The Notre Dame baseball team got jobbed. Pure and simple. It got hosed big time.

Instead of a pat on the back for a job well done, the NCAA tournament committee slapped ND in the face. Then, for good measure, they turned the Irish around and kicked them in the rear.

It can be persuasively argued that of the 64 teams in the tourney field, the Domers accomplished the most while benefiting the least.

In short, they were ripped off. What the committee did to coach Paul Mainieri's crew rates as a true injustice. Men have done time for lesser offenses.

This was a crime in every sense of the word. And it was more felony than misdemeanor. The committee should be ashamed!

After having won 45 games (4th best in the nation), run off a 23-game winning streak and captured both the Big East regular season and Tournament titles, the Irish figured they were due for some heavy respect.

They hoped the powers-that-be would take note of their deeds and select them to play host at one of the 16 regional sites. They thought their resume would be too hard to overlook.

But they didn't count on the blindness of a selection committee who were veritable Mr. Magoos when it came to seeing the light.

Even more disturbing was the overt prejudice exhibited by these pompous dunces. Their actions displayed a clear bias against the Big East and it’s champion, the Irish.

Their dismissive attitude of ND's achievements spoke volumes. They implied that the Irish record was built on beating inferior competition and amounted to nothing more than fool's gold.

In other words, a big fish in a piss poor pond.

Hence, no bid to host a regional. But the committee didn't stop there. They were just getting started showing their disrespect toward the Irish.

The next slight came when the Domers were given a lame No. 3 seed in the regional to be hosted by Kentucky.

Disappointed about losing out as a host, Mainieri was flat out shocked by his team's seeding. This was going way too far. This was rubbing salt in the wounds. To the Irish skipper, it was unfathomable what was happening.

In essence, the committee was contending that ND was no better than the 33rd best team in the country. Which is rather curious logic given the fact that the Irish currently rank between 15th and 20th in the four major college baseball polls.

Still think these dopes know their stuff? Ignoring hard facts and pertinent data is stupidity of the highest order. It's scary to think mental midgets like this are entrusted with making such important and far-reaching decisions.

Not being able to play in South Bend angered and upset the Irish for a variety of reasons.

For starters, the team desperately wanted a final chance to perform in front of it’s passionate fans. The Irish supporters flocked to Frank Eck Stadium in record numbers this year and the Domers fed off their enthusiasm. The seniors in particular wanted to taste a few more games of home cooking.

But above all else, playing at home dramatically increases your chances to advance in the tournament. It's a historical fact that, more often than not, if you host a regional, you'll move on. It's usually a springboard to bigger and better things.

The importance of being at home in the post-season can't be minimized.

But the Irish won't have that luxury. On Wednesday, they boarded a bus and took a six-hour trek to Lexington. If they are to do something special, it will have to take place in the Bluegrass state.

It'll be interesting to see how the Irish react to the committee's diss job.

If they can somehow use the slights and channel that into motivation, so much the better. As Mainieri said, if it makes his club a little more focused, that can be a good thing.

But the Irish skipper has cautioned his charges about feeling the need to prove themselves. That might lead to pressing and trying to do too much. It could create an environment where ND might play tight.

Mainieri has already told his players they've proved plenty. Their accomplishments to date have been substantial and admirable. They need not apologize to anyone, regardless of what a bunch of know-nothings decided in some conference room.

So play loose Mainieri has advised and just concentrate on the  enjoyment that comes with winning and being successful. That will be reward enough.

Who knows how it will all come out? The vagaries of college sports are part of it’s allure.

But wouldn't it be poetic justice if the Irish could go on a roll and really stick it to the committee dunderheads? Make them eat  crow for their inexcusable treatment of a worthy team. Shove some of that pious arrogance right down their throats.

Now that would be sweet!

And it sure would remove some of the sting out of getting jobbed.