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Paul Skenes returns to Omaha for a brief visit to the arena that changed his life

OMAHA, Neb. — In the far corner of the bar, on a Monday afternoon, towered Paul Skenes.

He drank only water, yet all around him swirled an intoxicated mayhem, a frenzied hurricane of purple and gold. This was the Men’s College World Series in full, drunken bloom: Jell-O shots by the trayful, sticky floors, ball games on big screens, a sea of golf shirts. LSU chants erupted sporadically across the crowd. One particularly well-prepared fan led a cheer with a trumpet.

At Rocco’s, the unofficial hub of Omaha’s pregame, midgame and postgame debauchery, the party had already reached a rolling boil. Across the street, Arkansas starter Gage Wood had just tossed the first MCWS no-hitter since 1960, an elimination-game gem to keep his Razorbacks’ season alive. Back at Rocco’s, the final out elicited cheers and reluctant appreciation from the LSU faithful.

Behind a cordoned-off VIP area in the bar’s “Jello Shot Room,” the scene was controlled chaos. Two imposing bodyguards in all black stood watch, keeping the throngs of eager LSU fans from swarming Skenes and his sizable entourage. His über-famous girlfriend, gymnast-turned-social-media-icon Livvy Dunne, posed for photos. Todd Graves, founder of the Raisin’ Cane’s chicken empire and a prominent LSU booster, held court. Various acolytes sipped brews. Former players mingled. Hangers-on loitered. Off to the side, the Pirates ace chatted quietly with his battery-mate Henry Davis, another MCWS alumnus.

Above and apart from it all lingered Skenes. All 6-foot-7 of him. He did not wear purple or yellow or anything that signified his status as LSU royalty. Instead, the 23-year-old was dressed in a charcoal button-down and khakis. It was as if he were trying to blend in, despite knowing full well that he cannot. He is, after all, the most recognizable college baseball player of the 21st century.

Two years ago, this was his kingdom. Now, he’s just visiting.

In 2023, this outpost on the plains played host to Skenes’ dazzling ascension to superstardom. That year, he arrived as the best amateur pitcher in the country. He left as a full-blown superstar. In between, he delivered two unforgettable performances, propelling his Tigers to a championship. With that, he went from highly regarded to downright undeniable. That was also the moment after which he was no longer able to live a normal life.

Much has happened in the two years since Skenes last visited Omaha: No. 1 overall draft pick. Social media influencer girlfriend. Major League Baseball debut. All-Star Game starting pitcher. Rookie of the Year winner. Cy Young finalist. A 1.89 ERA in 38 big-league starts. A future, somehow, still brighter than his past. Today, his autograph is worth hundreds, his presence even more.

On Monday, Skenes was taking in the other side of the MCWS, the side he didn’t experience during his career — the revelry, the unbridled fandom, the alcohol consumption, the theater of it all. And yet, standing there amongst the merrymaking, across the street from the arena that changed his life, Skenes seemed more observer than participant.

His brief return to Omaha was made possible by a quirk of fate. The tournament often draws celebrities into its orbit, but not often do active MLB players have the logistical availability or desire to make an appearance. Skenes’ was afforded the chance because his Pirates had a rare road off-day between series in Chicago and Detroit. Once LSU won its opening game Saturday against Arkansas, ensuring a prime-time winners’ bracket showdown against UCLA, Skenes was granted a serendipitous opportunity. And so he flew into town on Monday, for less than 24 hours, to watch a ball game, something he hadn’t done in years.

He and his entourage weren’t at Rocco’s for long. After about an hour, Skenes strolled over to the “shot board” to update the tallies — LSU currently leads the contest with 7,034 Jell-O shots consumed — then slipped out with his crew. They rode golf carts about a hundred yards or so to the stadium, weaved through its underbelly and filed in right behind home plate just in time for first pitch.

It was a relatively low-key showing for the man who once made this place come to life. Skenes (and Dunne) were of course shown on the big board during the game, earning a round of cheers. Once the rain rolled in, delaying the game in the bottom of the third with LSU leading 5-3, he retreated to a box upstairs, where he stayed until the contest was suspended around 10:30 p.m. A gaggle of travel ball kids stood eagerly beneath the suite where Skenes and his fellow LSU teammates gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of the big guy.

The entire operation provided Skenes with what must have been an odd, fleeting glimpse of his former life. Not quite a reliving of his good, old days — he’s still only 23 and dominating big-league hitters — but a revisiting of sorts. A return to a time and a place that have faded into the past but also endure as a reminder of the glory he’s striving for every day.

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