June 10 -- June 16, 2024
Issue No. 541
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Director of Sales: Ann Cooke; Representative: Ayiko Konopaski
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee. Kenny Karst (retired).
Contributors: Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Dave Newhouse, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young
Social Media & Production: Jenny Kim, Ammar Bhaiji
Website: www.UltimateSportsGuide.net
Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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On Thursday, Team USA pulled off a stunning upset in cricket when it defeated Pakistan — a cricket powerhouse — by five runs. The win took place in the group stage of the T20 World Cup, a tournament of the 20 best qualifying cricket teams in the world. This year's T20 World Cup is USA Cricket's first time qualifying after receiving an automatic bid for hosting. The 2024 T20 tournament is jointly hosted by the U.S. and the West Indies. Thursday's upset puts the U.S. at the top of Group A, which also includes India, Canada and Ireland.
Other than a code word for "silence," what is cricket? It appears to be
a combination of baseball and bowling, a popular sport played in many countries around the world. It is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players. The game is played on a circular field with a rectangular 22-yard-long pitch in the center.
With no American presence in the French Tennis Open and a dismal performance in the Ryder Cup, maybe it's time for the U.S.A. to consider a new, global-centric sport, Cricket. While soccer is the most popular sports in the world, (3.5 billion), cricket is second (2.5 billion fans) and basketball is third (2 billion). For a list of the most popular sports by country, visit: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-popular-sport-by-country
Cricket will be an Olympics sport when the games are hosted in Los Angeles in 2028. As perennials like golf and tennis slump, let's not wait around. Crickets
Robert A. Moselle
Marketing Director, Sports Today!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertamoselle/
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Contents
Games
Oakland A's 0, Toronto Blue Jays 7
Oakland A's 2, Seattle Mariners 1
Oakland Roots 1, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
Oakland Spiders 18, Colorado Summit 17
Oakland Soul 6, Academica SC 2
Features & Commentary
And Still, The NFL Owners...by Howard Pearlstein
Donate Today! Add Your Name To The List Below!
Escape From Alcatraz, by Ed Jay
Hardly Trivial, by T. Buff
How Much Abuse Can A Fan Take? by Dave Newhouse
Oakland Ballers Hit Pay Dirt in Raimondi Park Debut, by Arif Khatib
Rick Barry, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Sports and Music, by Andy Dolich
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Organizations
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Bay Area Falcons
Bay Area Panthers
Bay FC
Cal Bears
Cal State University East Bay
Golden Gate Fields
Golden State Warriors
Oakland A's
Oakland Ballers
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
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San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Nighthawks
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
UC Davis Aggies
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna
Seca
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Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon | |
2,300 triathletes onboard the San Francisco Belle on a foggy and windy day await their chance to dive into the choppy waters of the Bay to begin the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Photo by Ed Jay. | |
The Triathlon begins with the famous dive into the Bay and the swim to shore in the Marina near the St. Francis Yacht Club.
Photo by Ed Jay.
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Wiktor Rajca of Berkeley is the overall winner of the Triathlon.
Time: 00:48:21, 02:03:16
Photo by Ed Jay.
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Kelly Barton of San Francisco is the top female finisher.
Time: 00:54:25, 02:18:21
Photo by Ed Jay.
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Oakland A's 0
Toronto Blue Jays 7
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, CA
Saturday, June 8, 2024
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Toronto Blue Jays and former San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman recorded his first MLB shutout as the Oakland Athletics were defeated 7-0 on Saturday, June 8th at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | |
Music Makers With Pedigrees | |
MLB -- Barry Zito, Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants.
Country, folk guitarist, songwriter and producer
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Sports
& Music
by Andy Dolich
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The recent passing of Bill Walton had me thinking about the powerful relationship between sports and music. How many people who never listened to the Grateful Dead played some tunes to understand why Walton was the “Biggest DeadHead in History.”
Walton’s words on his connection to the Dead are alive with insight. “The music and the basketball were the exact same thing. You have a team with a goal and a band with a song, fans are cheering because they're happy, but also to make the players perform better, faster and to take everybody further.”
I went “Truckin” through some of the athletes in different sports that are accomplished musicians. I have nothing against rappers or singers. I’m focusing on athletes that can play an instrument as well if not better than they played their position in the pros.
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MLB --Bernie Williams, Guitar and the New York Yankees
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MLB -- Jack McDowell, Guitar. The Smithereens, the White Sox Yankees and Indians. | |
MLB -- Mike Piazza, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets. Piazza was a 12-time All-Star and
10-time Silver Slugger Award winner...as well as a big-time fan of hard Rock ‘N Roll. Piazza picked up the drums and has played on stage with many different bands over the years.
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MLB -- Denny McLain, Detroit Tigers. Major League Baseball hurler who played for ten seasons (1963 – 1973). McLain is known as one of the very few to win 30 or more games during a season. McLain was an accomplished organist. He learned to play from his father and released a number of records as well as live performances throughout his life. | |
NFL -- Mike Reid, Cincinnati Bengals. Pianist composer of country music. Grammy
Award winner.
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NBA -- Wayman Tisdale, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns. Jazz Bassist with
nine albums.
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NHL -- Ryan Miller, Vancouver Canucks, guitarist | |
NHL -- Hendrik Lundquist, New York Rangers, guitarist | |
Golf -- John Daly, PGA and US Open Champion, guitarist and songwriter. | |
Tennis -- John McEnroe, former world #1 tennis player. Guitarist with several albums and bands. | |
Tennis -- Bob and Matt Bryan are doubles tennis players and the most successful duo of all time. In 2012, as a band, they tour all over the world with Bob on the keyboard and Mike alternating between lead guitar and drums. They released their debut album, “Let it Rip” in 2009, then another single one year later. | |
Soccer -- Alexi Lalas played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup with the United States Men’s National Soccer Team. Lalas played guitar in a band called The Gypsies before releasing seven solo albums of rock music. | |
Boxing -- Manny Pacquiao currently holds the record as the only eight-division boxing world champion as well as the first boxer to win major titles in four of the eight divisions. Pacquiao is a gifted singer
and guitarist.
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Please help me fill in the roster of other accomplished athletic musical artists. Keep on “Truckin” with a smile in Bill Walton’s memory.
* * *
Andy Dolich operates Dolich & Associates, a sports consultancy, in Los Altos. A local resident, Dolich has more than 50 years of experience as an executive in professional sports, working with the Oakland A's, San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, and hockey and soccer teams. Dolich is also the co-author of Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and from Triumph Books. For earlier articles by Andy Dolich published in Sports Today! click HERE.
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"If you can accept losing, you can't win.” -- Vince Lombardi | |
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How Much
Abuse Can
A Fan Take?
by Dave Newhouse
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Sports or life, both have been hit lately with unsportsmanlike penalties, the likes of which haven’t been Trumped before now. Thus punishment will be meted out, or marched off, in this column space, with red flags tossed accordingly.
So let’s get started, leading off with the ill-fated Pacific 12 Conference, which soon will be no more, victimized by avarice. Cal and Stanford now will compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington will join the Big 10, and Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State will shift to the Big 12.
Penalty: Illegal use of the lands. Punishment: Sub-.500 records for each school for 10 years, with USC, the instigator, losing every game the first two years.
Nearly left out of this travelogue were Oregon State and Washington State, nobody wanting either of them until the Mountain West threw them a bone. But compared to the other 10 evacuees, only these two evoke sympathy.
Penalty: Pick up the red flags for OSU and WSU, who did no wrong. Punishment: None. Instead, bowl games for both schools for 10 years.
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For Davis, the decision to fire McDaniels (right) and Ziegler (left) essentially came down to one thing: He didn't like the direction the team was headed. "It just seemed we were going in the wrong direction,"
Davis told ESPN.
Mark Davis. The incompetent son who wound up owning the Oakland Raiders, then shifting them to Las Vegas, has since fired coaches, general managers and other staff members at an alarming rate, demonstrating predictable lack of control and leadership.
Penalty: In time, a failed relocation. Punishment: Las Vegas doesn’t like losers, so get ready, red top.
Joe Lacob moved the Warriors from Oakland back to San Francisco, eventually to see his championship franchise flounder. Relocation isn’t always a positive; just ask Warriors ticket holders who’ve had to pay tons more in San Francisco to see the doors come off.
Penalty: Court-side grimaces for not-so Jovial Joe. Punishment: Ritzy Atherton neighbors poor-mouthing Lacob.
John Fisher and David Kaval, the Frick and Frack of baseball front offices, are moving — they say — the A’s to Las Vegas, but first stopping off in Sacramento before — they predict — a ballpark is built in Pokertown. All bets off for the moment.
Penalty: Baseball’s hierarchy may come down on those two yet for incompetency. Punishment: Playing on the cheap in Las Vegas, like Oakland, is the same as crapping out.
Donald Trump is that fighter who wants one more shot at the title, even while dealing with a conviction that could knock him out of a White House return.
Penalty: Will he even be allowed to get in the ring, because he could be judged legally ineligible? Punishment: Imprisonment in Florida playing golf.
The United States Supreme Court has one justice, Clarence Thomas, taking expensive freebies from a supporter, while another justice, Samuel Alito, flies our nation’s flag upside down in front of his summer home.
Penalty: Even Fox News will turn against them with a one-two punch. Punishment: Getting cut from the Court, which is justified, but unlikely.
Summary: Mixing politics and life into a sports column seems unusual, but not really when you listen to linking terminology. To wit: "This court decision will come down to the fourth quarter,” or “This is a political slam dunk,” or “This business transaction amounts to a home run,” or “This race for the presidency looks like a dead heat.”
Penalty: Don’t try this approach ever again. Punishment: There’s no escaping this mixture, but I better escape while I can.
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Dave Newhouse's journalism career spans more than half a century, including 45 years at the Oakland Tribune before his retirement in November 2011. Newhouse is the author of 19 books. His most recent book, Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and from Triumph Books. Dave grew up in Menlo Park, graduated from San Jose State, and has radio and television experience, in addition to his work as an award-winning sportswriter and columnist. For earlier articles by Dave published in Sports Today, click HERE.
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Oakland A's 2
Seattle Mariners 1
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Oakland, CA
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joey Estes took a perfect game into the seventh inning as the A's defeated the Seattle Mariners, 2-1, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Wednesday, June 6th.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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It’s the perfect Father’s Day gift. Get two Club Level or Lower Level seats and two drinks for $98 to any June 10-27 Giants home game. You and Dad can enjoy Jim Beam & Ginger or Jim Beam Highball drinks, or another non-alcoholic beverage or concession item up to $18 in value per ticket.
On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16, the first 15,000 fans at Oracle Park will receive a Father’s Day Straw Hat, presented by Xfinity. Or choose from other promotions and matchups against the Astros, Angels and Cubs
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Celebrate good times and party like it's 1974! Grab Lower Field Level tickets for just $19.74 to join us for the 50th anniversary of the 1974 World Series Champions. Head out to the ballpark on Sunday, June 23, to rock a 1974 replica jersey giveaway, as we honor some of your favorite Green and Gold legends.
This online only promotion expires on Monday, June 10, at 11:59 PM PT
and cannot be combined with any other offer.
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Authors Dave Newhouse and
Andy Dolich sold out at Oakland's Fans' Fest
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Goodbye, Oakland has been a remarkable success story | |
Rich Barry -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee | |
Rick Barry once made an appearance at a Warriors fan appreciation day and I went and visit him at his table. We talked briefly and he signed this promotional photo for me and added HOF 1987. He remains one of my favorite Warriors player of all time.
Rich Yee, Sports Today Photographer
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And Still,
The NFL Owners...
by Howard Pearlstein
Specifically the “Look at me, I’m so rich I can but a football team” ones. Well, the old saw among rich folk used to be about buying a yacht, and it went: “If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it.” Update that to apply to these guys and it goes: “If you have to stiff the people who actually do the work for you, it turns out you couldn’t afford it after all.”
So ok, maybe they’re not all bad, but even the good ones are dodgy about guaranteed contracts. They were the last among all the major sports to go along, dragged kicking and screaming into making promises that had to be kept. And they still piss and moan and whine and bitch about it as much as they can.
They were reluctant to abandon their role model, which was the “Great Father in Washington” making a treaty with any and all First Nation tribes for “this is your land to keep forever, as long as the grass grows and the water flows.” (Unless there’s gold or oil or maybe we just want the land, in which case, see Section 9 Subsection D-3, Paragraph 13, which lists exceptions.)
They are bizarrely risk-averse, even though they own teams which play a high risk game. “Why should we be penalized if a player turns out to be not as good as we thought he’d be? And what if he gets injured and can’t play? Why should we still have to pay him?” In other words: “Why should we have to keep a promise we make to someone who is working for us.”
Well, I dunno – but in the non-confrontational world of “just asking:” Why should players take all the risk if they get injured while playing for your team? Especially when your team is making a net profit every year of between $500 and $700 million?
They’ve devoted as much of their lives – physical and mental training and learning -- as any physicist. Seems a stretch? Remember a while back when a lot of high-tech companies went under and we saw those post-doctorate specialists working at Dairy Queen and McDonald’s?
Specialists at one thing.
There’s no Workers’ Comp for them. The one thing they (the players) know is that their football life ends at 40, more or less. And the rest includes an assortment aches and pains and corrective surgeries. And as I, along with many others, have pointed out before, those mega-dollar contract totals are kind of like the numbers announced by DEA officials after a big drug bust – “Street value of this (grass, coke) is Skeenteen thousand million dollars.” Maybe, if the drug lord got out on a street corner and sold it one retail hit at a time.
Same with a brand new NFL contract – includes salary, bonuses, prorated items, voidable years, and other special things. And gets so complex, the player, aside from giving half the salary part up front for federal taxes, and a bunch more for state taxes, also has to put out a percentage to an agent, to a financial advisor, and etc.
And maybe something to put aside as a rest-of-his-life stash, for mortgage payments and kids’ college, and medical co-pays for him and the family.
It’s a game of its own, negotiating and holding out. It’s important for both player and owner to find out how much is enough (money and/or holdout time) without either one going too far to make it work. No one wins when it goes on too long.
* * *
Howard Pearlstein has been a few places and done a few things.
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Special Offer from a Sports Today Reader | |
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26 games are 136.50, 28 games are 196.50, 17 games are 296.50,
6 games are 342.50. One is a DH, 3 games are 454.50. (View from 106, Row 1, Seat 7, one seat closer to home plate than seats 5 and 6.)
https://aviewfrommyseat.com/photo/143157/Oracle+Park/section-106/row-1/seat-7/
These are Tim's costs, no markups, no fees, tickets are all via smart phones. For more information: Tim Maroney, 610-519-0125
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we are simply happy to make these seats available to our readers
and as a favor to a loyal subscriber, Tim Maroney.
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness
Vol. 83: NIL Finally Coming To HS Athletes In The Sunshine State
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The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
by Darren Heitner
Founder of HEITNERLEGAL
It's about time the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) modified its bylaws to allow high school athletes in Florida to sign NIL deals.
Florida went from being a leader in pushing for college athletes to be able to monetize their fame to not even being a follower concerning high school athletes having similar rights.
It was downright embarrassing
I understand that high school athletic directors in the State of Florida, a hotbed for talent, have been petrified of the recruiting wars that would arise as a result of high school athletes entering into NIL deals and there may be nothing that the FHSAA can do to avoid what is deemed as impermissible benefits in the form of "NIL" to persuade athletes to attend certain schools despite the language inserted into the new bylaw.
Oh well.
But at least Florida is now getting up to speed with the majority of the rest of the United States when it comes to high school athlete rights. That said, I received some important clarity in the middle of the week. The new bylaw is not effective immediately for Florida high school athletes. The Department of Education’s Board would need to ratify the bylaw (and it has the ability to alter it). The Board does not meet again until July 24.
The new bylaw, when it goes into effect, will generally allow high school athletes in Florida to engage in NIL but prohibits them from using their school uniform, equipment, logo, name, proprietary patents, products, and/or copyrights unless they receive prior consent. It makes clear that high school athletes can hire registered agents to advise on NIL-related manners only.
Notably, NIL agreements for high school athletes in Florida must be limited to the athletes' "high school period of athletic eligibility and shall not extend beyond" their high school graduation dates. That surely places a limitation on the capacity for broad transactional activity, and I'm not a fan of that restriction.
continued...
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Earthquakes Name Vassili Cremanzidis Head Sporting Strategist
Former CF Montréal Assistant Sporting Director returns to San Jose for second stint
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that Vassili Cremanzidis has been named the club’s Head Sporting Strategist. He previously served in various roles on the Earthquakes’ technical staff from 2016-18 before spending nearly six years with Club de Foot Montréal, most recently as their Assistant Sporting Director.
Reporting directly to Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch, Cremanzidis will help oversee recruitment, scouting, management of the first team’s salary cap, team administration and roster build.
“I’m excited to welcome Vassili back to San Jose,” said Leitch. “He is extremely hard-working and brings a lot of experience to this role. His insight and MLS knowledge, as well as his understanding of the international market will be very valuable to our club moving forward.”
continued...
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Oakland Roots SC 1
Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
Pioneer Stadium, Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA
Saturday, June 8, 2024
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Taking in the action on the pitch, the largest crowd to date came out in full support of both Oakland professional soccer teams, the Oakland Soul and Oakland Roots on Saturday, June 8. The Oakland Roots played host to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, USL, United Soccer League, Champions League, at Pioneer Stadium at CSU East Bay in Hayward, CA. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
Oakland Soul SC 6
Academica FC 2
Pioneer Stadium, Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA
Saturday, June 8, 2024
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Taking to the pitch under perfect conditions, and with a huge home crowd to cheer them on, the Soul would allow a breakaway goal in the first half but would dominate the possession time. In the second half they logged six straight goals before allowing a second score in the closing minutes to win 6-2. Above, defender Henar Urteaga (in blue, #13) takes control of the field and ball early in the first half. The Oakland Soul hosted the Acedemica FC, USL-W, United Soccer League -- Women's League, at Pioneer Stadium, Cal Stat East Bay in Hayward. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | |
Oakland Spiders 18
Colorado Summit 17
Fremont High School, Oakland, CA
Friday, June 7, 2024
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Fighting for their playoff lifeline, the Oakland Spiders faced off against the Colorado Summit, who in recent years presented highly contested battles, usually leading to overtimes or a win by one point, which is what happened on Friday night. The Spiders jumped out to a 5-1 lead but with 2:00 remaining, the Summit tied the score at 17-17. With a final Spiders score at :38 seconds, it all came down to a full layout defensive block preventing a throw and knocking the disc to the turf as time ran out, allowing the Spiders to win. Above, under heavy winds and in the opening minutes, Walker Frankenberg (#4) took to the air to layout and haul in a long huck, extending the lead to 2-0. The Oakland Spiders played host to the Colorado Summit, UFA, Ultimate Frisbee Association, at Fremont High School in Oakland on
June 7, 2024. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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In a game of yards, it came down to inches, as Daniel Ritthaler (#17) fights for position to catch the disc for a score in the second quarter. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
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Oakland Ballers Hit Pay Dirt in Raimondi Park Debut
by Arif Khatib
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Above, (L-R) Oakland District 3 councilmember Carroll Fife; Arif Khatib; Oakland mayor Sheng Thao, at the press conference prior to the
Oakland Ballers’ first home game.
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After building a 4,000-seat ballpark in less than four months at Raimondi Park, a site with deep and historic significance for baseball in Oakland, the fans were ready. They wanted to know more about their newest team, the Oakland Ballers, a professional team in the Pioneer League, and what the league was about and the quality of the players. Hip-Hop music was in the background and helped send Oakland back to its true roots.
While the B's were filling their stadium to capacity, I went to the Oakland A's game the same night but did not have the same experience as the A's only drew about 500 more than the B’s.
Raimondi Park went through a major change in a very short period of time, from a dilapidated and underused park to become the home of Oakland's newest team. Because of the shameful lack of Black players in the major leagues, I was encouraged by the number of Black players who one day may become major league players.
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"I love the atmosphere here in Oakland and this is going to be fun. I am excited to be part of the opening before this large, friendly and knowledgeable crowd,” said right-handed pitcher Elijah Pleasants, who is Black and said the team had over 10 Black players.
"Sitting in the stands and hearing people talk about Oakland, how excited they are for this team to be here at Raimondi Park, was very exciting,” said two-way player Tyler Davis who signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox, subject to passing his physical. “The bleachers were buzzing all the way down on both sides. The food trucks were backed up all the way to the street. It was an awesome atmosphere."
"Our team is more built for the California style of play, so we are very happy to be home for the next 12-games. I walked through the stadium and it looks really, really nice. It’s going to be a celebration tonight--not just a baseball game," said B's manager Micah Franklin.
This writer has fond memories of Raimondi Park which once was the home of some of Oakland's greatest athletes, where I saw legends like Frank Robinson, Vida Pinson, and Curt Flood perform before large crowds. During those days, it was not uncommon to see Bill Russell and K.C. Jones occupying the few available seats in the stands.
"The Ballers prove that when the people of Oakland come together, we can build something more than ourselves. When the community comes together to build something--nothing can stop us. We invite the people of Oakland and the Bay Area to join us on this journey, "said Bryan Carmel, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers.
"The Oakland Ballers are a community team, owned by neighbors. Our players are not household names. They are working to become household names and bring a championship back to Oakland," said Paul Freedman, Ballers co-founder.
The crowd went bonkers when Dondrei Hubbard, who also hit the first home run for the team while on the road, smacked one over the center field fence to give the Ballers a 2-0 lead. "I felt something was about to happen here. I didn't know I was going to hit a home run, but I felt like I was going to get a good pitch to hit. I am glad to be part of history," said Hubbard with a big smile.
The B’s pitcher Kelsie Whitmore became the first female player to start a game in Pioneer League History on Thursday night. She pitched well but did not get the win. Said Kelsie, "I was a pitcher and outfielder when I came into the league, but I love pitching, love this team, and I want to go as far as I can in this game."
I introduced Kelsie to our book, Remember Their Sacrifice, which features chapters on two of the three female players in the Negro League, including Mamie Johnson, who was a pitcher. I was surprised but thrilled she was familiar with them.
Other than Kelsie, I could not identify any fans who could name a player on the field on opening night. But that didn't seem to matter. Fans were there to party and support their home-grown team. The B's are committed to a fan-first attitude. And it showed. It’s a new beginning. "Let’s Go Oakland."
* * *
Arif Khatib is Founder and President of the Multi-Ethnic
Sports Hall of Fame.
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Ferrari Racing Days Rolls into Monterey
for an all-Ferrari Motorsports Festival
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Welcomes Visitors for Third Consecutive Weekend
of Activities
MONTEREY, Calif., May 16, 2024—The hillsides of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca take on a decidedly Italian flair this weekend as one of the most famous luxury brands in the world brings its storied history and automobiles to Monterey for Ferrari Racing Days. The three-day gathering of racing and road cars begins ticketed entry Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19.
The histories of Ferrari and Laguna Seca have been intertwined since 1957. The first of many memorable moments came at the inaugural Pebble Beach Road Race at the “new” Laguna Seca. It was here that Pete Lovely, driving a Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa, upset the star-studded field to win and forever cementing Ferrari’s place in Monterey history.
“The Laguna Seca Recreation Area has shifted from Trans Am muscle cars, to ultra-advance IMSA prototypes and sports cars to the Prancing Horses of an all Ferrari gathering in three weeks’ time,” commented John Narigi, president of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “These three events are providing a significant boost to Monterey County’s local businesses with a steady influx of visitors during a traditionally slow visitation month.”
continued...
Click HERE
www.weathertechraceway.com
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Georgia Bell's collection of top performances now includes a European silver medal
Bell Earns Silver At First European Championships
Cal Alum Adds More Accolades To Stunning Comeback Season
ROME – California track & field alumna Georgia Bell, who made headlines this year in her full-time return to track & field with a British Indoor 1500m title and a fourth-place finish at the World Indoor Championships, continued her standout 2024 campaign on Sunday with a second-place finish of 4:05.33 in the European Championships 1500m final. Bell, who surpassed the Olympic qualifying standard for the event at the Prefontaine Classic in May, will now turn her attention to the UK Championships on June 29-30 in hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris.
"It feels insane," Bell said after the race. "I really wanted to come away with a medal tonight… I'm on top of the world."
Bell was the top British finisher out of three in the race, out-running teammates Jemma Reekie (4:06.17) and Katie Snowden (4:06.83). Northern Ireland's Ciara Mageean took home the gold with a time of 4:04.66 after a strong kick in the last 100m, while France's Agathe Guillemot finished third at 4:05.69.
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Robinson Third in 5,000
Stanford runner earns 13th All-America honor
EUGENE, Ore. – Stanford senior Ky Robinson completed his collegiate career by placing third in a close finish in the 5,000-meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at Hayward Field.
Robinson, the 5,000 and 10,000 winner in 2023, focused on the 5,000 this year to ease his workload during a year in which he is vying for a berth on the Australian Olympic team.
Robinson was within reach of the lead in the final 200, but North Carolina's Parker Wolfe maintained his advantage to the finish, and Northern Arizona's Nico Young was able to outsprint Robinson for second.
Robinson was timed in 13:55.00, just 0.57 off Wolfe's winning 13:54.43, and finished his collegiate career as a 13-time All-American, including nine track and field first-team honors.
The race was tactical, with no dropouts from the lead pack until the final laps. Robinson was part of a five-person pack that broke away with 600 to go. On the final lap, Young bolted into the lead on the backstretch.
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SJSOSTRAND EARNS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN HONORS ON FINAL DAY OF NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
EUGENE, Ore. – Emilia Sjostrand finished in third place in the Women’s Triple Jump final solidifying her NCAA First Team All-American status for San José State Track & Field after the second day of women’s competition on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Oregon on Saturday from Hayward Field.
Sjostrand competing in the second flight, had her best mark of the day on her first jump, with a 13.87 (45-6¼) advancing her on to the final round. Her mark would hold on through the final as she finished in third place. Her third place finish solidified her NCAA First Team All-American status in the Women’s Triple Jump. This was her second All-American honor of the week, she earned second team All-American in the Long Jump on Thursday this week. The Spartans end their season with a strong showing at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week with eight athletes competing across six events. After their performances, the Spartans earned six All-American honors across all six events they competed in. Six All-American honors across one track and field national event sets a new San José State record for All-Americans in one season. The Spartans also broke two over 50 year old school records in the Men’s 110m Hurdles and the Men’s 4x100 Relay.
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Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
MBB | Top Prospect Out of Ontario, Canada, Oliver Faubert, Signs with Gaels
MORAGA, Calif. — Coming off of both a WCC Regular Season and Tournament Title, Saint Mary's Men's Basketball continues to build up their 2024-25 roster with the addition of wing player Oliver Faubert. Hailing from north of the border, Faubert will come to Saint Mary's after a strong prep career at the Fort Erie International Academy in Ontario, Canada. He finished his prep career as the the #1 prep player out of Ontario according to 247Sports.
Standing at 6-9, Faubert can play both the three and four positions, and has shown great skill from beyond the arc. Playing in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association, he averaged 12 points per game, while shooting 48.4% from the field and a stellar 64.3% from three, with nearly half of his shots coming from beyond the arc. Active as more than just a scorer, Faubert also averaged 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest this past season.
Faubert initially signed with the University of Wyoming, but following the departure of Head Coach Jeff Linder, reopened his recruitment, and opted to sign with Coach Bennett and the Gaels. Faubert is the fifth new face joining the Gaels this season, alongside Mikey Lewis, Josh Dent, Paulius Murauskas, Liam Campbell and Ashton Hardaway.
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Photo: Piper Westrom / SMC Athletics
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Women's Soccer Postpones Upcoming ID Camp
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Head Coach Jim Millinder and the University of San Francisco women's soccer program announced today that the program's upcoming ID camp, originally scheduled for Saturday, June 8 at Negoesco Stadium, has been postponed.
A new date and time for the ID camp will be announced at a later date.
For updates and more information on the USF women's soccer program, be sure to follow @USFDonsWSoccer on Twitter, @USFDonsWSoccer on Instagram and @USFDonsWSOC on Facebook.
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Women’s Tennis Signs Local Prep Product
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara women's tennis program signed Juliette Krumholz, an incoming freshman from Miramonte High School in Orinda, California.
"I chose Santa Clara because I fell in love with the campus and felt a strong connection to the community. I could easily picture myself fitting right in! Coach Allie was also a very deciding factor because of how great of a coach she is," said Krumholz.
"It's our pleasure to welcome Juliette to our tennis family here at Santa Clara University," said Broncos head coach Allie Will. "Her competitive mindset and dedication align perfectly with our values, and she will be a fantastic addition to our program."
Krumholz is the fifth signee in the 2024 recruiting class.
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University of Pacific Tigers | |
Five Postseason Appearances Highlight 2023-24 Athletics Campaign
Under first-year Director of Athletics Adam Tschuor, the Department of Athletics showed signs of long-term success as five programs competed in postseason play, resulting in three postseason victories.
Women’s basketball, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s tennis all accepted bids to National Invitational Tournaments, while men’s swimming raced in the National Invitational Championship. The men’s tennis program made the deepest run after reaching the finals, while women’s basketball knocked off Cal Poly 77-62 in a first-round home game at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
That success capped a year that also featured the women’s water polo program playing in the semifinal match of the Golden Coast Conference Tournament and the men’s and women’s tennis teams reaching the semifinals of their respective West Coast Conference Tournaments.
“I’m proud of how all our teams competed this year, but I feel it was just a glimpse of what we’re capable of accomplishing as a department,” Tschuor said. “The postseason tournaments were great experiences for our student-athletes and a strong building block toward our championship vision. I am excited for the upcoming seasons as we pursue conference titles.”
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Barrett Sets School Record, Concludes Her Season With All-American Honors
Event: NCAA Championships (10,000m Finals)
Location: Eugene, Ore. (Hayward Field)
The Short Story: Dani Barrett concludes her outstanding junior campaign with an 11th place finish in the 10,000m, crossing the line with a time of 33:15.10 to earn Second Team All-American honors. Barrett's personal best time of 33:15.10 also stands as the new program record in the event.
"We are proud of Dani after her amazing season," said head coach Ngoni Makusha. "It was challenging for her early in the season with injuries, but still, she and Emma [Petersen] devised a plan to finish the season strong with a conference championship, school record, and Second Team All-American accolades. We are all happy for her. Go Ags!"
Barrett was the Big West Champion in the 10,000m and later raced to sixth place in the NCAA West Preliminary round to advance to the national meet. This is the second straight season the Aggies have boasted an All-American. Last season, Brianna Weidler was an All-American Honorable Mention after finishing 21st in the 5,000m at the national meet.
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Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Gabe Tanner Garners ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Honor
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced its 2024 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-Region Teams this week. Junior pitcher Gabe Tanner from Cal State East Bay was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II West All-Region Second Team.
Before the most recent regional honor bestowed upon Tanner, was named to the NCBWA All-Region Second Team, D2CCA All-West Region Second Team and the All-CCAA First Team. For April 2024, Tanner was named Pioneer of the Month.
Tanner finished the season with a 9-4 record in 13 appearances on the mound. He had a 3.56 ERA in 93.2 innings pitched and allowed 43 runs (37 earned), walked 20 and struck out 67. He led the CCAA in games started (13) and wins (9), was second in strikeouts (67) during the regular season. A complete game win at Cal Poly Pomona on March 8 earned him CCAA Pitcher of the Week honors.
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Careers At St. Francis Yacht Club
Founded in 1927, St. Francis Yacht Club is steeped in nearly a century of yachting traditions. From the beginning, St. Francis Yacht Club’s membership has included many of the Bay Area’s most prominent citizens and greatest sailors. The Club’s annual regatta schedule is one of the most active in the world and it has been consistently rated the #1 Yacht Club in America. Career opportunities at StFYC are many and varied—with three dining facilities, private party and event spaces, docks and small boat fleets, a robust 2,400+ membership, and a private island in the Delta—the club requires a talented staff to meet the needs of members and guests and to maintain its top-notch facilities.
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Watch any program on CCE's YouTube channel, or, for attorneys, earn MCLE credits online, economically, with "The Best in Topics and Talent."
Center for Continuing Education, Monterey, CA is a State Bar of California MCLE approved Provider, #8450
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
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Absorbing, frank and informative, Elman's smart prose makes for entertaining reading and brings to life our sports world with a deft touch.
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“A must read…an in-depth look into stories that come from all avenues of professional sports."
-- Andy Dolich, prominent sports executive with fifty years experience with the NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL
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"Good things come to those who wait"
The Guinness is pouring well and honestly we can't drink it all by ourselves so join us. Open Monday through Thursday at 4pm. Friday through Sunday at 12pm. Happy Hour 4pm to 6pm. Look forward to seeing all your smiling
faces once again.
https://www.thechieftain.com/
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Recent Facebook Albums to Enjoy | |
Oakland A’s 0, Toronto Blue Jays 7, Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Photos by Darren Yamashita.
Oakland Roots SC 1, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0, June 8, 2024.
Photos by Ron Sellers
Oakland Souls SC 6, Academica 2, June 8, 2024.
Photos by Ron Sellers.
Oakland Spiders 18, Colorado Summit 17, Friday, June 7, 2024. Photos by Ron Sellers.
Oakland A’s 2, Seattle Mariners 1, Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Photos and captions by Darren Yamashita.
San Francisco Giants 3, New York Yankees 7, June 1, 2024.
Captions and photos by Darren Yamashita.
San Francisco Giants 2, New York Yankees 6, May 31, 2024.
Photos by Rich Yee.
San Francisco Giants 1, Philadelphia Phillies 0, May 28, 2024.
Photos by Ed Jay.
San Francisco Giants 8, Philadelphia Phillies 4, May 27, 2024. Captions and photos by Darren Yamashita.
Oakland A’s 2, Houston Astros 5, May 26, 2024.
Captions and photos by Darren Yamashita
San Jose Earthquakes 1, Austin FC 1, May 25, 2024.
Captions and photos by Alex Ho.
Bay FC 0, NY/NJ Gotham FC 2, May 24, 2024.
Captions and photos by Alex Ho.
Bay to Breakers, May 19, 2024.
Photos by Rich Yee.
San Francisco Giants 4, Colorado Rockies 1, May 19, 2024.
Captions and photos by Darren Yamashita.
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, June 10, through
Sunday, June 16, 2024
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Monday, June 10
San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's @ San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, June 11
San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's @ San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes, 6:35 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12
San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros, 12:45 p.m.
Oakland A's @ San Diego Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes, 6:35 p.m.
Thursday, June 13
Oakland A's @ Minnesota Twins, 4:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes, 6:35 p.m.
Oakland Soul SC vs. California Storm, 6 p.m.
Friday, June 14
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels, 7:15 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Minnesota Twins, 5:10 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes, 6:35 p.m.
Saturday, June 15
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Minnesota Twins, 11:10 a.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes, 1:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC @ Sacramento Republic, 8 p.m.
Sunday June 16
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Angels, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Minnesota Twins, 11:10 a.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes, 1:05 p.m.
Bay FC vs. Utah Royals FC, 7 p.m.
Bay Area Panthers vs. San Diego Strike Force, 3:05 p.m.
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FIELD OF PLAY
For the past 60 years, Michael Zagaris has taken his camera behind the scenes of the NFL, capturing the moments that define America’s game.
To order: https://www.zagarisbook.com/
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LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? was written for sports professionals by Andy Dolich and Jack Hirschman and offers valuable takeaways for everyone chasing the fancy logo and corner office. | |
The Emerald Mile: The epic and award-winning story of the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko. A thrilling true tale during the legendary flood of 1983. | |
More than a cookbook, this culinary delight was written to preserve a great chef's traditional family recipes and stories of her childhood for her far-flung grandchildren. Author Leonie Samuel-Hool recounts stories of a vanished society and legends of the gods and goddesses that protect and sometimes make mischief in Indonesian homes, fields and foods. The recipes are explicitly presented. | |
The absolute greatest Yankees were the 1949-1953 pinstripers, winners of an unprecedented five consecutive World Series. "The Yankee Way," Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa writes in the book's foreword, is "full of Yankee winning keys, star-studded competition, and insights about one of baseball's historically fascinating periods." By Charlie Silvera with Dave Newhouse (Author). | |
To Order: $15 hardcover, $10 paperback, plus $4.95 shipping. Send check/M.O. to Christopher Weills, P.O. Box 4515, Berkeley, CA 94704 | | |
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5980 Stoneridge Drive, Ste. 122
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723
CalBRE License #:01770629
Agent 510.512.2145
Office 925.847.8900
www.sereankimmel.com
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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!
Go to www.checkforbikes.org or email contact@checkforbikes.org
with questions or to order.
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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 helpful ideas and his archives.
Mr. Moselle, Esq. is now lending his extensive editorial experience and marketing savvy to the publication.
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