Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23, 2020
Issue No. 342
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Is the NCAA placing profits over principle? |
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To Play or Not to Play:
The NCAA’s descent into Hell
by Pete Elman
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As one might expect, the odds on whether there will be college football this fall line up almost exactly along political lines, sadly. With the menteur-in-chief pounding the table for all kids ages 5 to 21 (that’s 65 million American children, to say nothing of the 3 ½ million teachers who will be at considerable risk) to return to school—it’s damn the coronavirus and full speed ahead. We need to open up! Time for all you soft liberals to suck it up and be warriors! That means you, college football—What are you, a bunch of pansies?
College Football News in a recent article (this could change) put the chances of the top nine conferences within the NCAA playing football this fall as follows, in order, from most to least likely:
SEC---85%: Anyone shocked that these guys are leading the charge? Maybe Georgia governor Brian Kemp can thwart any attempt to “vote” otherwise…
ACC—80%: Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence pressed for college sports leaders to stage a football season, saying it would “help players keep safe from the coronavirus.” I guess the 20-year old Heisman contender with the flowing blonde locks knows more about health, science and medicine than all the epidemiologists.
AAC---70%: No surprise here; of the 11 current members, all but Temple (PA) are below the Mason-Dixon line.
Big 12---65%: Four in Texas, two each in Oklahoma and Kansas, one in Iowa, one in West Virginia—red states all. “Our student-athletes want to compete, and it is the Board's opinion that sports can be conducted safely and in concert with the best interests of their well-being.” Excuse me? You want to be the one to tell UT they ain’t playing this fall, hoss? Good luck with that, pal. Hook ‘em Horns.
Sun Belt---60%: The SEC and Sun Belt share much of the same geographical area. They share game officials. And the capos in charge are thick as thieves…
MAC---0%: The 18 member schools are mostly in New Jersey, some in Pennsylvania, one in Maryland. They were the first to call off all fall sports.
Mountain West---0%: The coaches were included in the meetings but the board of directors had the ultimate say, fortunately. “Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, and overall communities,” said Dr. Mary Papazian, San Jose State University president. Funny, isn’t that what the Big 12 people said? (See above) Me, I’ll take Mary’s opinion.
Big Ten---0%: Commissioner Kevin Warren said that "It became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall." Good for you, Kevin—even if it might cost your conference $700 LARGE—as in millions, not thousands.
Pac 12---0%: There was never any doubt. That’s why they call it the “Left Coast” because we use the left, or rational, logical, side of our brains.
“There is absolutely no justification in principle, law or reason why the people generating all this money shouldn’t be entitled to a piece of it,” wrote Taylor Branch, in his groundbreaking 2011 story, The Shame of College Sports, for The Atlantic. Let’s be clear. For the revenue-yielding college sports, it has never been about academics, amateurism, scholarship or student-athletes.
In his excellent 2013 book, Game Over, the Nation magazine sports editor and acclaimed sportswriter/radio host Dave Zirin references Branch’s piece, which argued that the NCAA’s existence is predicated on two cynical hoaxes: amateurism and the student-athlete. College football and basketball programs make enormous amounts of money for almost everyone but those athletes, Branch writes, many of whom are only nominally students. The players aren’t slaves, he noted, but the major programs have the “unmistakable whiff of the plantation.” Ouch.
Zirin added this: “As one author noted, ‘To provide recompense would be to degrade them toward a spiral of barbarism. In the current system they are cared for and governed in a way that allows them to be supervised instead of being thrown to the wolves.’ That last quote wasn’t from a defender of the current scholarship system but from George Fitzhugh, the nineteenth-century Virginia writer whose defense of slavery, Cannibals All! or Slaves Without Masters, argued the moral benefits of well-supervised bonded labor. In other words—don’t pay ‘em a dime.
It’s one thing to pretend that the reason these kids are in college is to get an education. It’s quite another to put their health and safety at risk. That is horrifying but somehow I am not surprised. After all, it’s the NCAA, the organization whose mission is the same as its end game: profit. But this time they are going too far.
In pretending that things will return back to normal if we just have football as usual, these greedy, avaricious fools are heading into the abyss--what hopefully will be their last go-round holding the lives of young people in their hands. For they have chosen to blindly follow those idiots who would put “politics” above science, above life itself. Yes, these men of the NCAA, whose tawdry history is available to any who want to read about it—are on a steep descent--into Hell.
Pete Elman
Oakland
August 15, 2020 -- The Year of the Pandemic
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From 2000-2005 I wrote a column for the late great Oakland Athletics Fan Coalition (OAFC) entitled Elman Swings, a play on the fact that I'm a musician. Some of you may remember the OAFC, an East Bay organization that at its peak had several thousand members devoted to keeping the A's in Oakland and guess what? They succeeded! -- Pete Elman
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Oakland A's 15, San Francisco Giants 3,
Game 3
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Oakland's Matt Chapman was among many team members to join the Hit Parade as the A's smashed out 17 hits in Sunday's 15-3 shellacking of their hosts, the San Francisco Giants, to sweep the three games. For the series, the A's amassed 30 runs to the Giants 16. Photo by Rich Yee.
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Generally reliable reliever Dereck Rodriguez also fell victim to Oakland's hot bats, surrendering seven hits and five earned runs in his short 1.2 innings of relief. Photo by Rich Yee.
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The Tale of the Tape was not to the Giants liking but they are understandably proud of Donovan Solano, who is among major league leaders in batting average. (Currently ranked third.) To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
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Oracle Park!
Over 11,000 fan cutouts now call Oracle Park home and San Francisco Giants executive vice president of business operations, Mario Alioto, said more are on the way. "Sales have been off the charts. It’s wild," Alioto said.
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San Francisco Giants seagull cutouts occupy seats in the upper deck as seen during the seventh inning of the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics at Oracle Park on Saturday, Aug. 15.
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Orderly and respectful, not a fan cutout moved from their seat during the entire game. Photo by Rich Yee.
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Giants Fan Cutouts, Your Opportunity to be in the Ballpark
Be in the ballpark this season – sort of. While fans can't attend games at Oracle Park in person, your image can still be in a seat! For $99, select a seat and upload a smiling photo of yourself wearing your Giants gear. Then look for yourself in the stands while watching Giants games on television.
At the conclusion of the 2020 season, you can take your cutout home! Your MLB authenticated game-used cutout will be available for pick up at Oracle Park (cutouts cannot be mailed).
Sit close to a Forever Giant or Celebrity Giants Fan
Giants celebrity fans and Forever Giants will be seated throughout the ballpark and fans will have a choice, when purchasing their cutout, to select a seat in the same section or as close as possible to their favorite celebrity or Giants alumni. Click here to see celebrities with seating sections.
Photo upload instructions will be emailed separately within one (1) business day after purchase.
Use our helpful Photo Submission Guide to take and upload the best photo. There are many ways to take a great cutout photo… and a few ways to not!
All sales are final – no refunds
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Oakland A's 7, San Francisco Giants 6,
Game 2
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Oakland Athletics center fielder Mark Canha (20) hit a 3-run home run in the ninth inning as the A's collected their second straight come-from-behind victory over the San Francisco Giants, 7-6, at Oracle Park on Saturday, Aug. 15. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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First baseman Matt Olson (28) celebrates with left fielder Robbie Grossman (8) after hitting a home run in the sixth inning. Caption and
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Cutouts of NBC Sports Bay Area personalities are displayed outside the Treehouse section as seen before the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Colorado Rockies. To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
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Next Coliseum Cutouts Deadline
is August 17
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Don't miss your chance to be at the Oakland Coliseum this season. Purchase by August 17 to ensure your cutout is installed in time for September baseball. With every purchase of a cutout, you'll also receive two complimentary tickets to our first exhibition game at the Coliseum during the 2021 season.
Choose from any of our three options:
Proceeds from Coliseum Cutouts benefit the Alameda County Community Food Bank, East Oakland Youth Development Center, and the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce.
Proceeds from Coliseum Pet Cutouts benefit Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and the East Bay SPCA.
Back by popular demand, each cutout includes an autographed photo from Stephen Piscotty. If your cutout catches a foul ball, you'll also receive a signed ball from Piscotty. Proceeds benefit the ALS CURE Project.
Plus when an A's player hits the Round Table Pizza Home Run Target in Section 137, everyone 'in attendance' at the ballpark is a winner! Thanks to your Coliseum Cutout, you'll be able to claim one free personal pizza (up to four toppings) from Round Table Pizza when the target is hit during home games.
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Odds to win the 2020 World Series |
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San Francisco Giants -- 300/1 |
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Oakland Athletics -- 30/1 |
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For Your Handy Use
2020 San Francisco Giants Schedule
2020 Oakland A's Schedule
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Sean Doolittle, relief pitcher,
Washington Nationals
When Metallica’s 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' began blaring over the Oakland Coliseum’s public address system in the bottom of the ninth inning, Oakland Athletics fans knew what was coming next: closer Sean Doolittle was about to take the ball on the mound in a bid for his next save. Known for his long, red beard and dazzling, mid-nineties fastball, the popular left-handed relief pitcher from Rapid City, South Dakota played six seasons with the A’s (2012-2017) before being traded in a multi-player deal on July 16, 2017 to the Washington Nationals. Following a collegiate career at the University of Virginia as both a pitcher and first baseman, Doolittle was chosen in the first round of the 2007 MLB draft by the A’s as a first baseman and outfielder, later converting full-time to a pitcher in the A’s farm system. Through August 10, 2020, his career win-loss record is 23-22, with a 3.11 ERA, 459 strikeouts and 111 saves. He is a two-time All-Star: once in 2014 with the A’s for the American League, and once in 2018 with the Nationals for the National League. Doolittle is also a World Series champion, having saved Game 1 of the 2019 series for the Nationals against the Houston Astros. Caption and photo by Kenny Karst.
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Where The Bay Comes To Play! |
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Against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14 of the 2019 season, I recorded the first interception of my career, returning it 55 yards to set up an Oakland Raiders touchdown. Concept and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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The BEST Bay Area sports photos from
Michael Zagaris, Ed Jay, Rich Yee, Darren Yamashita,
Ron Sellers, Alex Ho, Rob Edwards, Kenneth Wong,
Timothy Reynolds and Larry Rosa
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"It's an ocean planet. As the oceans go, so goes the planet."
-- Bill Carvalho, Wild Planet founder and president
Wild Planet Foods has been honored with TWO awards by Whole Foods Market -- Global Supplier of the Year AND Environmental Stewardship! The annual awards recognize suppliers who embody Whole Foods Market's mission and values through a proven commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, organic integrity, innovation,
and partnership.
More Awards and Counting!
Prevention -- 100 Cleanest Packaged Food Awards
Men's Health -- 125 Best Foods for Men
Prevention -- Eat Clean Best Packaged Foods
Every Day with Rachael Ray -- Brand New Buy
Better Homes and Gardens -- Catch of the Day
Clean Eating -- Clean Choice Awards
Natural Health -- 3rd Annual Good Food Awards
Runner's World -- Good Catch
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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(Editor's note: T. Buff will be contributing going forward and here is his note accompanying his first submission: Hopefully this is not too difficult as a first question. It's hardly trivial, ya know... I know more about the A's franchise than I ever wanted to know. I can see this could be a pleasant black hole for time consumption. One link leads to another...)
Question: In 1941, the Boston Red Sox Ted Williams was the last player to hit for more than a .400 batting average, for a season, in the MLB. What A's franchise player holds the record for the highest batting average, for a season, in the modern age of baseball?
Answer: WHAT? You didn't know? "The modern-era (post 1900) record for highest batting average for a season is held by Nap Lajoie who hit .426 in 1901, the first year of play for the American League." Wikipedia
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Pictured above is second baseman Nap Lajoie as a member of the Cleveland Bronchos. One year earlier, in 1901 and as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics, Lajoie set the all-time American League single-season mark for the highest batting average (.426).
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Anothertwistafate, the 2019 El Camino Real Derby winner, worked six furlongs in 1:10.2 at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, in preparation for either the Rolling Green on September 7 at Golden Gate Fields or the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on September 10. Trained by Blaine D. Wright and owned by Peter Redekop and ridden by Kevin Orozco. Photo credit: William Vassar /
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The Oakland Coliseum always brought the family together |
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Sports Gulls –
Flying in the face of Covid-19
By Andy Dolich
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You may remember my grandfather, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He was a worldwide literary phenomena in the early 70s. He and my grandmother settled down in Berkeley to join the “Free Fly Movement” which was all the rage in the skies above the Cal campus. My dad hatched in a nest built in the metal girders at Memorial Stadium. His name, Stephen Seagull.
When my egg cracked my dad taught me to fly by following the BART tracks over to the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum before it was Network Associated, McAfeed. Overstocked, O.Coed and Ring Centraled.
We would fly over to the Coliseum around the seventh inning for the Early Bird specials with my feathered friends from all over the East Bay. We had great perches to see quality baseball and peck over leftovers from the fans whom bailed early. When the Raiders kicked off we would paint our beaks, feathers and faces to look like vampire bats and drop guano bombs on fans from opposing teams.
When we got our wings we were free to visit stadiums all over the Bay Area to sample what was happening both on the field and at the concession stands. Local media made a big deal about how we would magically show up in the seventh inning, third quarter or second half. Do they think we’re bird brains? We aren't that gullible. Why pay full price for tickets and gull grub when we could fill our beaks with brats, burgers, and garlic fries for free. Drop fourteen bucks on a fancy craft beer, please!
(My editors have been bird-dogging me for an updated Covid-19 bird’s eye view of the Bay Area sports scene, hence this report. My wings have seen better days so I asked my daughter, Cee Cee, to gather her flight crew, take wing and report back on what they see since Killer Covid changed the world, including how sports is operating in the Bay Area.)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
My wingers will always call it The Coliseum. It looks like A’s are going to be a solid contender for postseason play in the shortened 60 game season.
On July 24, when the A’s opened up at the Coliseum, we were surprised to see the skinniest crowd of A’s fans ever. It took us a while to understand that they weren’t people, just cardboard cutouts. What’s a gull supposed to do? We now use our Foto Faux Fans for target practice, if you know what I mean.
The Gull Coalition decided 14 years ago that the Coliseum was the place for us. Howard Terminal is noisy, full of toxics, 18 wheelers zipping by 24/7, unsanitized cargo containers, rail lines and Cranes, the size of Cranes. It would be easier to build a hummingbird nest out of crushed Schnitzer Steel than a new A’s Ballpark at Howard. If the multi-billion dollar project ever becomes a reality we can save A’s owner John Fisher a few hundred million dollars right from the start. We will fly. No Gondolas for us!
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Friends and family fondly recall the Good Old Days at Oracle Park |
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Oracle Park
A few years ago I was listening to a Giants game on my IPeck and heard Jon Miller and Dave Flemming talking about our early arrivals. They were debating the proper name for gulls as a group. Jon asked Dave, "Are they a flock, gaggle, gang, bunch or herd?" Dave was stumped. Gentlemen, we are officially a 'Colony.' Our Colony is enjoying games from McCovey Cove when the Giants' Navy sails, rows, paddles or motors in for a fan-less game. They drop enough from their various watercraft items for a passable seafood sampling.
Candlestick Park
For many years this 'Mistake by the Bay' was our favorite. The wind made it into our own amusement park ride. The gusts were fun to ride and the cold always forced fans to leave early, without birdie bags, which left more gull grub for us. It’s gone now, as are the Giants, 49ers and memories of John, Paul, George and Ringo. There isn’t even a plaque to mark the spot of so many great gull memories.
Levi's Stadium
We are now comfortable with soaring to Santa Clara. Lucky for us, we have GPS (Gull Positioning Systems). There is a plethora of palate prizes at the Pant’s Palace. We stay away from some of the games based on the flight paths going into and out of San Jose International. We bring extra wing lotion for day games. The upcoming season is going to be a challenge without knowing what percentage of 49ers Faithful will be allowed to watch games in person. We will be squawking for Jimmy 'G for Gull' as he leads the Kittle Krew to another winning season.
Chase Center
We couldn’t even get a sneak beak into the new home of the Warriors. Wow! This place is going to be the goose that lays a Golden State of Eggs for years to come but not this past season. The flight from Berkeley to China Basin won’t be too difficult, especially since we don’t have to take the Bay Bridge or BART.
Cal Memorial Stadium
This is my home field, my birthplace. Remember when those wacky humans were nesting in the trees outside the stadium. Sadly there will be no F&F on the Cal campus this season. (That’s Football and Food.) Go Bears!
Stanford Stadium
Did you ever notice that you don't see many of us at football games down on The Farm. Seems like we don't fit in. There are a bunch of well-taloned hawks, raptors, Cardinals and drones that have taken up the air space above Palo Alto. I guess there's no room for us bird brains on the Peninsula.
I’ll leave you with these seeds of wisdom from my Bird Brain. We miss all of you live sports fans and your generous leftovers. At the Coliseum fans are paying $128 for a cutout in Fowl Ball territory. What a Bunch of Turkeys!
It seems like these new fold-up fans just sit there like cardboard cutouts. Couldn’t the teams at least put some real food next to their technicolor seats?
What genius decided that 60 games makes a baseball season? Don’t they know we have families to feed? Bubbles that have No Fly zones are making life extremely hard for us.
We wish you well, stay safe. See you in the New Different in 2021.
-- C.C. Gull
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From our family album, a pre-Covid-19 highlight |
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Andy Dolich has over five decades of leadership in the sports industry, including executive positions in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, pro soccer and lacrosse. Presently Dolich is COO of the Fan Controlled Football League (FCFL) and teaches sports business at Stanford's School of Continuing Studies.
Dolich is also co-author of the new book:
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MLS Regular Season to continue in Local Markets in August
Earthquakes' next match scheduled for Aug. 26 vs. Portland Timbers
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The San Jose Earthquakes announced the schedule details for the continuation of the 2020 MLS regular season after receiving clearance from Santa Clara County to host matches at Earthquakes Stadium without fans in the stands.
The Earthquakes will play six matches between late August and mid-September, beginning with a clash against the Portland Timbers at Earthquakes Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 26 . San Jose will then travel to back-to-back road matches against the LA Galaxy (8/29) and LAFC (9/2). The Quakes then host the Colorado Rapids (9/5), travel to Seattle to take on Sounders FC (9/10) and finish the slate of games at home against the LA Galaxy (9/13). The full schedule with kickoff times can be found on the San Jose Earthquakes website. Broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
The Quakes have also received clearance from Santa Clara County to resume full-team training sessions at the Earthquakes Training Facility, in compliance with detailed health and safety protocols set by the county and
Major League Soccer.
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Who Am I?
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr!
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In 2018 Hurst was projected to be anywhere from the top 5 to a mid first-round pick, but due to his heart condition, his draft stock plummeted. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round (140th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. In week 14 in 2019, against the Tennessee Titans, Hurst recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Ryan Tannehill and returned it 55 yards in the 42–21 loss. (Pictured above.) To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
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Win Once in a Lifetime Raiders Football Cleats! |
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Imagine Having Your Very Own Raiders Football Cleats. Enter the SportStars NOW app & Social Media Giveaway Today!
Download the FREE "SportStars NOW" App. Users have a shot at winning brand new Raiders Cleats provided to our buddies at Strapemup Sports before the team left for Las Vegas.
You can enter to win Raiders cleats in a couple different ways. FIRST download the app for either Apple or Android and enter! Then
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The 2019 Fall/Winter edition of the Ultimate Sports Guide, a San Francisco Bay Area sports reference publication published twice a year for avid Bay Area and Northern California sports fans, is in the house. The Ultimate Sports Guide is distributed free of charge or may be ordered via subscription. Each seasonal edition provides professional and collegiate team coverage through commentary, photo essays and player profiles. To order, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net or send $5 to: Ultimate Sports Guide,
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Back Issues
not to be missed!
Offering superb photography and
entertaining chronicles
* Click here for 2019 editions.
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WEEKLY SPORTS CALENDAR
Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23, 2020
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Games for most major and minor league sports, including collegiate and high school teams,
have been cancelled.
Monday, August 17
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, August 18
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Angels, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 19
San Francisco Giants v. Los Angeles Angels, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's v. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Thursday, August 20
San Francisco Giants v. Los Angeles Angels, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's v. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Friday, August 21
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's v. Los Angeles Angels, 6:40 p.m.
Saturday, August 22
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:15 p.m.
Oakland A's v. Los Angeles Angels, 1:10 p.m.
Sunday, August 23
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland A's v. Los Angeles Angels, 1:10 p.m.
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Enjoy the
Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant Ultimate Sports Guide website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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Join Us As A Sponsor!
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The vast majority of student-athletes dreaming of athletic stardom won't make it to the pros. Yet, the discipline and skills they've developed while balancing a sport and academics make them ideally suited for satisfying careers elsewhere. In 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won't Go Pro, the authors draw on personal experience, interviews, expert opinion, and industry data to provide a game plan for student-athletes through key transitions at each stage of their careers, from high school through college and beyond. Modeled on Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this book provides a much-needed strategy for achieving career success. Readable and concise, it will be a valuable tool for students, parents, and sports administrators. To order, click here.
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Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723
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Ultimate Sports Guide
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The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst, now retired. Mr. Karst continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.
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