The Rams proposed a stadium which could house two teams in Inglewood, LA area. Another plan would be for the Chargers and Raiders to share the facility at Carson. By far the Rams have the best option with $450 million in possible subsides, while the poorest would be the Raiders. The franchise relocation fee is $550 million dollars, and no team has received enough support from NFL owners to make the move. Committees are meeting during this first week of the year in New York.

The Chargers released this statement:
“We have tried for more than 14 years, through nine separate proposals and seven different mayors, to create a world-class stadium experience for fans in San Diego. Despite these efforts, there is still no certain, actionable solution to the stadium problem. We are sad to have reached this point.”The Rams statement:

“The Rams  informed the National Football League today that the Rams propose to relocate to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The relocation would be effective for the 2016 NFL League Year.”

And the Oakland Raiders were the last to release a statement::

“In accordance with the relocation policies, the Oakland Raiders submitted a relocation package to the NFL. The matter is now in the hands of the NFL’s owners. An owners’ meeting is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas on January 12 and 13, 2016.”

—————————————————————————–

 

Are the San Francisco Giants willing to spend on Yoenis Cespedes?

The Giants signed two starting pitchers to strengthen their 2015 weak rotation, by signing free agents Jeff Samardzija for $90 million dollars and five years and then Johny Cueto for 6 years and $130 million dollars. The “first row” of free agents outfielders available as of today are: Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon. Cespedes would be the ideal fit for the Giants in a stadium where a good right handed power hitter can do very well, but Cespedes is looking for a long deal of four years at least and most teams are probably pondering the situation; as he would turn 31 years of age this 2016 season. Alex Gordon, with less power but a Gold Glove could be a good option also, and of course Justin Upton who could provide some power in the middle of the lineup. Cespedes probably is the best fit, and he would be back in the Bay Area, where he originally began his career with the Oakland Athletics. The Los Angeles Angels are very much in need of a power bat left fielder, but owner Arte Moreno said recently he is not going for the big free agents this year. However, he has said that before, and has also changed his mind. He has the money, so I would not be surprised if he signed a guy like Yoenis Cespedes.

 

                                                                ——————————————————————————

Are the Warriors receiving enough national recognition?

If the Warriors played in New York, or Los Angeles, or even Chicago, we would be reading that this 2015-2016 is “the best NBA team ever, but they play in the Bay Area, Oakland, to be exact. If we determine the best team by winning record, the history books show that the best three teams ever where all Chicago Bulls;  1995-98,  72-10, 1996-1997,   69-13 and  1991-1992, 67-15, the Michael Jordan and company teams. The Warriors are 32-2, on a pace to become the best record ever, all they have to do is to win 41 of their next 48 games, then the numbers will show that they are the best on a regular season in the NBA history. Notice the Bulls (above) have the best two records ever on consecutive seasons, and that means that if the Warriors win the NBA title again, they will make some history also. Easy to forget here in Curryland, that the San Antonio Spurs have a 30-6 record.

                                                                 ——————————————————————————-

Brazil looking for Vinganca

In Portuguese, the world Vinganca means “revenge” and this next World Cup of Soccer, the world’s greatest sporting event, will take place in Brazil, this year and Brazilians who were totally embarrassed during the last World Cup by Germany who defeated them 7- 1 are looking forward to playing this time in front of the greatest futbol audience in the world. Brazil has won five World Cups more than anybody and they are the only team to have qualified to every World Cup. When you are the host country, you automatically qualify, so that was sort of good news for the Brazilians this year.  Germany is #2 all time with four World Cup titles. Brazil is the fifth largest country(by territory)in the world, only Russia, Canada, United States of America and China are larger, but there is not bigger passion for one sport in the world but for Futbol in Brazil. Because the way they lost to Germany last time in the final game, where 95%of the Brazilian people were either listening on the radio or watching on television, the media in Brazil considers this 2016 World cup as their most important in their history.

                                                                   ——————————————————————————–

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is a former candidate for the Ford C Frick Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com