"The Secret Rivalry" - Miramonte vs. St. Mary's (Stockton) Girls Hoops

By Josh Hunsucker (@jphunsucker) 

Mats Junior Guard Sabrina Lonescu draws the double team in the Mats NorCal Final with St. Mary’s

Eleven years ago I watched one of my sister’s best friends walk off the basketball court for the last time. Heartbroken, Brittany Boswell, the ’04-’05 DFAL MVP couldn’t hold back tears after a hard fought 63-54 loss to St. Mary’s of Stockton in the Division III NorCal Finals. Brittany paced the Mats with 15 points but the USC bound and future Minnesota Lynx guard Jacki Gemelos would not be denied. The junior poured in a game high 24 points and the Rams moved onto the State Championship game where they ultimately fell to Bishop Amat 56-53.

Driving home I thought this would likely be one of the last Miramonte girls hoops games I would ever attend or likely care about. My high school life was disproportionally inundated with girls basketball. My sports summers were spent locally playing passing league at DVC, hooping in the Oakland Neighborhood League and the Jewish Community Center in Rossmour, and running up the legendary hill behind Paul Yriberri field. My sister’s sports summers, on the other hand, consisted of traveling up and down California, Las Vegas, Branson, and Orlando as a member of the East Bay Xplosion.

For those who don’t know about AAU basketball, the early ‘00s Eastbay Xplosion was a murders row of talent. For starters, the Paris Twins, Courtney and Ashley, offspring of former 49ers tackle Bubba Paris, anchored the team. Both went on to play at Oklahoma, where Courtney took home NCAA Player of the Year her sophomore year and was the first four-time All-American in college basketball history. She currently plays for the Tulsa Shock. The list goes on, Megan Niedermeyer (UC San Diego), Golden Bears Ashley Walker, Alexis Gray-Lawson, Devenei Hampton, and Shantrell Sneed, Matador and Colorado State Ram Molly Molly Nohr, and Jenae Morris another Tulsa Shock player. The top talent from the Bay Area was on this team as well as two local products, my sister Sarah and Brittany. I had to drive my sister to local games on weekends but the fringe benefit was I got to travel to Orlando each summer. All I had to do was watch the games and have fun at Disney World, tough life.

After years of watching Xplosion hoops and seeing more future Mats join the squad, I developed a connection and personal rooting interest with the Lady Mats, aside from my general love of basketball. I was there when in 2004 when my sister’s team was upset early in the NCS playoffs her senior season. I was there in 2002 when the team led by Tori Markey won NorCal at UC Davis then nearly pulled an incredible comeback victory in the State Finals before falling short to Bishop Montgomery 60-55. I stayed connected through Britany’s season because she was the last bastion of that Eastbay Xplosion/Miramonte crew that I watched for so many years. So when Brittany walked off the floor for the final time as a Mat, I thought my era of Miramonte girls basketball was over.

Tori Markey hugs Jenny Brasch after she fouls out in the final moments of the Mats loss to Bishop Montgomery in 2002. 

When I got back to my apartment, my then girlfriend (current wife) asked me who won. As I told her, a vicious smile creeped across her face. “Never had a doubt,” she said. And there it began, my second act in following Lady Mats hoops. My wife is a Stocktonian, born and raised, not to mention a St. Mary’s alum. She is obnoxiously a Ram and has the stats to back it up. She owns the school record pole vault (allegedly still stands) and key member of the 2001 Volleyball team that lost by two in game five of the State Championship. So when she started to run her mouth after the Mats lost I only wanted Miramonte to beat the Rams.

Over the next ten years, both programs would become perennial powers in their respective CIF sections. The Mats have won the DFAL seven times and taken home the North Coast section title four times in the last ten years. Not to mention being ranked 47, 23, and 7th in the nation over the course of the last three years. The Rams have been even more dominant, their Max Preps page reads like the rafters of the Boston Garden, only the three straight State Championships are mentioned in their achievements. A three-peat run from 2009-2011 that saw the Rams beat SoCal powerhouses Inglewood 71-62, Bishop Amat 89-41 in a dish served cold drubbing, and Rialto 64-48. A little digging shows the Rams won the Tri City League each of the last ten years, eight section titles, four NorCal titles, and were nationally ranked eight times.

From sporting green and white unis to generally being disliked by all other local high schools for being the “rich white kids,” both programs oddly have a lot in common. St. Mary’s is a private school and Miramonte is a public school’s best impression of a private school. Both started as smaller Division III schools and built their way. Both schools built their programs on player continuity on AAU teams, which pipelined talent into the programs. The Stockton Mavericks are basically the East Bay Xplosion equivalency for the Central Valley (although the Xplosion did poach the aforementioned Jackie Gemelos for a few summers). Both programs have also had strong leadership at the coaching position. Miramonte was led by legendary Coach Darrell Hirashima Sr. and is currently having great success under Kelly Sopak. In Stockton, Tom Gonsalves had been at the helm for over a decade and has turned the small Catholic school into a national power.  

Watching both programs grow and compete yearly in the state playoff race has been eerily similar to the 49ers-Packers rivalry of the mid-90s. The teams have played each other five out of the last ten years in the state playoffs with the Rams having a Green Bay-esque 4-1 edge. The first two tilts in 2008 and 2010 were lopsided 19 and 22-point wins for St. Mary’s. However, the recent clashes have been epic. The Mats and Rams have played in the last three state playoffs with the Rams and Mats exchanging wins int eh NorCal quarters in 2013 and 2014.

This year’s tilt saw two top-ten nationally ranked teams square off for a place in the State Title Game at Cal. Once again the 3rd ranked Rams outpaced the Mats early and weathered a third quarter Mats run to head “down state” winning 67-52. For the Rams, it was business as usual as they are 36 minutes away from their school’s fourth state title. For the Mats, it was another biter defeat at the hands of their state playoff nemesis with only the hope of next year to look to for comfort. As for me, I’ll begrudging be rooting for the Rams this Saturday because if there is anything worse than losing to your rival its losing to SoCal.

Miramonte’s Sabrina Lonescu and St. Mary’s Kat Tudor embrace after a hard fought NorCal Finals

The California HS Basketball State Championships Come to Berkeley

By Connor Buestad (connorbuestad@gmail.com)

For as long as one can remember, the boys hoops state title games have always been played up in Sacramento, inside the home of the Kings. But fortunately for Bay Area basketball fans, the event has shifted down to the home of the Bears, as this weekend the capital of California's amateur hoops scene will be in Berkeley at Haas Pavilion. 

Including girls, Haas will host at total of twelve games this weekend, from Friday afternoon through Saturday night. The boys schools representing the Bay will include San Francisco's University High, Campolindo of Moraga, San Ramon Valley, Archbishop Mitty of San Jose and the Bishop O' Dowd Dragons of Oakland. 

On Friday at 12 noon, University High will kick things off in Berkeley when they square off with Sierra Canyon High School in the Division 5 title. That afternoon, at 4pm, the Campolindo Cougars will take on Damien High School in the Division 3 championship. Campo is looking to continue an incredible year of sports in Moraga. One that saw Campo win their first state championship in football with a dramatic fourth quarter comeback. Lastly at 8pm on Friday, San Ramon Valley will try to win the Division 1 title over Chino Hills. 

On Saturday the action will resume in Berkeley with the Division 2 bracket crowning their champion. Archbishop Mitty, the alma mater of Aaron Gordon is back in the spotlight as they take on La Mirada at 4pm. Finally, at 8pm, Bishop O' Dowd will meet Mater Dei in the Open Division (the highest division) state championship. O' Dowd features electrifying forward Ivan Rabb, who in a few weeks will be headed to Chicago to play in the McDonald's All-American game. We can only hope the dynamic 6'11" scorer will be playing in a CAL Bears jersey next season. He'd have to say no to the likes of Arizona and Kentucky to do so.

Last year Rabb matched up with current Arizona star Stanley Johnson when the Dragons lost handily to Mater Dei in Sacramento. Saturday's state title rematch should be something to see. Stay close to @Section925 all weekend for updates and photos...

Section 925 Podcast Episode 52 - Nate Weidner Weighs in on 49ers Turmoil

Lifelong season ticket holder Nate Weidner (@Nate_Weidner) calls-in to lament an extremely rough week in the 49ers offseason. Nate gives his thoughts on Frank Gore's departure, Patrick Willis' sudden retirement, and Bruce Miller's arrest. Weidner also takes us inside the SF Giants World Series locker room celebration and touches on the upcoming Masters.

Listen here: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2015-03-12T21_45_25-07_00

Or on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/section925-podcenter/id554906376?mt=2#episodeGuid=http%3A%2F%2Fsection925blog.podomatic.com%2Fentry%2F2015-03-12T21_45_25-07_00

Section 925 Bracket Pool

Attention Section 925ers:

The ball is tipped, there you are... The Section925 Bracket is open for business. This years bracket winner will take an Oakland A's prize pack (see below) and can pick it up at the Section 925 A's Opening Day Tailgate in Lot A on April 6th.

Here is the link for the Section 925 Bracket: http://1shiningmoment.mayhem.cbssports.com/e?ttag=BPM15_em_cbsinv

The password to get into the group is: hoops

As always we will use +Seed scoring and a 'Ship tiebreaker. Section925 will provide round-by-round updates.

Feel free to share with fellow Section 925ers or 415ers or 212ers or 209ers or whatever...

Section 925 Podcast Episode 49 - CAL Football Coach Jacob Peeler

CAL Inside Receivers coach Jacob Peeler (@PeelsJP) joins Tripper to share his inside perspective on Bears football. Coach Peeler, a central Mississippi native, discusses his journey to Berkeley by way of Louisiana Tech. He also talks about life on the recruiting trail and discusses CAL's latest class of talented freshman.

Listen...

Here: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2015-02-20T07_53_23-08_00

Or on iTunes...

Here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/section925-podcenter/id554906376?mt=2#episodeGuid=http%3A%2F%2Fsection925blog.podomatic.com%2Fentry%2F2015-02-20T07_53_23-08_00

“At First Blush” - The Current West Coast College Hoops Landscape

By Connor Buestad (connorbuestad@gmail.com)

With Selection Sunday just one month away (March 15th), we figure it’s no longer too early to dive into a bit of Bracketology with a decidedly west coast bias. Of course, for reasons unbeknownst to anyone, Joe Lundari is the godfather of modern bracketology. And although he currently doubles as a marketing staffer for St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, he still shows love to west coast bubble teams. Namely in 2009 when he punched St. Mary’s (CA) ticket for the NCAA’s in his faux bracket, only to watch in horror when the Gaels were left out of the Big Dance that year. Creighton was the only other school that Lunardi incorrectly invited to the Dance in ‘09.

By mid-February, Lunardi’s bracket predictions start to take shape and at least half-resemble what the actual tournament will look like come March. So let’s take a second to explore what’s been happening out west in the world of college hoops. Who on the left coast should be polishing up their dancing shoes? Some of the names Lunardi has penciled in might surprise you.

--

Let’s start in the Big Sky Conference, where the Sacramento State Hornets are having their best basketball season in god knows how long. Led by the sensational scorer Mikh McKinny who played JUCO ball in Fremont before transferring up to Sacramento, the Hornets find themselves in second place in the conference just behind Eastern Washington. Lunardi has liked what he’s seen out of Sacramento enough to put them in the Dance as a 16 seed. This would give them a spot in the first-round “play in” game, and their reward for winning would be a matchup with Kentucky. But hey, YOU NEVER KNOW, right? But first things first, Sac needs to make the NCAA tourney, and this will likely require them to win the Big Sky Conference tournament. Traditionally, the team that wins the Big Sky regular season gets to host the conference tournament. Unfortunately, the “Hornets Nest” only seats eleven-hundred folks. So if they host, they’ll host in Reno, Nevada. Trip to Reno for the 2015 Big Sky tournament anyone??

--

Exemplary basketball is also being played down the road in Davis this year. The UC Davis Aggies are sitting atop the Big West Conference with a 9-1 record. This has impressed Uncle Joe enough to grant UCD a 14 seed in the 2015 Dance.

Since becoming a Division 1 basketball team, UC Davis has not had a winning record. However, I suppose that isn’t such a big deal in Big West hoops when you consider Cal Poly made the 2014 NCAA’s while sporting a losing record. They even won their first tournament game.

Irregardless, Davis is really good this year and it is because of their lights out shooting. Who shoots it for them you ask? Hersey Hawkins' son, Corey. The younger Hawkins sports a similar stroke to his father, and after transferring over from Arizona State, he has finally come into his own as a prolific scorer. If the Aggies can win the Big West Tourney at the Anaheim Pond this March, there’s no reason to believe they can’t ride some streaky shooting to the Sweet Sixteen. Now wouldn’t that be something.

--

Down the coast in San Diego, Steve Fisher is still kicking at the age of 69 (he turns 70 in March). Suddenly a staple in the tournament, the Aztecs are good yet again, and it is because of their smothering, 40-minutes-of-hell type defense. Colorado State is also a formidable squad this year, thus Lunardi has two Mountain West teams as NCAA contenders (SDSU as a 9 seed and Colorado State as a 10 seed).

College hoops junkies the world over were saddened by the passing of Jerry Tarkanian last week. “Tark the Shark” coached two current Mountain West teams during his career, UNLV and Fresno State. Both of these squads find themselves in the middle of the pack in conference play. Perhaps one of which will make a surprise run at conference tournament title in Tark’s honor? Get out to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas March 12-14 to see for yourself...

--

That same weekend in March, Vegas will also host the PAC-12 tournament at the MGM Grand. Last year’s winner was UCLA. This year the prohibitive favorite will be Arizona. The Wildcats are seemingly stacked at every position and are currently 21-3. Lunardi only has them as a 2 seed, but this Arizona team reminds some people of the Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, Miles Simon 1998 team. Well, maybe they're not quite at that level. But a Kentucky-Arizona NCAA battle in 2015 would be a real treat.

Utah is the second best team in the PAC thus far this year with a 9-2 conference record. Even if Keith Van Horn isn’t walking through that door, Lunardi has them as a 3 seed.

As is usually the case the PAC-12, the middle of the conference standings are quite crowded. Oregon, Stanford, Oregon State, and UCLA could all make a case for having a tournament worthy resume. Hell, even the CAL Bears, who are just 6-6 in conference still have a shot at NCAA glory due to their recent five game winning streak highlighted by a slew of last second victories. When the dust settles, Lunardi expects we’ll see just four PAC-12 teams in the Dance. Right now those teams are Arizona, Utah, Stanford, and UCLA.

--

The conference that boasts the best team on the west coast is Gonzaga. Well, if you think they’re better than Arizona, that is. The Zags are really damn good again, due in large part to a phenomenal backcourt duo in Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos. Coach Mark Few also has brought some bench scoring to Spokane by way of Lithuania. Arvydas Sabonis’ 6’10” son, Domantas, is scoring 10 points a game off the bench for the Zags this season. Naturally, Lunardi has Gonzaga as a 1 seed. Whether they finally make a Final Four run is another story entirely.

The mighty Gales of St. Mary’s have managed to retain the second spot in the conference this year behind 20 points a game from senior Brad Waldow. Senior point guard Kerry Carter has also been a leader for the Gaels. Credit Randy Bennett with putting together yet another solid team Moraga. The coach won his 300th game for the Gaels this year and even though he doesn’t have Aussies Patty Mills or Matthew Dellavedova to work with, he’s still winning games.

As always, we endorse an early March getaway to Orleans Arena in Vegas to watch the grossly underrated WCC Tournament. Not only will Zags and Gaels have high powered teams to watch, but BYU certainly will too. The Cougars gave Gonzaga a run for their money in last year’s tourney, and this year should be no different. Senior Tyler Haws is averaging 22 PPG and his running mate Kyle Collinsworth is one of the best rebounding guards in America.

It won’t be long before Championship Week is again upon us and Dickie V is screaming at you on TV from his living room. And he might just be hollering about the UC Davis Aggies and Sac State Hornets out west. That is if they “pass the eye test” over the next 30 days. But whatever happens in the madness of March, Jerry Tarkanian will be watching from heaven with a towel in his mouth.

Section 925 Podcast Episode 47 - NFL Postseason Wrap and A's Preview

Josh (@jphunsucker) and Kelly (@kellyliz1321) put a bow on the NFL season and discuss their feelings about the upcoming Oakland A's season in the mobile podcenter on their way to A's Fanfest.

Check it out here: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2015-02-10T00_50_57-08_00

Bob Melvin is My Spirit Animal: Thoughts on the Upcoming Season

Bob Melvin, or BoMel as those of us who know and love him refer to him, is the brightest star shining in the Athletics' sky. BoMel came to the A’s right around when my fandom was beginning to move from an every now and then kind of viewer to an every game possible fan, back in 2011. 2011 was a great year for our household. I will never forget opening day of that year. We were in Columbus, Georgia as my husband (and fellow Section 925er, @Jphunsucker) was gearing up for the Best Ranger Competition. Out walks Josh in every piece of A’s gear he had packed with him and demanded I take an opening day photo. This photo marks the dawn of a new era of Athletics baseball in our house.

In May of 2011, we moved from Kansas back to the great state of California and back to televised A’s games. A month after we moved home BoMel was named intermin manager. In the fall, Josh took up law school and I had a lot of time on my hands with a baby and another on the way. Enter: A’s games. Each day passed with the soothing sounds of Glen Kuiper and Ray Fosse. These broadcasters and the players were my saving grace. I would see BoMel out there managing the team with a controlled calmness about him. No matter which way the game was swinging, if the camera panned over to him, I felt reassured. He was a steady force of nature, never swaying in the face of adversity. I would ask myself, as children were melting down, throwing a tantrum, or existing on minimal sleep… how would BoMel handle this?

Now obviously I’ve never seen the man manage the team on a day-to-day basis. But looking at the last four years, his stats speak for themselves: clenching the AL West in 2012 and 2013 and limping to an early wild card game exit in 2014. I can only assume that he has extraordinary motivating skills. He has foresight to allow the players to be themselves and he fosters an environment that is conducive to bonding amongst teammates.

I think this year is when we will see BoMel thrive. Last season had some extreme highs and lows. We lost a lot of players in the offseason and I think the general feel is that fans are just unsure at this point what the team is going to look like. This is the moment when I look to my spirit animal and feel comforted. Don't worry guys, he’s got this. He’s going to get the team to gel and come together in time for opening day.

Yesterday at Fanfest he said this, “Our fans are as constant as anything we have around here. They come out and support this group, root them on, and inspire them. We brought on guys that we think are going to make us better. It’s as simple as that.”

I think its safe to say he’s not worried. Therefore, neither am I. I’m the opposite. I haven’t been this excited for the season… maybe ever. I love how we operate when we’re the underdogs. A little bit of adversity goes a long way with this club. That, combined with some fresh new faces who are just excited to be in Oakland (who wouldn't be?), is going to make for an exciting season. Get me to April 6^th!

If You Love Sports: Steven Gerrard's Last Merseyside Derby

 

By: Josh Hunsucker (@jphunsucker)

Today is Steven Gerrard’s last Merseyside Derby. For most Americans this means absolutely nothing. Aside from World Cup jingoism every four years, most Americans generally fall into one or more of these camps: 1) soccer is not a “real” sport, 2) soccer players are p****ies who just flop all the time, 3) only hipsters like soccer, or 4) soccer is boring because no one scores. Nothing that follows will try and convince you otherwise but if you believe in sports heroes and can suspend any soccer-based prejudices, keep reading. I truly believe in sports heroes. That being said I am a full-fledged sports junkie. I watched Curling Night in America on NBCSN last night for God’s sake (huge 6-3 win for the U.S. over New Zealand!).

In 2002, I met Steven Gerrard when England was playing Spain in my Displaced Faithful buddy Huss’ (@HAlshibib) apartment on PS2. I knew little about soccer and less about Gerrard but soon after we began to play something made an impression on me. Maybe is it was the way the British announcers distinctly pronounced his name, maybe it was the swashbuckling way he bombed down the pitch, but probably it was his passing. Even in the world of crisp video game passing the guy was amazing. I didn't know if he was a fringe guy on the England team or if he was a superstar, I just knew he was my guy.

That same year four British exchange students moved in next door. On the first night of many cross cultural exchanges over our shared love of beer I noticed a number 17 (he's been 28, 17, and 8 for the Reds), Gerrard, Liverpool jersey hanging on the wall. In a horrible English accent I expressed my nascent love for the crisp passing Gerrard asking if he was a real life passing prodigy. Over the next hours and deep into the night I got a history lesson. I learned how he grew up in Liverpool and was a hometown hero, how the previous season (2000-01) Gerrard started every game for a Liverpool team that won the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup, how he was voted Young Player of the Year, and that yes, that he was a passing God.

Over the next decade I watched as Stevie G not only amassed individual and team honors, he became synonymous with Liverpool. He is still the only soccer player ever to score a goal in an FA Cup, League Cup, and Champions League final. Even in seasons where Liverpool stumbled Gerrard shined. He was a constant measure of excellence at midfield for Liverpool for over 15 years. He won every individual award you can think of and only a league championship has escaped him. Last year, Liverpool was in the driver seat for the Premier League title until, in heartbreaking fashion, Gerrard slipped leading to a Chelsea goal that ripped away the one trophy Gerrard had yet to kiss. The heartbreak was palpable but Gerrard, the team's captain, owned it.

Earlier this year Stevie G retired from international soccer and later announced this would be his last year at Liverpool. This summer he will throw on the hated jersey of the L.A. Galaxy. Another fading European star to live out his days in America. In August, hundreds of Liverpool fans, myself included, will fill the San Jose Earthquakes’ new stadium clad in Liverpool red to cheer the man most of us have only seen on TV. Today, Gerrard is set to play his last Merseyside Derby, a cross-town match against rival Everton (aka Tim Howard’s team). He has 15 more games for the Reds, this one, his 33^rd Derby, is likely the most massive. Most of the time you don't realize what you had until its gone. However, Liverpool fans are all too aware of the Red's impending loss in leadership, on field excellence, and, yes, passing  when Gerrard moves to L.A.

In minutes he will take the field at Goodison Park for the final time. He has one more chance to further cement his legacy as one of the greats in Liverpool history. If you love sports and believe in sports heroes you will tune in.

"Recurring Hoop Dreams" - The Section Visits Chicago's Marshall Metro High School

View fullsize

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

The critical acclaim of the memorable and moving 1994 documentary, “Hoop Dreams” can speak for itself. When it premiered in Utah at the Sundance Film Festival, it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. Later it became an Academy Award nominee for Best Film Editing. Roger Ebert has gone on record calling it “The great American documentary.” High praise, especially for a film that was originally planned to be nothing more than a 30-minute PBS short.

We can all agree why the half-hour PBS project turned into must-see three hour marathon of heartache, triumph, and more heartache. It was raw, uncut and real. A happy ending was never guaranteed or even expected. It was completely up to the flawed characters on your screen to come through. Characters like Arthur Agee and William Gates. Teenagers trying to navigate the unforgiving streets of inner-city Chicago in the early 1990’s.

The amount of drama that unfolds in “Hoop Dreams” and the sheer improbability and jubilation with the Marshall Commandos 1991 playoff run “Downstate” sometimes makes the viewer forget how real the story actually was. As soon as Arthur and William turned in their respective high school jerseys and went off to college and the cameras stopped rolling, the struggle of real life in inner-city Chicago never slowed. And the stories related to the characters never stopped piling up. Arthur still lives in Chicago and attends Commandos games when he has the chance. William's coach, Gene Pingatore, is still leading St. Joseph’s, in his 45th season, at the age of 78. And that is just the beginning.

View fullsize

--

As perhaps you can imagine, hoop dreams still very much exist in Chicago. And for the lucky few, those dreams are realized. Just ask Derrick Rose, or Jabari Parker, or Jahlil Okafor, or even Marshall alum Patrick Beverley. All have made the NBA or are well on their way. And their path went through the Chicago Public School League. Last month, I paid a visit to Marshall Metro High School, 24 years after Arthur Agee took his team "Downstate."

The gym is still on the second floor of the school, discretely tucked in between classrooms and offices. There are still just five rows of bleachers on each side of the court. There are still un-retractable basketball hoops that hang over the stands that fans dance under to the rhythm of rap music during timeouts. The grand, church-like windows still overlook the court with the curtains open to let in the early evening light. There is still very little room for fans to walk along the sidelines. The passion for basketball remains just has high. The pace of the game still frenetic. Mom’s in the stands still cuss out the underpaid refs following every close call.

One of the only changes I can decipher inside the Commandos home gym is the court itself. It is clean and new-looking, with a glossy finish. “Luther Bedford Court” it reads. An ode to the Agee’s coach who died at the age of 69 following a long and distinguished career as the head coach at Marshall.

Beside that, it really did look no different that it appeared in 1991. Save for a collection of banners in the rafters that have been won in the last quarter century and a retired Patrick Beverley jersey; the former Marshall point guard who came years after Arthur and currently plays for the Houston Rockets.

The 2015 version of the Marshall Commandos are by no means a powerhouse, but they aren’t a pushover either. Just like the Agee era, they are right in the thick of things in their league. An unlikely participant in the state tournament, but athletic and aggressive enough to make an honest run come late February.

Tickets are $5 at the door to this particular Friday night Public League tilt between the Commandos and the Spartans of Orr High School. Orr was coming off a win over Whitney Young, a Chicago powerhouse where Michael Jordan’s son played, not to mention where Jahlil Okafor starred just last year before graduating to Duke.

As is tradition, the sophomore game comes first. The pace of the game blurring, the shooting leaving much to be desired. All ten kids on the floor can handle the ball and break down their defender to get to the rim. Rarely an offensive set is run. For each acrobatic layup made, a crucial free throw is missed. Among the footwear, Nike is still the king of the court. The Jordan emblem still omnipresent.

Standing with a current Marshall science teacher, she fills me in on the colorful backstories of the skinny freshman and sophomores sprinting up and down in front of me, hucking 3’s, loudly finishing And-1’s, diving for loose balls and trying to make the varsity and eventually the NBA. The brief stories are what you would expect. “The trouble maker,” “the lovable benchwarmer,” “the super-star in the making (if he gets his grades right).” It’s a list of characteristics that every high school team has but the stories become darker when she points out a man on the sidelines. He is at the end of the Marshall bench. The same area that Arthur’s dad Bo used to occupy during big Commandos games in 1991. The man’s name is Shawn Harrington. He was Agee’s teammate on the “Hoop Dreams” team. Today, he is paralyzed in a wheelchair.

View fullsize

--

In the middle of last year’s basketball season, on Thursday, January 30th to be exact, Shawn Harrington woke up to drive his 14-year old daughter to school. Harrington was the assistant basketball coach at Marshall, but he was driving his daughter to a more selective school. His car was in the shop getting repaired, so he was driving a rented white sedan instead. It was just him and his daughter in the car when the two were sitting at a Chicago stoplight at 7:45 in the morning. That’s when two men ran up to the car and opened fire. Allegedly, it was a case of mistaken identity. The worst kind of bad luck. Harrington leaned over to shield his daughter and was hit by a series of bullets. One of which paralyzed him. Less than a year later, he was back on the Marshall sidelines in his wheelchair, supporting the team he both played and coached for.

Sadly, Coach Harrington’s story of gruesome gun violence in Chicago is closer to the norm than the exception, especially when it pertains to the characters of “Hoop Dreams” and their families.

The year “Hoop Dreams” was released in ‘94, Arthur’s half-brother DeAntonio was shot and killed. In 2001, William Gates’ older brother Curtis was murdered. In 2003, Shawn Harrington’s mother was killed during a botched break-in. In 2004, Arthur’s father Bo was slain behind his house. In sum, it is a chilling laundry list of unnecessary violence.

There is a memorable quote toward the end of “Hoop Dreams” from Bo Agee when he asks the camera out of frustration, “Do you understand what is going on out here in these streets?” Fast forward twenty four years from that quote, and the question still deserves the same amount of contemplation. Shawn Harrington’s wheelchair on the Marshall sideline is the latest reminder.

Even despite “what is going on in the Chicago streets” today, if we learned anything from “Hoop Dreams,” it’s that there is always room for a redemption song of sorts.

Gun violence didn’t have much of a presence on screen in “Hoop Dreams” but plenty of other adversity did. Starting off with when Arthur was forced to leave St. Joseph’s after his freshman year because his parents, (his mother a nurse with a bad back and his father troubled by drugs), couldn’t afford to pay their son’s tuition. Or when William, a can’t miss NBA prospect suffered a career-altering knee injury. Or when Arthur works on his newfound dunking skills while he watches his strung-out dad sell drugs on the very same blacktop, right in front of him. Or when Arthur turns 18, and the family’s monthly government income drops from $368 a month to $268. Or William trying to raise a newborn baby stuffed inside a since demolished Cabrini-Green project building. Or the Agees having the lights shut off because they simply couldn’t pay the bill.

Of course, much to director Steve James’ delight, things miraculously come together at the end of “Hoop Dreams” in a very special way. Wearing his idol Isiah Thomas’ number 11, Arthur leads a team labeled as the “Giant Killers” to a Chicago City Title and a deep run into the state championship tournament, all the way down to Champaign and the University of Illinois. Complete with the bright lights of a BIG 10 arena, television coverage and spreads in the Chicago Tribune. There was no telling it would ever work out that well, but somehow it did.

View fullsize

--

The original premise of “Hoop Dreams” was to follow two Chicago teenagers as they navigated their quest to make the NBA. That happy ending never did materialize. Real life got in the way. William ended up quitting basketball at Marquette and Arthur’s dream simply ran out of steam, as it does for almost everyone. But on this night in January 2015, hoop dreams are still very much in tact.

The Marshall science teacher tells me the player to watch on the varsity is a kid by the name of Tyresse Williford, a junior point guard. Just like Agee, he has dreams of taking the team "Downstate." To Peoria, Illinois at Bradley University to be exact, the current site of the state playoffs.

Just like in the sophomore game, the pace of the varsity version of Orr and Marshall is just as fast, if not faster. And the shooting is better, but still not spectacular. Every opportunity to the drive the ball to the basket is taken and every long rebound results in an exciting fast break.

The crowd is smaller than it was in 1991. Unlike during the Agee years, the only people occupying the seats up above the west-end basket are the Orr cheerleaders and the science teacher filming the game.

The music played during timeouts is as explicit as a group of inner-city Chicago teenagers can manage. Including the catchy, yet gruesome top-40 rap hit, “Try Me” by DeJ Loaf. By halftime, I was half expecting Arthur to show up, or at least his mom Sheila, but I could spot neither.

View fullsize

As so often happens in City League games, when things got going in the second half, the teams started trading baskets and emotions ran hot. Security at Marshall games these days is always tight, but tonight was especially so, considering the two schools brawled in their earlier meeting at Orr this season. It was a fight that even spilled over to involve spectators. Marshall’s athletic director, Dorothy Gaters (owner of 1,000 wins as the current Marshall women’s coach) wasn’t about to let it happen again.

Following some fourth quarter drama, Marshall won this particular league game over Orr 61-59. Despite the upset win, the celebration was relatively subdued. It seemed the main focus was just getting all the people inside the gym down two flights of stairs and out the door without any dust up. Moreover, Marshall had a game versus Whitney Young the following week they were already appearing to focus on.

Surprisingly, save for a banner in the rafters for Arthur and Shawn Harrington’s 1991 “Downstate” team, there is no trace of any “Hoop Dreams” hype material. To be honest, it was tough to even find a photo of Arthur Agee anywhere in the building. In the end, it appears 1991 was just one success story in a long list of triumphs and tribulations Marshall Metro High School has gone through over the years. The time for reflection is minimal when there is always a new group of freshman walking through Marshall’s doors every year.

There is no telling what will happen with the 2015 versions of the St. Joseph’s Chargers and the Marshall Commandos. St. Joseph’s is ranked and “Ping” is still at the helm even in his late 70’s. Most people believe they have as good a shot as any of making it "Downstate."

Marshall is once again going into the playoffs as a team not expected to make it very far, but someone nobody wants to play. They are a team with only a flicker of hope of actually going downstate, but they have a gritty point guard with NBA aspirations.

Surely, it all sounds quite familiar. In the case of Chicago high school basketball some things do change, but mostly, they stay the same. And in the end, that’s just fine.

Section 925 Podcast Episode 45 - Super Bowl XLIX

Josh (@jphunsucker) and Huss (@Halshibib) formerly of the Displaced Faithful reunite to send remember Niner cheerleader and TV host Melissa Galvin, talk Super Bowl commercials, play word association with Bay Area Super Bowl participants, ponder what Pete Carroll and Mike "Sweet Thunder" Greer talked about during UOP football practice, make Super Bowl predictions, and touch on the hiring of Jim Tomsula.

Check it out here: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2015-01-31T09_48_55-08_00

Or on Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/section-925s-podcast/id554906376?mt=2&uo=4

Section 925 Podcast Episode 44 - "The Bro" Talks Deflategate

Former 49ers intern-equipment manager "The Bro" (@TheBro49) sits down with Tripper (@Tripperino) to set the record straight on #Deflategate. The Bay Area cult hero discusses his football playing days in Oakdale, his time on the Candlestick sidelines, football air pressure, and his predictions for Super Bowl XLIX.

Find it here: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2015-01-30T06_57_36-08_00

Or on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/section-925s-podcast/id554906376?mt=2&uo=4

Section 925 Podcast Episode 41 - Niners Insider Matt Maiocco Discusses the Jim Tomsula Hire

Niners beat writer Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) returns to the Section 925 Podcenter to discuss yesterday's hire of Jim Tomsula.

Click to listen: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2015-01-15T08_41_55-08_00

Section 925 Podcast Episode 39 - Niners Beat Writer Matt Maiocco and Co. Discuss Bay Area High School and Pro Football

Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN), Devin Regan (@DevinRegan3), and Tripper Ortman (@Tripperino) join Connor for a Bay Area football roundtable. The four discuss Campolindo High School's dramatic victory in this year's state championship football game, completing an historic 16-0 season. The roundtable also dives deep into the state of the San Francisco 49ers, with Maiocco providing insight on his respect for Jim Harbaugh.

Click to listen: http://section925blog.podomatic.com/entry/2014-12-30T23_11_56-08_00

"Oakland A's Mailbag" - Fans Lament Josh Donaldson's Departure

By @Section925

Last week, Josh Donaldson became the latest casualty on the long list of star ballplayers that the Oakland A's organization has decided to cut ties with. And this one, like so many others before, hurts. The hurt goes far beyond just that fact the Lew Wolff and Billy Beane are doing away with an exceptionally productive player (An All-Star last year, as well as top-8 finishes in the MVP voting the last two seasons.)

It has more to do with Donaldson's gritty/dirtbag persona spurred on by a faux-hawk under his flat billed A's lid and multiple head-long dives into the third base tarp. The soon to be 29-year-old from Pensacola, Florida by way of Auburn has now been shipped north of the border to play for the Blue Jays. Left in his wake is an increasingly beleaguered group of die-hard A's fans, forced to put yet another star A's player jersey at the bottom of their dresser drawer. Read their thoughts below:

@Section925:"Donaldson gone. That hurts."

J House:"Yeah, thought he'd be around for the long haul. Expect a couple more big trades through the weekend. Billy rapid fires when he's in one of those moods."

Casey Smith:"#countrybreakfast2015"

Craig Branstad: "Don't like it."

G. Wheeler:"RIP Josh Donaldson."

Raider Hoang: "Do you know any of the people we got?"

Wheeler: "No dude, no. It's just the same old song and dance. How can we be respectable without spending any money? Trade literally any player with value for minor league pitchers with upside."

The Rogue:"F@#* OFF LEW WOLFF. STOP R@*&%G MY TEAM"

Reno Wright:"Josh Reddick says it's clear to him and other Athletics players that the team is now in rebuilding mode."

Chiang of Fools:"[Andrew Blair Shredding]"

Chris Cosden:"Yeah it stings."

Ali S.:"F@#$ the A's."

Bobby Glasser:"Beane just reasserting that he cannot handle any player with an ego...."

The Big Three

Tejada

Rickey

Jason/Jeremy

Damon

Swisher

Bartolo

Balfour

Cespy

The list goes on...

Smith:"(putting on tinfoil hat) - it's hard not to think the JD's rant against the front office last year didn't have something to do with this…"

Tripper Ortman III:"I have given this some thought over the past couple days, and while I think there may be some merit, especially because the one person Beane has ever truly loved was Eric Chavez, who was as milktoast as they come (I also note that Rickey was before Beane’s time and he has now been brought back into the fold -- and remember, always take Rickey in small doses -- and Balfour, we don’t pay free agent closers generally).  That said, I think that Beane looks strictly at value, not just (or even primarily) at value to the A’s, but value on the trade market.  What can he get for this guy?  That is what he is looking at.  Like a good chess player, I think Beane is looking several moves ahead when he makes one move.  As disappointed as I am that the Cespedes deal didn’t bring a ring and that JD is gone, I remain hopeful that Beane will keep making moves to keep the A’s competitive in a tough division that got tougher with Nelson Cruz going to Seattle today…"

Glasser:"Tripper, the Kool-Aid is kicking in....  Beane's moves are supposed to make sense, and that is the problem.

Granted, we are not GM's, we are not Billy Beane's...  we are A's fans.  With that badge we so proudly wear comes the love of the extraordinary, the unique, the low attendance, the blah blah blah antiquated stadium we call comfortable, the personalities, the white shoes, damnit, yes white shoes.

No other team has white shoes.  We need to field a team befitting of those things we adore.  Numbers, dollars, WAR ratings, OBA, whatever; those things are not what drives Oakland A's fans....  What Beane/Wolff forget is the human factor...  This is tough to admit, but I'd much more prefer a World Series-less team with the likes of JD, Cespy, Coco, Reddick, Sogard (yes), than a team built on stats, trade-value, scouting report, etc.

Speaking of Chavez....  Check out his stats compared to games played/salary.  Over the course of numerous, injury-plagued seasons, Chavez got paid over $40 million, while playing roughly ONE season's worth of games.  Beane should be on the records for the biggest salary bust in all of pro sports.

History is made up by the players that played the game....  Something is wrong when a GM becomes bigger than the game.  And for that, he must fall."

@Section925: "As Jim Rome would say, 'Rack him.'

...Thank God we're not Giants fans."

Tripper:"Amen to that. And I didn't say I liked it, just that I think that is the way he looks at it.  And I don't blame him, I blame Lew and his ownership group.  They don't want us and we don't want them.  Sell the team."

"El Classico" - A Brief Rundown From the Land of La Liga

By Bryan Maag (@HalfBAM)

This game ("El Classico") is watched by more people around the world than then Super Bowl and World Series combined. These two teams play twice a year in league play and then may play in the Champions League or Copa del Rey. Last year Gareth Bale made a famous run against Bartram to finish the game off, outrunning him past the halfway point and putting it past Barca’s second goal keeper.

This year the teams have changed and adapted. It seems that Madrid is playing the style of play that Barca originally made famous: one touch futbol. Last year Barca swept the league series but lost out on the trophy to Real, which made the central base of Spain very happy.

Barcelona must be looked at like an island much like Monico, they were suppressed under the Franco regime during World War II and have been the team that has been the symbol of the sovereignty ever since. Barcelona just put their backing behind Catalon independence which could create a lot of problems in La Liga. The Spanish capital cannot allow an independent state to play in their national league unless they yield some power to the economic benefits that Barcelona provides.

Barcelona is a key shipping port for trade as well as a tourist attraction that brings in millions of dollars to the Spanish government. Losing Catalonia would be a significant tax loss and economically a strategically big loss to Spain which makes these games so important.

Half a billion people watch the El Classico, the only country predominantly rooting for Madrid is Spain.

--

So here is my recap of Saturday’s game. A 3-1 victory for Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid…

Lucho (Enrique) played for Madrid before he switched to Barca. He knows that these games mean more to the players individually than they do to the fans. After all, Barca is still on top of the league. He started Xavi and Pique who have had subpar seasons up to date. Lucho has instilled tight lines back into the Barca game and Madrid exploited their gaps. Marcelo was always left open on the left wing because Mathieu (the new Barca center back) was put on the fullback position which is usually controlled by Jordi Alba because he needed to stop set pieces.

He did not succeed today in his task. Once upon a time there was a left back at Barcelona with the name of Eric Abidal, a Frenchman that could cover the back but was let go by the prior ownership because of hepatic cancer, leaving the Baulgrana faithful questioning if the slogan “more than a club” indeed really meant anything.

Today Madrid asserted their midfield dominance. So much money is placed on putting the ball in the goal these days. You have to wonder if the midfield makes more of a difference than the actual attack, Iniesta went out early, but Barca did not have an answer because they were playing for their B team.

Real won two titles last year without beating Barca in the league, so VISCA BARCA.

"The Pure Swing of Joe Panik" - A Giants Rookie Arrives on the Big Stage

By Connor Buestad | connor@section925.com

The first time I met Joe Panik, we were standing in a dirt parking lot at dusk in San Jose, under the post-game glow of the low budget lights at “The Muni” or “San Jose Municipal Stadium" down the street from San Jose State University. The home of the Single-A Giants, The Muni is certainly not short on charm, but it also isn’t long on amenities either. An untouched relic of a bygone era of minor league baseball, The Muni does exactly what it is designed to do: cultivate the dreams of 20-year-old kids as they take their marks on the race to the major leagues.

The reason for my visit with Panik was a mutual friend, Mike Carozza. A baseball nut from the same upstate New York hometown as Panik, who grew up playing on the same little league fields as the younger Joe. Now they were both out west, attempting to make a name for themselves in San Francisco one way or another.

The three of us talked at length on that random South Bay summer night. The conversation probably wouldn’t have lasted as long, if it wasn’t for the fact that Panik was scheduled to make a public appearance at a team function later that evening. Public appearances have never been Panik’s thing. He’d much rather just talk the nuances of hitting outside his car after game 109 of a long minor league baseball season than glad-hand a bunch of people at a corporate event. But that’s just Joe.

Earlier that night, Panik had made a baby step toward his current post as the starting second baseman for the Pennant winning San Francisco Giants. He had shared the clubhouse and the infield with Pablo Sandoval, who was down in Single-A San Jose on a rehab assignment. By that same October, Pablo was hitting three home runs in one World Series game versus Justin Verlander and the Tigers, en route to the Giants’ second World Championship in three years.

Panik spent that same October of 2012 back in his hometown of Yonkers watching the World Series with his dad on Fox like the rest of us. Fast forward two short years and now Joe Panik is a far cry from Single-A San Jose, as he’s found himself in the Fall Classic himself, still just 23 years of age.

--

I haven’t talked to the soft-spoken, humble-as-can-be Panik since his call up to The Show. I can only guess as to what his experience has been like as a member of the Giants. But before Panik was called up to play for San Francisco, he made a stop in Triple-A Fresno to play for the Grizzlies. And Carozza and I were there for that pit stop as well, earlier this summer.

We were in Sacramento to be exact. Site of yet another nameless, faceless minor league weekday day-game. The kind of game that attracts more serious sunbathers than serious baseball fans.

We talked to Joe after this game too. This time it wasn’t in a dirt parking lot, but rather a sterile open-air shopping mall type deal in Sacramento. We ran into some veteran pitchers at the same restaurant. Pitchers that had already been up in the majors and had been sent down to Triple-A, forced to struggle their way back up. Panik discussed in earnest about how he was going to navigate his way up to San Francisco. It wouldn’t be easy, he admitted. As cliche as it sounds, he was close, but so far away. As much as he looked like a big league baseball player at that restaurant, no one was even close to recognizing the Giants’ top prospect. He would still be a nobody in the minors, until he proved otherwise.

On June 21st, young Joe got the call. And somehow, thanks to someone, an unknown blog that calls itself “Section925” was there to break the news. By this time of the year, the Giants had tried their hand with seven players at second base, including the high priced slugger Dan Uggla and World Series hero Marco Scutaro. Even so, Brian Sabean finally chose to look past Panik’s small home run totals and instead decide to focus on his picturesque left-handed swing, his steady glove, and his even steadier .300 average. Sabean’s decision, one might argue, came up aces.

In the 73 games Panik played in for the Giants this year, he hit a staggering .305. And in the League Championship Series versus the Cardinals, Panik hit a dramatic home run to help push the Giants into the World Series. If Brian Sabean wanted more home runs, he got one.

A veteran he is not, but don’t expect Panik to be overwhelmed by the World Series stage starting Tuesday in Kansas City. For anyone that has ever met Joe, knows that he never gets too high or too low. We won’t compare him to that other Joe who played football at Candlestick Park, by way of Pittsburgh, but you get the idea. The Joe Panik coming out party started in June, and it has been slowing gaining steam. Look for the party to hit it’s peak this weekend at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. At the World Series.

"Moneyball vs. Mojo" - A Lament On What Ails The Oakland Athletics

By Tripper Ortman III (@Tripperino)

As one of the identified elder statesmen of the group, I agree that since the days of Vida, Catfish, and Reggie, the A's success has always been driven by personalities and team chemistry.  In the 70's it was the team against Finley and the World, in the late 80's and early 90's it was LaRussa masterfully managing a mix of back-to-back-to-back ROYs, reinventing the careers of washed up pitchers (Stewart (yes, washed out of LA), Welch (same), and Eck (yes, before he started closing)), and giving them all a swagger that could only have come straight outta Oakland.  Those guys had personality, chemistry, and confidence, plus unbelievable support from the best owners in baseball.

Between and after those dynasties were some very lean years.  The Rob Piccolo, Bruce Bochte, and yes, Shooty Babbitt years.  Then, after the early 90's success the Bordick, Brosius, Berroa, and Browne (Jerry "The Governor") years -- entertaining and marginally successful.  Like all organizations, the A's had to rebuild, and they needed new ownership after the second dry spell.

They got it, and they got Beane, a benchwarmer on the '89 World Champs.  While I personally blame ownership for hamstringing Beane and trying to ruin the legacy of the A's, their fans, and their ballpark, what Beane has never seemed to understand is the Oakland mojo -- that unique, funky ingredient that gets our teams to exceed their potential and bring home a championship.

For example, he chose Chavez over Giambi and/or Tejada (I know ownership would never have allowed him to sign both).  For all his defensive prowess, Chavez never had the mojo on his own.  He hit 30 HRs and drove in 100 only when Giambi and Tejada were here.  He was never a "get on my back, I will take you there" kind of guy.  Giambi and Tejada were (I recognize I am ignoring the Juice issue, but humor me).  It wasn't just the numbers, not just the glove, not just the bat; it was the leadership, the goofy Oakland mojo that made those two perfect for Oakland.  Beane didn't understand that.  Maybe because Beane was a can't miss prospect (if you looked at the numbers) who never had the mojo and apparently couldn't relate to his '89 teammates that did.  Who knows why.

In addition, Beane has shown a proclivity for making a decision about a player and sticking to it, whether that means keeping a guy too long (Chavez, Barton) or never really giving a guy a chance (in my opinion, Milone).  Moreover, as Moneyball confirmed, Beane doesn't believe in intangibles.  He doesn't believe in mojo.  And that is frustrating to people who believe that teams and players can overachieve with the right chemistry, inspiration, and wacky fan support.  It has been very frustrating to me over the years.

Every GM makes mistakes, and Beane has always been given leeway because we all understand that he is operating under economic constraints from ownership that sees baseball as a purely profit-driven business.  That bugs me too, but was the Yo trade a mistake?  Maybe, and apparently from a mojo perspective it was.  Given what I have said here, you might expect me to say it was.   Get ready for the curveball.

I would have made this trade.  Lester is money and when the trade was made, we were in the AL West driver's seat.  We needed a playoff pitcher and we got the best one.  If you look back at our cursed string, we were all pretty excited when the trade was made, despite the loss of a favorite player.

We got Gomes and SuperSam to play outfield, and while neither has Yo's arm, both beat him in the hustle department.  Their numbers are actually comparable to Yo in many ways, but of course, neither gave us the "oh shit" factor.  I think Beane realized that, and so we got Dunn, the best he could do in this market.

I don't think we can honestly say that Beane has not built this team to win and win now.  And bring home a championship.   There is still plenty to mojo in the tank in Oakland.  In the dugout and in the stands.

As a pop star recently noted, players gonna play play play play play play play and haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate hate.  Beane has done what he can do, now the players gotta play play play play play.

This is our time.  Let's do this.

Tripper

Sent from my iPhone.

"Oakland A's And Affiliates Weekend" - From the Farm To The Show and Back

By Josh Hunsucker (@JPHunsucker)

Long before this summer began, my wife locked in "La Potencia T-Shirt Giveaway" tickets. The idea was that we could get away for three hours, and be grown-ups for an afternoon, in the wake of a whirlwind summer spent holed up in the DeRosa Center on the UOP campus studying for the California Bar Exam. The day after the bar exam felt like I was living in a power vacuum. I felt like I should be doing something and by about 2:00 PM I was getting stir crazy. I needed something to do and the A’s game was a day away. I checked the Ports schedule, out of town until Monday.[1] Then I thought to myself, “eff it” let’s go to a Rivercats game, Sacramento is only a 45 minute drive. I made the pitch that the boys would like the fireworks (if they could last that long) and I was going to murder someone if I didn’t get out of the house and double down for a "Triple-Header Oakland A’s and Affiliates" weekend. Rivercats for Friday fireworks, Oakland on Saturday for Lester’s first start, and back to Stockton for Dollar Monday.

Sacramento

I am always amazed at the amount of logistical considerations for a baseball game with two kids (4 and 2). It’s basically like packing out your kit for a 12-hour attack on a fortified compound defended by ISIS. You NEED everything. Water, snacks, snacks, snacks, dipers, wipes, extra underwear, PJs and pull ups for the ride home, snacks, sunscreen (even for a night game apparently), paper towels, napkins, a flashlight, scuba tank, and baseball gloves. We got to the game about an hour early to soak in the pre-game. I humped our gear and my 2-year old on the shoulders so that we could make the 5-minute walk to stadium in under an hour.

We got to the seats in plenty of time, as the grounds crew was watering the infield. It just so happens that one of my old buddies is the head grounds keeper for the Rivercats. Having no baseball action on the field to look at, the boys were immediately restless so I decided the best thing to do was heckle the grounds crew and introduce my boys to the time honored tradition of being loud idiots at the ball park (zero beers deep at this point, just for the record). Our “Hey, there’s a drought, THANKS FOR USING ALL THE WATER!” heckle got some mild laughs from the sparse crowd. Not bad. We continue to provide some bad heckling and cheap entertainment for the 20 and 60-somethings in the crowd until I notice that only one kid is with me.

Just as I turn around my 4-year old has bolted up the stairs and into the crowd. He emerges with two bobble head boxes. It was Addison Russell gnome giveaway day (now a member of the Cubs). Apparently, it was going to be an awkward giveaway weekend for the A’s. Immediately, I think he has stolen them from someone and am about to start yelling at him when he says “that nice lady gave us these.” My man. Haggling random grandparents for free ball-park swag and saving me around $20-$30 in crap that will keep their interest for 5 minutes at home, THANK YOU.

I don’t really remember what happened during the game because I was basically a free safety making sure that no kids got loose into the stadium but I remember wondering why Andy Parrino hasn’t gotten more playing time in Oakland and being amazed when Daric Barton hit not one but two balls for a hit.

In a semi-miraculous turn of events the boys kept it together and we made it to the fireworks. After the fireworks my buddy let us onto the field and the boys ran around the bases, played catch, and ran the warning track. Not bad for a Friday night game on a whim.

Oakland

My wife and I had illusions of grandeur that we would get up early and get out on the road to the O dot CO by 8:00 AM. Getting back from the game at midnight deferred that dream to about 10:00 AM. The logistics were much easier for round two: dump off the kids, have a backpack full of beer, sunscreen, and peanuts, and bomb down I-5 for Dublin BART. A short stop off at the Tracy Nations and we were ready to go. Is there anything more satisfying than crushing beers and Nations on BART en-route to an A’s game by the way?[2]

We got to the O dot CO about an hour before Jon Lester took the hill and 15-people short of a La Potencia shirt. Maybe I was super sensitive to the Cespy trade and more perceptive of the jerseys being worn by the fans but if I didn’t know any better I would have though it was “Dearly Departed Day” at the ball park. And I’m not just talking the abundance of #52 jerseys. Let’s get a roll call: Chavez (at least 4 people), Street, Ellis (I almost wore mine), Sweeney (I didn’t realize those were even made), Holliday (I booed him), Honeycutt, Grieve (mesh jersey), Foulk, Durazo, and Hudson. Sadly Olmedo Saenz received a DNP.

My main concern with the Lester start, aside from the awesome and awkward shirt giveaway, is the dichotomy with fanbase’s head and heart regarding the trade. From a heart perspective of course it kills to see one of the most beloved A’s get traded to a team that will likely sign him to a long term deal for much more money than the A’s are willing to trade. From Cespy’s showcase video, to the moon shots, playoff home runs against the Tigers, his back to back Home Run Derby exploits, laser assists from leftfield, and general awesomeness the A’s haven’t had a player this dynamic since Miguel Tejada. The fans loved everything about the guy, and the fact that he was from Cuba and didn’t speak English allowed him to be somewhat sheltered from fans criticizing his character and created a perception of mystery that enhanced the Cespy Experience. So looking at the trade that way I get it, it sucks to lose Yo. The fact that we traded him for essentially a mercenary, a Hessian in our revolution for the world title, didn’t cushion our fragile Moneyball hearts.

My head on the other hand loves this trade. We tried to trade Cespy last year, he only had one more year left on his 4-year $36 million contract, and unless you are insane or were going to buy the team from Lew Wolff, we were not going to resign him. All of the Youtube clips above basically show that his value couldn’t be hirer than right now and if you are going to make a run at the title pitching wins championships. See Giants 2010 and 2012 titles. Also, look at the last two seasons: Verlander and Sherzer won those ALDSs (although Cabrera didn’t hurt). Lester is a two-time champ and shut down ace, bottom line. If that takes us to the SHIP, I can sacrifice Yo even if my heart hurts a little bit.

With that said, Lester took the mound. I couldn't have been more proud of the fan base either. They knew what Lester was walking into from an emotional standpoint and showed him extra love. The crowd answered the call and made Lester feel like the rebound girlfriend who we are trying to prove we are over our last girlfriend. The crowd got to their feet at all of the crucial moments, kept Lester going when he got into jams, and gave him a deafening Standing-O when he left in the 7^th, complete with noticeable increase in noise when Lester reciprocated with a tip of the cap. If this works out, he may be the greatest rebound girlfriend/mercenary pitcher ever.

Stockton [3] 

If you have never been to Banner Island Ballpark you are missing out. First, it is basically a mini-Raley Field that features an intimate setting, outfield grass, centerfield lounge seats, and a great bar on the first base side. Second, tickets are $10 for behind home plate. Third, the A’s have had and continue to have some great prospects that generally made it to the show. This year they feature the top three prospects in the A’s farm system and 6 of the Top 10 (although catcher Bruce Maxwell just got called up to Midland). Basically their entire infield is in the Top 10. Daniel Robertson is the future at shortstop since Addison Russell’s departure to Chicago. Matt Olson is a better version of Daric Barton that can actually hit for power (34 HRs) and Renato Nunez, who played in the futures game, looks like a sturdier Eric Chavez (.287 AVE, 27 HRs, .907 OPS).

We got to our seats with two 24 oz beers per man and big league dreams in our eyes. In the bottom on the first, the aforementioned Nunez hit a bomb out of the stadium that hit the Stockton Arena to take an early 2-0 lead. Four home runs later, the Ports took home a blowout 8-1 win and we left over 100 ounces of beer richer and headed to B-Dubs to watch the end of the A’s-Rays Derek Norris walk-off win. 72 hours of A’s baseball. 72 hours of wins. 72 hours of new faces and hope. Green Collar.

[1] That’s basically the only ticket in town.

[2] No, there is not.

[3] Open invite to all Section 925ers for a Ports tilt. Accommodations included.

“A Shark In Bay Waters” - Jeff Samardzija Finally Finds His Way Out West

By Connor Buestad (connorbuestad@gmail.com)

Whether you like it or not, the Bay Area has never quite been a hotbed for college football. Conventional wisdom attributes this truth to the fact that there is “too much to do” around San Francisco and Oakland to expect fans to spend every Saturday of the fall tailgating from dawn til dusk. Too many sunny days, too many trips to wine country or Tahoe, too many NFL teams to distract us a day later. Moreover, Cal has been rebuilding over the past few years (literally and figuratively) and Stanford is challenged to sell out their cozy stadium even during runs to the Rose Bowl. Any way you slice it, The Bay is never going to obsess over amatuer pigskin.

Neither is Jeff Samardzija.

Yes, he was an All-American wide receiver at football crazed Notre Dame University, but the 6 foot 5 inch Samardzija never seemed to take the game of football too seriously. He just happened to be really good at it. Kind of like every other sport he ever played.

“Yeah,” Samardzija told Dan Patrick in an interview earlier this year, sweeping aside a wavy chunk of his Serbian-influenced locks. “I don’t really watch a ton of football. I don’t always follow it. But I realize I have to while I’m on the Cubs, because people are constantly coming up to me in Chicago and asking ‘hey Jeff, how are we (Notre Dame) gonna be this year?’”

Now that Samardzija has been traded out to Oakland (for top prospect Addison Russell, et al) he can rest easy knowing that he won’t be bothered by golden domer questions any longer. And if he wants to try his hand at surfing or skiing (see Zito, Barry and Byrnes, Eric), he finally can.

“I’ve been begging for this for a while,” said Samardzija the day he arrived in the A’s funky, no-frills pressroom. “Begging” most certainly wasn’t the most PC word to use in such a press conference, but no one in Chicago or his hometown in Indiana seemed to mind, they knew Jeff was a nice guy who was just tired of losing. And if you look deeper, maybe Samardzija subconsciously knows he belongs out west.

Jeff grew up in Valparaiso in a household run by a former semi-pro hockey player named Sam. That tells you a lot about the upbringing of Jeff Samardzija. He played football and soccer in the fall, basketball and hockey in the winter, and baseball in the spring. On Saturday afternoons, he did what every other kid in Indiana does growing up: watch Notre Dame football.

By high school, Samardzija had his sports choices narrowed down to three (football, basketball, and baseball), and according to Indiana lore, Samardzija started in 160 high school sporting events in a row without getting injured. To say Jeff Samardzija was a natural athlete would be like saying the Chicago Cubs were usually a bad baseball team. It went without saying.

Regardless of how well Samardzija’s persona would have meshed at a school like UCLA, CAL, or Oregon, there was no way he was going to escape out of Notre Dame’s backyard. And sure enough, he didn’t.

As soon as Samardzija arrived on campus in South Bend in 2003, he made an immediate impact on the football field, playing in 12 games as a freshman. It was at that point that most people expected Samardzija to finally put away his baseball glove and focus on football once and for all. But Jeff couldn’t stay off the baseball diamond. “I’ve always been a happy guy when I go to the baseball field,” Samardzija told Dan Patrick. If anyone had the athleticism to play both, it was Jeff, so he went for it.

It was in the spring of 2004 on Notre Dame’s baseball field when, according to Jeff, he first acquired the nickname of “Shark”. “It all started my freshman year,” explained Samardzija to UND.com. “I was new on the baseball team. I showed up, didn’t know anyone. I was talking to a fellow pitcher and out of nowhere they called me ‘Shark’ because they said I looked like the shark (Bruce) on Finding Nemo. It started during a game while I was pitching and they yelled at me from the dugout. Then coach picked up on it and it just snowballed from there. I guess I look like a shark.”

Turns out, Samardzija does indeed look like Bruce from the 2003 hit, Finding Nemo. From Samardzija’s angular face, all the way down to his teeth, the Notre Dame benchwarmers were spot on. It would be Shark Samardzija from that day forward.

Despite a record setting career for the Irish football team, The Shark finally was able to let go of his multi-sport persona and focus on a professional career in baseball. Naturally, he was selected by the Chicago Cubs, keeping him in the midwest for yet another chapter of his life. And for the majority of his time in Chicago, he loved it, sometimes maybe even too much. Asked by Dan Patrick if he ever pitched a game at Wrigley hungover, he could not confirm nor deny. “You know, I never took a breathalyzer going out there,” laughed Samardzija. “Possiblé.”

Unfortunately, most games in Chicago past July don’t call for much sharp focus, as the Cubs are usually out of the race by then. Not the case in Oakland, where the A’s are consistently contending for and competing in the playoffs.

True to form, the 2014 version of the Oakland Athletics are most certainly competing for a playoff spot. In fact, they are the best team in baseball. The low-budget Swingin’ A’s even managed to send six players to Minnesota for the All-Star Game. Seven if you include Shark. But even despite the A’s hot start to the season, which included the best ERA among starting rotations in the A.L., Billy Beane still decided to double down in preparation for the inevitable battles with Justin Verlander and Miggie Cabrera come October. So excuse Jeff Samardzija if he is a bit thrilled about his recent move to the Bay Area.

Through four starts in the green and gold, Samardzija already holds a winning record of 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. Compare this to a ten game stretch in Chicago earlier this year in which the Cubs lost 8 out of 10 games Samardzija started. Shark had a 1.68 ERA during said stretch (second best in MLB).

So when you see Jeff Samardzija galvanize the Coliseum crowd with a 95 per-hour strikeout followed by a Dennis Eckersley-esque fist pump, just remember he is probably just as happy as you are to be wearing an A's hat. No more lovable losers, no more polar-vortex, no more crazed Notre Dame autograph seekers. The Shark is finally out west on the pacific coast, pitching with one thing on his mind: the playoffs.