He was the main American writer - if not the only one - that was reporting daily from Panama City, Panama on how the event was unfolding. Team USA - managed by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson - was trying to advance as one of two teams to get back into the Olympics, after Tommy Lasorda had led the squad to an incredible gold medal in 2000.
Bloom and I still have the ability to recount the details of that event in Panama City, because it was so raw with emotion. The Americans lost a gut-wrenching quarterfinal game to Mexico, 2-1, and it knocked the heart and soul of the entire USA Baseball organization to it's knees. Not being able to defend the Olympic gold medal they had cherished, was heartbreaking to everyone involved.
Bloom was present for it all, and has followed the exploits of USA Baseball closely ever since, including how that loss led to the sport being eventually eliminated from the Olympic agenda, and the creation of MLB's World Baseball Classic, in it's place.
His column - posted today on MLB.com, does a tremendous job of associating Team USA's greatest international baseball victory - their 4-0, 3-hit shutout by Ben Sheets over Cuba in the 2000 Olympics - with what 2013 WBC Classic Team USA Manager Joe Torre will be trying to accomplish over the next several weeks.
My book "Miracle on Grass" is mentioned in today's column, and it was Barry that gave me some guidance on the book-writing process last spring in Scottsdale, when I was there doing some research.
David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. Follow him on Twitter @miracleongrass.
Barry's story can be found here:
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