Monday, June 21 through Sunday, June 27, 2021
Issue No. 386
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Contents
Columns
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Games
Oakland A's 5, New York Yankees 3
San Francisco Giants 11, Philadelphia Phillies 2
San Francisco Giants 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 2
San Jose Spiders 16, San Diego Growlers 23
Features
Viva Las Vegas? by Andy Dolich
Organizations
Oakland Roots SC
San Jose Earthquakes
Sonoma Raceway
USC Trojans
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
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San Francisco Giants 11
Philadelphia Phillies 2
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San Francisco Giants 5
Arizona Diamondbacks 2
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Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford drove in three runs hit his 15th homer of the season as San Francisco defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2, at Oracle Park on Monday, June 14. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Oakland A's 5
New York Yankees 3
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49ers, A's & Giants Schedules |
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“If it all comes down to just sharing our values,
we should never be afraid.”
- Billy Bean, former MLB outfielder
On June 5, 2021, the SF Giants became the first MLB team to incorporate Pride colors into their on-field uniforms. In this interview, Amy G sits down with MLB VP & Special Assistant to the Commissioner Billy Bean to discuss the significance of this celebratory day to MLB
and the LGBTQ+ community.
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Oops, bad bounce, we made an error
Forgive us for the unintentional error, we have resolved the issue. If you experienced any troubles purchasing on your first try, please try again by clicking the BUY TICKETS link below.
See the biggest matchups of the season, including the Giants, Yankees, and Red Sox. Every Friday night, take advantage of our Family 4-Pack: four tickets AND parking starting at $120. Is your family larger than four? Add-on tickets can be purchased for this deal.
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The Las Vegas Ballpark is in Summerlin, Nevada and is the home field for the Las Vegas Aviators. It replaced the team's previous home of Cashman Field, where the team had resided since 1983 |
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Viva Las Vegas?
by Andy Dolich
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Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval recently said there is “No Plan B” when it comes to a new ballpark for the team's future in Oakland. “Howard Terminal or Bust.”
What does “No Plan B” actually mean in the real world of ballpark Monopoly that is being played by the A’s, MLB, City of Oakland, Port of Oakland and many other influential groups? At this point, A’s fans are just spectators.
The Oakland City Council has scheduled a non-binding vote on the Howard Terminal ballpark plan for July 20. On June 21 and 22 team owner John Fisher and Kaval will pay another visit to Southern Nevada to scout out potential ballpark sites and look for deep-pocketed Las Vegans to fund the building of a billion dollar ballpark.
The Green and Gold have been rooted at 66th Avenue since 1968, winning four World Series, six American League pennants, 17 West Division titles and five of their stars and two managers are in Cooperstown. 76 million loyal fans from throughout Northern California have come through the Coliseum turnstiles.
The Oakland Athletics defined “Billy Ball” and “Moneyball.” They have been mascotted by a Donkey and an Elephant. Krazy George helped them Wave to the sports world. Their player nicknames are some of baseball’s most recognizable: Mr. October, The Bash Brothers, Blue Moon, Catfish, Rollie, Eck and Stew.
Parallel Paths?
Team President Dave Kaval said, “We are focused with the league on really getting to a decision in Oakland, while at the same time opening Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as another potential location.”
Let’s take a look at these parallel paths from a market comparison between Oakland and Las Vegas:
- Bay Area population -- 7.8 million
- Las Vegas population -- 2.7 million
- Bay Area median income -- $96,265
- Las Vegas median income -- $53,575
- Bay Area average summer temperature -- 71 degrees
- Las Vegas average summer temperature -- 96 degrees
- Bay Area media market -- 8th
- Las Vegas media market -- 39th
Las Vegas Baseball History:
- Las Vegas Wranglers -- 1947-52, 1957-58. They were Las Vegas’s first professional team in any sport
- Las Vegas Stars -- 1983-2000
- The Las Vegas Pacific Coast League franchise traced its roots to the Portland Beavers who entered the PCL in 1919. The team relocated in 1973, becoming the Spokane Indians. The franchise moved once again in 1983, becoming the Las Vegas Stars
- Las Vegas 51’s --2001-2018
- Triple A affiliate -- San Diego Padres (1983-2000), Los Angeles Dodgers (2001-2008), Toronto Blue Jays (2009-2012), New York Mets (2013-2018)
- Played at Cashman Field from 1983-2019.
- Las Vegas Aviators – 2019 to today
- Triple A affiliate -- Oakland A’s
In October, 2017 the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a 20-year, $80 million naming rights agreement to help pay for the new $150 million 10,000-seat ballpark opened in 2019. Las Vegas Ballpark is located in Summerlin and includes 22 suites, a center field pool, and several bars. It was named winner of the 2021 MLB Triple A Best of Ballparks by Ballpark Digest.
Team Ownership in Oakland and Las Vegas
Will John Fisher continue to own the team if it moves to Vegas or will he sell?
According to several powerful sports bankers, John Fisher has shown zero interest in selling the A’s to anyone. He has owned the A’s for 16 years.
Who will buy the club? At this point no Vegas gazillionaire has made any noise about buying the club.
New Ballpark
Solar Heated or Air Conditioned. Dome or Toaster Oven? We have no idea what the A’s plans would be for a new ballpark in Las Vegas. Could they play for a few seasons at their Aviators 10,000 seat home? Only the A’s and Major League Baseball know the answer to that question. I’m sure Billy Beane and Bob Melvin have their opinions.
MLB Schedule in Las Vegas
Clearly Las Vegas is a 9-5 market. Many workers go to their jobs at 9 P.M. and get off at 5 A.M. Weekends are for working, taking care of visitors to Vegas from everywhere. How is that going to play out over an 81 game home schedule? If mom and pop are dealing blackjack, who will be taking the kids to games?
If the Howard Terminal project is a shutout and the A’s refuse to reconsider the Coliseum or other Bay Area ballpark sites, will they be “Up-Rooted to Vegas?”
I don’t think so.
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Anna Cockrell
Senior All-American Anna Cockrell is in her final season as a hurdler and sprinter on the USC track and field team. She is the defending NCAA Champion in the 400m hurdles and ranks third on both of USC's 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles lists. Cockrell has run on three of USC's all-time top 10 4x400m relays.
"A most cherished reward for my teaching. I learned so much from this student athlete who completed both a BA and Masters in her five years at USC. She is one of a new generation of social justice athletes and will help lead us out of America’s dependence on racism the way she captained USC
to the national championship."
-- Robert Scheer, Clinical Professor of Communication, USC Annaberg,
School of Communications
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Editor's Note
Have a favorite Sports Moment you would like to share?
With perhaps with a photo or two? Send a brief description along with any photos and we'll make room.
Why not bring those memories to life?
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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Instant replays bring joy to some fans but rips the hearts out of others. But what about the players? I feel confident players experience the same. Sometimes for different
reasons... I had no memory of this ever happening but
which San Francisco Giants player once hit a home run
but DIDN'T score?
(See answer below...)
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Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski equaled his career high with six saves and earned his first shutout of the 2021 season
MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 0, Austin FC 0
Quakes continue road trip vs. Orlando City SC on June 22
AUSTIN, Texas - The San Jose Earthquakes earned a point in a scoreless draw against Austin FC on Saturday evening in the first ever MLS match at Q2 Stadium. The match also marked the first meeting between the two clubs.
Both teams created chances throughout the match, including a blast by Quakes midfielder Cristian Espinoza in the 36th minute that caromed off the post, but neither goalkeeper would concede. San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski made six saves to keep his first shutout of 2021, while Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver made nine saves.
The Earthquakes will now take on Orlando City SC in their second consecutive road match on Tuesday, June 22. The match kicks off from Exploria Stadium at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on UniMás, Twitter, KNBR 1050 and 1370 KZSF.
GAME NOTES
The Earthquakes now hold a 3-5-1 record (10 pts.) during the 2021 MLS regular season and are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference.
The Quakes are now 0-0-1 all-time vs. Austin FC.
With the draw, the Quakes snapped their four-match losing streak dating back to May 12.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski earned his sixth career shutout and first of 2021. His last shutout came on Oct. 28, 2020 vs. RSL. Marcinkowski made six saves, equaling his career high. His 12 saves over the past two games are the most in consecutive matches in his career (previous high was 10).
Chris Wondolowski made his first start of the 2021 season. It marked his first regular season start since Nov. 8, 2020.
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Oakland Roots SC Cancellation |
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A sold-out crowd was on hand Saturday evening in Oakland at Laney College Football Stadium for the much anticipated match between the Oakland Roots SC and Sacramento Republic FC but field conditions required a last minute cancellation. Photo courtesy Oakland Roots SC.
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San Jose Spiders 16
San Diego Growlers 23
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Closing out the first half with a deep huck into the end zone, Jordan Kerr went up in heavy traffic to come down with the score, as the San Jose Spiders hosted the San Diego Growlers in an American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) matchup at Oakland Technical High School on Friday evening, June 18.
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Getting his hands -- and in some cases his body -- between the disc and its intended receiver, Munis Thahir blocks a score attempt. Caption and photo
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Leading the game in total yardage, Andrew Moore of the Spiders played 23 offensive plays and collected 448 receiving yards, more than double the second most yards of 223 by Jesse Cohen of the Growlers. To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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In the Shadow of Obscurity |
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Author Arif Khatib (above left)
As a person who has traveled the world and chronicled his journey, and recently completed his memoirs for his family, Arif Khatib set out to create a book that would combine three of his passions: sports, history and social justice, while shining a much-needed light on the contributions of forgotten and unheard-of athletes of color. The Shadow of Obscurity: Toiling in a Reluctant Society realizes his vision.
Author Pete Elman (above right)
Pete Elman is a musician, journalist, author and teacher. Originally from Washington, D.C., he grew up loving rock and roll, sports and history. His father, a Justice Department lawyer who argued cases in the Supreme Court—most notably Brown vs. Board of Education—imbued in young Peter a strong sense of social justice.
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(L-R) Arif Khatib, Dr. John Carlos, Jeff Wilson in Atlanta for Mr. Khatib’s book and film screening tour |
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Zoom Course
I will be teaching a six-week zoom course based on the book, In the Shadow of Obscurity!, Toiling in a Reluctant Society, by Arif Khatib and myself, Pete Elman. The class will start June 17 from 7-9 pm every Thursday for six weeks, through July 21. Each week I will look at two of the subjects from our book and will have three guests, including co-author Arif Khatib. This promises to be a terrific class. To sign up, click here.
-- Pete Elman
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Where The Bay Comes To Play! |
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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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Veteran music, entertainment executive named VP of sales at Sonoma Raceway
SONOMA, Calif. – Peter Rogers, a long-time executive in the music and entertainment industry, has been named vice president of sales for Sonoma Raceway.
In his new role, Rogers will oversee all aspects of sponsorships and sales for the 1,600-acre Northern California facility, including title sponsorships, premium sales, corporate events and official speedway partnerships.
“This is a very exciting time to join the motorsports industry, and to take on this role at an iconic facility such as Sonoma Raceway is a great challenge,” Rogers said. “We will continue to build on the overwhelming motorsports success at Sonoma Raceway, while finding new ways to better position the raceway on a local, regional and national stage. I can’t wait to get started.”
Rogers resume includes stops at Sony Music and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Rogers most recent position was serving as vice president of partnerships and business development for the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas. Rogers will report to Speedway Motorsports Chief Sales Officer Kevin Camper.
“Pete brings a wealth of knowledge of both entertainment and corporate sales to this position,” Camper said. “As we continue to diversify all of our Speedway Motorsports facilities, Pete’s experience and track record of success will put Sonoma Raceway in a great position to build upon its storied history of success and further grow its stature in Northern California.
Rogers is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston with a master’s in music from Yale University in New Haven, Conn. A lifelong car enthusiast who also participated as a substitute double bassist with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony in New York City and the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Rogers will relocate from Las Vegas to Sonoma with his wife Mina, four-month old daughter Wylie and their 10-year old English Setter named Look’r.
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Partners
With Pacific Motorcycle Training
PMT offers riders a chance to improve
with the Learning Odyssey program
MONTEREY, Calif., June 15, 2021 – West Coast Bike Week isn’t just about the professional motorcycle racers on the world-famous track at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – it’s also a chance for riders of all skill levels to improve their two-wheeled proficiency during the Learning Odyssey program, operated by Pacific Motorcycle Training (PMT).
As part of the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, the PMT team will be set up at the paved lakebed adjacent to the track July 13-15 to instruct riders and help them progress their talents.
“Motorcycle safety is important for riders of all levels, and we’re pleased to provide a secure spot for them to learn and improve their skills,” said John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “If this partnership with Pacific Motorcycle Training can help keep our roads safer, it’s a win for everybody in the community.”
PMT offers beginning, intermediate and advanced motorcycle riding courses. The beginning course (July 13-14) is where students can learn the basics and gain confidence to operate a motorcycle safely. The course is CMSP-approved, which means students who take and pass the course can waive the DMV riding skill test. Motorcycles and helmets are provided during basic courses.
The intermediate (July 14) and advanced (July 15) riding clinics were developed by Total Control Training. These courses include both classroom and on-cycle instruction and are based on the most current research in rider safety. PMT teaches the very latest techniques in safety, accident prevention, cornering, and how to use a clutch, as well as proficient braking. Although designed primarily as a safety course, the course is also challenging and fun.
The PMT team is thrilled to be partnering with WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “We are offering a unique opportunity for new and experienced riders to upgrade their skills and enjoy the greatest couple weeks in motorcycle culture in what I believe will be motorcycle Nirvana this summer,” stated PMT CEO Chris Meyers.
Pacific Motorcycle Training is locally owned and operated. Its two owners – Craig Arnold and Chris Meyers – are life-long motorcycle enthusiasts and are both certified instructors with more than 20 years of combined teaching experience. For more information, contact 925.373.4802 or visit the PMT website.
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Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff |
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On September 26, 2008 Bengie Molina became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run and not get credit
for a run scored.
In the sixth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Molina hit a ball off the right field wall that was originally ruled a single. The umpires used instant replay and subsequently ruled the hit a home run but Molina had already been replaced at first base with pinch runner Emmanuel Burriss who rounded the bases and was credited for the run.
Suggestions? Caught me off-base for misinformation?
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Recent Facebook Albums to Enjoy |
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For the best real estate listings homes and property on
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Consider!
Social Media Maven wanted by
The Ultimate Sports Guide!
The Ultimate Sports Guide needs people (as in more than one) familiar with basic social media technology and e-marketing. Utilize your technical skills to advance your career, add to your resume and learn from sports industry professionals. Send a note and resume to sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
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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 Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, June 21 through
Sunday, June 27, 2021
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Monday, June 21
Oakland A's @ Texas Rangers, 5:05 p.m.
Tuesday, June 22
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:38 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Texas Rangers, 5:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ Orlando City SC, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 23
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Angels, 1:07 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Texas Rangers, 5:05 p.m.
Thursday, June 24
Oakland A's @ Texas Rangers, 11:05 a.m.
Friday, June 25
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland A's, 6:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 26
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland A's, 7:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy, 7 p.m.
Oakland Roots vs. Austin Bold FC, 5:10 p.m.
Sunday, June 27
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland A's, 1:05 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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This is an eBook available in .epub or .mobi file formats.
Navigating a career in any business is highly complex, especially in the world of sports and entertainment. Knowing how to separate the logo on your business card from your personal identity is a valuable skill for creating your own career path. Building a career in the sports industry is easier said than done, especially since the business is extremely addictive. Cool corporate logos and titles should never control your true sense of self; your name on the card is much more important! Welcome to the world of LOL, or “Loss of Logo.”
Written for aspiring sports professionals, current sports industry professionals, and any career enthusiasts who are chasing the fancy logo and corner office, LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? offers valuable takeaways for everyone. Comprised of powerful perspectives from 38 multitalented industry professionals, this book will give you the tools to succeed in the industry, with or without your logo.
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Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
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Many people -- maybe even you -- have been getting out on their bikes more during Shelter-in-Place. "Check for Bikes" clings and bumper stickers are great ways to keep bicyclists safer out there on the road by promoting awareness by drivers to share the road. Keep safe out there and keep your neighbors safe by using or passing along vinyl clings for inside a car window or windshield and
4" circular bumper stickers. We have Youth and Spanish versions, too!
with questions or to order.
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510-845-2035
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The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst and Robert Moselle. Mr. Karst, now retired, continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.
Mr. Moselle is now lending his extensive editorial experience and marketing savvy to the publication.
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