Jun 21, 2008

John Reid's postcard from Omaha

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

Needed to get to Creighton University to watch Stanford practice Friday. When I got there, I found out there was a lot I didn't know about the school's athletic program. Thanks to some large photos on the wall next to the baseball field, I learned Hall of Famer Bob Gibson once toiled for Creighton. That's probably why there is a Bob Gibson Way adjacent to Rosenblatt Stadium. Later, I stopped by M's Pub, where Smitty the Bartender pointed out Gibson sitting at the other end of the bar, drinking champagne. Thought he might be drinking a Gibson.

Former major-leaguers Andy Benes, Dennis Rasmussen and Scott Servais were Creighton-ites. Current Chicago Cubs VP/GM Jim Hendry coached Creighton to the CWS in 1991, its only appearance. Former NBA players Paul Silas and Benoit Benjamin ran the Creighton hardwood. Sounds like Creighton had quite the softball team in the '80s, sending teams to the Women's College World Series in '82 and '86 and winning the AIAW (whatever that is) title in '80-'81.

Upon intense Googling, I discovered that Creighton was founded in 1878 as Creighton College. A Jesuit school, Creighton specializes in pre-med and pre-law. I'm just wondering where it got its blissful nickname of the Blue Jays, one of the all-time great nicknames.