Drama in the College World Series: A Battle of Words
The College World Series is buzzing, but it’s not just about baseball this time. Pat McAfee took on Rocco’s, a well-known bar in Omaha famous for its Jell-O shot challenge, during the tournament that’s set to last 12 days.
When I say “took on,” I mean McAfee ended up confronting the general manager during a lively segment of his show on ESPN and YouTube last Friday. He expressed that their experience at the bar left much to be desired. “It was a far cry from what I had imagined,” he said. “I did make a donation, but rather than a celebration, it felt like, ‘You’re lucky to be receiving this money to do this.’
The Backstory
For those who haven’t heard McAfee’s lengthy rant, here’s a quick recap. Recently, Rocco’s has gained notoriety for its Jell-O shot challenge, which seems fun on the surface. The bar, established in 2019, allows patrons to show support for their schools while ordering Jell-O shots, turning it into a competitive event.
But there’s a catch: proceeds are distributed among various food pantries—$1 goes to food pantries near schools, $0.50 to local Omaha food banks, and $3.50 remains with the bar.
“It’s a fantastic gimmick that pushes rival schools’ boosters to compete openly,” McAfee noted. However, some argue that it’s turned into a contest of which booster club has deeper pockets, losing some of its authenticity—as with the college game itself.
McAfee, a notable West Virginia alumnus and currently the most recognizable former graduate, made a significant contribution when he and his team visited Rocco’s earlier this week. Unfortunately, the vibe there wasn’t exactly welcoming. He said the general manager was upset he hadn’t called ahead.
It escalated quickly from there. McAfee admitted, “I didn’t know we had to do that. We were just excited to be here.” They went back and forth, and at one point he asked, “How about this? Can I write you a check?” The manager’s response was less than friendly: “I think yours will bounce.”
After a brief argument over payments for the shots, McAfee found himself in a separate area unpacking boxes of pre-made shots, which doesn’t sound like a good start to a night out.
“It felt more like I was lucky to give them this money. They treated everyone like that,” he reflected.
I’m not a public relations expert, but this doesn’t seem ideal for Rocco’s. There are, of course, two sides to every story. Still, with Pat McAfee being such a dominant media figure—and drawing millions of viewers weekly—you probably don’t want to be on his bad side during a crucial time.
About an hour after his rant gained traction online, a Twitter account tracking CWS Jell-O Shot counts highlighted McAfee, mentioning that he left “the biggest tip Rocco’s has ever seen.” Coincidence? Perhaps.
