Sports Authority

Bad Bet

Joe Gedeon was a bartender with a sense of humor. He would love the gambling ads that bombard Sacramento sports fans today.

You can’t watch an A’s or Kings game without getting hustled to make a bet. The irony would make Gedeon laugh.

Joe Gedeon poured drinks at Riverside Clubhouse two iterations ago. He predates the Clubhouse’s predecessor, Hereford House. He oversaw the bar when it was a Depression era speakeasy called the White House.

Strike Three

I can’t say for sure when the experiment failed, but it was early in the baseball season. Around the time San Diego Padres fans outnumbered A’s supporters at Sutter Health Park.

Now the goal is to reduce the embarrassment, limit the damage and decide how the community endures another a year or two of A’s baseball without looking ridiculous.

This is what happens when a couple of rich guys pump their egos and advance their business plans by introducing a mediocre product nobody needs.

Fair Warning

Forget funnel cake. For me, the State Fair means horse racing. After losing my bets, I visit the barns where kids in white uniforms pamper hogs, sheep and goats. Then home.

Now there’s no horse racing. And apologies, but once you’ve seen 1,000 hogs tended by intense, apple-cheeked teenagers, there’s no need for 1,001.

Which leaves zero reasons to attend the State Fair.

Don’t blame the State Fair. Cal Expo is collateral damage, trapped in a mess of economic pressure, incompetence and indifference.

Pipe Dreams

Thanks to sports, Sacramento State University has become an institution of higher incoherence.

The school is on a mission to Jupiter without a guidance system. If there’s a realistic destination, it’s not on Google Maps.

Sac State’s foolishness became obvious several weeks ago when the athletics department circulated an email titled, “Future Hornet Stadium Survey.”

As an alumnus (graduation pending from 1978, nine units short), I couldn’t pass up the survey.

There are questions about how often I visit campus (about once a year), why I visit (to look at the buildings) and how often I attend Hornet football games (maybe once every three years).

Big Thinker

As Golden 1 Center nears its 10th birthday, I’ve been thinking about the people who brought the sports arena into existence.

There was NBA Commissioner David Stern, who orchestrated the eviction of the Maloof family as Kings owners and welcomed managing partner Vivek Ranadive.

There was Mayor Kevin Johnson, who followed Stern’s playbook and convinced the City Council to help finance Golden 1 Center.

Blind Ambitions

Every few years, the Kings produce a season that explains why they will never be much good for any length of time. This season is a perfect example.

Building a great NBA franchise is tough. But like many hard tasks, the formula for NBA success is well defined.

Start with two current All-Star players (three is better but two can work). Add maturity and leadership on the floor and in the locker room. Mix in an experienced coaching staff and supportive front office.