Sports
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
East Oakland Boxing Association Might Have to Shut Its Doors
Sports Rachel Swan — Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Just months after local hero Andre Ward took the Super Six Middleweight Title, a venerable boxing center in his home town might have to shutter. For 25 years, the East Oakland Boxing Association has provided free after-school programs for kids, teaching everything from nutrition to academics to sparring. But in the last few years the organization has been crippled by the deaths of four leaders — head trainer Paul Wright passed away in 2008, youth intern Phillip Wright was fatally shot the following year, founder Stanley Garcia died in 2010, and last year marked the death of board president and esteemed social activist Frank Rose. Diminished funding and a paucity of resources have only exacerbated the EOBA's woes and imperiled operations. The directors are now appealing to civic leaders and community members to come visit and support; they'll hold an Open House tomorrow, 1-3 p.m. at EOBA, (816 98th Ave., Oakland).
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Hard Times for Cal Football Recruitment
Sports Rachel Swan — Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Looks like a rough road lies ahead for the Bears, with word of an incomplete roster for fall, despite high optimism just a few weeks ago. As the letters of intent come in, it appears that UC Berkeley is losing all its best prospects to schools like University of Washington, whose recruiters just filched two top-rated players — safety Shaq Thompson and wideout Jordan Payton, the Mercury News reports. Evan local hope Kenny Walker, a wide receiver from Kennedy High School in Richmond, was reportedly on the fence about committing to Cal.
Quotes of the Day: On Occupy, Oakland Police, and the A’s
Sports / Law Enforcement & Crime / Occupy Robert Gammon — Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 2:29 PM
The best quotes of the day:
1. "The city has to stand up with us now and say, 'Stop,' " said Mayor Jean Quan, referring to Occupy Oakland protests.
2. "I'm not condoning violence, and I'm not condemning it," said Occupy Oaklander Cat Brooks. "I'm just saying that 99 percent of the time when violence happens, it's police who start it. And you have to do what you have to do."
3. "I don't see a way for it to peacefully end," said former Oakland Councilman Wilson Riles Jr., a staunch progressive. "Like so much in Oakland, Occupy has tremendous potential, but it seems like that potential is being squandered. I think it's come to a point where the larger community is going to have to step in if anything is going to happen."
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Oakland Raiders Fire Hue Jackson
Sports Rachel Swan — Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Apparently, Tom Cable wasn't the only former Raiders head coach who had trouble with his superiors. His replacement, Hue Jackson, was deposed today, a source told ESPN. The decision came about a week after current owner Mark Davis (son of the late Al Davis) brought in Reggie Mackenzie to be the team's general manager, precipitating what Jackson would call a massive "gutting." It's rumored that Mackenzie has his own designs for the team, and that he'll start by recruiting a new coaching staff from the Packers.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
High Court Delivers Huge Blow to Oakland and Other Cities
Breaking News / Politics / Sports Robert Gammon — Thu, Dec 29, 2011 at 11:01 AM
The California Supreme Court today delivered a devastating blow to Oakland and other cities that depend heavily on redevelopment dollars to revitalize downtrodden areas. The court upheld a plan hatched by Governor Jerry Brown and approved by the legislature that eliminated redevelopment agencies statewide. Cities had sued to kill that plan, but the high court rejected their arguments. The court's decision means that Oakland and cities throughout California will have to disband their redevelopment agencies completely, lay off tens of thousands of workers, and immediately transfer local property tax proceeds to the state.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday Must Read: Giants to A’s: Not So Fast; California Lowers Prison Population
Politics / Business / Sports Robert Gammon — Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 6:50 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. One of the owners of the San Francisco Giants said that the team will fight to block the Oakland A’s planned move to San Jose, the Chron reports. In addition, Peter Magowan, who is also the Giants former managing partner, said he does not believe that baseball commissioner Bud Selig will go back on his word and allow the A’s to go to San Jose. Selig has repeatedly said that the Giants own the territorial rights to the South Bay and that no other team can infringe on them. Rumors that Major League Baseball was ready to approve the A’s move also appear to be untrue. The issue is not even on the baseball owners’ meeting agenda next month. And A’s co-owner Lew Wolff disavowed a recent San Jose Mercury News report that said he was “confident” that MLB would approve the San Jose move, telling the Chron he didn’t know where that story came from.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday Must Read: A’s Co-Owner Confident About Move to San Jose; Economists Expect Uptick in 2012
Politics / Business / Sports Robert Gammon — Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 6:54 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Oakland A’s co-owner Lew Wolff is confident that Major League Baseball will approve his plans this winter to move the baseball team to San Jose, the Mercury News reports, citing a source close to Wolff. Wolff wants to build a new ballpark for the A’s near downtown San Jose. However, it’s unclear whether Major League Baseball will overturn the San Francisco Giants’ territorial rights to the South Bay or whether Wolff has worked out a deal to buy those rights from the Giants.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Andre Ward Takes the Super Six Super Middleweight Title
Sports Rachel Swan — Sun, Dec 18, 2011 at 8:04 PM
Not only did Hayward-raised boxer Andre Ward win Saturday's Super Six World Boxing Classic final in Atlantic City, he won handily. At least, that's the word from Merc correspondent Jon Marks, who praised the "superior quickness and elusiveness" — not to mention the fast left hook — that helped the 27 year-old East Bay pugilist trounce his British opponent, Carl Froch. That's no small victory. Though Ward is seven years younger than Froch, he was still considered the underdog in this match, which was hyped extensively via a behind-the-scenes Showtime documentary. Moreover, he's become something of a folk hero in Oakland, not only because he trained here, but because he still shows up to smoker matches at King's Gym, where his newspaper clippings plaster the wall. Oh, and get this — he also won the bout with an injured hand.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Updated: Quan Pushing Plan for Sports Village for A’s, Warriors, and Raiders
Breaking News / Politics / Sports Robert Gammon — Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said today that her administration has been talking to Major League Baseball about a potential sports village at the Oakland Coliseum complex that would include a new ballpark for the A’s. The mayor told the Express that the city is also examining the possibility of new facilities for the Warriors and the Raiders amid a larger development at the Coliseum that would include a hotel and retail. “We’re thinking of completely redoing the Coliseum,” she said.
Update 2:30 p.m.: Here's an artist's rendering of the proposed Coliseum sports village:
Warriors May Abscond to San Francisco
Sports Rachel Swan — Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 10:27 AM
"The San Francisco Warriors" might sound about as appealing as "The Fremont A's," but get used to saying it. You have exactly 6 years. Or so says Chron sportswriter Rusty Simmons, who reported today that, right as San Franciscans are crying big crocodile tears over the prospect of losing the 49ers, they may in fact gain Oakland's beloved basketball team as a consolation prize. On Wednesday, San Francisco mayor Ed Lee met with Warriors reps and Giants CEO Larry Baer to discuss the possibility of building a new, huge, lavish sports arena near AT&T Park. Unhappy with their current home at Oracle Arena in Oakland, the Warriors' current owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber began hatching plans to replace it when they bought the team last year. They've also had discussions with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan about erecting a new site in the East Bay. Wherever the new 20,000 seat building winds up, it'll bring jobs, traffic, and revenue. China basin seems optimal, according to Simmons, since it already has the infrastructure to support a 41,500 stadium. If all goes according to plan, the Warriors will officially be rechristened when they launch the 2017-2018. Oakland, you're right to feel jilted.
