Tag: Sports radio

Headline Sports podcast with Marko Ukalovic: How the brackets would look for NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

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NHL Stanley Cup Playoff brackets featuring 24 teams (graphic from actionnetwork.net)

On Headline Sports with Marko:

#1 With the Stanley Cup Playoffs returning to action what is the date range for the first series?

#2 The playoffs will consist of 24 teams although it’s the first step towards an agreement between the players and the NHL where they said it’s very likely things will move forward.

#3 The Winnipeg Jets Patrik Laine said that he’s a little rusty and that his game might look terrible but that’s not a surprise as most players must feel the same.

#4 To start the first round there will be eight teams representing each of the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. Will these games be played in each of the team’s local rinks?

#5 What’s it like to look at the NHL’s 24 Stanley Cup team bracket and not see the San Jose Sharks?

Join Marko each Wednesday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Baseball 2020 Season in Peril

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mlb logo from mlb.com

Baseball 2020: Season in Peril

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Both sides returned to the negotiating table this Tuesday, but the new proposal by the MLB team owners was rejected in just a few minutes by the Players Association. The Union will now move to inform there members where they stand. Although no deadline for a deal,the consensus is that by June 1st, both sides must be inked,  the agreement for Spring Training to begin in June and the season by July 4th. We felt “disappointment”after reviewing this new proposal, said the Players Union.

The players received a plan that would impose bigger salary cuts to the players making the most money while the players in the lower salary scale would receive a bigger portion of their pro-rated salaries. This plan will cost the players more than the current deal. It is known that the players have lost 40% to 50% of their salaries,with half the season having been lost, since the proposed date to go back to play is early July.

All the 30-teams have lost hundreds of millions of dollars and some owners have said (according to sources) that they are not in the mood to lose more money, therefore throwing the ball back to the players. Some teams have already reduced their front office staffs as well as scouts.

Looks like the money part of the proposed deal is the one where both sides are further apart than last week. The safety and health of the players was countered last week with players giving the owners feedback on the frequency of testing, and how to proceed when players are tested positive, especially some players that are in the high-risk categories. There are players that are diabetic and this virus could complicate any given player with such condition if they tested positive with Covid-19.

The clock is ticking. This week is paramount for the future of the game, not only this season, but for years to come. If they cannot close a deal,this would present economic problems that have never been seen before in the history of baseball.

The negotiations continue.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio play by play voice for the Oakland Athletics on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Will Cuomo’s idea of re-opening sports be huge risk?; Is Ryan Leaf really through this time?

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo meets with the media during his daily briefings regarding Coronavirus and said he will allow the opening of sports training camps for college and pro teams (AP photo)

Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 Barbara college and pro sports teams are working on ways to get their seasons started but in a recent news report just trying to sit down in a restaurant now will require curtains and gloves with goggles so how are contact sports teams going to function in those conditions?

#2 New York governor Andrew Cuomo has given the green light for all New York’s sports teams to open training camps. Considering the recent contracting of Coronavirus of Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing and two hairdressers passed Covid-19 to 140 customers in Missouri how is it possible to open up contact sports taking that into account?

#3 Former San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf looked as if his life had turned around, he was making speaking engagements about the dangers of alcohol and talked about his experiences of abuse which lead to his downfall. He was making such inroads until this week’s domestic battery charge. Is Ryan Leaf through, done, finished with this latest accusation?

#4 We just talked about the hairdressers who passed on Coronavirus onto over 140 of their customers who tested positive and Patrick Ewing a head coach who was exposed to the virus. Now the NFL said this past weekend that they want to open the season with fans in the stands like in capacity crowds how would this be possible? This is according to Troy Vincent EVP of NFL operations.

#5 Former Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has signed a one year deal with the New York Jets. Flacco 35 was dealt to the Denver Broncos in the off season last year from the Ravens and threw for 65.3 percent completions and six touchdowns. Does he have enough left in the tank to be a factor in New York?

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Pro teams get ok to train in NY; Colon looking for next club to pitch for; plus more

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Former Texas Rangers pitcher Bartolo Colon is just 46 innings short of former San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal on the all time innings pitched list (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary:

#1 Amaury New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has given the okay for re-opening sports training facilities in pro sports. Meaning teams like the Mets and Yankees can start throwing around the old horse hide and get ready for the 2020 season.

#2 In terms of the MLB players getting back on the field the remaining sticking point is the money. The safety concerns covered in the Commissioner 67 page outline to return to action is pretty much agree upon by the players it’s the 50-50 revenue sharing the players have a problem with.

#3 Former Los Angeles Dodger Carl Crawford said his heart is heavy after the loss of two visitors in his home Bethany Lartigue 25 and a five year old boy. It was the first time since the May 16th drownings of the boy who was found by Lartigue who jumped in the pool to save the boy in Crawford’s pool that she spoke out about the incident. Crawford tried to save both victims to no avail. He spoke for the first time about it saying his heart is heavy and it’s the first and last thing he thinks about.

#4 Former Oakland A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon says he’s not retiring and is determined to find a team that will pick him up. At age 47 Bartolo who didn’t pitch in 2019 is looking for a club to join. Colon The Big Sexy is 46 innings behind former San Francisco Giant Hall of Famer Juan Marichal in innings pitched all time. Colon has 3,461 and Marichal has 3,507. Colon last pitched for Texas in 2018.

#5 New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is being sued by his landlord for failure to pay rent during the Coronavirus epidemic for $250,000. Syndergaard says the landlord is trying to extort him for $250,00 the full value of the lease at $27,000 a month. Syndergaard said he paid two months ($50,000) on an apartment he never was going to use. Syndergaard’s attorney informed the landlord that Syndergaard was not moving in and had paid the two months. Syndergaard was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in Florida and after learning the season was suspended didn’t need the apartment anymore and wanted to rehab in Florida.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play by play voice on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headlines Sports podcast with Morris Phillips: If things go to schedule Cal to open Aug 29th in Vegas; Giants and A’s developments

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Allegiant Stadium on the Las Vegas Strip where the Cal Bears will open up the 2020 season on August 29th against the UNLV Rebels (quarantine not withstanding) athlonsports.com photo

On Headline Sports with Morris:

#1 At the Cal campus there is news that the NCAA Division I council voted to return on June 1st through June 30th on a voluntary basis signaling that the football season will be on a fast track to start when school opens.

#2 The Bears 2020 season is scheduled to start on Saturday August 29th when Cal plays the UNLV Rebels at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. By that time it’s the hope there is a vaccine and you can come to the stadium and not worry about social distancing. Worst case social distancing and the game will be played with no fans.

#3 The UNLV Rebels who have a good program in their own right have a new head coach Marcus Arroyo who took over for former head coach Tony Sanchez. Arroyo is from Oregon and was an assistant offensive coordinator for the last three seasons.

#4 The San Francisco Giants broke ground near McCovey Cove on their 27 acre parking lot  the team is constructing ten buildings for apartments, retail, a parking garage and a five acre park which is expected to be finished in seven to eight years.

#5 This week a group opposed to the building of an Oakland A’s Howard Terminal Stadium filed a lawsuit last Monday in Alameda Superior Court from the shipping, trucking and steel companies who work at the Port of Oakland. The lawsuit plans to slow down or stop a legislature that was signed by former California Gov Jerry Brown AB 734 a law that would fast track the construction of a new arena or stadium in California. The lawsuit is trying slow down the path of construction for the A’s. The opposing group says that Gov Gavin Newsom has no authority to certify the construction of the A’s park under AB 734.

Morris Phillips does Headline Sports each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: NHL and players agree to Stanley Cup Playoffs; Will Ewing’s Covid-19 prove re-opening not such a good idea

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Statement and message issued from the University of Georgetown from Bulldogs head coach Patrick Ewing who announced he had contracted Covid-19 (image from Georgetown University)

On Headlines podcast with Daniel:

1 NHL, players association, agree to 24-team playoffs

2 Georgetown coach, Knicks all-star Patrick Ewing reveals Covid-19 diagnosis

3 NFL approves Rooney Rule changes; but tables minority hiring incentives

4 Viewership for ‘The Last Dance’ highest ever for an ESPN documentary

5 RIP Naismith Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan at 78 and Eddie Sutton at 84

6 RIP original 49er Jesse Freitas Sr.

Daniel does Headlines podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Players and Commissioner still working on a deal; A’s refuse to pay rent to Coliseum Authority

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As the Oakland Coliseum sits empty the A’s organization refuses to pay for something their not using and didn’t pay the rent for the 2020 season to the Oakland Coliseum Authority (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports pod with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah baseball negotiations is on between the players and the Commissioner and his staff as to how the 2020 season will start. Amongst some of the key concerns revenue sharing and how the players will get paid?

#2 Another concern is where the games will be played will baseball will they be in Arizona and Florida contained only to their spring training locations? Or will they play in their home parks which would mean more air travel involved and playing in front of empty parks?

#3 Baseball’s biggest concern is social distancing, no interacting with the fans, no high fives, celebrations after games, no sitting together in the dugout, and a new baseball must be in play after every closing play.

#4 Oakland Coliseum management said on Thursday that the Oakland A’s are using the Covid-19 pandemic to get out of their rent they said that they didn’t use the Coliseum in April and will not pay the $1.2 million they annually pay to the Coliseum.

#5 The A’s said they were of the understanding the Coliseum would be used and reserve for potential Covid-19 victims and housing them at the Coliseum where needed. With that understanding the A’s have said they can not pay rent. Coliseum Authority Board member Ignacio De La Fuente said, “It’s just an excuse to try to not pay when the city needs the money the most.”

Join Jeremiah every other Saturday for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Former Sac Bee Kings beat writer Marty McNeal dead at 64; MLB 67 page proposal to players

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Marty McNeal, sports reporter for the Sacramento Bee, squeezes between two other journalists to interview Shaquille O’Neal at the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta. Hector Amezcua Sacramento Bee photo file 

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred and MLB presented MLB Players Association representative with a 67 page operations manual to Player Representative Tony Clark which included health and safety issues there was nothing about the 50-50 sharing revenue issues.

#2 We’ll go over some of the proposed safety rules, no spitting, no sitting next to each other in the dugout or in the bull pens it may sound simple but in the Show that’s some old habits that’s tough to break.

#3 One of the key things to get the players interest is the 50-50 gate revenue split as Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell said “I want my money” the other thing he said “I risk my life” can MLB get a deal done with such stringent policies from the Commissioners office?

#4 Our former colleague former Sacramento Bee beat writer for the Sacramento Kings Marty McNeal passed away from Leukemia at age 64 on Thursday. He was surrounded at a Dallas Hospital by family. Marty as we knew very well in covering Kings games for 13 years was a friendly and knowledgeable writer he was very funny and he was just great with the TV-radio reporters. He will really be missed.

#5 There were so many stories about Marty a favorite as told by the Sacramento Bee in Thursday’s edition that Marty was involved with not only covering the team but almost was like an assistant coach former King Mike Bibby was having a bad night as the reporters were seated at courtside. As Bibby was walking off the court Marty would say to him “What the hell is wrong with you” Bibby and Marty would end up talking.

Charlie O is a Sacramento Kings beat writer and podcasts every other Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington: Stanley Cup Playoffs proposal 12 teams each in two locations

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NHL image from nhl.com

On Headlines podcast with Matt:

#1 24 teams eight to nine sites for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is it an idea that most likely will get off the ground by June 1st?

#2 How rusty will the players be after having two months off?

#3 How bad of an idea is it to travel by plane to a province or a state that doesn’t practice sheltering in and social distancing for the playoffs?

#4 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also suggested playing in one location for a dozen teams with a schedule that would more or less reflect a March Madness format but with best out of seven series.

#5 Bettman is on the push to get this going because the owners want to get something for their money rather than pay players who didn’t play at all.

Matt Harrington does Headline Sports each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB By Tuesday maybe good news

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photo of MLB image

MLB: By Tuesday maybe good news

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Another week has gone by (two weeks to date) and there still no final agreement to begin an abbreviated 2020 season. But early next week, maybe by Tuesday, there could be the news the sport is waiting for. Let me explain.

During this week, MLB presented to the players union a 67-page proposal on a plan to keep the players and staff safe from Covid-19 and still open the season. The MLPA went through it and had over 130 players on-line, many posting questions, seems players want more testing and more often. So, they seem receptive and MLB will probably take those recommendations and amend the proposal. The union on behalf of the players they represent sent the notes on the MLB health and safety plans during this pandemic.

Now for the economic side of things. Remember originally the MLB/owners 50-50 revenue sharing proposal was basically DOA, (dead on arrival). Now we know the MLB/owners plan to deliver a “new economic proposal” and it might be the one that the players union agrees with. In that case, there could be an agreement.

This next week, could determine the future of baseball for the next few years. This Pandemic has left 40 million Americans, (size of California) unemployed and so far thousands of businesses that might never comeback. The country will comeback, because this country always does, but image if the power-to-be in baseball didn’t come to an agreement. How can they justify this fight between billionaires vs. millionaires? Baseball would suffer serious damage much more than in previous work-stoppages by strikes and lockouts. It would truly be unconscionable.

If settled,Spring Training for two weeks in June and season starts by Independence Day July 4th,the biggest American holiday,with the National Pastime.

Baseball could go from goat to hero, if they even only play 82 games. This would be the best medicine for the American people in 2020. Let’s hope it happens, because life will eventually be normal sometime in the future.

Both sides will enjoy this Memorial Day weekend and will return to the table next week.

One thing is for sure, if by the end of next week there is no agreement, there will not be a season

I hope everybody enjoys the summer-type weather here in the Bay Area. Go out get some sun/vitamin D,enjoy yourself and stay well

Hasta la vista.

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