Author: Charlie O. Mallonee

I have been a sports reporter/broadcaster since 1976 which means ... I'm old and I love sports. I have done play-by-play for minor league baseball - including the infamous "Bad News Bees" - San Jose State football and football and high school sports in the Bay Area and on the Monterey Peninsula. I had the great privilege to host a weekly sports talk show on KNRY Radio Monterey/Salinas with my producer the late,great Gary Araki. I also hosted and produced "the Sports Fanatics" talk show on KSAC Radio in Sacramento. For the last 10 years, I have been a beat reporter covering the Oakland Athletics for Sports Radio Service. Three years ago, I became the senior reporter for our Sacramento Kings coverage. My goal is to bring you the news, views, fun and excitement of every event I am assigned to report on for Sports Radio Service.

Major Track Championships coming to Sacramento

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By Charlie O. Mallonee

USA Track & Field has selected Sacramento as the site for the 2014 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The championships will be held June 26-29, 2014.

Sacramento was the site of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trails for Track & Field before losing the event to Eugene, Oregon. Sacramento recently hosted the 2011 World Masters Championships, 2010 USA Masters Championships and the 2010 Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.

Cal State University Sacramento’s Hornet Stadium will serve as the facility for the event as it was for the Olympic Trails. A new $1.2-million track will be installed for the championships.

“Sacramento has a tremendous track & field culture and we are very pleased to be returning in 2014,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “The fan support in the region is fantastic, and the weather conditions serve sprinters, field event athletes and distance runners alike. We look forward to another successful partnership with the Sacramento Sports Commission.”

“I’m thrilled to welcome Track & Field back to Sacramento,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.  “Sacramento has some of the most passionate sports fans in the United States and I have no doubt that this community will support the event and the athletes like no other region in the country could.”

The Sacramento Sports Commission will serve as the organizing committee for the 2014 event.

Kings hold off the Clippers in the Preseason Finale

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By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings closed out the preseason with a 110-100 win over the LA Clippers Friday night in LA. The game was not the most picturesque affair, but it had its moments.

The Clippers came out of the box ready to play. They outscored the Kings 30-20 in the first period.

The Kings came roaring back in the second quarter scoring 37 points to the Clippers 21. Isaiah Thomas led the charge scoring 18-points in just 15 minutes of play.

Sacramento continued to stay hot in the third period outscoring LAC 32-20.

The Clippers made a real run at a comeback in the fourth quarter. They the used the 3-Pointer and Free Throw opportunities in an attempt to cut the Kings commanding 19-point lead down to a manageable size. The Clips topped the Kings 29-21 in the final period but ultimately fell short.

The Kings shot 44.0% (37-84) from the field. They were 7 for 27 (25.9%) from 3-Point land.

Sacramento pulled down 50 rebounds to the Clippers 41. They committed 25 Personal Fouls and 11 Turn Overs.

The Kings defense held the Clippers to just 39.2% (29-74) from the field. Anytime you can hold your opponents under 40.0% shooting, a win is most likely the result.

Isaiah Thomas led all scorers with 27-points. DeMarcus Cousins added 20-points. Jason Thompson was the leading rebounder with eight.

Greivis Vasquez led the Kings with 12 assists. Ironically, he scored no points in his 21:44 of Playing Time.

Notes: Guard Trent Lockett has been waived by the Kings. Lockett made two preseason appearances scoring four points (2-3 FG), gathering in two rebounds and posting one assist in five minutes of playing time. The preseason roster is down to 15 players … The Kings have launched an additional section to their website: www.kings.com/hindi. The site features stories, interviews and player information written entirely in Hindi. Kings Chairperson and majority owner, Vivek Ranadive, who is originally from Mumbai, wants the Kings to establish an international fan base. The new section of the website is the first step in rolling out the global initiative … The Kings will open the 2013-14 regular season next Wednesday night with the Denver Nuggets at Sleep Train Arena. The 7:00 PM tip-off can be seen locally on News 10 and heard on the Sports 1140 – Kings Radio Network.

Kings fall short in Portland

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The purpose of pre-season games in the NBA is to learn the offensive and defensive systems plus evaluate how your talent fits into those systems. Winning is definitely a lower priority. In fact, a pre-season win is just icing on the cake.

On Sunday night in Portland, the Trail Blazers won the first half 53-44 after outscoring the Kings 30-19 in the first quarter. Sacramento won the second half 61-56. When you total up the points, the Kings lost to the Blazers 109-105. The Kings pre-season record fell to 3-2.

One important fact to know is forward DeMarcus Cousins did not play in the game. Following the theme of pre-season goals, he did not play in order to rest. The coaching staff knows that Cousins is starter and does not need to be evaluated.

Forward Patrick Patterson was the workhorse for the Kings in the contest. Patterson made 11 field goals, 3 – pointers, 2 free throws for his 27 points in 40:31 minutes of playing time.

Other Kings who scored in double digits were McLemore 23, Thomas 15, and Thornton 10. The Kings shot 41.2% (40-97) from the field including 11 3-pointers. The team shot 70.0% (14-20) from the free throw line.

The Kings posted 40 rebounds (13 OFF/27DEF), 24 assists, 10 steals while committing 7 turn-overs. The team committed 21 personal fouls.

The Sacramento coaching staff will no doubt be emphasizing two areas in practice on Monday. Shooting defense needs to improve. The Blazers shot 48.8% from the field in the game. Rebounding will be another area of the practice. The Blazers out rebounded the Kings 54-40.

Kings Notes: A MRI taken last Monday on Kings Forward Carl Landry revealed a tear in his left hip flexor muscle (rectus femoris). He injured the hip in a training camp practice. Surgery was performed last Tuesday in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyers. The Kings will be without Landry for three to four months … The Kings next game will be a 7:00 PM tip-off on Wednesday versus the Golden State Warriors at Sleep Train Arena

Sonny Gray has successful thumb surgery.

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OAKLAND, Calif. – A’s right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray has undergone successful surgery on his left thumb, the team announced today.

The surgery was performed Thursday by Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital. The procedure was an internal fixation with a screw to repair the thumb fracture. Full stability of the thumb has been restored and Gray is expected to be fully recovered in time for spring training in February 2014.

Gray was 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 12 games, 10 starts, with the A’s this season. The former number one draft pick out of Vanderbilt became a instant local star after his July call up from Triple-A Sacramento. He was also 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two ALDS starts, including a no decision October 5 where he tossed eight scoreless innings.

Kings Sign Cousins to Long-term Deal

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By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings have made a major investment in their future by signing center DeMarcus Cousins to a reported four-year $62-million contract extension. The exact contract figures were not released per Kings policy.

The very talented Cousins has at times shown that he can be a dominate force who can take control of game and lead a team to victory. He has also shown that he can be inconsistent and moody at times. The Kings are betting on the fact that with maturity Cousins’ strengths will become the dominate factor in his play.

No one can deny that Cousins is an impressive player with the potential to become an All-Star caliber player. The 6-11 center has averaged 16.3 points (.448 FG%, .704 FT%), 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 29.8 minutes per game in 220 games over his three seasons with the Kings. Cousins has missed just two games due to injury over that time period.

The Kings management is happy to have Cousins signed, sealed and delivered for the long-term. This contract makes the statement that management believes Cousins is a major building block to the team’s future success on the floor.
“DeMarcus is a unique talent with skills rarely witnessed at the center position,” said D’Alessandro. “His combination of size, quickness and athleticism lends an invaluable dimension to our team now and in seasons to come. We look forward to watching DeMarcus continue his development into one of the best players in the game.”

“I am excited to continue to be a part of the Kings under the leadership of Vivek Ranadivé and the Sacramento ownership group,” said Cousins. “I’m also thankful to work alongside Pete D’Alessandro and Coach Michael Malone. I’m anxious to get back on the court with my teammates and can’t wait to play in front of the best fans in professional sports. I plan on showing them my appreciation this season and beyond.”

With Cousins in the fold, the Kings can now concentrate on evaluating the talent at training camp in order fill the 2013-14 roster. The Kings first preseason game is Monday, October 7th at Golden State.

A’s Wallop Mariners 9-0

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By Charlie O. Mallonee

Game 162 can be a throw-away game for a Major League team. If you are in the playoffs, then take it easy and look forward to the post-season. If you are just playing out the season, put as many of your Triple-A players as you can in the game and let the vets think about going fishing.

On Sunday, the A’s showed up to play hard and get ready for the Tigers in the ALDS. Oakland demolished the hapless Mariners 9-0 to close out the 2013 regular season. The intense play and stunning result shows that Athletics have their heads in the right place to enter the first round of the American League Playoffs.

A’s rookie pitcher Sonny Gray took the hill for the A’s on Sunday. Gray worked 5.0 innings giving up no runs on just three hits. He struck out eight Mariners and walked only three Seattle hitters. It was a great tune up for Gray as he prepares for his opportunity work in the post-season.

Oakland posted two four-run innings in the game. The A’s scored four-runs in the top of the second inning and repeated the feat in the top of the fifth inning. Oakland added one-run in the ninth to top off their 96th win of 2013.

The one surprising fact was the A’s did not use the long ball in the lopsided victory. To win 9-0 and not have a home run is almost unheard of in the MLB. Oakland used well timed singles and doubles to pick apart the M’s.

Seth Smith led the way for the A’s on Sunday. He went 3-for-5 in the game including two doubles, scored two- runs and had one RBI. Smith had the only multi-hit game for Oakland.

The A’s used 13 position players and six pitchers in the game. Closer Grant Balfour even threw an inning in a non-save situation just to have a game level pitching opportunity before the playoffs begin next Friday in Oakland.

As for Seattle highlights, there were none. The Mariners finished the season 71-91 and missed the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year.

It was the final game for Eric Wedge as manager of the Mariners. Wedge announced on Friday that he would not return to manage the Seattle club in 2014. Wedge cited philosophical differences between himself and the Seattle front office as the reason for his departure.

Yoenis Cespedes did not play for the A’s on Sunday due to his sore shoulder. Expect to see Cespedes in the line-up next Friday versus the Tigers.