Thursday 2nd August 2007

Guys
Hope all are doing well

I wanted to send this email to you all to discuss the upcoming World Championships, Olympic Qualifiers and then the Olympic Games

After a meeting this past week with the Australian Sports Commission, it has become evident that if we don’t have a good showing at the World Championships and we don’t qualify for the Olympic Games, our funding for baseball in Australia will be cut by up to 80% - I was told unofficially that this was certain

It is the first time this has happened and it is without question the biggest threat the sport we have all grown up with and got us to where we are today, both as a team and personally, has ever faced

The whole of baseball in Australia, from T-ballers all the way thru to our club system and our National Teams programs, will be affected like at no time before

In my time as the National Coach I have never asked you guys for anything
If you have made yourself unavailable I have supported your decision and never tried to persuade you - I have supported guys who have had to make a choice between the Olympics and the Big Leagues and always told them to go to the Big Leagues as that has been their dream

I want to ask you guys for a total commitment to our national program, both in November for the World Championships and also the Olympic Qualifiers in early April next year - this I think will take place in Canada or USA
This will be a good situation for us as you guys won’t have to make the decision to leave Spring Training - guys will be able to complete Spring Training with their clubs and then come and play in the Olympic Qualifier

With everyone available I believe we can be World Champions and we can be Gold Medalists -- that would be great, but more importantly it will help our funding to continue in our country

Without Australian baseball and the investment that they have made in all of our development, none of us would be where we are now in our sporting and personal lives
It has given us all an opportunity to make a profession out of the sport

We can’t afford to let the next generation down and the kids coming through the system
I have been told that the State Academies will go and it will be very hard to fund our Queensland MLB Academy without us going to the final six in the World Championships and qualifying for the Olympics

If we can qualify for the Olympics the heat is off us, the government has said they will get behind us and put in the money to support Australian baseball

Guys, we need your help
We need your availability like no time before - please don't let us down
I know you have committments with your clubs, but this is for the good and for the survival of our sport in Australia

Also, don’t forget that the World Cup Team will be going to Japan after the World Cup to play the two games against the professional Japan Team
This is 'a big deal' for Australian Baseball, but it’s also a great opportunity for any of you guys who might be thinking about getting a job in Asia sometime in the future

Get back to me and let me know your thoughts
Deebs