August 3, 2007

Costner Ponders CWS Role

Actor Kevin Costner is giving some thought to a request to help Omaha keep the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium.

He said Friday, "I haven't necessarily agreed to do anything, but I'm in support of the stadium."

Costner was reached in New Mexico where he's shooting a movie.

He said, "If I can help I'm very willing to," he said. "I'll be a soldier."

The city has submitted two plans to the NCAA to ensure the series stay in Omaha:

One calls for a new downtown stadium. The other calls for a major renovation of Rosenblatt, which was built in 1948 and became home to the series two years later. An NCAA response is expected this fall.

An Omaha group called Save Rosenblatt is seeking Costner's help and was hoping for an answer next week. His publicist told him about the effort Friday, and Costner readily agreed to help.

But, Costner also said, "I am not looking to polarize the community.

"What do you give up on and what do you start anew? That's a big philosophical question," he said, "and I'm going to stay out of that.

"If the series wants to move downtown to a new stadium, and that's what the citizenry wants, that's great too."

He wasn't sure yet Friday what form his help would take, but he was eager to help Omaha.

"I've always enjoyed my time there and have been well-treated," he said.

"If they need to kick off something we can come up there with the band to play ... I really don't know," Costner said. "I think probably they'll find a way and it'll either make sense to me or it won't."

In 1995, 1999 and 2001 Costner attended the series to support his alma mater, Cal State-Fullerton. Although the Titans were in the eight-team field this year, he didn't make it to the series.

He's taken batting practice with the team, and in 1995 poked one over Rosenblatt's left-field fence.

"I follow the guys and like watching them reach the highest point in their careers," Costner said in a 2001 Omaha interview. "I wish everybody could see Nebraska like this."

Baseball has figured prominently in Costner's film career, most notably in "Field of Dreams," "Bull Durham" and "For Love of the Game."