Dinger will be an even cooler cat with the Rivercats’ acquisition of the Merlino’s Freeze empire.
Given this new business development, what new flavors do you propose for a frosty treat?
Category: Sports
Frank Thomas Signs With A’s
Somebody kill a fatted calf. Frank Thomas has returned to Oakland.
Bee Article That Caught My Eye Today #2
The front page of the sports section today was dominated by a fun piece by Bee sportswriter Ahmed Ortiz. I’m not too familiar with Ahmed’s writing, mostly since I keep forgetting that these things called “Raiders” exist, and that’s Ortiz’s bread and butter. But he definitely caught my attention with today’s piece comparing the general flameout of Barry Zito to the other notable big-paycheck pitching flops of the last ten years.
My favorite bit was when he summed up Dodger pitcher Chan Ho Park as “another Boras special” and “a paper tiger,” the former comment referring to Scott Boras, the immanently unlikable “super agent” who always seems to be behind these ridiculously overpriced deals, the latter comment needing no explanation.
Good work, Ahmed.
It’s that time of the year again..
..when the fair weather parkway users dust off their bikes and baby joggers to hit our region’s treasures out in nature.
The American River Parkway is the most popular place in the area for all ages and fitness levels to get the blood pumping. If you’re unfamiliar with the rules and customs, please check out Tony Bizjak’s column today.
Here are the basics:
River Cats home opener tonight!
Tonight at 7:05 the River Cats take the field of Raley for the 2008 season home opener against the hated Las Vegas 51s. The Cats have won 3 straight behind solid hitting, and Dan Meyer looks to get a win in his first start tonight. I’ll be there and will post photos. There is a scheduled non-virtual meetup with Nick Miller who is doing gonzo blogging at River Chat and wrote this great feature on the Cats for SNR.
In preparation you should check the roster because it’s quite different from last year’s. Go Cats!
Two Kudos for the Bee
1) Not putting the new Neo Mnemonic movie, “Street Things” on the front page of the Ticket section. Rather than pimp a movie that once again has felt the wrath of Carla Meyer, the editorial staff wisely chose to feature a Second Saturday piece on the Ticket cover. Good choice. And as for Meyer’s review of “Street Wife”: not having seen the movie, I can’t comment on much more than to say that th review, as always, was well written and cogent, even though she subtly lauded Reeve’s and panned my hero, James Ellroy. Normally I’d be fuming about that pairing, but it’s too lovely a day to fume.
2) Giving the A’s just as much page as the Giants. Even though both teams won yesterday, the Bee resisted the temptation (a temptation to which the Bee usually succumbs) to splash a rather pedestrian Giants’ victory all over the sports section while relegating the A’s’ to the back pages. No doubt, the fact that either team has won a game, not to mention three games in a row, is something to celebrate. These are two teams that were described as respectively the worst opening day team ever seen (Giants), and a scrappy bunch of minor leaguers who might have a few thrilling victories amid a sea of shellackings (A’s (and yes, I used the word “Shellackings”)). So it’s nice to see the teams get equal billing on the marquee.
Mayoral race totally copies Simpsons
From a recent Kevin Johnson for Mayor campaign email, listing the recent activities of the campaign:
3. Thought you knew everything there was to know about “The Dunk”, Kevin’s infamous thunder-dunk on NBA Hall-of-Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon — one of the most famous NBA clips of all time? Think again, and check out an amazing video where Kevin tells — in his own words — how it really went down…see the “Recent Videos” section at our homepage http://www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com, or email this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kidpegzfFc) to your friends.
As always, from The Simpsons, “Brother’s Little Helper“:
Bart: But why, Mr McGwire?
Mark McGwire: Do you want to know the terrifying truth? Or do you want to see me sock a few dingers!
Everyone: Dingers! Dingers!
(Mark McGwire socks a dinger, and as everyone looks at the dinger, he takes the info from the satellite.)
Mark McGwire: Yoink.
Do you want a mayor who talks boring tax stuff? Or do you want a mayor who can dunk over Hakeem freakin Olajuwon??!! You decide, Sacramento…
High School Basketball Fever! Catch it!
Tomorrow, the CIF will bring the best high school basketball teams from Northern California to Arco Arena for the NorCal championship games. Next weekend, the NorCal champs will face the SoCal winners in the finals. The Sac-Joaquin Section boasts several teams that have a shot at the state championship, so let’s get pumped and show some support! Woo!
In Division 1, Kennedy has the #2 raked girls team in NorCal. They will face #1 ranked Berkeley High in the semi-finals to see who will face the SoCal champion.
In Division 2 girls, #1 St. Francis will face #6 Archbishop Mitty.
The game of the year is definitely the Division 3 girls semi-final, with the only two undefeated teams in California vying for the NorCal title. #2 St. Mary’s of Stockton (GO RAMS!!!!!) will face #1 Sacred Heart Cathedral (SF).
The Division 3 boys match features a battle of the upsetting underdogs, with #7 Sacramento High battling #6 Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Best of luck to all of our local teams!
KJ for mayor??
The News & Review’s Cosmo Garvin is reporting that Kevin Johnson is rumored to be considering a run for mayor and could announce his candidacy as early as tomorrow (I think; SNR says “Friday, January 24”). Garvin of course brings up the Bee’s report last fall about citations at KJ’s Oak Park properties. I wonder how Mayor Fargo will deal with that.
P.S. Thanks to FFT for posting it
Local Boy Makes Good, Really Good!
According to the AP, local (Woodland) product Dustin Pedroia has won the American League Rookie of the Year award. Voting wasn’t even close, with the Red Sox second baseman getting 24 of 28 first place votes. It’s a nice trophy to put on his mantle next to his World Series championship ring, but I’m sure the biggest accolade he could hope for is a RIGHT AWN! from the ‘Rag.
So here’s to Dustin Pedroia- RIGHT AWN!
The Sac Rag 