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darkcloud4579 · 07-06-2003, 06:03 PM

NEW JERSEY'S SCOUTING DEPARTMENT FINDS DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
ATLANTIC CITY - The New Jersey Cyclones are maligned by their peers incesscently. Why, they ask, have the Oregon Emeralds been able to rattle off what seems like almost four straight division titles and establish themselves as contenders, while the Cyclones are known as the "roller coaster ride from hell" outside of the Big Apple?

"We had some rough times here, but we're finally getting it together," said Rick Cerone, general managing partner of the club. He said, they suffered from a "lack of focus" when the club was founded. And despite protests of many, he says "we noticed what was going on in Oregon. We just didn't know how to replicate what they were doing, because it was really unorthodox. It has yet to pay off for them in a title, but they're doing well and spending lots of money in the process. We want to do it differently", he added.

Different they have been. Outside the stadium in Atlantic City is a virtual United Nations of flags. Catcher Uri Petrov came from the Baseball Academy in Russia, 2B Naing Zaw moved to California when he was 12 from Myanmar (Burma) and learned the game of baseball, but was unscouted by most clubs. Add to him Claudio Pausini from Italy, Ajani Russell, who was born in Nigeria before coming to the US when he was 3 and you see that this club is not your ordinary ballclub.

"We pride ourselves in scouring the globe for talent. And we're not close to being done", said Boris Jackson, director of scouting for the Cyclones. With new money infused into the club, the team has done even more to ensure its players around the globe are able to get the equipment they need.

So don't be surprised if you hear of the next great player from...that baseball mecca of Kuwait?

07-06-2003, 06:03 PM	#54
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,693	The UN of Baseball? NEW JERSEY'S SCOUTING DEPARTMENT FINDS DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH ATLANTIC CITY - The New Jersey Cyclones are maligned by their peers incesscently. Why, they ask, have the Oregon Emeralds been able to rattle off what seems like almost four straight division titles and establish themselves as contenders, while the Cyclones are known as the "roller coaster ride from hell" outside of the Big Apple? "We had some rough times here, but we're finally getting it together," said Rick Cerone, general managing partner of the club. He said, they suffered from a "lack of focus" when the club was founded. And despite protests of many, he says "we noticed what was going on in Oregon. We just didn't know how to replicate what they were doing, because it was really unorthodox. It has yet to pay off for them in a title, but they're doing well and spending lots of money in the process. We want to do it differently", he added. Different they have been. Outside the stadium in Atlantic City is a virtual United Nations of flags. Catcher Uri Petrov came from the Baseball Academy in Russia, 2B Naing Zaw moved to California when he was 12 from Myanmar (Burma) and learned the game of baseball, but was unscouted by most clubs. Add to him Claudio Pausini from Italy, Ajani Russell, who was born in Nigeria before coming to the US when he was 3 and you see that this club is not your ordinary ballclub. "We pride ourselves in scouring the globe for talent. And we're not close to being done", said Boris Jackson, director of scouting for the Cyclones. With new money infused into the club, the team has done even more to ensure its players around the globe are able to get the equipment they need. So don't be surprised if you hear of the next great player from...that baseball mecca of Kuwait?