um... you wouldn't have to buy a raffle ticket. If you don't care to support the athletic department then by all means stop watching MSU sports. Stop donating and go do something else.
I probably would not buy a raffle ticket for the first pitch. That's not the point.
There will only be one first pitch ever for the new stadium. I believe that it would be much more appropriate and fitting that the person to throw out the only ever first pitch for the new stadium should not be some yahoo who got lucky enough to win the honor by chance just because he bought a raffle ticket and not because he/she has any historical or otherwise fitting connection to MSU Baseball. Giving the first pitch to some jack leg that won it because of the luck of the draw is not fitting and would show a cavalier attitude towards the program and its history. It would show that history and tradition mean nothing and money means everything. He/she might very well be someone that doesn't really give a happy durn about MSU Baseball and doesn't and/or hasn't supported the program in the past. I don't know who it should be but it should be someone that means something to the program. I'm not arguing for or against Ron Polk to be the one. It's true that he put MSU Baseball on the map but he really showed his behind when John Cohen was hired and I lost just about all respect that I had for him after that. As big a figure as he was to MSU Baseball, he personally is/was not bigger than the program.
BTW, I don't know for sure what you call supporting the athletic department, but I have been a season ticket holder for all 3 major sports for the past 30+ years and have a Bulldog Club Priority Number below 300. I like to think that my record shows that I have been an actual supporter of the athletic department but that's just me. I am not inclined to take your advice to stop watching MSU Sports and stop donating.
