September 2009: Week 4
With over 30,000 downloads since 2007, The NOR CAL Report (NorCalProSports.com) brings insightful coverage and exclusive interviews to the savvy Northern California pro sports fan. The NOR CAL Report isavailablethroughthe iTunes store (search: NOR CAL Report) and digitaloutlets fromPodbean to Technorati —with special features onlyavailable at NorCalProSports.com.
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Check out www.lexxxluthor.com for details on Lex's European tour with German band The Mainstream!
It's all systems go — on The NOR CAL Report! This week, all four in-season squads check in with big victories. And there's more coming down the pipe:
The 49ers have a pair of smashing division wins, and a pristine 2-0 record. They've made a lot of changes, but a big one has come at the very top...
The Raiders flounder, then pull out an unlikely road victory. Could there be two gutty, flawed, smash-mouth winners straddling the Bay?
The Giants are still in this thing — barely. Speaking of flaws, what fun is a hero who's got it all? The Giants are so up and down, it's actually fun to think about missing the playoffs and fixing the roster...
And don't look now, but the A's can't lose, spilling playoff hopefuls in their wake. Are Rajai and the young guns farther along than we thought?
Plus, Lex is back and happy to weigh in on the Sharks' Heatley deal. But he knows one guy that could keep Dany and co. from Lord Stanley — and why does Heatley's dark past remind the lads of a seemy Giants news flash?
The NOR CAL scene is hoppin', and there's always room for more — on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT: Future Hall Of Famer Randy Johnson joins Jess and Lex for an exclusive interview, just as he rejoins the Giants for the postseason hunt. Join the lads for their once-in-a-lifetime visit with the Big Unit! Plus, the Giants and A's wrap up the regular season, as the NFL squads look to stay hot on Sunday.
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
Trivia Question: What MLB team's starting lineup features a pair of hitters who backed up current NFL starters at quarterback while in college? (Answer below.)
If you're wondering why, in the midst of a pennant drive, pundits keep complaining about the Giants' offensive futility, bear in mind: their .308 on-base percentage is somehow 35 points lower than the Washington Nationals...
With Barry Bonds on trial, Jim Caple contributes the obligatory Bring Back Barry column. I wouldn't mention it, but for a good line on the S.F.-L.A. rivalry being under-appreciated back east: "Pedro Martinez only shoved Don Zimmer; it's not like he ever hit him over the head with a bat..."
S.I. players poll: the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is players' tip-top, least favorite place to play in; meanwhile, the Raiders were picked by majority of ESPN readers to be the worst team in football — more than twice as many as 0-16 Detroit. Some good news in Oakland? The A's, long accused of a three-run homer addiction, lead baseball in steals since the All-Star Break...
By the way, Colorado is 45-14 when Carlos Gonzalez starts... And how 'bout the A's 6-man rotation idea? No, it won't last into next season — because good baseball people know pitchers have to actually pitch. Regularly. Don't worry, if your problem is too many quality starting pitchers, you're moving in the right direction...
Yes, one of the most shocking stories of the ball season comes out of the Dominican Republic, where Giants top prospect Angel Villalona is under arrest for murder. I'm honestly not comfortable saying anything more, but here's a teammate of Villalona's who touches on the man in his surprisingly crisp blog...
Trivia Answer: The Colorado Rockies. OF Seth Smith backed up Eli Manning at Ole Miss; 1B Todd Helton held the clipboard for Eli's brother Payton at Tennessee.
That's all for this week. But don't miss next week's gem with the Big Unit! Randy Johnson's best response? I asked him what's been his favorite, proudest moment — World Series MVP, 300th victory, throwing that pitch over John Kruk's head — tune in next week for the answer! And thanks as always for tuning in to The NOR CAL Report.
** Thanks for making The NOR CAL Report a success. Don't forget to tell your friends! **
Check out www.lexxxluthor.com for details on Lex's European tour with German band The Mainstream!
It's all systems go — on The NOR CAL Report! This week, all four in-season squads check in with big victories. And there's more coming down the pipe:
The 49ers have a pair of smashing division wins, and a pristine 2-0 record. They've made a lot of changes, but a big one has come at the very top...
The Raiders flounder, then pull out an unlikely road victory. Could there be two gutty, flawed, smash-mouth winners straddling the Bay?
The Giants are still in this thing — barely. Speaking of flaws, what fun is a hero who's got it all? The Giants are so up and down, it's actually fun to think about missing the playoffs and fixing the roster...
And don't look now, but the A's can't lose, spilling playoff hopefuls in their wake. Are Rajai and the young guns farther along than we thought?
Plus, Lex is back and happy to weigh in on the Sharks' Heatley deal. But he knows one guy that could keep Dany and co. from Lord Stanley — and why does Heatley's dark past remind the lads of a seemy Giants news flash?
The NOR CAL scene is hoppin', and there's always room for more — on The NOR CAL Report!
UP NEXT: Future Hall Of Famer Randy Johnson joins Jess and Lex for an exclusive interview, just as he rejoins the Giants for the postseason hunt. Join the lads for their once-in-a-lifetime visit with the Big Unit! Plus, the Giants and A's wrap up the regular season, as the NFL squads look to stay hot on Sunday.
Played: 247 | Download | Duration: 00:00:00
The NOR CAL Blog:
All the latest info, anecdotes and opinions from the Report's own Jess Zitrin.
Trivia Question: What MLB team's starting lineup features a pair of hitters who backed up current NFL starters at quarterback while in college? (Answer below.)
If you're wondering why, in the midst of a pennant drive, pundits keep complaining about the Giants' offensive futility, bear in mind: their .308 on-base percentage is somehow 35 points lower than the Washington Nationals...
With Barry Bonds on trial, Jim Caple contributes the obligatory Bring Back Barry column. I wouldn't mention it, but for a good line on the S.F.-L.A. rivalry being under-appreciated back east: "Pedro Martinez only shoved Don Zimmer; it's not like he ever hit him over the head with a bat..."
S.I. players poll: the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is players' tip-top, least favorite place to play in; meanwhile, the Raiders were picked by majority of ESPN readers to be the worst team in football — more than twice as many as 0-16 Detroit. Some good news in Oakland? The A's, long accused of a three-run homer addiction, lead baseball in steals since the All-Star Break...
By the way, Colorado is 45-14 when Carlos Gonzalez starts... And how 'bout the A's 6-man rotation idea? No, it won't last into next season — because good baseball people know pitchers have to actually pitch. Regularly. Don't worry, if your problem is too many quality starting pitchers, you're moving in the right direction...
Yes, one of the most shocking stories of the ball season comes out of the Dominican Republic, where Giants top prospect Angel Villalona is under arrest for murder. I'm honestly not comfortable saying anything more, but here's a teammate of Villalona's who touches on the man in his surprisingly crisp blog...
Trivia Answer: The Colorado Rockies. OF Seth Smith backed up Eli Manning at Ole Miss; 1B Todd Helton held the clipboard for Eli's brother Payton at Tennessee.
That's all for this week. But don't miss next week's gem with the Big Unit! Randy Johnson's best response? I asked him what's been his favorite, proudest moment — World Series MVP, 300th victory, throwing that pitch over John Kruk's head — tune in next week for the answer! And thanks as always for tuning in to The NOR CAL Report.
Posted by Jess Zitrin and Lex Gopnik at September 23, 2009 
Categories: raiders,A's,49ers,Giants,Sharks
Categories: raiders,A's,49ers,Giants,Sharks
You guys should just do a show on famous athletes and their run-ins with the law. Thanks for the cal spot. Its definitly nice to have the show end on a high note. Maybe a couple interviews from some of the boys in blue are possible for the future?
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Interesting idea. Well look into that. As far as Cal player interviews go we will see what we can do. Thanks for listening we really appreciate it.
Peace
Lex and Jess
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On your guys' first show of the new year you talked about how randy johnson will be in the league in some capacity for the rest of his life. But, I think that he fall under the same category of coach as Isaiah Thomas; an amazing player unable to intellectually breakdown their own success, so as to teach players whom don't have the same natural ability. Do you know who/how the billboard on 880 leaving the stadium was paid for? Was it season ticket holders? or a special interest group? Finally, I think that if the A's can stay healthy, especially their pitching staff, they will be the most improved team of the 2010 season.
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