Browns are the Real Instigators; Nerd Power Rolls On! Niner Fans, You Are Going to Love This One!

*From the Get Down Lounge,  a little midweek bit, with glasses on of course!  Man oh, are those Cleveland Browns dirty!

*Is it me, or are the Browns to blame for all the Harbaugh Drama?  Clearly their leaking of news regarding talks between the Niners and Browns was meant to stir things up in Ninerland.  The Browns may have succeeded in a way they probably never saw coming. Now try this 49er fans--sit down first.  Clearly there is some riff somewhere in regards to Harbaugh and Niners GM Trent Balke, but where exactly and what the problem is remains to be seen.  Harbaugh has two years left on his contract, and after those two years expire, what is the only other NFL team Harbaugh could be the head coach and not have to change addresses?  I told you to sit down.....that's right, your Oakland Raiders.  How juicy a drama does that become?  Sound crazy, well, Mark Davis is the son of the Czar himself, Mr. Al Davis.  If anyone can put up with a demanding, grinder, my way or the highway type of personality, it is Mark Davis.  Harbaugh has been the master of the reclamation project, and is there a better project than the Raiders.  Hey don't blame, blame those trouble making Browns for stirring the pot!

*Eric Sogard the face of MLB?  Well, who saw that one coming?  Sogard just got past Buster Posey in MLB's contest, and it sure looks like fun-loving, social media following A's fans are rallying!  A's brass could never have imagined such a successful marketing campaign!  Following two division titles, and even the A's spending a little dough, I predict a particularly festive summer in the O.Co this summer!  Sogard exploits have been dubbed Nerd Power, and thus far, Nerds rule!  Sogard, an Arizona State alum, by all accounts appears a very likeable, well rounded fella.  Interestingly, his dad played college ball, and his brother is a pitcher in the Astros system.

*BoMel has yet to announce the starting rotation, but with Parker, Gray, and Kazmir set to pitch in consecutive games this spring, the rotation is a foregone conclusion.  However, each Spring Training brings it share of story lines and surprises, and the games begin tomorrow with the A's and Giants doing battle.

*To Spring Training Jaunts everywhere, and to Nerd Power, I raise my glass to you!

Spring is in the Air!

*Popping the leather in the Lounge.....

Well, down in the Arizona, the A's are begging to get to work.   I have just got to say, it's been a while since my expectations have been so sky high!  The A's have done something this offseason, that haven't done in a longggggg time--that is pay top dollar for a reliever!  The Green and Gold are essentially all in by a paying a reliever in his prime!  Jim Johnson is going to make $10 plus million bones--I mean, just that sentence people, the A's are spending some dough!

Let make take you back to another, excruciating time to recall, 2003.  At the end of the season, the A's were unable to hang on to closer Keith Foulke.  Remember?  Even thought Foulke lost Game 4 to the Red Sox in Fenway....well, when the A's lost Foulke, they lost again.  In 2004, who won the Series?  Come on, think, that's right, it was the Red Sox.

(Isn't a real story of this off season why the A's didn't want to spend the money on Balfour?  Was it his age, or was it the Detroit meltdown?  Then for a subplot, the Orioles pull a contract after a physical.  By the way, the rager signed with the Rays, who will be playing the Orioles.  Don't dig in Bird hitters, don't dig in!  The right field crew at the O.Co are going to miss the guy.)

I alluded to Spring Training above, and if you haven't gone, make the trip.  In fact, if you have kiddos and pets, plan on Spring 2016.  Easter will be in late March, and I wholeheartedly recommend you take the loved one to Arizona.  Leave the kids and pets with your favorite brother or sister, or mom or dad, and everything will be just fine.  (If they hem and hah a little, tell it's a valentine/anniversary date the two of you have been planning forever.  Just trust me.....) The weather is nice, see some of your favorite players and stars from years gone by--if your luck, maybe the Phoenix Suns will be playing, or even the Coyotes?  You can shop, see movie, dinner, enjoy a little pool time, weather is nice;  and the people are just so laid back.  You don't have to thank me, just pay it forward.  One suggestion:  if your loved one is temperature sensitive, go to parks, and or buy tickets with seats in the shade.  I said trust me right?

Speaking of Arizona, Tempe might just be locale number 1 for the sports minded college type person.  Think about Arizona State for a moment.....Pac 12 school, with the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Coyotes, and Suns all right there!  The Pro Golf Tour pops in too.  Are you kidding me.  For a would be journalist, how could you not want to go there unless you absolutely love snow?  (If you love snow, think Flagstaff.)

Thus Arizona State, with your Walter Cronkite School of Journalism--beat that one--you just have one important item left to do.  Just remove the Devil from your name.  It is that simple--the Rays did it, and good things happened.  I am just saying, without getting too deep, just trust me.  Change the Mascot and "good" things will follow!

Just to add a little spice to my life, I am officially becoming of the Arizona Diamondbacks band wagon.  Need to make life with all of the Kill-Joy Giants fans and the Evil Empire Dodger fans.  The Padres, everyone loves San Diego already so what is the point?  Colorado, well, sitting in the bleachers in Coors field sure will be interesting now won't it!  (Even though they play in Colorado, will they have a "Bud" night? Heh Heh.)

Going for the Gold.....


USA vs Russia men's hockey game epic;  reminds back in 1980--I actually listened to the game on the radio.  Such a tough call on the Russians though...score a goal, but is nullified because the goal was out of place.  What?  If the USA had lost on a goal like that--you can bet, goal would be mounted differently around the globe! Man, I just don't know about that one....great drama however.  The Olympics have lacked theatre, and I wonder if it simply because there is indeed so much sports on TV.  The Olympics used to be a big deal, and know, well, they are just another blip on the screen.  There have been some scary moments, and some very heart warming and heart breaking moments, but in general, has there been any can't miss moments?  The coolest item thus far, the white go-go looking boots that were worn by the sign carriers during the Parade of Athletes.  White go-go boots are so hip on any occasion!

My real question is this.  During the downhill skiing, where are all the people at the top of the hill yelling:  "Aye Yay Yay Yay Yay Yah" wheb the skiers begin their decent?  I really miss all of that wonderful yelling!

Thus to Franz Klammer, Peggy Fleming, and that great story that was the 1980 Gold Medal Men's Olympic Hockey Team, I raise my glass to you!

Super Sunday in the Big City, Pass the JoJo's!

Here's a look from the Get Down Lounge on this pigskin day, with a few #1 memories thrown in!

*Is the Universe indeed talking to East Bay Area Sports Fans?  To begin with, Mr. Hang time, former Raider Ray Guy was surprising elected into the NFL's Hall of Fame; then, to cap off the evening Cal knocks off #1 Arizona!  The standout athlete from Southern Mississippi, Guy is legendary for banging a punt off the scoreboard in the Superdome.  What literally boomed of the page:  in all his NFL career Guy never had a punt returned for a touchdown--that is an amazing fact.  The great news for Raider Nation is that John Madden will be the speaker at the induction ceremony-and nobody stirs the hearts of Silver and Black everywhere like Madden!  Maybe, maybe, maybe the worm has turned in Raiderville.  I recall Guy had a punt blocked in Super Bowl XI, but a made a heck of a play to stop the Vikings at the Raider 3 yard line. The Purple People Eaters would fumble without scoring, and after that pivotal turnover, it was all Rayduhz.  

*Speaking of number one hoop college teams, I have been fortunate to see two #1 team live--and both were in the Bay Area.  Way back when my father knew the baseball coach at Santa Clara University, a colorful fellow by the name of Sal Taromina.  Coach Sal would come down to our home with a group of guys to go pheasant hunting (what I remember most about those days is the great spreads my folks would make for group--my dad had a unique recipe for Portuguese Beans, and there was rolls, and salami, and, man I'm hungry!)  A fomer Giant pitcher by the name of Rich Robertson was also in the group.  Thus back in the 70's, Santa Clara and USF were not-so-friendly rivals.  Well, Sal snuck us in to sold out Toso Pavilion--we stood up on the rail behind the baseline the entire game.  A freshman with goofy glasses played phenomenally that evening--however, as fate would have it, that same freshman who would finish with 16 rebounds, missed the front end of a one-on-one with 8 seconds to go;  a slick, guard with a name you just don't remember, Chubby Cox, drove the length of the court and drained a floater from the baseline to keep USF undefeated!

Did I mention that freshman, the guy they were calling Clark Kent.  He later won some rings with the showtime Lakers, yes we are taking about Mr. Kurt Rambis.  

*Then in 1981 my father, the King of the Last Minute Roadtrip, drove me to Berkeley to see then Number 1 Oregon State play at Cal.  I had read about the Orange Express in Sports Illustrated and I simply became enchanted with this team.  Their three core players, center Stevie Johnson, and guard Mark Radford and Ray Blume, may have the all-time best sounding hardwood names!  The Beavers would carve up the Bears on this evening, running veteran coach Ralph Miller's system to a tee.  Sacramentians will note the Bears had a young exciting guard on the squad, Mr. Mayor Kevin Johnson.  All did not end well however.  In 1981 there was no shot clock in college basketball, and in the first round of the NCAA regionals, Kansas State held the ball the last three minutes, and daggered the Beavers 50-48.  Rolando Blackman who later went on to a solid NBA career, drained the game winner.  AARGH!

*Speaking of the Orange Express, oh brother, Denver Bronco fans are all over that one.  As this is the Green, Gold, and SILVER website, very hard to feel much love for the Mile High Club.  Peyton Manning is hard not like, but I ask, is he all that lovable?  Sure he can point, and his comeback pretty darn amazing, but I am just saying, what is his lovable quotient?  Peyton will go down as one of the best ever, but in the big, big, games, he hasn't exactly been Mr. Clutch.  We shall see.  The Seahawks are bad and brash.  Russel Wilson seems like a down to earth fellow, and even old Stanford Grad shutdown corner Richard Sherman has all the makings of real intriguing fellow.  Pete Carrol, well, he is kind of like Peyton, seems like a nice enough fellow--well to everyone but Jim Harbough of course--but like Peyton, I would ask is he lovable?

*Thus this afternoon, I foresee a smash mouth, close, great football game.  My crystal ball foresees an odd score, and I am going with Seahawks 19, Broncos 17.   I can see a late field goal, or even a late missed field goal being the difference.  Maybe 22-20, but I like 19 for some reason.  I was going to say Sherman intercepts Manning to seal the victory, but there is no reason to be mean.  What do you think Sherman would have to say about that?   

*My favorite Super Bowl Image, is that of Joe Willie walking into the tunnel in Miami, flashing the number one sign.  Classic, absolute Classic!  To the man who made the Super Bowl, Joe Namath, I raise my glass.  Joe Willie there is always a love seat spot for you in the Get Down Lounge--but you have to sport the mink jacket as well!  To the 1981 Beavers, Ray Guy, Sal Taromina, Kurt Rambis, and my father--that's a super  interesting group by the way--I raise my glass especially high for all of you!

*(For what's is worth, I still think THE Super Bowl would be Raiders and Cowboys in NYC! As the late broadcaster Bill King would thrill through the airwaves, Holy Toledo!)

*JoJo's by the way, fried potato wedges from Lira's Market in Rio Vista California.  Throw a little ketchup on them, or any sauce you prefer, and you have a meal!  I may to make a road trip of my own today!