February, 2009: Week 3
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Drop what you're doing, it's time for an all-new NOR CAL Report! This week, the A's make big headlines with the most definitive report out of Fremont in years. A Nor Cal NBA squads makes major trade headlines, while the Sharks juggle lines and weather the injury bug. Plus, updates from Spring Training and the soccer preseason, as spring peeks around the corner.
It's official: the A's don't feel the timing, location, and mood are right for a stadium in Fremont. Residents of both Fremont and Oakland have mixed reactions — but, times being what they are, Lew Wolff is smart enough not to cram this kind of project down anyone's throat. More in the Blog below...
The Kings finally make the national news — and headline the Report — by dumping millions of dollars in downright decent talent. So where do they stand now?
The Warriors stand pat as planned — and one of the Lads is fed up with waiting. Have they got the pieces in place, or is Oakland asking for the '90s all over again?
The Sharks fight injuries and the flu along with some challenging opponents. But in hockey, you can get points for losing — and with this kind of lead, who's counting? Still, Lex sees a key cog that could use some serious oil...
The A's welcome back the prodigal son, as Jason Giambi holds court in 'Zona;
After some key defections, the Earthquakes have made several moves worth crowing about, as well as some very decent preseason hay;
And last but not least, the hapless Raiders dish out two record contracts the boys can finally get behind. Has Rebel Al disproved the adage that you can't throw good money after bad?
The chips are down, and it's always a full house — all on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT: The Warriors sit some starters in favor of the skinny young lefties and an Italian Stallion, while the Kings play the name game with their new mates. The Sharks look to keep their form, while the 'Quakes, A's, and Giants all make big preseason noise.
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
So what do we make of the big news: that the A's have called off the Fremont ballpark project? A lot of people agree with Oakland politico Ignacio de la Fuente, who insists, "the A's belong in Oakland." A's fans and Oaktown residents will be happy to hear this. Still, don't forget how much work went into trying to do this right — making the ballpark as accessible as possible to fans, while drawing profits from the private, mixed-use development surrounding it. Much of that points to the difficulty of doing the same in Oakland.
As the Biz of Baseball mentions, the Wolff group still has to manage a going venture in the East Bay. When you factor in all the development exploration they've been doing — a long-term, good faith effort to keep the team in Nor Cal — they've done a fantastic job to date of communicating their message.
It's too bad, though — I would have liked to see some of those "ballpark of the future" initiatives put into place, with Cisco's help, in a retro-style stadium...
As Gwenn Knapp writes, Mike Singletary has become a West Coast Barack Obama: where he speaks, hope abounds. It would have sounded more than a little funny just a few years ago, but it appears the 49ers have finally found the face of the franchise...
Yes, Lex insists that Nellie's Warriors play no defense — never have — and by and large, I agree. But arguments like this one outline why "points against" should not be the only statistic considered. By the way, if you think President Mully is calling the shots, you didn't see Assistant GM Riley working the trade deadline phones...
No, MLS teams don't release salary details. But if you want to know what Joe Cannon and Nick Garcia will make in their new multi-year deals, check out the numbers on SoccerAmerica.com...
Wonder whether the Giants' owning a big chunk of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area would hurt A's watchers? As Bruce Jenkins reports, the opposite is happening...
Keith Law calls this decision far more important than the A-Rod case: a court is forcing the NCAA to let drafted (or pre-draft) ballplayers consult an agent, before making "the biggest financial transaction of their lives..."
Thanks as always for checking in. See you next time, on the NOR CAL Report!
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Drop what you're doing, it's time for an all-new NOR CAL Report! This week, the A's make big headlines with the most definitive report out of Fremont in years. A Nor Cal NBA squads makes major trade headlines, while the Sharks juggle lines and weather the injury bug. Plus, updates from Spring Training and the soccer preseason, as spring peeks around the corner.
It's official: the A's don't feel the timing, location, and mood are right for a stadium in Fremont. Residents of both Fremont and Oakland have mixed reactions — but, times being what they are, Lew Wolff is smart enough not to cram this kind of project down anyone's throat. More in the Blog below...
The Kings finally make the national news — and headline the Report — by dumping millions of dollars in downright decent talent. So where do they stand now?
The Warriors stand pat as planned — and one of the Lads is fed up with waiting. Have they got the pieces in place, or is Oakland asking for the '90s all over again?
The Sharks fight injuries and the flu along with some challenging opponents. But in hockey, you can get points for losing — and with this kind of lead, who's counting? Still, Lex sees a key cog that could use some serious oil...
The A's welcome back the prodigal son, as Jason Giambi holds court in 'Zona;
After some key defections, the Earthquakes have made several moves worth crowing about, as well as some very decent preseason hay;
And last but not least, the hapless Raiders dish out two record contracts the boys can finally get behind. Has Rebel Al disproved the adage that you can't throw good money after bad?
The chips are down, and it's always a full house — all on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT: The Warriors sit some starters in favor of the skinny young lefties and an Italian Stallion, while the Kings play the name game with their new mates. The Sharks look to keep their form, while the 'Quakes, A's, and Giants all make big preseason noise.
Played: 324 | Download | Duration: 00:29:53
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
So what do we make of the big news: that the A's have called off the Fremont ballpark project? A lot of people agree with Oakland politico Ignacio de la Fuente, who insists, "the A's belong in Oakland." A's fans and Oaktown residents will be happy to hear this. Still, don't forget how much work went into trying to do this right — making the ballpark as accessible as possible to fans, while drawing profits from the private, mixed-use development surrounding it. Much of that points to the difficulty of doing the same in Oakland.
As the Biz of Baseball mentions, the Wolff group still has to manage a going venture in the East Bay. When you factor in all the development exploration they've been doing — a long-term, good faith effort to keep the team in Nor Cal — they've done a fantastic job to date of communicating their message.
It's too bad, though — I would have liked to see some of those "ballpark of the future" initiatives put into place, with Cisco's help, in a retro-style stadium...
As Gwenn Knapp writes, Mike Singletary has become a West Coast Barack Obama: where he speaks, hope abounds. It would have sounded more than a little funny just a few years ago, but it appears the 49ers have finally found the face of the franchise...
Yes, Lex insists that Nellie's Warriors play no defense — never have — and by and large, I agree. But arguments like this one outline why "points against" should not be the only statistic considered. By the way, if you think President Mully is calling the shots, you didn't see Assistant GM Riley working the trade deadline phones...
No, MLS teams don't release salary details. But if you want to know what Joe Cannon and Nick Garcia will make in their new multi-year deals, check out the numbers on SoccerAmerica.com...
Wonder whether the Giants' owning a big chunk of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area would hurt A's watchers? As Bruce Jenkins reports, the opposite is happening...
Keith Law calls this decision far more important than the A-Rod case: a court is forcing the NCAA to let drafted (or pre-draft) ballplayers consult an agent, before making "the biggest financial transaction of their lives..."
Thanks as always for checking in. See you next time, on the NOR CAL Report!
Posted by Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik at February 17, 2009 
Categories: A's, Warriors, Raiders, Earthquakes, Sharks, Kings
Categories: A's, Warriors, Raiders, Earthquakes, Sharks, Kings
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