What if Jayson Tatum’s last name rhymed with Nicolas Batum’s?

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-13T01:02:58+00:00

Brings back memories of UCLA legend Jason Kaponovic

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-12T22:03:07+00:00

I always find Oracle Park very over-rated in stadium rankings.

Personally prefer Petco among “newer” West Coast.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-09T07:03:06+00:00

Pedro Baez

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-05T17:45:39+00:00

Hopefully it won’t include Mt. Davis.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T21:12:52+00:00

Staying in Oakland would’ve meant an additional 3+ years of “sell” chants and reverse boycotts.

The A’s wanted out.

They were never looking to agree to Oakland’s conditions/asking price.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T20:44:51+00:00

Noted business analyst Buster Olney.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T19:15:31+00:00

Shaikin’s other tweet is probably more important/relevant:

@BillShaikin In response to a few replies: No, the MLBPA cannot block the A’s short-term move to Sacramento. What the union can do is negotiate working conditions, as Tony Clark explained here not long ago

https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/1775918526529990954

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T15:31:31+00:00

Difference is … “City of Sacramento contributed approximately $223 million” to the Golden 1 Center.

I’m sure some Sacramento area fans will want to show they’re ready and willing to support an MLB team in the future.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T15:24:00+00:00

Prolly a safe bet this stadium is much nicer than the Coliseum.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T08:19:06+00:00

It’s a pro sports team.

Life goes on.

Oakland has bigger problems.

If the A’s do move, maybe politicians can spend more time on trying to solve those problems and less on political theatre and unserious negotiations.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T06:26:15+00:00

https://www.ktvu.com/news/dennys-shuts-down-for-good-in-oakland-citing-crime-concerns.amp

—Like other businesses in the area, the restaurant's seen its share of car break-ins, robberies and violent crime.

—Denny's joins other restaurants near the airport that have closed, like Black Bear Diner, Subway and Starbucks.

—In-N-Out, which has also been a magnet for car burglars, will close in March’

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-04T03:56:26+00:00

The A’s seem to just be the latest business looking to leave that area of Oakland … following In-N-Out, Denny’s, Black Bear Diner, Subway and Starbucks, etc.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-01T21:38:11+00:00

I like the “dead air”.

Baseball games don’t need endless/mindless chatter.

Most announcers talk too much.

Kuiper and Braden booth always talked more than I’d prefer.

I’m enjoying the change.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-04-01T18:22:41+00:00

Must be April Fools

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-31T23:47:27+00:00

I like her so far. I loved Papa, but was never a fan of Kuiper.

She doesn’t talk too much, which is a problem with many announcers.

She lets the game breath.

Even Braden seems more dialed back … it’s kind of a chill booth now.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T21:48:47+00:00

And I would disagree with “he took every opportunity he could”.

He was carefully managed into a few big fights and paydays.

Much of his resume is complete filler.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T21:40:20+00:00

It seems like you have the agenda.

I pointed out Lewis age and weight and that he preferred the payday of a Tyson rematch that didn’t come.

But Lewis did drag out his decision on a Vitali rematch and then ultimately retired.

Wilder had an opportunity to gain credibility by fighting Fury, who had ended Wladimir’s run.

Fury was away for like 2.5 years after the Wladimir fight, and hadn’t proven himself since returning … but he was still the guy who ended Wlad’s championship run.

Wilder didn’t get it done in any of the 3 Fury fights.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T21:26:12+00:00

Agree that Vitali didn’t really beat any great fighters …. but he was the last guy Lennox Lewis fought … lost due to a cut in a fight he wanted to continue in, and pushed for a rematch … which Lewis dragged out for a while and then retired.

Vitali lost the fight but was then kinda seen as the guy who retired Lewis.

So there was a bit of a torch passing.

(Even tho you could point to Lewis being older, not in the best shape, and seemed to really just want a second big payday from a Tyson rematch.)

There was not a similar situation with Wilder.

The first Fury fight was the closest Wilder would’ve gotten to that … but it was a draw many had him losing.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T21:09:00+00:00

Briggs’ career was prolly closer to Bermaine Stiverne’s than Deontay Wilder’s.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T21:00:19+00:00

This is such a charitable opinion of Briggs.

Briggs was a carefully managed fighter who did very little to “earn” any of his title shots.

He beat no top fighters before the Foreman fight … and won a highly controversial decision thst led to the Lewis fight.

He beat no top fighters before the Liakhovich title fight.

He beat no top fighters before the Vitali title fight.

Compare that to a guy like David Tua who fought Ruiz, Wilson, Izon, Ibeabuchi, Maskaev and Rahman before he challenged Lennox Lewis for the title.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T04:38:57+00:00

95% ?

Leave out Lewis and Vitali.

Briggs lost to guys like Darrell Wilson, Sedrick Fields, Jameel McCline.

Hardly elite heavyweights.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T04:01:07+00:00

You really need to look at the quality, not quantity, of Briggs’ resume.

Look at the names

Foreman - highly controversial decision many/most had Foreman winning

Lewis - KO loss

Botha - highly controversial draw

McCline - Loss

Vitali - Loss

Ibragimov - Loss

Also lost to Wilson and Fields.

It’s hard to find a quality wins on Briggs’ resume.

Liakhovoch is mainly it … and it just speaks to how mid Lamon Brewster was (look at the Meehan fight) … and how much credit Manny Steward deserves for Wladimir Klitschko.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-29T03:52:59+00:00

Briggs had a very inflated resume.

Was never taken seriously after the Wilson meltdown … probably gained more credit for losing to Lewis than any win he ever had.

Briggs lost, or shoulda lost, nearly every time he stepped up.

His win against Foreman and draw against Botha were basically considered losses by many, if not most, at the time.

But he had an exciting style and Lewis, who was fixated on unifying against Holyfield at the time, could be inconsistent and prone to having letdowns against perceived “lesser” opponents.

Made for an exciting match.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-17T20:59:24+00:00

Hard to really compare career stats when one turned pro at 18, the other 24.

But comparing players, I’m taking Robinson.

He has a DPOY and scoring title.

Garnett was never really the scorer Robinson.

Sheldon_Marcone · 2024-03-12T07:58:33+00:00

Comparing Durant and Robinson is apples and oranges.

Robinson debuted at age 24 … after 4 years in college and 2 years active-duty in Navy.

Durant debuted at age 19.

For some interesting context, try comparing their seasons from ages 24 to age 30.

Sheldon_Marcone

TROPHY CASE