That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2023 Is the projected year for A’s new ballpark six years from now

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 fieldofdreams.csnbayarea.com artist’s rendition of the outside of an Oakland A’s downtown Stadium situated near Lake Merritt BART

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–If all goes well, the Oakland Athletics will play at their projected new ballpark (preferable Lake Merritt location) by the year 2023. I know, it is not really “around the corner” but this is the Bay Area and we are famous here for not building sporting venues very quickly. Obstacles for such things are aplenty by the bay. Somebody always finds a way to thwart plans, there is always a group that will tell you that you will be endangering a three billion year-old bird species or that the traffic to the park is going to contaminate our ozone layer much more that currently, or whatever. We are not Atlanta, Texas or Cincinnati, so it should be no surprise that 2023 is the targeted year. Optimistic projections could be maybe as early as 2021, but for that to happen all would have to go very very well. The Lake Merritt, Oakland location is on 13 acres(for the record AT&T Park, San Francisco who will be 18 years old next season is on 14 acres of land), and this new ballpark close to downtown Oakland would have a capacity of 35,000.

Athletics will still be playing at the Oakland Coliseum years after the Raiders inaugurate their new $2 billion stadium on the Las Vegas strip. That is good news for the A’s. I remember when the Giants ownership of Peter McGowan received permission for the construction of their new park, Pac Bell, SBC, ATT Park (the Phone booth). The Giants tried to make Candlestick more fan friendly, which is actually like putting lipstick on a pig. The A’s will be the only team playing at the Coliseum so their leverage to do much more there, while they build their new facility should increase. The City of Oakland always gave the Raiders preference over the Athletics, I remember then President of the A’s Sandy Alderson telling me that many years ago, that is changing now for obvious reasons. The sporting scene in Oakland is changing big time. For once since I can remember, the A’s have the political leverage to become “the team”in Oakland.

One of the best news for the A’s is the Commissioner of Baseball who has said very strongly that the Athletics will be staying in Oakland. Nobody could have made that statement back in 2007, so things are looking up for the Athletics. It would be really nice, if they could vacate the cellar in 2018, and let some other AL West team take ownership of that dreaded fifth place which the Atheltics have leased for the past three consecutive seasons. As optimistic as I am, even in the Bay Area.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the TV Spanish talent for the Angels, the Radio Spanish talent for the A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks Saturday shutout could add incentive to upcoming four game road trip

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San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) and Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) skate toward the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. The Sharks won 4-0. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len:

1 The San Jose finally got some relief a win over the Winnipeg Jets last Saturday. Prior to the game the Sharks had lost four of their last five. The Sharks got a celebrated 4-0 shutout with goaltender Martin Jones stopping 38 Jets shots.

2 The Sharks got scoring help from Tim Heed, Tomas Hertl, and Logan Couture who scored twice

3 After dropping those four of five and getting the 4-0 shutout the Sharks picked up enough incentive to go out on this four game road trip and try to make amends

4 The Sharks are off to Philadelphia (Tuesday), Florida (Friday 1st), Tampa Bay (Saturday 2nd), and Washington (Monday 4th) to close out the journey

Len Shapiro does the Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

Cal Bears Football Podcast with Morris Phillips: For Wilcox and coaches this will be a long wait to regroup and get another chance again

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California Golden Bears head coach Justin Wilcox with half smile during the NCAA Football 2017 California Bears vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on November 24, 2017 (Absolute Complete Photographer & Company Credit: Jevone Moore / Cal Sport Media / Cal Sport Media (Network Television please contact your Sales Representative for Television usage. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the Cal Bears football podcast with Morris:

1 For Cal to lose their last game of the season in the last eight seconds to UCLA by a field goal Bruins kicker JT Molson hit a 37 yarder that clinched it and the loss now leave the Bears one game short of for bowl eligibility

2 It was the last game of the regular season for Cal and that was a tough way to end it. First the week before they lost the Big Game to the Stanford Cardinal by three points and then last Saturday they had the lead towards the end of the game only to lose in the closing second it was a tough walk off the field after a game like that.

3 Cal Head coach Justin Wilcox says that in the off season he wants to regroup with the coaches and get a game plan ready to see if they could better execute for 2018

4 On many of Cal’s offensive plays they couldn’t finish the drives to get into the end zone

Morris covered Cal football for 2017 and covers Cal Men’s basketball and does the podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

NFL sits Crabtree and Talib two games apiece for fighting

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Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) fights Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

ALAMEDA–Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib have been suspended two games apiece without pay by the NFL for their fight during Sunday’s game, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter Monday night.

Those same sources told Schefter that both Crabtree and Talib will appeal their suspensions.

Crabtree, Talib and Raiders guard Gabe Jackson were ejected with 11:47 left in the first quarter. Crabtree and Talib were ejected for fighting, while Jackson was ejected for making contact with an official.

Jackson was not suspended.

The fight occurred after Crabtree blocked Talib on a 5-yard run by Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch on a second-and-6 play from the Raiders’ 24-yard line on Oakland’s second possession of the game. Crabtree kept pushing Talib out of bounds near the Broncos’ sideline.

The duo exchanged shoves before they threw punches at each other. On Monday, Talib said that Crabtree threw the first punch at him. During the fight, Talib ripped Crabtree’s necklace from around his neck in the same manner as Talib did in a game last season.

“I came out there to play football on Sunday. I don’t really know what he came out there to do. … He came out here on this extra stuff, so one thing led to another,” Talib said Monday per ESPN’s Broncos Insider Jeff Legwold. “It’s unfortunate. I wish it didn’t happen, but it happened, so just have to move on.”

Oakland defeated Denver 21-14 Sunday to send the Broncos to their seventh straight loss after starting the season 3-1.

The 5-6 Raiders host the 2-9 New York Giants in Week 13.

Portland State Defeats Stanford 87-78 in Final Round of PK80

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Photo: @StanfordMBB

By Alexandra Evans

PORTLAND, OR—The Stanford Cardinal took on Portland State for the final round of the Phil Knight Invitational on Sunday evening, falling by nine points after having kept a lead over the Vikings the entire first half by as much as 14 points.

Stanford first took the lead 7-4 after freshman Isaac White made a three-pointer from the corner. Robert Cartwright then made a triple of his own to keep the Cardinal ahead 10-8. The lead persisted, courtesy of the point-maker himself, Reid Travis, with contribution from Daejon Davis who made his first career three-pointer. From there, Travis took off like a rocket. Over the course of 8 minutes, he scored 19 points to bring the Cardinal to a 44-35 lead at the half.

When the second 20 minutes commenced, the Vikings caught up to the Cardinal, trailing by only five points (49-44) in the first three minutes. Five minutes later, Portland State’s Jamie Orme tied the score 55-55.

The Vikings first claimed the lead after Michael Mayhew made a three-pointer to make the score 58-57. They then exceeded the Cardinal by six points, then three again, then by 10 (72-62), courtesy of Holland Woods (who gave the Vikings 13 points in the second half).

Portland State, at one point, exceeded Stanford by 17 points, who just barely caught up to  bring their lag to nine points, taking an 87-78 defeat.

On Friday, the second round of PK80, Stanford was defeated by Ohio State 79-71, and by the University of Florida on Thanksgiving Day, to whom they fell 108-87.

The Cardinal will return to the Bay Area to face the Montana Grizzlies on Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Gulls fly over San Jose, but Barracuda blows them out of the park with a 5-3 comeback

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Photo: @sjbarracuda

By Alexandra Evans

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda players, their families, staff, crowd members, and press were surrounded by canines as the Barracuda (8-8) took on the San Diego Gulls (7-10) this afternoon at SAP Center. Tonight’s crowd, which consisted of both humans and pooches, was the largest the Cuda has had since the season commenced.

Roster update: Forward Spencer Asuchuk was recalled from the Allen Americans and made his first 2017-18 appearance with the Cuda this afternoon. Asuchuk played with the Cuda in last year’s Calder Cup playoffs run. Marc-Olivier “Marco” Roy made his second appearance with the Cuda along with his first win.

After a 4-1 loss the day after Thanksgiving, the Cuda were determined to make a comeback. Since the start of the season, they have shown strength in doing so, coming back to beat the Ontario Reign, Texas Stars, San Antonio Rampage, Cleveland Monsters, and Manitoba Moose in matches following losses.

Offense and defense were strong on both ends in the first 20 minutes. The Cuda outshot the Gulls 10-5, with John McCarthy scoring the first goal just before the 12-minute mark, courtesy of Marcus Sorensen and Rudolfs Balcers. San Jose held San Diego scoreless for the remainder of the period.

Antoine Bibeau stepped in the net for Troy Grosenick at the start of the second period. San Diego amped up their offense. Despite the fact that San Jose exceeded them in shots on goal, San Diego notched three goals within the first five minutes. Julius Nattinen nailed the first one 51 seconds in, followed by Austin Ortega at 3:47 and then Giovanni Fiore at 4:11. The Cuda prevented the Gulls from scoring additional goals, ending the period on a power play, trailing 3-1. 

And then the momentum arose. The Cuda made two comeback goals in under 30 seconds to tie the score 3-3. Rudolfs Balcers notched a power-play goal at 3:57 and Adam Helewka, with his stellar hand-eye coordination, joined in on the action to score his second goal of the season at 4:20. Helewka sniped another one past Gulls goaltender Reto Berra at 10:38, breaking the tie and providing his team and the crowd with some relief. Two minutes later, Olivier Archambault posted an unassisted, game-winning goal. The final score was 5-3.

Bibeau made 14 saves on 17 shots to get the big win, while San Diego netminder Reto Berra had 34 saves on 39 shots.

Both Balcers and Helewka have been known to put up numbers–specifically scoring goals–throughout their careers, but tonight was the first time both of them scored since the season opener.

“I can’t take all the credit,” Helewka, glowing with satisfaction, said of his goals. “[My linemates, Spencer Asuchuk, Jon Martin, and I] had chemistry almost right away. [Instant chemistry] is rare, especially how hard it is to play nowadays, creating offense.”

Balcers proved himself to be a numbers guy last season with the Kamloops Blazers with 40 goals and 37 assists for a total of 67 points. So why did it take 15 games for him to find the back of the net?

“It’s about being patient,” Balcers, who leads the Cuda in assists with 11, contended in a post-game scrum. “I knew goals were going to come, but I didn’t know when… I haven’t had those barriers in my career, where you are right there [beside the net], but the puck doesn’t go in, but you can’t really do anything. Just work hard and be patient.”

One could attribute his goal-scoring hiatus to growing pains, which was discussed amongst Cuda staff and media profusely at the start of the season. Balcers, a rookie, has been improving with each game, and now that he has the monkey off his back, his scoring game should pick up as the season progresses.

Archambault inked a Player Tryout Agreement (PTO) with the Cuda on October 20. He said that he earned his second goal of the season tonight by just sticking and working in tandem with his line-mates, Marc-Olivier Roy and Brandon Bollig.

The Cuda head to Bakersfield for their next match on December 3 to face the Condors, affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.

Also, Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic made an appearance with his pups tonight, and had the honor of making the first puck drop.

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Derek Carr leads Raiders to 21-14 win over Broncos;Crabtree in brawl involving chain pull

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates during a week 12 NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 21-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND, Calif. — Two teams from the original American Football League met on the field for the 115th time, and the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos failed to disappoint the fans.

Derek Carr went 18-for-24 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, as the Raiders rebounded from a demoralizing 33-8 loss to the New England Patriots to defeat the Broncos 21-14 before a crowd of 53,930 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

The game between the two longtime rivals, who have been playing each since 1960. did not get off to a great start, as on the third series of the game, an all-out brawl got in the way of the game.

Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Aqib Talib got into a huge fight for the second year in a row, and in the end both Crabtree and Talib were ejected from the game just barely two and a half minutes into the game. Raiders’ offensive lineman Gabe Jackson was also ejected from the game, as he made contact with a game official during the fracas.

Carr finally got the Raiders on the board in the second quarter, as he found Amari Cooper for a nine-yard touchdown pass.

After the Broncos went three-and-out on their next series, the Raiders put the pedal on the gas and got into the end zone for the second time on the afternoon, when Marshawn Lynch scored from a one-yard out to give the Raiders a 14-0 lead at the half.

On the Raiders’ first possession of the second half, Carr extended the Raiders lead up to 21-0, as he found Jalen Richard for a nine-yard touchdown pass.

The Broncos finally got on the board in the fourth quarter, as Trevor Siemian found Cody Latimer for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

After Giorgio Tavecchio missed a 35-yard field goal, the Broncos drove down the field and narrowed the lead down to just seven points, as Siemian found Bennie Fowler for a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Unfortunately, that would be the last time that the Broncos got the ball, as the Raiders ran out the clock and split the season series with the Broncos.

Notes:
Navarro Bowman picked up the Raiders first interception of the season, as he got the pick on a reflection early in the second quarter.

The Raiders return to the field next Sunday afternoon, as they will host the New York Giants.

The New Era Arrives in San Francisco, But 49ers Fall To Seahawks 24-13

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/John Hefti)

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The moment the 49er Faithful have been waiting for. The emergence of Jimmy Garoppolo. San Francisco’s future made his debut in the Red and Gold with just 1:11 left in Sunday’s 24-13 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

Coming in for just three plays, Garoppolo made a difference immediately, creating tons of excitement in Santa Clara. On his first play, a third-and-five, he scrambled out to his right for four yards before sliding, commenting post game that he thought he slid after the marker.

On his second play, Garoppolo picked up a fourth-down conversion once again escaping the pocket before finding Aldrick Robinson for eight yards and a first-down.

Garoppolo’s most impressive play came on the final play of the game. With just two seconds left, Garoppolo was once again able to escape pressure and fire a ball into the endzone, finding Louis Murphy for San Francisco’s only touchdown of the game.

In the minute of action, Garoppolo proved he’s everything that the Niners expect out of him. With all of his roll-outs, he immediately reminds me of Ben Roethlisberger or Aaron Rogers. His escapability and ability to keep his eyes downfield make the future in Santa Clara very exciting. With this brief glimpse of hope, it’s hard to envision Kyle Shanahan and the Niners going back to C.J. Beathard next week against Chicago.

While the Faithful have a reason to be excited about the potential of their new quarterback, the few that remained on Sunday were classless cheering once C.J. Beathard went down. It was the loudest ovation at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday and safety, Eric Reid noticed it. Commenting post-game, Reid’s pissed off at the fans for the action. He understands the excitement, but a guy just got hurt and you’re cheering.

After a dreadful first half, the Seattle Seahawks poured it on in the second half during a rainy Sunday afternoon victory over the San Francisco 49ers 24-13.

Both teams struggled in the first half, especially through the air. Russell Wilson passed for 26 yards on 19 attempts for a 32.8 rating. Unfortunately for San Francisco, Beathard wasn’t able to take advantage as he threw 10-of-20 for 109 yards and a 45.6 rating.

Each team threw a pick in the first half, but it was San Francisco’s that was costly, as Bobby Wagner picked the ball off at the 49ers’ 16-yard line. Wilson used the great field position to run in the score from two yards out.

The kicking game proved important for San Francisco in the first, as Robbie Gould nailed a field goal from 38 yards to bring the score to 7-3 at the end of two quarters.

San Francisco was completely outclassed by Seattle, as the Legion of b=Boom started to make their mark in the contest, most importantly by getting to Beathard a total of 13 times with the last one taking him out of the game.

San Francisco finished with 280 total net yards, as Beathard threw for 201 with one interception. Carlos Hyde ran the ball for 47 yards on 16 attempts as the offensive line struggled to open holes up for him.

Wilson caught fire in the second half, throwing two touchdowns to his tight ends, Nick Vannett and Jimmy Graham, finishing with 228 yards and an 86.4 rating. He also ran the ball seven times for 25 yards and showed great escapability as the 49ers’ front seven were shutout in sacks.

NHL Podcast with Daniel Dullum: Knights keep it going with two big Pac Division wins; Gionta options to go to the Olympics; Houston vying for an NHL team

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Vegas Golden Knights left wing Erik Haula (56) redirects the puck in front of Arizona Coyotes goalie Scott Wedgewood (31) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Golden Knights defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

On the NHL Podcast with Daniel:

1 Golden Knights keep on rolling with wins over Sharks, Coyotes

2 NHL’s ‘Thanksgiving Rule’ – who’s headed for the playoffs and who isn’t

3 Brian Gionta swaps NHL for shot at the Olympics

4 NHL caps centennial with documentary lauding its greats

5 New NBA Rockets owner wants NHL in Houston

Daniel Dullum does the NHL Podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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NCAA Football Podcast with Michelle Richardson: Cameraman’s camera contact with Barrett’s knee was an accident; Stanford headed to the Pac 12 Championship; It really wasn’t surprising about Tide’s first loss

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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) is injured on a run during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Credit Image: © Scott Stuart via ZUMA Wire) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the NCAA Podcast with Michelle:

1 Urban Meyer says the investigation is on the Ohio State head coach says that quarterback JT Barrett who was injured by a cameraman when his knee was hit by a camera and Barrtt’s knees locked forcing him out of the game against Michigan. So far as of this morning there has not been a video or a replay of this cameraman or the contact with Barrett if an investigation is to go forward which cameraman will the NCAA or Ohio State investigate first?

2 The Washington Huskies win essentially got Stanford to the Pac 12 Championship as the Cardinal at home against the Mighty Notre Dame Fight Irish got a huge win and there was concern that the combination of a Huskie win and a Stanford win might not have happened but here we are as Stanford faces USC this Friday night at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara

3 How shocking how unbelievable is it to wrap your head around the fact that the Alabama Crimson Tide lost their very first game this season dropping them to 11-1 and what impact will this have on the Tide’s playoffs bracket