MOVING ON FROM OAKLAND CALIFORNIA

‘Moving on’ means one thing: So long suckers.

But it’s different when it’s ‘your team’ that leaves town.

What must Oakland California be feeling?

As a sharp-eyed blogger I’d say the feeling is . . . relief.

And here’s why:

This isn’t the first time the Raiders left Oakland.

They were welcomed to Los Angeles after the Rams left for St. Louis.

The Raiders won a Lombardi in L.A before they returned to Oakland. So did the Rams when they came back.

That’s the good news.

The bad news for Oakland Raider, A’s, and Warriors fans is losing their identity.

They are twelve miles away from the fabled San Francisco 49ers, the legendary San Francisco Giants, and now the Warriors, who are still Golden State.

Twelve miles away from a teaming urban center with a mix of championship caliber teams, and now they are worse off than Portland in terms of major league teams?

What Happens With Teams Moving On From You?

You move on. That’s what happens when teams move on from you.

The Oakland Athletics never seemed a permanent fixture.

Even though generations can call themselves Oakland A’s fans, it still felt like a temporary stop from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland to Las Vegas.

In spite of billionaire owners of major league teams lobbying their community for assistance in land and buildings, fans still pay major league prices for tickets.

Until they don’t.

Broken down it looks like this:

Live in Oakland, pay taxes, and buy game tickets while the community diverts public money to land and facilities for a billionaire’s hobby.

They are paying the price twice. Why?

Because the owners are not as loyal to the community and fanbase as they are their bottom line.

Big money guys need big money if they plan on sticking around at the top of the pecking order.

The Raiders went to the top three times with Al Davis. When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys he leaned on Davis to learn the league.

Their lesson to me? Making money comes before winning. How else to explain Jason Garrett’s run with the Cowboys?

Did I move on? No.

Did I want to? Yes.

Portland Fans Moving On?

Today Portland fans have the Trail Blazers to cheer.

No MLB team. No NFL team.

Even though Portland has a larger population than Oakland it’s never had the same major league sports exposure.

Portland couldn’t keep it’s AAA team but things are still cooking.

Seattle couldn’t keep their Super Sonics which is much worse.

Still, sports fans look to Seattle for the biggest leagues.

What they, we, and I see is what’s happening everywhere: Moving on.

Portland could lose their beloved Blazers as easy as Seattle lost their Sonics.

The answer sits with a lady in Seattle.

Dear Jody Allen,

Please sell the Portland Trail Blazers to Phil Knight.

Include wording in the contract that requires the multi- billionaire owner to make capitol improvements in the neighborhoods around team facilities.

Ms Allen, no one who is not a billionaire knows what makes you tick.

Do other billionaires in the club make fun of members who do too much for their community?

Is there a celebrated pecking order of grifters milking the public cow?

Why not tip the competition the other direction and celebrate those who benefit their communities in ways they don’t have to.

We have an ancient tradition in these parts that you’re well aware of.

Potlatch

A Potlatch is an opulent ceremonial feast to celebrate an important event held by tribes of Northwest Indians of North America including the Tlingit, Tsimishian, Haida, Coast Salish and the Chinook and Dene people.

A Potlatch is characterized by a ceremony in which possessions are given away, or destroyed, to display wealth, generosity and enhance prestige.

The term ‘Potlatch’ has been taken from a Nootka Indian word meaning “gift”. The Nootka, are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada.

Many other tribes, especially among the Plains Indians, have traditionally practiced some form of potlatch, or give-away ceremonies and customs, highlighted by the lavish distribution of goods and food to tribe members of those of other clans, villages, or tribes.

Break the Potlatch Ceiling together, you and Phil, and show how cooperating billionaires can be treasured and not vilified.

Start in Portland; we’re not getting any younger.

Once you divest yourself of the Trail Blazers, prepare Seattle for the return of the Supersonics.

Show the rest of the sports owners how it’s done in the Pacific Northwest.

Remember, Seattle Supersonics expansion team, not Portland Trail Blazers moving and becoming the Seattle Supersonics.

If that happened here Portland would take a cue from Oakland and be moving on.

But to what?