us the finer points of the game while teaching us to be good sports about it at the same time. From him I learned how to assess a pitcher, how to watch a catcher's knees, how to appreciate a single hit straight up the middle.

I love our CWS guests. We always have fans stay with us, whether they're here to support a specific team or just because they want to see great baseball. I love chatting with them about the sport -- and about our city, which is new to so many and a pleasant surprise to all.

Watch them on TV or, better still, come see for yourself why this is the sporting event not to miss every year.

Now, let's play ball.