ELLIOTT: Rossville Rattlers. You and your brother started the Golden Giants, you give it to John Tetuan and let him take over with the reigns, then sell it. Kent Becker coaches with Tetuan and you coached both of them at Hayden to a state title. So, now you go to Rossville, and who in the world would think a 240-foot right field is perfect for summer college baseball, but the Cowdin boys. So the first year of the Rossville Rattlers, what made you think “let’s do this?” COWDIN: The first time I walked on the field I looked up in the stands and knew I had to do something with that stadium. And the kids around here didn’t have any place to play. That’s why we started the Giants originally, and we got away from it. I wanted to play baseball, and I wanted the kids to have a place to play baseball after they graduate high school. JUCO, Washburn, Emporia State kids can come here and play.
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Brad Hill at Kansas State University sends his guys over every year to work on their core training. This year I’ve got three pitchers and a shortstop from there. ELLIOTT: You know, for the families, the park has all new kinds of equipment and the pool. It’s really a pretty neat setting. COWDIN: The city of Rossville has bent over backwards trying to help us get that place ready. And we’re ready. We have everything we need right there. If you want to just take a drive out in the country to see old hardcore baseball, that’s what you’re going to see. ELLIOTT: All right, you’re a special education teacher, a behaviorist who worked out at Menninger’s, and you’re getting ready to go out on the speaking circuit. Tell us about the all of the stuff you’re doing outside of baseball?
July 2012
C O W D IN : Well, I gotta have something to do when I retire Mark. You know, Special Ed teachers don’t make a whole lot of money; and if you’re doing it for the money then you’re doing it for the wrong reason. There have been some life-changing events in my life, and I’ve had a lot of people tell me “you need to talk to people about your stories.” I think I have some good stories that will make people think and make better decisions. ELLIOTT: Well Brett, have a great summer with the Rattlers. Football is going to be rolling around and Coach Buhler and you will be out there going against C.J.; then its back to
baseball. It just keeps going on and on. I’m sure you’ll be having a lot of fun and continued success.