February 2010: Week 1 (Super Bowl Preview)
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It's the biggest day of the year — on The NOR CAL Report! This week, the boys analyze Indy v. Big Easy — with a special twist for NorCal fans. Meanwhile, the local squads try to scramble up Mount Trophy:
The Sharks hit a bump, dropping a seesaw contest to the 'Hawks and a downer to the Wings. Luckily, Lex has a cure for what ails them;
The Warriors' losing streak lingers, even as Monta has his best outing ever;
And the Kings continue to surprise, impressing even in losing battles, as Martin's return to prominence means all things to all people.
We always know who we are — on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT:
Anall-new brings a special dispatch from the NBA's vaunted All-Starweekend. And even with no locals on that scene, there's plenty to talkabout by the Bay as well!
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
Some major media outlets have picked up on Andrew Baggarly's story on the cloak-and-dagger implications of Tim Lincecum's impending arbitration hearing. Conventional wisdom is saying, correctly, that the Giants'submitted figure of $8 million (compared to Timmy's $13M) seems low.Bags suggests the Giants may be working extra hard to keep the figureunder Ryan Howard's record-setting $10M arbitration award, inorder to please league owners, who would then back the Giants in theSan Jose territory squabble against Lew Wolff's A's. (Owners, painted not for the first time as Bud Selig's waterboys, would have to approve rescinding the Giants' current territorial rights to Santa Clara County by a three-fourths vote.)
There'sno doubt $8M is low for a man of Lincecum's achievements. And whileHoward's a fine player, the G-Men had to know Lincecum stands apart —and would be smart enough to ask for, and get, more thanHoward. You want a real conspiracy theory? Okay: S.F. submitted anumber they knew would lose. (Lincecum could have filed for $15M, maybe$18M, and still won.) Why? Total barstool speculation: the Giants nolonger have to shoot to kill in the hearing, and set aside any mentionof Tim's pot citation. And when the owners try to point out the Giants'advanced (and the A's anemic) revenue streams, the orange and black cancounter that they've recently been forced to double the A's payroll...
Back on Earth, Ray Ratto writes that the Giants-Lincecum fiesta, while pricey, is just another dollar-sign showdown — and no story for you back page types...
Speaking of Lincecum, there's a head-thumper of a debate on ESPN right now, asking which pitcher you'd build your franchise around: Felix Hernandez, Zack Grienke, or Justin Verlander. Question: who is the best pitcher in baseball right now?Forget up years, down years, or projectability (and with apologies tothe amazing Roy Halladay.) Hint: whose nickname is actually TheFranchise?
Write in now: does red-hot Warrior Monta Ellis deserve that final All-Star berth? George Karl knows Ellis beats Chauncey Billupsup and down the stat sheet, yet calls Billups' election "something of ano-brainer." Why? Team record, of course. I guess if you're theWarriors, you can't so much argue, as beg...
With the Hall of Fame knocking on his door, ESPN's asking whether 49ers great Jerry Rice was the best ever. No, not the best receiver — other than maybe Terrell Owens, who would argue that? The best football player...
Speaking of the gridiron, did you peep JaMarcus Russell'sappearance on TNT during a recent basketball game? I won't post thelinks — due to copyright issues — but you can find it for yourself.As commentator Kevin Harlan put it — on the air! — "Ifhe spent as much time in the film room as he did in the jewelry store,he'd be a much better quarterback." My favorite piece? Thequarterback-shaped Diamond pendant, emblazoned with a "2," aroundRussell's neck. (Yes, Russell wears "2" and plays quarterback. And yes,we would all find this merely amusing if Russell didn't stink so badlyon the field. As Crash Davis put it: You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes... If you win 20 in the show, you canlet the fungus grow back and thepress will think you're colorful. Untilyou win 20 in the show, however,it means you are a slob...)
We're always laced up and ready to go — so thanks for peepin' our sneaks... on The NOR CAL Report!
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
It's the biggest day of the year — on The NOR CAL Report! This week, the boys analyze Indy v. Big Easy — with a special twist for NorCal fans. Meanwhile, the local squads try to scramble up Mount Trophy:
The Sharks hit a bump, dropping a seesaw contest to the 'Hawks and a downer to the Wings. Luckily, Lex has a cure for what ails them;
The Warriors' losing streak lingers, even as Monta has his best outing ever;
And the Kings continue to surprise, impressing even in losing battles, as Martin's return to prominence means all things to all people.
We always know who we are — on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT:
Anall-new brings a special dispatch from the NBA's vaunted All-Starweekend. And even with no locals on that scene, there's plenty to talkabout by the Bay as well!
Played: 2017 | Download | Duration: 00:33:52
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
Some major media outlets have picked up on Andrew Baggarly's story on the cloak-and-dagger implications of Tim Lincecum's impending arbitration hearing. Conventional wisdom is saying, correctly, that the Giants'submitted figure of $8 million (compared to Timmy's $13M) seems low.Bags suggests the Giants may be working extra hard to keep the figureunder Ryan Howard's record-setting $10M arbitration award, inorder to please league owners, who would then back the Giants in theSan Jose territory squabble against Lew Wolff's A's. (Owners, painted not for the first time as Bud Selig's waterboys, would have to approve rescinding the Giants' current territorial rights to Santa Clara County by a three-fourths vote.)
There'sno doubt $8M is low for a man of Lincecum's achievements. And whileHoward's a fine player, the G-Men had to know Lincecum stands apart —and would be smart enough to ask for, and get, more thanHoward. You want a real conspiracy theory? Okay: S.F. submitted anumber they knew would lose. (Lincecum could have filed for $15M, maybe$18M, and still won.) Why? Total barstool speculation: the Giants nolonger have to shoot to kill in the hearing, and set aside any mentionof Tim's pot citation. And when the owners try to point out the Giants'advanced (and the A's anemic) revenue streams, the orange and black cancounter that they've recently been forced to double the A's payroll...
Back on Earth, Ray Ratto writes that the Giants-Lincecum fiesta, while pricey, is just another dollar-sign showdown — and no story for you back page types...
Speaking of Lincecum, there's a head-thumper of a debate on ESPN right now, asking which pitcher you'd build your franchise around: Felix Hernandez, Zack Grienke, or Justin Verlander. Question: who is the best pitcher in baseball right now?Forget up years, down years, or projectability (and with apologies tothe amazing Roy Halladay.) Hint: whose nickname is actually TheFranchise?
Write in now: does red-hot Warrior Monta Ellis deserve that final All-Star berth? George Karl knows Ellis beats Chauncey Billupsup and down the stat sheet, yet calls Billups' election "something of ano-brainer." Why? Team record, of course. I guess if you're theWarriors, you can't so much argue, as beg...
With the Hall of Fame knocking on his door, ESPN's asking whether 49ers great Jerry Rice was the best ever. No, not the best receiver — other than maybe Terrell Owens, who would argue that? The best football player...
Speaking of the gridiron, did you peep JaMarcus Russell'sappearance on TNT during a recent basketball game? I won't post thelinks — due to copyright issues — but you can find it for yourself.As commentator Kevin Harlan put it — on the air! — "Ifhe spent as much time in the film room as he did in the jewelry store,he'd be a much better quarterback." My favorite piece? Thequarterback-shaped Diamond pendant, emblazoned with a "2," aroundRussell's neck. (Yes, Russell wears "2" and plays quarterback. And yes,we would all find this merely amusing if Russell didn't stink so badlyon the field. As Crash Davis put it: You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes... If you win 20 in the show, you canlet the fungus grow back and thepress will think you're colorful. Untilyou win 20 in the show, however,it means you are a slob...)
We're always laced up and ready to go — so thanks for peepin' our sneaks... on The NOR CAL Report!
Posted by Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik at February 5, 2010 
Categories: A's, super bowl, Warriors, Sharks, MLB, NFL, 49ers, Giants, NBA, Kings, Raiders, NHL
Tags: super bowl 49ers Sharks MLB 49ers Raiders Sharks Warriors Kings Giants NBA Athletics NHL
Categories: A's, super bowl, Warriors, Sharks, MLB, NFL, 49ers, Giants, NBA, Kings, Raiders, NHL
Tags: super bowl 49ers Sharks MLB 49ers Raiders Sharks Warriors Kings Giants NBA Athletics NHL
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