By BRENT BRIGGEMAN
brentb@npgco.com

A world champion no longer has a home.

After losing its title sponsor, the St. Jo Frontier Casino Players mens fastpitch softball team faces the likelihood of leaving St. Joseph or disbanding altogether.

Team general manager Gene Grossman said the team learned in late June that the casino would cut ties after a three-year relationship that included more than $70,000 in annual sponsorship.

They laid the bomb on us when we were at ASA nationals,Grossman said. They said it was nothing that we had done as a team, it was strictly a business decision.

They said they just werent seeing any kind of return on their money.

Grossman insists that the two sides leave without hard feelings. He and former manager Robert Newhart expressed appreciation for the casinos contributions since taking over for Meierhoffer Funeral Homes as the primary sponsor prior to the summer of 2001.

St. Jo Frontier Casino did not return a phone call on Thursday.

The casinos decision left the team scrambling for a viable option.

Grossman couldnt think of any local sponsors who would put up the money necessary to bankroll the team, which costs even more than the $70,000 the casino originally agreed to three years ago.

Grossman said the alternative of multiple sponsorships wasnt feasible, as he didnt envision a company or individual willing to put up thousands of dollars without gaining the notoriety of naming rights.

The other option was to look elsewhere. Most recently, the team made a proposal to the Isle of Capri Casino in Booneville, Mo. Team manager Denny Bruckert recently met with the Booneville representatives and said the meeting was positive, but no decision has been made.

If the team goes to Booneville, the sponsor would obviously insist on keeping its home dates local.

So, the only way the team will stay in St. Joseph is if a local sponsor pops out of the woodwork, an unlikely scenario in Grossmans eyes.

I know there are people in this community who have that kind of money and it wouldnt be a big problem to spend it,he said. But if they have that kind of money its because theyre businessmen, and theyre going to want a return on their money.

The team cant wait much longer to find out its fate, as other teams are getting antsy to raid their roster.

The more success you have, everybody thinks you have great players,Newhart said. It becomes harder and harder to keep the nucleus together. Its just like the (Kansas City) Royals. If youve got a Carlos Beltran, how do you keep him and keep him happy when the outside teams are coming after them?

Considering the teams history, its easy to understand why other teams would want to grab a player or two.

The Players won the International Softball Congress world title in 2002 and claimed ASA national titles in 02, 01, 00 and 1998.

As senior recreation supervisor of the St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Department, Mike Halloran has been indirectly involved with the team as ASA National Tournament director and has worked with them before nearly every home date.

He said the ISC considered bringing the world tournament back to St. Joseph in 2005 (the city also hosted in 2000), but there wasnt enough private and public money to get the deal done.

They need $100,000 up front before you ever throw a pitch,he said. Its a lot of money. You dont want to sign your name to something thats going to come up $25,000 short.

It stands to reason that the draw of another world tournament could have lured another sponsor, or kept the current one.

The team may never know.

Its unfortunate,Halloran said. They brought a lot of prestige to the town and to the team. Its too bad, but its kind of the evil of that level of the game that money drives how successful you can be.

As the sponsorship situation is in a state of flux, rumors are circulating as to where the players will end up. Talks has several local players joining the Davenport team, some going to Decatur and others to St. Louis.

The only certainty, it seems, is that without a hefty sponsor, championship-caliber fastpitch softball will leave St. Joseph because a lesser sponsor couldnt afford to pay the pitchers salaries, the tournament fees and the travel that comes with putting together a competitive team.

And the players wont likely choose to go in reverse.

Theres a lot of things Id have to weigh,said Newhart, who has managed and pitched for the Players. Ive been in this too long to go in the other direction.