Tag: San Francisco Unicorns

San Francisco Unicorns defeated the Washington Freedom, 269/5-146/15

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Thursday, June 12, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–When I took my seat in the press box at the Oakland Coliseum this evening to watch the San Francisco Unicorns take on the Washington Freedom in the squads’ season opener, my knowledge of sport could, to paraphrase what Bob Murphy said about Chuck Dresen’s knowledge of pitching, be engraved on a grain of rice and still have room for the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address. Still, I knew a few things about the world’s second most popular sport, stuff like their not having foul lines and the importance of keeping the ball from knocking over a wicket.

But all was not lost. Major League Cricket provides play by play descriptions, commentary, and statistics at https://www.majorleaguecricket.com/matches. I understood every word. I didn’t understand what any sentence meant, But I can tell you that your San Francisco Unicorns defeated the Freedom, 269/5-146/15.

The noise of the crowd, which I estimated at 6,000-7,000, was muffled by the closed windows of the press box, but when I went downstairs to where I could hear them (and shop for souvenirs and freebies), everyone seemed to be having a grand old time, both those watching the match and those strolling the concourse.

On my way back to my seat, I ran into a woman. We started chatting, and I told her what I’d been up to and what I planned to write. She graciously offered to sit next to me at the next game I covered and to explain what was happening and its significance as long as I needed it.

If my schedule, which these days is as changeable as a baby’s bottom, allows it, I’ll cover one more Unicorn game before the end of the regular season and, after then, with any luck, some playoff contests, and I can give you an informed account of the game.

My advice to you is

  • If you are familiar with cricket, go to a game. You’ll probably enjoy it and come back for more. • If you know someone who’s familiar with cricket, go to one or more matches together. • If you’re as ignorant of cricket as I am, go and strike up a conversation with someone seated near you who seems to be cricket wise. • In any case, give it a try. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the vibes are good.

The Unicorn’s remaining home games at the Coliseum in the regular season are

•Saturday, June 14 vs. the Los Angeles Knight Riders •Sunday, June 15 vs. the Texas Super Kings

San Francisco Unicorns make presentation at press conference

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San Francisco Unicorns will be swinging into the regular season Thu June 12, 2025 at the Oakland Coliseum against the Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket action (San Francisco Unicorns X photo)

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The power hitters of the East Bay political scene and Cognizant Major League Cricket were on hand at noon time Wednesday at an Oakland Coliseum that in many ways resembled the home of the A’s. For one thing, it was practically empty. The field of play, however, presented a different picture. A nascent cricket pitch occupied the area that had been center and right fields.

This was East Bay’s introduction to the Cognizant Major League Cricket and its local incarnation, the San Francisco Unicorns, whose will play their opening tournament at the “iconic and historical” Coliseum, which, it seems, is the only bay area stadium configured in a way conducive to playing cricket.

The version of the sport of the British Empire that MLC plays is Twenty20 cricket, a popular innovation that has led to a resurgence of interest in the world’s second most popular sport. Its supporters attribute some of its attractiveness to its briskness; games usually last about three hours.

No pitch clocks on this pitch. The three game series will give many of us, and I’m one of them, to learn some of the basics of classic cricket and its current truncated version. The Unicorns will face the Washington Freedom Thursday, evening at 6:00, the Los Angeles Knight Riders on Saturday, June 14 at 2:00, and then MI New York at 6:00 in the evening of Sunday the 16th . They won’t return to the Bay Area until after the regular season at the end of July. They play some more games here if they make the playoffs.

Oakland mayor Barbara Lee, ex-mayor Rebecca Kaplan, and Fremont maor Raj Salwan emphasized cricket’s ability to unify the varied population of an area like the East Bay, the economic stimulus having a high level professional team in Oakland would bring the city of Oakland and the rest of Alameda County.

Barbara Lee, the first of the mayoral trio to speak, was the star. It had been a blustery, cold, and overcast morning, but, as Kaplan pointed out, the sun broke through the moment Lee began to speak.

Mayor Salwan spoke of Fremont’s parks echoing to the sound of bats, cricket bats, all day long on Sundays. He also referred to something Kaplan discussed in an interview with another outlet, the south county cricket fans who stay up, or wake up, at 2:00 in the morning to watch the streaming of overseas cricket matches.

What Kaplan didn’t mention was that the sun hid behind the clouds as soon as Lee had finished. What no one mentioned was the contradiction between a team for all the East Bay and that squad’s name identifying it as a San Francisco team.

The mayors and the league’s representatives referred to cricket’s appearance at the 1926 Olympics and its return to them in next year’s games, scheduled for Los Angeles. Several suggested the possibility of the cricket matches being played here.

If, like me, you want to familiarize yourself with cricket, old and new, I suggest that you refer to britannica.com’s articles, “Twenty20 cricket” and “cricket.”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Ready for Professional Cricket?

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San Francisco Unicorns Hassan Khan takes a swing in cricket action back on Jul 25, 2024 (photo by ESPN)

Ready for Professional Cricket?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Are we Saturated with professional Sports teams in the Bay Area?

Yes, No? Prepare for Professional Cricket, which is coming to the Oakland Coliseum. World-class cricket is coming to the Oakland Coliseum. The San Francisco Unicorns were announced as one of the six teams participating in the league’s inaugural season in 2025. Games will be held on June 12, 14, and 15 at the Oakland Coliseum, and tickets will start at $30.

–The Golden State Valkyries: A new WNBA team owned by Golden State Warriors Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. They are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco’s Chase Center. The Valkyries compete in the Women’s National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference. They recently began play in the 2025 season. Fact: The Valkyries already had more attendance in their inaugural game, 18,064, a sellout, than the Oakland A’s, playing in exile in Sacramento, who have yet to sell out one (1) game this season at Sutter Health Park.

–The Town FC is an American professional soccer team in Moraga, California. It is the San Jose Earthquakes reserve team and participates in MLS Next Pro, a minor league.

The Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American professional soccer club based in Oakland, California. It is a member of the Western Conference and competes in the USL Championship.

–The Bay Football Club, an American professional soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area that competes in the National Women’s Soccer League. The team began play in the NWSL as an expansion team in the 2024 season.

Not satisfied with enough Soccer yet? …There is more!

Golden City Football Club (GCFC) co-founders have announced plans to bring professional soccer to the Bay Area—the Golden City Football Club. San Francisco’s iconic Kezar Stadium is getting a major facelift thanks to a new $10 million public-private investment partnership. Mayor Daniel Lurie and (Soccer in Spanish=Fútbol in Portuguese=Futebol) Bay Area franchises in other Sports. –The San Francisco Giants, the San José Giants, and the Oakland Ballers are professional baseball teams in the Major and Minor Leagues.

–The Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association were recently eliminated (minus Curry) during the playoffs.

–The NFL San Francisco 49ers, who play in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, just signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million extension. Purdy is looking for his first Super Bowl ring. Legendary Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana led the 49ers to four (4) Super Bowl titles. Joe Montana, as the 49ers Quarterback, earned an estimated $25 million during his professional football career.

–San José Earthquakes of the MLS (Major League Soccer)USA.

–The NHL San José Sharks just signed a lease to stay at SAP Center until 2050, and the mayor of San José promised many arena improvements.

Q: Are there enough fans and money to support all these sports teams in the Bay Area?

A: Think of this: Most of the wealthiest Californians reside in the Bay Area and amassed their fortunes thanks to the tech industry. With 342,400 millionaires and 756 people worth more than $100 million, the region ranked as the second wealthiest region in the world, just behind New York City. Apr 16, 2025 Adiós Atléticos. It’s too bad for the Oakland Athletics, who left this wonderful, rich area loaded with sports action for Sacramento and are still seeking additional funds for their Las Vegas stadium project. They aim to raise to $550 million from investors. The new stadium, valued at $1.75 billion, is financed through private investment, public funding, and bank loans.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

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