So egregious, same thing Draymond was suspended for in 2016, just this time it was the perceived MVP doing the kicking. Doubtful the NBA will have the guts to suspend him, even though it would be for Game 4 the 76ers don't need to win.
Hi there! It’s been a very long time since I’ve written a front page story for AN. So you might not even remember me at this point, but I’m the founder of this little blog. I started this site on November 6, 2003. This November, this site will celebrate 20 years in existence and I was actually really looking forward to it. I planned on reaching out to the A’s and asking for something similar to what I did when the site turned 10 years old (I’m trying to find the celebration video we did back in 2013 but it’s been challenging - I may edit to include it later). That will no longer happen.
As of today, I’m no longer an A’s fan. I truly never thought I would get to this point, considering I was about as diehard as they come with regards to my baseball team. But this is what A’s owner John Fisher and henchman Dave Kaval wanted, so here we are. It’s been a long, slow and painful death march to get to this point and I’ve waffled between all the stages of grief since I saw the news on Twitter last night. I’ve been angry. I’ve been in denial. I’ve shed tears. Though I still haven’t found the acceptance portion yet. That may come by the end of this post.
Oakland A's Forced To Move After Another Homeless Camp Pops Up On First Base Line
City leaders are considering allowing the entire Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to become one giant homeless colony. "It's been mostly empty for years, anyway, even during games," said one official. "If the stadium already smells like urine and is infested with rats, why not just let nature runs its course?"
Just like when the Raiders left for Vegas, I'm out. I will hope they do well in LV, but will not follow them. I guess I'm a passive Dodgers fan to add to my passive Rams fandom.
That stadium in Vegas is going to be a morgue 4 - 5 games a week. Don't see local Vegas residents going to mid-week A's games...they're largely transplants from other spots anyways, with previous allegiances to other teams.
Raider games are only viable as a weekend destination, largely for visiting fans...sure, maybe you occasionally get that for the Yankee/Red Sox, etc. But the novelty is going to wear off quick. Fisher will make tons of $, but it figures to be a disaster for the franchise and the City. Not sure why the City would OK a $500M outlay for this.
Let’s get something out of the way: there were two professional sporting events being played along the water of Mission Bay on Thursday night, simultaneously. The San Francisco Giants game was much less meaningful than the other game. If someone had to lose, the Giants were noble and also just logically correct for volunteering.
It’s like when you’re playing pool at the bar and you’re trying to figure out who your teammate will be, and that one friend who isn’t good at all offers to go get a round of beers while the rest of you play, and you all (the person included) go through the facade of pretending they’re being sacrificial and selfless instead of just self-aware.
With short starts on both sides, the bullpens played a game of who would blink first. James Outman made the answer clear with a game-winning grand slam, part of a two-homer night for the Dodgers rookie outfielder in a 6-2 win over the Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field.
oing back to the series in Los Angeles, in which the Dodgers scored a mere two runs in each game, the Cubs’ bullpen has been giving them fits, and it continued Thursday in Chicago. Albert Alzolay, Brandon Hughes, Michael Rucker, and Brad Boxberger combined for five scoreless frames with seven punchouts.
Warriors, not surprisingly. play well at home and win relatively easily.
the announcer was saying that the league MVP should be the Warriors home crowd since they are clearly the difference between an elite team and one that cant do anything right on the road!
I wonder if the Warriors get better spacing without Draymond (or Looney) on the court at the same time since now you have 4 shooters so the Kings can't sag off one of those two.
Maybe, but Draymond more than compensates by being a pivot in the post and helping the ball move through the entire frontcourt. Heard on the radio...when Draymond is on the court, the W's are the second most efficient offense in the league. When he is off the court, they are the 28th most efficient.
I think the starting 5, for the limited time they were on the court this season, were the top offensive rating of all starting 5s. I just wonder with the Kings being a quick team, would they be better without Looney pr Draymond since the Kings can rotate quicker on D.
They'll probably start Loon and Green, but I wouldn't be surprised if they quickly shift to one taking on Sabonis while the other gets rest on the bench. Looney's 4/20/9 stat line is very encouraging.
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. And while the Golden State Warriors sounded genuinely excited about the opportunity to overcome a 2-0 deficit after Monday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, falling behind 3-0 was a step too far.
And so they left Sacramento with their back firmly against the wall. And when they found out Draymond Green would be suspended for Game 3, their back got pressed even more firmly. And when Gary Payton II was ruled out, it got pressed further still.
But there’s a funny thing about being in an unfavorable situation. If you can survive, you’ll feel pretty damn confident when you’re not in an unfavorable situation. And you can be damn sure your opponent notices that as well.
I have been Silicon Valley adjacent since returning to the Bay Area two years ago, working IT/Biomed in Fremont for a not-quite-startup. So, I started rewatching Silicon Valley, seeing if any of the jokes hit differently now that I've been in the area for a bit. It's slightly dated at this point, pre-Covid heyday of VC craziness in the region. But it does nail the lack of self awareness, and some of the quirks of IT culture. 13/19....will bingewatch to the end.
i was planning to get the Rega Planar 1, but ended up ordering the Planar 2 because it seems that cartridge upgrade options are better. i wasnt able to bring it home right away since they didnt have the walnut finish in stock.
it was actually my 16 yr old who started the whole LP thing in our house. they have a handful of LPS, mostly Taylor Swift. Billie Eilish, etc. last Xmas i got them Abbey Road and Led Zeppelin IV, mostly for myself!
Florida senate tables bill to take kids away from parents who seek trans-related medical procedures. I would go nuclear if this happened to my family. DeSantis is evil.
Texas Senate passes bill to require Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments, set aside prayer and Bible reading time. This was authored by the same schmuck who authored the bill that required "In God We Trust" signs be displayed at all Texas public schools.
Does anyone else find it somewhat concerning that in Avi’s last two articles, the staff seems desperate to find both a QB and O line through the portal? With no corresponding news that we actually have secured any such commitments? Not exactly what you want to hear!
BERKELEY – Amorrow Morgan, an up-and-coming star in the coaching ranks who helped lead Loyola Chicago to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021-22, has joined the California men's basketball program as an assistant coach, head coach Mark Madsen announced Thursday.
A well-respected leader with 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, Morgan arrives in Bear Territory following two seasons spent at Loyola Chicago (2021-23), where he helped the Ramblers win 35 total games and capture the 2021-22 Missouri Valley Conference title in addition to its NCAA Tournament berth. Morgan's previous stints include South Alabama and Nicholls State, among others.
OREGON DUCKS (5-8, 1-6 PAC-12) at CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (4-10, 1-6 PAC-12)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023 • 3 PM PDT
CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL STADIUM • BERKELEY, CA
CAL STARTS EXTENDED HOME STRETCH AGAINST OREGON
— Cal knocked off Oregon, 13-12, in the teams' first meeting this season March 17 in Eugene as the Golden Bears scored the game's first three goals and never trailed but needed two crucial saves from Alicia Souliotis in the game's final four-and-a-half minutes to hold on for their first Pac-12 road win since a 2019 triumph at Arizona State and only their third since the Pac-12 began sponsoring lacrosse in 2018
BERKELEY – The California softball team returns to Pac-12 play for a three-game set in the Big Series at No. 8 Stanford on Friday-Sunday.
The Golden Bears and Cardinal will open the weekend with a 6 p.m. PT first pitch on Friday on Pac-12 Bay Area, followed by a 2 p.m. PT start on Saturday airing on Pac-12 Los Angeles. The series wraps up on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.
BERKELEY – The No. 7 California women's rowing team will head on the road to take on No. 6 Washington at the Montlake Cut in Seattle on Saturday. Cal will send its top four eights along with its top four. The annual race between the two programs dates back to 1977, with Washington holding a 25-20 series advantage. Although the Huskies have won the last two duals, the Golden Bears won six straight between 2014-2019 and nine straight between 2004-2012.
The matchup between two of the top teams in the country will be for the Simpson Cup, given to the winner of the varsity eight race each year. The cup was donated by longtime Washington supporters Hunter and Dottie Simpson, whose daughter Anne rowed at Cal.
This year's dual also marks Cal women's rowing's Title IX celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic ruling that promoted gender equity in education and sports.
my college roommate and i used to do this. i would always lose since he was super into cars, but i think i was able to hold my own, especially on the American makes.
he also had a custom subwoofer setup that took up most of his truck space as well as nitrous to go extra FAST!!
the idea was that if you can do math in your head w/o paper and pencil, it is much better for you.
for example, there are studies that 2nd graders are sometimes better than 5th graders at simple addition like 17+19. the generally accepted reasoning is that the 5th graders is trying to replicate what the would do on paper, ie 7+9 = 6 and carry the 1. whereas the 2nd grader just adds the tens first and the ones after that.
When I was in elementary school we had at least one long period of doing "mental arithmetic" to drill that in. For purposes of what I'll call "everyday math," it was one of the more useful learning experiences I had as a kid.
DBD Street Journal
Carvana - which is in financial distress - wants to sell bonds backed by sub-prime auto loans. Who would buy those?
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/carvana-preps-479-million-bond-231928837.html
seems like an opportunity in some period of time to get a car on the cheap when they have to liquidate assets
Hmm CDOs of almost junk quality. High risk of default.
PRO
Tua Tagovailoa has taken up jiu jitsu to learn how to not fall on the back of his head. My advice: don't get sacked.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/36235862/tua-tagovailoa-says-mulled-retiring-learned-how-fall
[ESPN] Scherzer suspended 10 games for too much rosin
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36249041/mets-max-scherzer-suspended-10-games-appeal
Jomboy lip reading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVHrWQHBTxY&pp=ygUPam9tYm95IHNjaGVyemVy
How is Embiid not kicked out after kicking Claxton in the nuts?
https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1649196525409452039
So many flops in that game
So egregious, same thing Draymond was suspended for in 2016, just this time it was the perceived MVP doing the kicking. Doubtful the NBA will have the guts to suspend him, even though it would be for Game 4 the 76ers don't need to win.
That's what the Warriors, and probably the NBA, thought in 2016.
The Oakland Athletics Chapter Is Closing...as is my fandom
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2023/4/20/23691108/the-oakland-athletics-chapter-is-closing-as-is-my-fandom
Hi there! It’s been a very long time since I’ve written a front page story for AN. So you might not even remember me at this point, but I’m the founder of this little blog. I started this site on November 6, 2003. This November, this site will celebrate 20 years in existence and I was actually really looking forward to it. I planned on reaching out to the A’s and asking for something similar to what I did when the site turned 10 years old (I’m trying to find the celebration video we did back in 2013 but it’s been challenging - I may edit to include it later). That will no longer happen.
As of today, I’m no longer an A’s fan. I truly never thought I would get to this point, considering I was about as diehard as they come with regards to my baseball team. But this is what A’s owner John Fisher and henchman Dave Kaval wanted, so here we are. It’s been a long, slow and painful death march to get to this point and I’ve waffled between all the stages of grief since I saw the news on Twitter last night. I’ve been angry. I’ve been in denial. I’ve shed tears. Though I still haven’t found the acceptance portion yet. That may come by the end of this post.
This is sad.
Oakland A's Forced To Move After Another Homeless Camp Pops Up On First Base Line
City leaders are considering allowing the entire Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to become one giant homeless colony. "It's been mostly empty for years, anyway, even during games," said one official. "If the stadium already smells like urine and is infested with rats, why not just let nature runs its course?"
https://babylonbee.com/news/oakland-as-forced-to-move-after-another-homeless-camp-pops-up-on-first-base-line
Just like when the Raiders left for Vegas, I'm out. I will hope they do well in LV, but will not follow them. I guess I'm a passive Dodgers fan to add to my passive Rams fandom.
Fuck that. I hope they fail spectacularly. Fuck ‘em.
PS hello from the Netherlands
lol a very reasonable take
That stadium in Vegas is going to be a morgue 4 - 5 games a week. Don't see local Vegas residents going to mid-week A's games...they're largely transplants from other spots anyways, with previous allegiances to other teams.
Raider games are only viable as a weekend destination, largely for visiting fans...sure, maybe you occasionally get that for the Yankee/Red Sox, etc. But the novelty is going to wear off quick. Fisher will make tons of $, but it figures to be a disaster for the franchise and the City. Not sure why the City would OK a $500M outlay for this.
This to me was the final indignity.
And a rabbit blow to the fan base.
My days following the A's are over.
GBBR
You can’t blow a lead if you don’t have a lead
The Giants figured out a trick.
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/4/20/23692163/giants-mets-recap-tristan-beck-sean-manaea
Let’s get something out of the way: there were two professional sporting events being played along the water of Mission Bay on Thursday night, simultaneously. The San Francisco Giants game was much less meaningful than the other game. If someone had to lose, the Giants were noble and also just logically correct for volunteering.
It’s like when you’re playing pool at the bar and you’re trying to figure out who your teammate will be, and that one friend who isn’t good at all offers to go get a round of beers while the rest of you play, and you all (the person included) go through the facade of pretending they’re being sacrificial and selfless instead of just self-aware.
That was the Giants, I guess. Something like it.
Cal Day at the Giants game yesterday. In related news, Mia Mastrov has abs that you can scrub clothes on.
https://twitter.com/CalAthletics/status/1649256821444714496
In related news, Mark Madsen sucks at throwing a baseball
https://twitter.com/CalMBBall/status/1649236806427344897
David Wright wandered into Local Tap and what did he find?
https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1649429030448316417
that put a smile on my face
James Outman’s 9th-inning grand slam lifts Dodgers over Cubs
https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/20/23692180/james-outman-grand-slam-dodgers-home-runs-cubs
With short starts on both sides, the bullpens played a game of who would blink first. James Outman made the answer clear with a game-winning grand slam, part of a two-homer night for the Dodgers rookie outfielder in a 6-2 win over the Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field.
oing back to the series in Los Angeles, in which the Dodgers scored a mere two runs in each game, the Cubs’ bullpen has been giving them fits, and it continued Thursday in Chicago. Albert Alzolay, Brandon Hughes, Michael Rucker, and Brad Boxberger combined for five scoreless frames with seven punchouts.
In more recent news, this Cubs fan is pleased to report that the Cubs are up
13-0 in the 7th today, despite Urias starting the game. 😀
And we have a no no going! Damn, just tuning in. Stinking work gets in my way, you know?
Actually damn it is a perfecto!
Omg he ran into the catcher! Lost the perfecto. What a bizarre play
Cubbies gonna Cubs
Warriors, not surprisingly. play well at home and win relatively easily.
the announcer was saying that the league MVP should be the Warriors home crowd since they are clearly the difference between an elite team and one that cant do anything right on the road!
I wonder if the Warriors get better spacing without Draymond (or Looney) on the court at the same time since now you have 4 shooters so the Kings can't sag off one of those two.
Maybe, but Draymond more than compensates by being a pivot in the post and helping the ball move through the entire frontcourt. Heard on the radio...when Draymond is on the court, the W's are the second most efficient offense in the league. When he is off the court, they are the 28th most efficient.
I think the starting 5, for the limited time they were on the court this season, were the top offensive rating of all starting 5s. I just wonder with the Kings being a quick team, would they be better without Looney pr Draymond since the Kings can rotate quicker on D.
They'll probably start Loon and Green, but I wouldn't be surprised if they quickly shift to one taking on Sabonis while the other gets rest on the bench. Looney's 4/20/9 stat line is very encouraging.
A statement blowout
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2023/4/20/23692172/warriors-king-game-3-recap-steph-curry-draymond-green-kevon-looney
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. And while the Golden State Warriors sounded genuinely excited about the opportunity to overcome a 2-0 deficit after Monday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, falling behind 3-0 was a step too far.
And so they left Sacramento with their back firmly against the wall. And when they found out Draymond Green would be suspended for Game 3, their back got pressed even more firmly. And when Gary Payton II was ruled out, it got pressed further still.
But there’s a funny thing about being in an unfavorable situation. If you can survive, you’ll feel pretty damn confident when you’re not in an unfavorable situation. And you can be damn sure your opponent notices that as well.
DBD AV CLUB
I have been Silicon Valley adjacent since returning to the Bay Area two years ago, working IT/Biomed in Fremont for a not-quite-startup. So, I started rewatching Silicon Valley, seeing if any of the jokes hit differently now that I've been in the area for a bit. It's slightly dated at this point, pre-Covid heyday of VC craziness in the region. But it does nail the lack of self awareness, and some of the quirks of IT culture. 13/19....will bingewatch to the end.
S3 of Only Murders in the Building wraps filming
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/selena-gomez-meryl-streep-only-murders-in-the-building-season-3-1235398747/
Turntables and LPs
i went to a nice store in NYC to listen to and purchase my first turntable.
https://www.inlivingstereo.com/
i was planning to get the Rega Planar 1, but ended up ordering the Planar 2 because it seems that cartridge upgrade options are better. i wasnt able to bring it home right away since they didnt have the walnut finish in stock.
https://www.rega.co.uk/products/planar-2
it was actually my 16 yr old who started the whole LP thing in our house. they have a handful of LPS, mostly Taylor Swift. Billie Eilish, etc. last Xmas i got them Abbey Road and Led Zeppelin IV, mostly for myself!
I got a Bluetooth turntable last year. Also got Led Zeppelin IV
Your 16 year old <<started>> it?
Led Zep IV is their best.
i saw Robert Plant and Allison Krauss in concert last year. they played 3 tracks off of LZ IV. not Stairway to Heaven, but it was still great.
Stairway is not my fave - Levee Breaks is, and side 2 in general.
they played Rock and Roll, Levee Breaks, and Battle of Evermore
Going to California is my favorite on that album
Watched an episode of Nature about the hummingbirds of Costa Rica's rainforests.
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
DeSantis signed bill that removes unanimous decision for capital punishment
https://twitter.com/CalltoActivism/status/1649446279099891717
Florida senate tables bill to take kids away from parents who seek trans-related medical procedures. I would go nuclear if this happened to my family. DeSantis is evil.
Florida extends "Don't Say Gay" to all grades
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/04/19/florida-bans-teaching-gender-identity-sexuality/
Texas Senate passes bill to require Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments, set aside prayer and Bible reading time. This was authored by the same schmuck who authored the bill that required "In God We Trust" signs be displayed at all Texas public schools.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/20/texas-senate-passes-ten-commandments-bill/
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Seven football coaches with the most pressure on them to succeed this season
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/seven-college-football-coaches-under-the-most-pressure-entering-the-2023-season/
Note: Wilcox not on the list
CAL
Does anyone else find it somewhat concerning that in Avi’s last two articles, the staff seems desperate to find both a QB and O line through the portal? With no corresponding news that we actually have secured any such commitments? Not exactly what you want to hear!
[MBB] Amorrow Morgan Joins Bears As Assistant Coach
https://calbears.com/news/2023/4/20/mens-basketball-amorrow-morgan-joins-bears-as-assistant-coach.aspx
BERKELEY – Amorrow Morgan, an up-and-coming star in the coaching ranks who helped lead Loyola Chicago to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021-22, has joined the California men's basketball program as an assistant coach, head coach Mark Madsen announced Thursday.
A well-respected leader with 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, Morgan arrives in Bear Territory following two seasons spent at Loyola Chicago (2021-23), where he helped the Ramblers win 35 total games and capture the 2021-22 Missouri Valley Conference title in addition to its NCAA Tournament berth. Morgan's previous stints include South Alabama and Nicholls State, among others.
[LAX] Cal Starts Extended Home Stretch Against Oregon
https://calbears.com/news/2023/4/20/lacrosse-cal-starts-extended-home-stretch-against-oregon.aspx
OREGON DUCKS (5-8, 1-6 PAC-12) at CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (4-10, 1-6 PAC-12)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023 • 3 PM PDT
CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL STADIUM • BERKELEY, CA
CAL STARTS EXTENDED HOME STRETCH AGAINST OREGON
— Cal knocked off Oregon, 13-12, in the teams' first meeting this season March 17 in Eugene as the Golden Bears scored the game's first three goals and never trailed but needed two crucial saves from Alicia Souliotis in the game's final four-and-a-half minutes to hold on for their first Pac-12 road win since a 2019 triumph at Arizona State and only their third since the Pac-12 began sponsoring lacrosse in 2018
[SB] Bears Cross Bay For The Big Series At No. 8 Stanford
https://calbears.com/news/2023/4/20/softball-bears-cross-bay-for-the-big-series-at-no-8-stanford.aspx
BERKELEY – The California softball team returns to Pac-12 play for a three-game set in the Big Series at No. 8 Stanford on Friday-Sunday.
The Golden Bears and Cardinal will open the weekend with a 6 p.m. PT first pitch on Friday on Pac-12 Bay Area, followed by a 2 p.m. PT start on Saturday airing on Pac-12 Los Angeles. The series wraps up on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.
[WROW] No. 7 Cal Set For Dual At No. 6 Washington
https://calbears.com/news/2023/4/20/womens-rowing-no-7-cal-set-for-dual-at-no-6-washington.aspx
BERKELEY – The No. 7 California women's rowing team will head on the road to take on No. 6 Washington at the Montlake Cut in Seattle on Saturday. Cal will send its top four eights along with its top four. The annual race between the two programs dates back to 1977, with Washington holding a 25-20 series advantage. Although the Huskies have won the last two duals, the Golden Bears won six straight between 2014-2019 and nine straight between 2004-2012.
The matchup between two of the top teams in the country will be for the Simpson Cup, given to the winner of the varsity eight race each year. The cup was donated by longtime Washington supporters Hunter and Dottie Simpson, whose daughter Anne rowed at Cal.
This year's dual also marks Cal women's rowing's Title IX celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic ruling that promoted gender equity in education and sports.
Go Bears!!!
Road trip games
GHOST
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_(game)
“Cow alert.” First one to call it out when setting a field of cows gets a point. Lose a point if it turns out to be a horse.
My sister and I used to play the alphabet game. We'd wait for the Liquor store at the Keller exit on 580.
Still play the state license plate game...
identify the car model by looking at tail lights
my college roommate and i used to do this. i would always lose since he was super into cars, but i think i was able to hold my own, especially on the American makes.
he also had a custom subwoofer setup that took up most of his truck space as well as nitrous to go extra FAST!!
I remember drilling those holes into the metal behind the sheets to get the bass to come through. Yeah that was a loud car.
we tortured our kids w/ "verbal math" on road trips in 4-7 yr old range.
https://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Lesson-Level-Step-Step/dp/0913063096
the idea was that if you can do math in your head w/o paper and pencil, it is much better for you.
for example, there are studies that 2nd graders are sometimes better than 5th graders at simple addition like 17+19. the generally accepted reasoning is that the 5th graders is trying to replicate what the would do on paper, ie 7+9 = 6 and carry the 1. whereas the 2nd grader just adds the tens first and the ones after that.
When I was in elementary school we had at least one long period of doing "mental arithmetic" to drill that in. For purposes of what I'll call "everyday math," it was one of the more useful learning experiences I had as a kid.