Sliders are coming to Springfield!

No, folks, we are not getting a White Castle (home of the Slider, or as I call them, Rectum Rockets). Springfield’s giving baseball another go.

This SJ-R article announces the Springfield Sliders will be coming to Lanphier Park in 2008. It’s apparently yet to be determined whether they will be a part of the Central Illinois Collegiate League or a different league, but they have signed a five-year deal with the city and will begin play this coming summer.

I first heard a blurb about it the other day on SportsRadio 1450 and was happy to hear it. The owners of the team say they will be heavy on promotions and entertaining, with things like t-shirt (possibly complete with t-shirt cannon!) and/or cap giveaways, fireworks nights, things like that.

Incidentally, the turtle in the logo is a red slider, a turtle that is indigenous in Illinois.

I can’t wait for the Sliders to start playing. It’s a fun, inexpensive way to spend some quality family time enjoying the greatest sport ever invented. I’m already planning to take my boys to some games to try to foster in them the love for baseball that I had when I was a kid (thanks to my dad), back before I knew anything about free agency, steroids, insanely high ticket prices, million-dollar divas, the designated hitter rule, and other boils that currently fester and ooze on the ass of Major League Baseball.

Naturally, there are the nay-sayers who have already condemned the Sliders to fail, complaining about Lanphier Park’s parking, the fact that it’s not a Cubs or Cardinals farm team, etc. Folks, it’s simple: we will not get another farm team. We had the Cardinals’ AAA team- the team that sends guys to “The Show” (the majors)- and there wasn’t enough support so they left. We had the Cardinals’ AA team (or was it A?) and there wasn’t enough support so they left. We even had the Sultans, a Padres affiliate (not “local” but at least they were connected with an MLB club) and there wasn’t enough support so they left. Folks, you need to decide- do you want baseball or not? If you do- if you truly do- then go see the games and support the team. Otherwise, don’t complain because there’s no baseball in Springfield. Don’t sit there with your Rolodex o’ Excuses full of reasons why you justify not going- parking, no major league-caliber talent, etc. Those that do that are part of the problem. I get so tired of people that bitch and complain that they don’t get what they want and then when they finally have it, they’re still not happy.

Come on in, Sliders- my boys and I will be there.