I've always loved conspiracy theories and you've got to wonder why Robin Mackin chose to leave the Fresno State softball team and seek "other options."
Mackin said she's looking for a better fit. Didn't she have it comfy here? Ace pitcher, headline grabber and celebritiy. Next year she could have teamed with Morgan Melloh for one of the NCAA's most devastating pitching tandems. No telling how far the Bulldogs could have gone in the tournament.
Mackin took this semester off to train with the Canadian Olympic Team. She's been rubbing shoulders with teammates who also play college ball in the U.S. And the team will begin playing U.S. competition, so it's a chance to check out some new colleges.
I asked Melloh whether she planned to be wearing an Arizona uniform next season. She politely gave me the brush off, saying she's leaving her options open.
So I asked Bulldogs coach Margie Wright if other NCAA programs might be tampering with Mackin, trying to get her to leave for their schools? Wright wouldn't bite, either. She said she had no idea.
So why would Mackin, who had it all here, want to leave this behind? We'll probably find out after the Olympics when Arizona or UCLA or LSU or Arizona State put out a press release saying they've got a new pitcher.
That leaves Fresno State with Melloh, who can only improve and should be among the NCAA's top pitchers next year. But she isn't a Cat Osterman, who can carry a team on its back to the College World Series. There might be some good news, though. It's rumored that Wright might land another sensational arm before next season. Tune in for that news.
So long Robin Mackin
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: So long Robin Mackin.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://fresnobeehive.com/admin/mt-tb.cgi/2543
Could it be that Mackin didn't want to take a back seat to Melloh next year? Mackin was very good, but I think in most people's eyes, Melloh is the superior pitcher. And Melloh has been able to lead this year's team to a Top 10 ranking, something Mackin was never able to do in her two seasons. In fact, this year's team has reached heights not seen in Bulldog softball in a decade. It's funny that Mackin made her announcement just days before Melloh is likely to break most of her school pitching records.
My guess is that Mackin was "tampered" with. By that, I mean other players and/or coaches talked about the possibilities with other schools, and Mackin wanted to expand her horizons beyond Fresno State. Character counts...and Mackin's lack of loyalty to Fresno State gives you insight into what I suspect is at least one character flaw. Canada doesn't have a particularly strong high school or college softball program compared to the U.S., and Robin was, indeed, fortunate to be discovered by Wright. Margie is clearly a premier "pitcher's coach"; just look at the "arms in the circle" she's developed over the years. Mackin came to Fresno State and developed her pitching prowess even more under Wright's guidance. Margie might not be the easiest coach to play for, because she's demanding. However, Wright clearly cares about her players not only on the field, but she cares about developing well-rounded women for life beyond the field as well. Wright's legacy of past players who are successful in all aspects of life are a testament to Margie's character, too. Robin Mackin could have excelled at Fresno State in a pitching tandem (with Melloh) perhaps unequaled for a couple of years in collegiate softball, possibly yielding a national championship or two. Robin will never know. But I suspect that Fresno State softball and its players will go to on to successes that Mackin will never find.
Jeff Davis-
How about you remember the rules of journalism and report the actual story. I am getting tired of seeing your brown-noser stories on the Bulldog softball team.. I guess Margie's threats of not giving you the stories has really caused you to lose sight of the rules of journalism...
I think that all of the adults in the audience need to remember one thing- this is a kid who plays a game. If she can find a better academic institution then she should go. She wants to be a doctor, not a professional softball player. How about we say thank you for the two great years and wish her well? I would love to see her in a Bulldog uniform next year but for whatever reason, she's decided she needs to move on. Lets not tear down a kid, lets behave like adults and wish here well. She's not the first to transfer schools nor will she be the last.