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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Troy O’Leary readies reality baseball show

Can I first find out if John Wakefield is alive yet or not...before this nonsense?!

Thank you (Disgruntled in Ramblewood, N.J.)

O’Leary began thinking about a concept for a baseball TV reality series. Month by month, it started to get more creative and involved. He added associates in Alexandra Athanasopoulos and Mike Pearson. He got ex-players and friends like Reggie Jefferson, Mike Stanley, Darren Lewis, John Valentin, Jeff Cirillo, and Rafael Naboa to commit to roles. He received guidance from Reds manager Dusty Baker and from former agent and current special adviser to the White Sox Dennis Gilbert.

Now O’Leary, 39, is ready to become the Simon Cowell of baseball on a show called “Play Big or Go Home.”

...The concept starts with baseball players preferably aged 18-22 sending O’Leary videos of them in action. O’Leary will evaluate them and select 15 players from the East, Midwest, and West regions. When he’s whittled them down, that’s when the judging and voting begins.

According to Athanasopoulos, an IT professional for Wells Fargo in Chandler, Ariz., the show will incorporate a human element, with stories of the players’ lives and backgrounds - even “love stories.” O’Leary and a panel of judges, likely made up of ex-players, will determine whether they continue or pack up and go home. O’Leary’s goal is “to find the five-tool player and to get them an invite to a major league spring training camp.”

Repoz Posted: May 10, 2009 at 07:17 AM | 13 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralHistoryBostonTelevision

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   1. BeanoCook  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 07:53 AM (#3173002)
This obviously isn't aimed at baseball fans.
   2. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 08:21 AM (#3173012)
Who plays the role of Paula Abdul? I'm going with Jeff Francoeur (was hot stuff for a little while, and looks better the further away you are).
   3. Frank Rook  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 08:54 AM (#3173028)
Who plays the role of Paula Abdul?


Alyssa Milano.
   4. Bob Dernier Cri  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 09:09 AM (#3173032)
Hi, I'm Troy O'Leary. You may remember me from such baseball teams as the 2002 Montreal Expos ...
   5. Dayton Moore is a Big Fat Idiot (AG#1F)  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM (#3173056)
No Kenny Powers?
   6. Nasty Nate  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 11:00 AM (#3173076)
will common sense ever return so that we can call these things "game shows" ?
   7. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 11:03 AM (#3173078)
I 2014, I expect someone to greenlight "This Is Howie Kendrick."
   8. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle)  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 10:38 PM (#3173940)
Don't forget he's a former Calgary Cannon.
   9. DrStankus  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 11:04 PM (#3173986)
This would be an even better show if it were on VH1 and was wanna be baseball players and wanna be groupies.
   10. scareduck  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 11:44 PM (#3174001)
the show will incorporate a human element

Because the audience will have a hard time sympathizing with a bunch of Benders all trying to make the team...
   11. Obama Bomaye  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 11:51 PM (#3174003)
I sincerely hope the players all live in one house and snap on each other over every perceived dis. And have a room in which they can give private interviews to the camera. That would win me over.
   12. Joshua Gibsons Ruth (Voxter)  Posted: May 10, 2009 at 11:52 PM (#3174005)
I remember when I had an irrational love for Troy O'Leary. I remember arguing that he was Bernie Williams on some online forum somewhere. Thankfully it wasn't here. I'm not sure here existed yet. It might have been the Neyer boards. I don't remember.

In summary: Troy O'Leary makes people crazy.
   13. North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan  Posted: May 11, 2009 at 01:25 AM (#3174039)
Can't we just call it "San Francisco's Next Top Hitter" and make it a competition with a real-world prize of batting cleanup for the Giants?
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