Category: Sports

Attention Kings fans

Although I have a inexplicable disdain for him, I wanted to let you know that News10 will be airing the new ABC series “NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad” this Saturday at 3 p.m. This week’s episode will focus on the recent Ron Artest trade through the eyes of Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

NBA.com: What will we learn about you and your brother?

JM (Joe Maloof): Well, we’re not necessarily the jet-setters and the playboys that people think we are and that we have a lot of passion for our team. I think they know that, but we’re committed to trying to bring a title to Sacramento. We live and die with the Kings. We have a lot of other businesses, but we really love the Kings.

Committed you say?

SPORTS NEWS BULLETIN!!!!!

Huge news in local sports! The sports world is abuzz with talk of a pending deal that could change the face of NorCal sports as we know it. Yes, that’s right, the Oakland A’s are signing the Frank Thomas to a 1yr contract for the 2006 season. Oh yeah baby! The “Big Hurt” is coming to the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Look out Angels, move over White Sox, Yankees beware! It’s going to be a banner year for the A’s, the worlds greatest baseball team.

It’d be great if we could just figure out how to get people to show up to games.

Peja Traded; Rap Mogul/Noted Player Ron Artest Coming to Sacramento

UPDATE: Rumors are swirling that the deal is off. Damn unstable players and their psychotic tendencies.

Extra, extra, read all about it.

Even the most casual fans know Artest, possibly because he was suspended for most of last season after inciting a massive brawl in Detroit’s Palace of Auburn Hills. Also, you may know him as the guy who shaved the name of his record label into the back of his head.

Peja spent 6+ seasons here in Sacramento. He’s off to the Indiana Pacers, presumably to get his stroke back and become an All-Star caliber shooter again.

Lock up the women and children. Or at least do that when the Kings are next scheduled to come home, a week from today.

How bout them Kings?

My recent addition of Kenny Thomas from the waiver wire to my fantasy hoops squad ended up being a major coup. (I have McGrady, Yao, and Corey Maggette, so things are not looking good right now.) 22 and 15 over Matrix? Nice. Triple double last night? Triple nice.

Sports! Sports! Tacos! Sports! vol. 2*

* Tacos not available.

We at The Sac Rag are remiss for not covering local sports to the same depth that we devote to, say, the body image of local newscasters. That being said, there are two interesting sports stories in the news today. First up, a little sports outfit known as ESPN released their latest 2006 NCAA basketball tournament bracket projections on Monday, giving our own Sacramento State Hornets a projected berth as a 14 seed. That is huge news, as I don’t think the Hornets have enjoyed a winning season as long as I have been a Sacramentan. The current first-round matchup pits Sac State against tournament darlings Gonzaga, and the road out of Oakland goes through UConn, but getting into the field of 64 would be a huge thing for Sac State.
Continue reading “Sports! Sports! Tacos! Sports! vol. 2*”

Unbelieva-bowl Prices

On Wednseday, January 18th 2006, Country Club Lanes in Sacramento is hosting the “Drive The Lanes Wth Peja, Vlade And Friends at The 4th Annual Charitabowl.” This purpose of this event, which is not easily obtained from the site, is to raise funds for Peja’s Foundation. Great, good for them. Lanes are going for $3,500 big ones and general admission (you get to watch and hang out!) is $50. With the GA ticket you get “Autograph opportunities w/select players” and “Picture opportunities w/select players.” With an emphasis on “w/select players” of course. “Hey, Mom, I got Luke Schenscher’s autograph last night!”

The reason I know about this event, you see, is that I recently enjoyed me some bowling at the CC lanes. You remember bowling, right? That favorite collegiate pastime where, for a handful of student loan doll hairs, you could consume a pitcher or two of your favorite watered down lager, hurl a 16 pound ball down a lane in an attempt to knock down neatly stacked pins, and talk about that cute girl you met in Sosh class. Well, my reader (ok, I think I am up to three), times they have a changed.
Continue reading “Unbelieva-bowl Prices”

Attack of the 120-year old outfield

There are enough A’s and Giants fans in Sacramento that they can be considered fair game for a post, right? That question was purely rhetorical. Here’s what prompted me to bring my beloved Gigantes de beisbol into the mix: In this offseason, after the failed experiment bringing 40 year old Moises Alou into the outfield with 42 year old Barry Bonds (no, I didn’t check), it would have been a mildly amusing joke to wonder aloud, “what’s next, bring in like Steve Finley or something?” Well… You gotta be freakin kidding me.

Thunder down under

This last Saturday, I had the opportunity to check out the hottest ticket in Stockton – at least for Saturday. The Stockton Thunder, the city’s new ECHL hockey franchise (equivalent to AA baseball, I suppose), played their first game in their new arena, conveniently called the Stockton Arena.

As a hockey fan who has been to many an NHL arena, I must admit that this new venue proves itself to be a great place to watch a hockey game. And, aside from a couple of glitches during the night, the entertainment value is high. The 10,000 seat arena has great sight lines, and for $15, our seats were almost ice level. Being the home opener and first game in this building, the atmosphere was electric: the fans were LOUD, rabid and boisterous. The hockey is obviously not NHL or AHL level, but certainly very competitive. Hopefully, the city continues to support the pucking sport in their city the way they did on Saturday. It does make you wonder, though, why Sacramento never got in on this action – but that’s a post for another time.

stockton thunder 12-10-2005 030 low res.jpg

Everything was well done, save one item. The Stockton Thunder’s mascot, Thor, was a bit of a joke. The dude couldn’t skate, and came out in the second intermission wearing boots on the ice instead of skates. And he’s hokey too – looks like something some kids made during arts and crafts camp. ThunderPeople, please, do something with that thing.

All in all, it was great hockey to watch for a low price, with great fans too. If you’re ever looking for something to do, check out a Thunder game.

Save it, stretch

Some don’t-miss piss and vinegar from Heckasac this morning on Aileen Voisin’s most recent call for a new home for da Kings. I never quite buy the argument that the pharoah skipping town unless the serfs build him a new pyramid is the serfs’ fault. If it’s purely a business decision, then the people have the power to pay or not pay, just as much as the owers have the power to stay or not stay. Me rhymey.