That’s Amaury News and Commentary:The Dallas Cowboys are the Most Valuable Sports Team in the World

Jan 28, 1996 the Dallas Cowboys won their last Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe AZ (AP file photo)

The Dallas Cowboys are the Most Valuable Sports Team in the World

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Forbes listed the Dallas Cowboys as the most valuable sports team in the world at $13 Billion. The Cowboys were eliminated this season and ended with a below-mediocre 7-9-1 record. We have to look at the whole picture, going back to 1996, 30 years since they last won Super Bowl XXX.

The occasional football fan might ask: “So why are they worth so much?” The Dallas Cowboys have won five Super Bowls and appeared in eight, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the second-most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history, behind the Steelers and Patriots (six each).

Their global merchandise sales, plus affiliation with Nike, are all well managed by their owner, Jerry Jones, who said AT&T Stadium, the home of the Cowboys, was built as an indoor stadium with an outdoor feel.”I don’t want to adjust it for one reason: it’s an advantage to us.” Jones said the stadium has been an advantage for the Cowboys; more team members know where the sun is during games, and that won’t change.”

The Cowboys have national popularity mainly because of their frequent television exposure from coast to coast and fan bases across all 50 States. When the NFL was experiencing great growth, the Cowboys were right in the middle, and not much has changed.

Today, the Cowboys’ iconic brand is still considered “America’s Team. Exception:. The Green Bay Packers are still owned by their fans. They are the only community team owned and operated as a nonprofit, with over 500,000 shareholders who hold shares that offer no dividends and are capped to prevent control by one person, ensuring the team remains in Green Bay.

Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers, and Brett Favre received lucrative multi-year deals during their careers, as the Packers remain one of the most popular and well-run franchises in the NFL. They are worth around $6 Billion. Most Valuable Teams in Other Sports in the World. Golden State Warriors $11 Billion New York Yankees $8 Billion Real Madrid (Spain) $6.5 Billion, Toronto Maple Leafs (Canada) $4.4 Billion LAFC $1,28 Billion (US Major League Soccer)

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: US Government deniesTrademarks of “Vegas Athletics” and “Las Vegas Athletics”

The U.S. government has denied the trademarks for “Vegas Athletics” and “Las Vegas Athletics”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The USPTO, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, is the federal authority for issuing Patents and trademarks, and it is the one that issued the denial of the current A’s ownership. This just happened: The US Government denies the team’s ownership of the trademarks “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics”.

During their years in Oakland, they secured 20 trademarks. However, the relocation to Las Vegas necessitated a new filing to get the same protection. The A’s front office dropped the ball by not acting quickly on this, and now they are ‘behind the 8-ball’ trying to “catch up” since their plans call to inaugurate a new facility in Las Vegas by 2028.

Eventually, they should resolve this issue, but this shows the ineptness of this outfit. Although they are in the major leagues, the A’s truly operate like a Class “A’s team, and this is no disrespect to minor league teams, many of whom approach their business much more professionally, and no disrespect to those that currently work for this A’s organization.

I know many of them, and they are very good people. For young people who want to get a leg up in the professional sports business, it is a good place to intern, gain a couple of years of experience, and then “Adiós, Hasta la Vista.” I personally know a few who traveled that path recently. Smart move, good for them!

Believe it or not, this question is still very popular not only in the Bay Area, but also outside it, because I have spoken with people there. They always seem to ask the following: “What are the odds Las Vegas is really going to happen for the A’s?

It seems there are still too many unanswered questions, and it feels like the team and fans will get screweed again. And who is guilty of people saying such things? The current ownership, as their so-called transition from city to city, feels like a very popular Disneyland attraction for kids, called Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

A common joke highlights the incongruity of team names kept after relocation, citing examples such as the Minnesota Lakers moving to LA and the Texas Oilers moving to Tennessee. (A’s) The franchise holds the record for having called the most different cities home, moving from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland to…XXXX A’s.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: One-Year Contracts are Popular this Off-season

One of the questions of one year contracts San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander has a second year left on his $22 million two year contract will the Giants exercise his second year or choose to opt out? (AP file photo)

One-Year Contracts are Popular this Off-season

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The San Francisco Giants have been lukewarm in the market for free agents this winter. In an effort to strengthen their pitching staff(bullpen, they have signed four pitchers this offseason, three of whom are on one-year deals. Tyler Mahle (1year,$10M), Jason Foley (1 year, $2M), Sam Hentges (1 year, $1.4M). They “splurge” by signing Adrian Houser to a 2-year, $22 Million Contract. Last season, the Giants signed Justin Verlander to a one-year, $15 million deal; all they got from the future Hall of Famer was four wins, which cost the Giants almost $3.7 million per win.

I do not believe Verlander will be back. Obviously, the Giants cannot afford the “luxury” of carrying a future Hall of Fame pitcher at the end of his career. With these new pitcher signings, the Giants are prioritizing other arms, making his return less sure despite Verlander’s expressed desire to pitch in 2026.

If the Giants want to really get serious? They would go for Framber Valdez, but that would take a multi-year contract and around $200 Million. If you want to catch the Dodgers, you go all the way with pitching. Yoshi Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki are the Dodgers’ rotation, and it’s lucky for the Giants that Clayton Kershaw retired. In 62 appearances vs. Los Gigantes in his Hall of Fame career, Kershaw compiled a 2.08 earned run average.

There have been a few multi-year multi-million contracts recently this winter. It is a hot pitching market, and so far, most of the largest deals have been pitchers, Dylan Cease to Toronto for (7 years $210M). Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai to Houston for 4 years, ($54M).

My prediction. We will continue this trend by teams of One-Year-deals, not only with the Giants but also with other teams. The looming 2026-2027 lockout is the reason for these short-term contracts and free agency. Players are seeking security ahead of the almost certain owners’ lockout expected around this time in 2026.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How Soderstrom strengthens Sac’s outfield; A’s shore infield with McNeil signing plus more news

Sacramento A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom who signed for a seven year $86 million deal is looking to add some pop in the A’s line up and a solid glove in left field (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury just wanted to get your take on the Sacramento A’s signing Tyler Soderstrom on Monday for $86 million a seven year deal and the contract could max out at $131 million. Soderstrom in 2025 hit .276, 25 home runs and drove in 93 RBIs.

#2 The A’s also had acquired utilityman Jeff McNeil in a trade with the New York Mets. The Mets are making deals to add players to their roster. McNeil cones with right hand pitcher Yordan Rodriguez and $5.75 million the Mets share of McNeil’s $15.75 million salary for 2026. The Mets also agreed to pay McNeil’s $2 million buyout if Sacramento doesn’t exercise his 2027 club option.

#3 Former A’s outfielder JJ Bleday has signed a $4.1 million one year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Bleday hit .212, 14 home runs, with 39 RBIs with Sacramento last season. Bleday’s average dropped from the 2024 season when he hit .242, 20 home runs and 60 RBIs which was a career best.

#4 Amaury, let’s take a look at Baseball Hall of Fame candidates for the class of 2026 amongst them on the ballot leading the way is former San Francisco Giant Carlos Beltran who fell just short in the last election in 2025 with 70.3% of the vote, former Atlanta Brave outfielder Andruw Jones with 66.2%. How do you see Beltran and Jones chances for the next election?

#5 Finally turning to football San Francisco 49er play by play announcer Greg Papa’s expected return back to the booth last Sunday night at Levi Stadium was put on hold as Papa is in remission after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia back on July 16th. Papa is still having spells of brain fog, dizziness, blurred vision, that forced his return to be put on hold. Papa has been the 49ers play by play announcer since 2019. Papa was also a play by play announcer for the then Oakland A’s from 1993 to 2003 doing TV.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Baseball Notebook–Working with The Cruzer in Seattle 

Seattle Mariners Spanish broadcasters Julio The Cruzer Cruz (left) and Amaury Pi Gonzalez (right) as heard on KBRO 1490 in Seattle/Bremerton and KNTB AM 1480 in Tacoma, Cruzer would say “Wow” to that. (photo by the Seattle Mariners magazine)

From My Baseball Notebook: Working with The Cruzer in Seattle

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Up in Seattle, during the years of Ichiro Suzuki, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martínez, and Félix Hernández, among others, I was paired with Julio “The Cruzer” Cruz on the team’s Spanish radio broadcast. Julio was the Seattle Mariners’ dream-team second baseman and the M’s original second baseman in 1977, the team’s first year in Seattle. Julio was truly a fan favorite in Seattle. He excelled at defense and was fast on the bases; he held the Mariners’ stolen-base record for years, until Ichiro Suzuki tied it and later broke it.

An affable man, born in Brooklyn, New York, of Puerto Rican descent, wore a smile at all times. I called most Mariners home games at Safeco Field, and when they went on the road, I flew south to San Francisco to call the Giants games in Spanish. I could not wait to go to Seattle to see Julio and talk baseball stories with him. I truly enjoyed every minute with Julio; he was genuine, humble, and just fun to be around. When we first started working together, he knew who I was because he was then a player with the Mariners, and I would interview him and others during batting practice before the games.

In Seattle, when Julio came up to the booth to work the games with me, I was his first broadcast partner, and I was lucky!. He was funny and inquisitive, and he loved the word “wow,” which he used frequently during our broadcast. He was the Mariners’ original second baseman from 1977 to 1983. The community in the Puget Sound area loves him. Julio Cruz passed in 2022 at age 67. During the early 2000s, we would work together.  Together with our producer, Candace Oehler, we will forever remember the one and only Cruzer.

Inside the booth, Julio was funny and very curious about stats; he kept telling me he owned the team record for stolen bases. When Ichiro tied his record and later broke it, he was sad, but at the same time happy for Ichiro, whom he kept saying in the air, “wow, este hombre es increible”  trans-  “wow, this man is incredible”.Top Base Stealer in Mariners history-  Ichiro Suzuki with 438 stolen bases for the team, ahead of Julio Cruz (290) and Harold Reynolds (228)in third place.

Julio is one of the few players I ever met who had two nicknames, “Cruzer” and “Juice”.   According to Randy Adamack, former Seattle Mariners senior vice president, the nickname “Juice” came from Cruz’s constant “extra energy,” which was palpable to those around him. His former Chicago White Sox teammate Ron Kittle echoed this, saying, “You couldn’t find a more energetic guy… always full of energy.

Those were fun years working with Julio in Seattle, during his first years in the booth, in one of my favorite areas in the country, and in a place I was familiar with from my days serving in the US Army on active duty at Ft Lewis. Seattle is one of my favorite cities, and the Mariners are an excellent organization, top to bottom, with veterans of the game like the Mariners VP of Communications, Tim Hevly.

I know Julio Cruz is up in heaven, looking down, calling me and telling me, “Wow, Amaury, what are you doing!”

Note: During those years, we broadcast the games on KBRO 1490 in Seattle/Bremerton and KNTB AM 1480 in Tacoma, which at the time was part of the Christian Salem Communications group.

About nicknames: Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd on the origins of his name: “Someone caught us in a tin shed drinking Big Momma’s whiskey out of oil cans, so my friend Pap started calling me ‘Oil Can'”.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Venezuela, Country and Baseball in Peril

Venezuela oppostion leader Maria Corina Machado holds up a tally sheets during a protest against the reelection of President Nicolas Maduro. Machado says that she won by a landslide election in Caracus Venezeula in Aug 28, 2024. The politics is keeping the Carribbean Series on hold because other countries are nervous about sending their athletes to Venezuela because of possible war against Maduro and Venezuela. (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Baseball is Venezuela’s national sport, but it is suffering because of the deep economic crisis, political instability, and security concerns. Their leagues are struggling financially. Players have left the country for asylum, and their attendance at games has also suffered.

Although the 2026 Caribbean Baseball Series was scheduled to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, at Estadio Monumental Simon Bolivar, logistical issues and rising tensions in the country led the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC) to relocate the series to México, with games to take place at Guadalajara’s Estadio Charros de Jalisco.

Leagues from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and México boycotted Venezuela; these countries do not want to send their players to Venezuela for reasons already known. Cuba,a historical baseball pioneer, was excluded from this tournament, and its government called it “disrespectful.” Why was Cuba excluded? Cuba is politically aligned with Maduro.

Operating under Cuba’s government sports ministry (INDER), there are no baseball team owners in Cuba; the government owns them, plus you cannot question a government decision in Cuba; they rule. There is no First Amendment in Cuba.

Venezuela situation: Geopolitical tensions in Venezuela are nothing new. Over the past decade, since Nicolás Maduro became president, the United Nations estimates that close to 8 million Venezuelans have fled as the economy collapsed (the largest exodus ever from one country in Latin America), sneaking across porous borders and crowding into nearby countries (like Colombia) that increasingly fear they cannot accommodate another mass exodus. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy and opposing the Maduro regime.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in recognition of her courage in campaigning against Maduro and leading the opposition, despite being barred from running and forced to live in hiding. Also, pressure from the current US government administration against Venezuela, which is nothing new since the United States has been intervening in Latin American countries since President Wilson in 1914. Like it or not, it is history.

In the Caribbean Series, the situation is highly fluid. Venezuela’s participation remains uncertain; Panamá will participate as a guest nation.  This series is supposed to be played from February 1 to 7. But it is in danger.

The World Baseball Classic (WBC), with 20 countries scheduled to participate,(including the US and Japan) takes place from March 5-7, 2026. The situation with Venezuela and Cuba is still to be determined. What is the root cause of Venezuela that led to the current situation?

 (Read here) ]\\https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/venezuela-situation

Personal story: I remember as a kid (13 years or so) in 1959 at Estadio de El Cerro in La Habana.  Just days after Fidel Castro was assembling his government, there was gunfire inside the stadium, and Havana Sugar Kings shortstop Leonardo (Leo) Cárdenas was injured, along with a coach. Cárdenas played for 16 years in the majors, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. He is 87 years young.

Happy New Year!

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Baseball Notebook– The Era of Big Contracts could be History

A’s Spanish broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) meets with New York Yankees pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter (right) before a 1975 game with the then Oakland A’s (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

MLB: The Era of Big Contracts could be History.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Starting pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter was the first modern baseball player to sign a multi-million dollar contract. The former Oakland A’s pitcher signed a landmark five-year, $3.05 million contract with the New York Yankees on December 31, 1974.

Hunter was the first actual free agent due to a contract dispute, making way for today’s huge salaries. A’s owner, Charlie O. Finley, breached the contract by failing to pay the required deferred compensation into an annuity, according to an arbitrator, which opened the door for George Steinbrenner of the Yankees to roll out which at the time was an incredible amount of money  $3 million plus.. In 1974, the median price of a home in the US was around $30,000.

Jim “Catfish” Hunter just came off the 1974 season with the Oakland A’s as the American League Cy Young Award winner. I remember when ex-catcher and later radio and television commentator Ray Fosse told me, “Catfish control was for the ages.” 

The Hall of Famer who pitched for 15 years was a dominant pitcher on the best team in baseball at the time, the three time World Champion Oakland A’s,1972-73-74. From 1971 to 1974, the right-hander won 20 or more games each season.

During Caffish Hunter’s first visit to Oakland in 1975 with his Yankee uniform, he seemed relaxed and told me, “I never thought I would be pitching for any other team but the A’s. These are great fans here in Oakland, but what happened was beyond my control. Now I’m a Yankee.”

In a previous article, I wrote that the 2026 season could be historic. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires in December 2026, and all roads lead to an owner-imposed lockout thereafter. I believe the baseball owners have the upper hand this time, as they are seeking a hard salary cap like the other sports (every other major professional sports league), thus, the years of hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts for the best players will be officially over.

Why Catfish?  Jim “Catfish” Hunter got his famous nickname from Kansas City Athletics owner Charles O. Finley, who gave it to him in 1965 to create a flashier persona, inventing a story about young Hunter catching catfish to make it stick, though Hunter never really liked it.

Finley owned the Kansas City club and then the Oakland A’s for 20 years, from 1960 to 1980, when he sold the team to Walter A.Haas (Levi Strauss) for $12.7 million, I met Charlie O. Finley, yes, he was controversial, but he had a lot of good ideas, and in Oakland, he was a winner, and also,he was a shrewd businessman.

Thank you for reading My Baseball Notebook. I wish you a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Felíz Año Nuevo. See you in 2026!

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: NBA Expansion to Las Vegas

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is considering expansion teams to Las Vegas and Seattle that will be up for discussion sometime in 2026 (CNN photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: NBA Expansion to Las Vegas:

NBA Expansion to Las Vegas

That’s Amaury News Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

A decision on expansion (potentially to 32 teams) is anticipated sometime in 2026. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Las Vegas support for basketball. The Commissioner notes support in Las Vegas for the WNBA Aces, the Summer League, and the NBA Cup.  Seattle is also another city that the NBA is showing interest.

The Seattle SuperSonics played in Seattle for 41 seasons, from their inaugural 1967-1968 season until relocating to become the Oklahoma City Thunder after the 2007-2008 season. They were Seattle’s first major sports franchise and won one NBA championship in 1979 under legendary coach Lenny Wilkens.

I remember as I covered the Warriors visiting Seattle with the team and witnessed the support of the Supersonics fans, the arena where they played was right, where the World’s Fair was held in 1962, today known as Seattle Center,  next to the Space Needle and the Monorail. It was made even more famous in 1963 with Elvis as the star in the movie “It Happened At The World’s Fair”.

Expasion history: Last time the NBA expanded was in 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) joined as the league’s 30th team. While there’s been talk of expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, no new teams have joined since the Bobcats’ debut.

More Hoops: Below made the rounds here in the Bay Area and in the national news of one Golden State Warriors Fan complaining to owner Joe Lacob about the struggles of the team recenlty even as Stephen Curry scoring in big numbers but still no victories.

(via Justdutari/Reddit, Alex Simon/SFGate)

A Warrior fan wrote Lacob: “Dear Joe, Please do something about this team. What Steph need to do every night to win? Drop 50 points? Team is need a real second option. Jimmy tool are being underutilized because he is playing as a power forward due to the small position players. We have no true center.”

Lacob replied: “You can’t be as frustrated as me. I’am working on it. It’s complicated. Style of play. Coaches desires regarding players. League trends. Jimmy is not the problem.”

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Does Garcia impact the Phils outfield plans and Castellanos?; Will D-Backs trade Marte?; plus more MLB news

Texas Rangers’ Adolis García hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the W. Sacramento Athletics, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 How will Adolis García’s reported one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies impact Philadelphia’s outfield plans and Nick Castellanos’ future with the team?

#2 With the Diamondbacks signing Merrill Kelly and Michael Soroka, are they still willing to trade outfielder Ketel Marte this offseason?

#3 What were the most notable selections and potential impacts from the 2025 Rule 5 Draft?

#4 Which prospects headline the Athletics’ top 10 2026 MLB prospect list, and how might they influence the franchise’s future?

#5 What standout moments from the 2025 season (like Freddie Freeman’s 18th-inning walk-off) are shaping narratives as the offseason continues?

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Big Win for Women’s Sports Title IX

Former San Jose State University Spartans Volleyball player Blaire Fleming (3) was the center of controversy in 2024 when she played for the team (SJSU Athletics file photo)

Big Win for Women’s Sports Title IX

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Remember this last year? The San Jose State (SJSU) volleyball controversy which erupted in 2024 when a teammate Brooke Slusser, revealed her transgender teammate (later identified as Blaire Flemming) was born male, sparking debate and legal action over trans women playing in women’s sports, with opponents citing fairness/safety concerns (biological advantages in strength/jump) and leading to opponent forfeits, while supporters and the player highlight inclusion and adherence to NCAA/Mountain West rules, with a judge temporarily rejecting injunctions to remove the player.

However, the case continued in federal court, but it was just settled. Monday, the final decision by the highest court in the land came in. On December 15, 2025. The Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Biden-Harris administration’s Title IX rewrite by a 5-4 vote, which would have allowed men to compete in women’s sports and to use women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and dorms.

And compelled speech. Common Sense prevailed in the Supreme Court. Most U.S. polls show a majority of Americans favor policies keeping transgender women out of biological women’s sports, believing they should play on teams matching their birth sex, with significant support for bans in youth and competitive athletics.

NBC News Poll (May 2025) showed that 75% of American adults say transgender women should not be permitted to participate in female sports. Agree or disagree, studies have shown that males generally become significantly stronger than females after puberty due to testosterone’s effects on muscle mass, bone density, and hemoglobin, creating a 10-30% performance gap in strength/power sports, which raises complex questions about fair competition when transgender women (who went through male puberty) compete in women’s sports, as testosterone suppression may not eliminate these enduring advantages, I did not interpreted this Supreme Court decision as discrimination against trans athletes.

At the end, this decision is a big win for biological women. I believe that in sports, men should play men and women should play women, as simple as that. If that is controversial, so be it. But it makes all the sense in the world.

Reports from November 2025 indicate that it is moving toward a blanket ban on transgender women competing in the female category at the Olympics. This decision is expected to be finalized and implemented before the Los Angeles 2028 Games, but likely not in time for the Winter Olympics in Italy.

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.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.