Tuesday 6th May 2003
(by Cory Giger)

Half a world away, Geoff Roneberg wakes up each morning, flips on his computer and can't wait to follow his son Brett's baseball career.
Thanks to the Internet, the entire world -- even the Ronebergs 10,000 miles away in Cairns, Australia -- can catch Curve games.

"We never miss a game," the patriarch of the Roneberg family said in an e-mail from the Land Down Under.
"Even the day games."
Those day games can be tough considering the 14-hour time difference.
A 1 p.m. game means it's 3 in the morning the next day down in Cairns.
That doesn't stop Geoff, a self-proclaimed "house husband" from tuning in, though his wife, Sharon, whom he calls the "bread winner," is sleeping.

"The Friday (and) Saturday games are the best, as Sharon and I can listen together," Geoff said.
"We do not miss a single pitch."

"Quite a few of (Brett's) mates tune in on the weekends and send him some 'humorous' e-mails if he strikes out or makes an error."

The Curve boast the largest radio network in minor-league baseball at 11 stations strong, but it's the Internet presence that allows the players' families and friends to tune in around the country and the world.
Roaring Spring station WKMC-AM 1370 (www.wkmcam.com) provides the Internet feed, and a link to it can be found at www.altoonacurve.com.
"It's great that we can provide that service," Curve broadcasting director Rob Egan said.
"We've gotten a lot of (listeners) over the years."

Many parents usually never miss a game as their kids grow up, but keeping tabs once they reach professional ball can be tough.
A growing number of minor-league teams are providing Internet feeds, and all big-league games can be heard on the net (at $19.95 for the entire season through www.mlb.com).

"We've really enjoyed it and looked forward to listening to the games," Steve Shaffar, father of Curve pitcher Ben, said Monday from his home in Kentucky.
"I would have to give credit to Jason Dambach and Rob Egan for the professional way they change the words into pictures in our living rooms."
Steve Shaffar said he tries to listen to all games, not just when his son's pitching.

Sharon Roneberg doesn't get to listen as much as she wants, but that doesn't mean she misses out on the game action.
"Brett's sister, Tanya, has a permanent Internet link at her work," Geoff Roneberg said.
"As Brett has his at-bat, I send an e-mail to Tanya, and she then rings Sharon at work. Never miss. It's a continuous stream of e-mails and phone calls."

It didn't use to be that way.
"Boy, this is so different to the first few years of Brett's minor-league career," Geoff Roneberg said.
"The first couple of seasons we only had 'snail-mail.' The news was 10 days old before we read it."

Some technical glitches have interrupted the Curve feed at times this season, which has made for a few aggravating moments among would-be listeners.

Just picture the Ronebergs trying to tune in at 3 a.m. only to see a Web error message.
"I can assure you that there is a lot of cussing and cursing," Geoff Roneberg said, "and we usually sit there, clicking the button and hoping it starts to work. Which just means more cussing and cursing when it still doesn't play."

The Curve have fielded some complaints about the hit-and-miss feed this season, and Egan said the problems have been addressed.
"We've been trying to get it ironed out, and hopefully they will be able to get all the games the rest of the year," he said.