Author: lleonardbw

Oakland Raiders podcast with Jeremy Kahn: Raiders face winless Bears for chance at their third straight win in Chicago

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by Jeremy Kahn

photo credit sportsworldreport.com Latavius Murray Oak Raiders

ALAMEDA–Tonight on the podcast the Raiders (3-1) head out to Chicago for their meeting with the Bears (0-3) at Soldier Field. The Raiders are coming into the contest coming off two straight wins against the Ravens and Browns can the Raiders do it a third time? Quarterback Derek Carr has led the Raiders to the promise land with those key victories and he has the respect of the players right now.
On receiving Carr is getting help from wide receiver Amari Cooper with 134 yards and eight carries last Sunday in Cleveland also the Raiders got some offensive help from Seth Roberts and Marcel Reece. On rushing running back Latavius Murray topped rushers with 26 carries for 139 yards. He looks like he’ll be the go to guy again this week.

The Raiders coaching is looking good and lots of credit to the strategy of head coach Jack Del Rio. Can he be the successful coach for the Raiders after so many coaching changes over the years for this franchise?

Jeremy answers all those and more on the Raiders podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeff Hall: Team built around Cousins Kings hopes this is their season and beyond

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by Jeff Hall

photo credit google images Kings GM Vlade Divac

SACRAMENTO–The Kings went through three coaches last season Mike Malone, Ty Corbin and George Karl this year if all goes to plan Karl should be their man. The Kings are looking to make a big statement this year. Also the Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and we were just talking about it minute ago that Cousins isn’t the biggest problem on the team.

It’s not going to be about how the management runs this team it’s going to be about those guys down on the floor and the Kings will see how it goes and how Cousins handles it. He’s got a goal going into this year and he’s going to accomplish his goals whatever goal he makes.

The Kings Rudy Gay will be back at small forward this season and with him teaming up with Cousins that should be a helpful force and after the season that he had last year it should be interesting to see what he does this season. Cousins will be Cousins and Gay will be Gay in what they bring to the game this season.

This could be the season for the Kings and Karl would love to have this season to be the one where the club is headed for a shot at post season and the organization is looking forward to getting into the new arena in October 2016. The Kings general manager Vlade Divac is coming into his second season as Kings general manager and he’s not playing over his head.

Divac was involved in the draft pick as he signed Willie Cauley-Stein and that was Divac’s deal and not former Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro. Divac is not coming into something that he didn’t develop and he’s been part of the signing of Kings guard and forward Marco Belinelli. Divac is providing a new scene especially with the new building Golden 1 Arena going into next season. This is not the old situation for the Kings but just the beginning of new era.

Jeff Hall covers the Sacramento Kings at http://www.sportsradioservice.com listen to the podcast

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Whose the most responsible for the 49ers failures and faults Baalke or York?

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by David Zizmor

photo credit google images of 49ers GM Trent Baalke

SANTA CLARA–On the podcast today David discusses who really at the fault for the 49ers pitfalls team president Jed York or general manager Trent Baalke. Can Baalke and York be faulted for all of the 49ers failures? Not all but you can certainly fault them for coddling players like Aldon Smith and Ray McDonald for allowing them to feel comfortable.

They felt like their careers weren’t on the line and they didn’t correct their behavior and there is a certain amount of accountability that has to go to the GM and has to go to the team CEO and owner. When you have all these different players involved in sketchy activities that leads to arrests and suspensions.

The players know their are consequences for these actions and it doesn’t seem like Baalke or York did any discipline and that was the structure of the organization. No one knew if that was York’s job or Baalke’s job to do that but it should be one of their jobs. It should fall on them.

We’ve seen the meltdown of the 49ers over the last year since former head coach Jim Harbaugh left for Michigan. There has been more than enough dysfunction in the front office that you have to put it on them. As for performance on the field that’s Baalke’s department obviously he’s in charge.

Baalke helped in selecting the head coach Jim Tomsula and whatever happened between Baalke and Harbaugh that led to Harbaugh resigning or getting fired whichever you want to believe. This is on Baalke he has to find a way to work with his coaches. Whatever personality differences that existed between Baalke and Harbaugh.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcast each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Barry Zito’s last game in the Major Leagues

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By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

photo credit google images Barry Zito A’s pitcher

ANAHEIM–September 30,2015. This is the day Barry Zito came to the mound, for what was probably his very last start, as a 37 year old left hander facing the Los Angeles Angels .As the game began the Angels had won 7 games in a row and were the hottest team in baseball, during the home-stretch last week of the season.

Zito did well. He went four innings, gave up four hits and two runs, both via Homerun, in the third Mike Trout’s #41 and in the fourth David Freese #14. In his previous start only went a couple of innings against his ex-team, the Giants,as he faced his old teammate with the A’s Tim Hudson,(who also came to the mound and lasted a cup of coffee) but today Zito doubled his previous start work as he completed four frames.

The Athletics beat the Angels 8-7, stopping the seven game winning streak by Angels manager Mike Scioscia’s team, who as of today with four games left at Texas to end the season could still be in the division or make it as a wild card. Barry Zito did not get a decision but his farewell was very good. After the game, he said he was “content”with his outing.

He once had a seven year deal with the San Francisco Giants, worth $126 million dollars. Today, it is considered one of the worst contracts ever in Major League Baseball. Well, not bad for him, but bad for the team. So bad that in 2010 when the Giants won their second of three World Series during the last five years, he was left out of the postseason; but he showed a lot of class, saying then he didn’t deserved to be on the roster, because he didn’t pitched well.

Barry Zito sat 2014. In 2015 got a contract with the Athletics and pitched at AAA Nashville, came up in September, with so many injuries on the A’s pitching staff and got a shot to pitch at Oakland Coliseum against the other team he pitched for during his career.

Barry Zito’s best season was in 2002(the year the Athletics won 20 consecutive games, an American League record)with a 23-5 and 2.75 ERA and won the Cy Young Award although he had some decent years with the A’s after that, nothing came close to that 2002 season. He pitched for the A’S from 2000 to 2006, then the Giants signed him for a 7-year contract from 2007 to 2013, he won 63 and lost 80 for the Giants, his best season for the Orange and Black was in 2012; 15-8 and a 4.15 ERA

He was controversial especially during his time with the Giants, because he never lived up to his expectations. In the end, I believe Barry Zito showed a lot of class and professionalism.

I called his last game on the mound.

I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the A’s, the Spanish TV voice for the Angels and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NFL Podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Vick be the Steelers answer for Big Ben; Brady can only dream of breaking Farve’s record; Raiders get ready in Chicago

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by Tony Renteria

photo credit google images of Michael Vick QB Steelers

On the podcast today, Michael Vick will replace injured starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who is out with injured knees. Can Vick bring back his old magic and keep things moving for the Steelers?

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has his records for passing yards and touchdowns but the one record that Brady covets the most is Brett Farve’s all time consecutive game record for a quarterback at 297. Brady has a long way to go with 110 consecutive games.

Ex-Florida governor and presidential hopeful Jeb Bush said he didn’t find the word “Redskin” offensive, that the team shouldn’t have to change it’s name, and that American tribes don’t find it offensive.

Join Tony for all these discussions and more on the podcast below today. Tony Renteria does the NFL podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh; Leafs ban their own media employees from charter flights; NHL meets with Quebec investors; Sharks Thornton and Wilson are over it

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by Mary Lisa Walsh

photo credit google images of Joe Bowden Leafs play by play announcer

On the podcast today, The Toronto Maple Leafs banned even their own media employees on charter flights: The Leafs banning the media on charter flights would be understandable but your talking about you own employees here and it doesn’t make much sense to isolate them because fans rely on them. Further the Leafs are no longer having their radio play by play crew travel to do the games.

The NHL met with investors who plan to have a franchise in Quebec City. A Montreal group lead by Bill Foley met with the league to discuss the beginning stages of starting a franchise. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that the there is no timeline and no pressure. Foley and his group will be paying the league’s $500 million expansion fee.

Also last season San Jose Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson and the San Jose Sharks Joe Thornton got into a dressing room disagreement over Thornton’s captaincy that’s all behind them now and that was part of a media swirl. At the time Thornton had told the GM to “shut your mouth” but now they and the team are starting fresh coming into 2015-16.

To learn more listen to the podcast below. Mary Lisa Walsh does the NHL podcast each week and is also a SJ Sharks beat reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Tuesday night post game report: Halos crush Bassitt and A’s 8-1 at the Big A

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by Jessica Kwong

photo credit yahoo sports Nick Tropeano Angels starter

ANAHEIM—The suffering Athletics were hit with a humiliating 8-1 loss Tuesday to the Angels who rise to a half game lead for the second Wild Card. A’s left fielder Max Muncy hit a home run in the fifth inning — and the only run for the club. The Angels scored two runs in the first inning, four in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the eighth to round out their victory.

Oakland starting pitcher Chris Bassitt got shelled, allowing six runs and giving up eight hits. He attributed it to “falling into the trap that I feel so good that I’m going out there and I’m just kind of throwing instead of pitching.”
“And just being just stupid, honestly,” Bassitt continued. “I mean feel way too good to be doing what I’m doing.”

A’s Manager Bob Melvin was less critical of Bassitt, saying, “his stuff was good today” and it was just his command that was missing.
“He’s still a little rusty on where he’s throwing the ball,” Melvin said, adding of Bassitt’s pitches, “I looked up and I saw 97’s, some 96’s, some 95’s. There was still some movement to it. Maybe not his best breaking stuff but I think he’s still working himself back as far as command goes.”

Angels starting pitcher Nick Tropeano, on the other hand, easily worked through the A’s hitters, reaching a career-high 11 strikeouts. A’s left fielder Stephen Vogt praised Tropeano’s skill. “He’s funky, he’s got some hesitation in his delivery, his ball moves a lot, he changes speeds really effectively with his fast ball – just kind of funky,” Vogt said. “It’s hard pick up his breaking ball. Threw some really good change-ups and splitties as well, he’s got good stuff he stays down on his own. “

The A’s on Tuesday lost their ninth straight game in the last 10 contests and will finish with the worst record in the American League for the third time in the team’s history in Oakland. Meanwhile, the Angels’ seventh straight victory matches a season high and the club sits on the second wild-card spot and is a half-game ahead of Houston.

The three-game series between the California teams concludes tomorrow with first pitch at 4:05 p.m. at Angel Stadium.

Jessica Kwong is filling in for Jerry Feitelberg who covers the A’s on a regular basis for http://www.sportsradioservice.com, Jessica also works at the Orange County Register in the Southland

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: What a difference two years makes as Cal now looks for fifth straight

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by Morris Phillips

photo credit google images Vic Enwere Cal running back

BERKELEY–Two years ago the Cal Bears (4-0) were so bad that they were just unwatchable. When current Bears head coach Sonny Dykes took over he struggled in his first year in 2013 going 1-11. But in this third year for Dykes the Bears are playing well and the schedule is back loaded. So Cal has the opportunity to go 5-0 when they host Washington State (2-1).

The Cougars are a young football team in the Pac 12 it’s a great opportunity for the Cougars and they might have some chances later on in the year that they get a quick validation that their program is moving in the right direction. Don’t underestimate the Cougars and last year Cal played the Cougars to a 60-59 shootout with Cal winning.

These two teams know how to play the game offensively it’s unlikely that both of them will have offensive depth and will be able to play all the snaps and be ready. In Cal’s case whatever happens in the fourth quarter is crucial because Cal has been corse defensively. So other than that they’ve got a great opportunity to go 5-0.

Morris Phillips does the Cal Bears podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: McCaffrey run sets the tone on Cardinal offense

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by Jerry Feitelberg

photo credit google images Christian McCaffrey running back Stanford

PALO ALTO–Last Saturday was a great day for all the running backs in Stanford’s 42-12 win over Oregon State. Christian McCaffrey led all running backs with a career setting 206 yards in 30 carries. The Cardinal Barry Sanders ran for 97 yards and Remound Wright carried for 13 yards.

Sanders had two second half touchdowns within five minutes and one was good for a run for 50 yards. Sanders really showed his stuff going down the sidelines. McCaffrey who rushed for 206 yards and it was the second big game in row for him.

The Beavers defense did a lot of shifting and did a lot of disguise blitzes and the Cardinal made a decision part of it because Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan had banged up his knee and was wearing a knee brace during the game. So the Cardinal concentrated on the ground game they got a pretty good offensive line even though they got two young players.

The whole left line for the Cardinal is so powerful they were just so powerful and opening holes for the runners. Three of the Stanford backs McCaffrey, Sanders, and Wright were absolutely magnificent for a terrific score as the Cardinal were within their goal line offense, the line blocked for them just lone enough and Wright just bounced off and scampered on into the end zone.

Jerry Feitelberg does the Cardinal podcast each week for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: American Tourism starts flooding Cuba

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Until 1989 the old Soviet Union(Russia today)was supporting Cuba’s economy with billions of dollars, but during that same year communism collapsed \in the Soviet Union, so they could not support Cuba, who was basically their satellite and only bastion of communism in the new world. Since then Cuba has been alone and with no structure but the same people that have ruled over them for all these years. Once a country that exported more sugar than anybody in the world, among other goods, Cuba has actually went “back in time”not in prosperity but resembles more of a 1950’s time warp.

Today American tourism, who is the largest and most sought after and most lucrative tourism in the world, has started to flood the island of Cuba, soon huge hotel companies like Hyatt, Hilton and others will begin building resorts in the island, and just with the opening of the Cuban society, the people in Cuba should prosper again, if the Cuban government doesn’t get in their way.

It is inevitable. The Cuban people have no money, anyplace you visit in Cuba today, you will see lots of people(specially young people)roaming the streets with absolutely nothing to do. The Cuban economy doesn’t rank in any global financial market; Cuba has been ruled by the same Castro dictatorship for 56 years, generations of Cubans have not experienced any type of self determination, and freedom, they have lived for decades dependent on the government, who basically ruled over their collective lives. Yes the Cuban government provides for free social services, including medical, and education, but in return from that, they actually have little say on the future of their lives or their families. Basically Cuba has been a country of human robots under the same failed system of government.
American companies will be investing in Cuba, something that until 1989 even if you suggested that in the island, you could be put away, called anti-revolutionary and an enemy of the state.

Still today Amnesty International lists Cuba among the world countries that continue violating its citizens civil rights. Young and old Cubans alike still do not have access to the internet, (something that is taken for granted in the free world)but that will also soon change and once that happens, doesn’t matter what Raul Castro or his brother Fidel might say or do, like the very old American saying: “you cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube”, Cuba will undoubtedly go through tremendous changes.

Major League Baseball is changing its policy. How would MLB handle these changes with Cuba? visit this website for more informationhttp://www.baseballamerica.com/international/mlb-will-handle-big-changes-cuba/

Among the many “treasures”of Cuba is its baseball, a country that has been the leader in Latin America as far as baseball talent since the 1860’s when Cuban-born Esteban Bellan, became the first Hispanic to play pro-baseball in the United States. Baseball is slowly playing a big role in the inevitable result that Cuba will be free from the tyranny their people have been subjected for over a half a century.
As a Cuban-born person, who left Cuba when I was 17 years old and have lived for the rest of my life here in the United States, I once believed I would die and never see Cuba free.

However, right now the changes are looking very good for Cuba.
It is about time!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Vice President of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com