Sacramento Kings

News Headlines

Last Updated: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012 -  2 p.m.

EAGLES FLEE TO STOCKTON ARENA

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. - According to information on the Sacramento Eagles web site, the professional indoor football team will be playing its home games in the Stockton Arena this year.

    The Eagles negotiations with Power Balance Pavilion to play their home games there fell through and an opportunity presented itself to play in Stockton after the existing Stockton Wolves team decided to sit out the 2012 season.

    For information on the Eagles - now renamed the California Eagles - visit www.sacramentoeagles.com.

CATS LOOKING FOR 'CAT CREW' MEMBERS

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2012) - Outgoing, energetic, driven individuals are needed for the River Cats Promotions Crew for the upcoming 2012 season. The Sacramento River Cats are searching for enthusiastic part-time/seasonal Cat Crew members who have a desire to entertain and create memories for River Cats fans.  In addition to implementing promotions during home games, the Cat Crew will assist in off-site community events, perform as mascots and work to excite the crowd. 

Qualifications

·         Must possess strong teamwork skills.

·         Must be able to work nights and/or weekends.

·         Must enjoy working with people, have the ability to work in front of large crowds and have a high-energy personality.

·         Must be self-motivated with the ability to multi-task and problem-solve.

·         Some physical demands are involved, such as moving boxes, climbing stairs and setting up tables.

·         Dance/cheer experience preferred.

    Interested ‘Cat Crew’ applicants are invited to Raley Field on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for auditions. Applicants must bring a resume and will be asked to introduce themselves and entertain the judges in fewer than 90 seconds.

A'S SIGN MCCARTHY AND DEVINE

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2012) -  The Oakland A’s agreed to terms with right-handed pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Joey Devine on one-year contracts for the 2012 season, the club announced today. McCarthy and Devine were the final two arbitration-eligible players on the A’s roster.
    McCarthy had the best season of his six-year Major League career with the A’s last year as he was 9-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts. He posted career highs in wins, starts, complete games (5), innings pitched (170.2) and strikeouts (123) and career lows in ERA, opponents on-base percentage (.281) and opponents slugging percentage (.377). With 123 strikeouts and just 25 walks, he set an Athletics record for strikeout-to-walk ratio with a mark of 4.92. McCarthy’s average of 1.32 walks per nine innings was second-lowest in A’s history. The 28-year-old right-hander went 8-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 14 starts after the All-Star Break, tying for third in the American League in post-break wins and ranking eighth in ERA.
    Devine returned to the majors for the first time in three seasons last year after missing the 2009 and 2010 seasons following “Tommy John” surgery. He began the season at Triple-A Sacramento but was recalled by Oakland May 20. Devine posted a 1-1 record and a 3.52 ERA in 26 relief appearances with the A’s before he was sent back to Sacramento July 27. The 28-year-old right-hander finished the season with the River Cats and was 4-0 with three saves and a 4.24 ERA in 23 appearances overall with Sacramento.
 

A'S ACQUIRE OUTFIELDER SETH SMITH

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2012) -  The Oakland Athletics today acquired outfielder Seth Smith from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for starting pitchers Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman.
    Smith, 29, has batted .275 with 78 doubles, 19 triples, 51 home runs and 181 RBI in 487 games in playing parts of five seasons with the Rockies. The 6-3, 210-pound left-handed hitter registered a .284 (135-for-476) batting average in 2011, lashing out 32 doubles, nine triples, 15 home runs and 59 RBI while stealing 10 bases in 147 games. A native of Jackson, Miss., he hit .300 or better in the months of April (.306), May (.303), June (.308) and August (.306) last season.
    Selected in the second round of the 2004 amateur draft by Colorado, Smith has averaged 15.7 home runs and 55.3 RBI in 137.7 games over the past three years. This past season, he batted .299 (115-for-384) with 29 doubles, eight triples, 14 home runs, 47 RBI, a .365 on-base percentage and .526 slugging percentage against right-handed pitchers, compared to .217 (20-for-92) with three doubles, one triple, one homer, 12 RBI, .272 OBP and .304 slugging percentage versus left-handers.
    Smith, who attended the University of Mississippi, is a career .336 pinch-hitter, collecting 11 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 34 RBI in 167 Major League at-bats. He was a member of the USA National Team that won the silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. He hit .322 with four homers and nine RBI for the U.S. Team.
    Moscoso, 28, posted an 8-10 record and 3.38 ERA in 23 games, 21 starts, for Oakland last season. It was his first year with the A’s, after posting a 4.30 ERA in 11 relief appearances with Texas over the previous two seasons. Acquired from the Rangers Jan. 8, 2011 for minor leaguer Ryan Kelly, the rookie right-hander began last season at Triple-A Sacramento but ended up finishing fourth on the Oakland staff with 21 starts.
    He ranked second among American League rookies in ERA and third in opponents batting average (.212). Moscoso also ranked fifth among AL rookies in wins, sixth in games started and innings pitched (128.0), and tied for eighth in strikeouts (74). The Maracay, Venezuela native registered a 3-4 record and 2.16 ERA in 10 games (8 starts) before the All-Star Break and went 5-6 with a 4.15 ERA following the break. He also set an Oakland record by retiring 30 consecutive batters from Sept. 2-7. Prior to his season in Oakland, he made his Major League debut with 10 games with Texas in 2009 and then pitched once in 2010. In the minor leagues, he fashioned a 44-28 mark and 3.19 ERA (238 er, 671.2 ip) in 141 career appearances, including 102 starts and 679 strikeouts in 671.1 innings.
    Outman, 27, returned to action in 2011 after missing the entire 2010 season following “Tommy John” surgery in June 2009. He recorded a 3-5 mark and 3.70 ERA in 13 games, nine starts, over two stints with the A’s in 2011, and is now 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 career appearances, including 25 starts, over three seasons. The left-hander was originally chosen by Philadelphia in the 10th round of the 2005 draft and was acquired by Oakland in the Joe Blanton trade in July of 2008. He also owns a 43-21 record and 3.13 ERA in 124 career minor league appearances, including 84 starts.
 

KINGS ADD ALEX ENGLISH TO STAFF

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2012) -  Sacramento Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie announced today the hiring of Alex English as an assistant coach, joining current assistants Jim Eyen, Jim Todd and Bobby Jackson on Head Coach Keith Smart’s staff.
    "Adding Alex to our basketball program is good for all and especially good for our players," explained Smart. "He was an elite player in this league for a long time and is a very good coach. When he talks, they'll listen. His game prep and film study aspects are some of his many strong points, and that's only going to help our staff. We're trying to surround ourselves with the right people that fit our basketball team who have the ability to teach our guys and also have a firm hand to get them walking in the right direction as young men."
    A member of the Basketball Hall-of-Fame and the NBA’s 13th all-time leading scorer (25,613 points), English arrives in Sacramento after spending seven seasons as an assistant coach and director of player development with the Toronto Raptors (2004-11). Prior to his stint north of the border, English served in a similar capacity with the Philadelphia 76ers (2003-04) and Atlanta Hawks (2002-03). He began his professional basketball management career in 2001-02 as the head coach of the NBA Development League’s North Charleston (S.C.) Lowgaters, where he guided his team to a 36-20 record and a berth in the finals of the first NBDL Championship.
    The 6-foot-7, 190-pound English was an eight-time NBA All-Star and selected to the all-league second team three times (1982, 1983 and 1986), as well as presented with the league’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his dedication to community service in 1988. English averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 1,193 regular season games, shooting an impressive .507 from the field and .832 from the foul line. He appeared in 68 postseason contests, averaging 24.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. A second-round selection by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1976 (23rd overall), English played two seasons in Milwaukee (1976-78), two with the Indiana Pacers (1978-80), and 11 in Denver (1980-90) before finishing his career in 1990-91 with the Dallas Mavericks. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1997.
    English was dealt by Indiana to the Nuggets on February 1, 1980 and would go on to become the Nuggets’ career leader in scoring (21,645) and assists (3,679) as a teammate of the Kings’ current Director of Player Development Fat Lever. In 10 of his 11 seasons in Denver, he averaged better than 21 points, and in eight of those seasons scored more than 25 per contest. He led the Nuggets to nine straight playoff appearances from 1982-90, including a berth in the 1985 Western Conference Finals, and averaged 24.4 points during 10 playoff seasons. On March 2, 1993, English was honored by the Nuggets with the retirement of his uniform No. 2.
 

GIANTS SIGN VOGELSONG FOR 2 YEARS

    SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2012) -  The San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Ryan Vogelsong on a two year contract with a club option for 2014, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
    Named to his first-ever All-Star team in 2011, Vogelsong went 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA in 30 games (28 starts) for San Francisco, by far his best season in his professional career. His 13 wins exceeded his victory total he compiled with Pittsburgh (10 wins) from 2001-06. The 2011 Giants’ “Willie Mac” Award winner also finished fourth in the National League in ERA behind only Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw (2.28) and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay (2.35) and Cliff Lee (2.40).
    Drafted by the Giants in the fifth round in 1998, Vogelsong was traded to Pittsburgh in a four-player deal in July 2001. He underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in 2002 and went 10-19 with a 6.00 ERA for the Pirates from 2001-06. The 34-year-old pitched in Japan from 2007-09 before playing in triple-A for the Phillies and Angels in 2010.
 

AIF ANNOUNCES WESTERN DIVISION

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2012) -  American Indoor Football (AIF) has officially announced its Western Division for the 2012 season and represents teams from the states of California, Nevada and Arizona. The AIF West consists of 5 teams, four of which are from top twenty television markets. Fans will be able to watch AIF football from some great arenas such as the 9,700 seat Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario California. Steve Eckerson General Manager of Citizens Business Bank Arena says his arena is very pleased to be the home of the Ontario Warriors Football Team. The City of Ontario and the Inland Empire region of Southern California have a great fan base for football and we are very confident that the team will gain outstanding support. The arena, managed by AEG Facilities, is looking forward to a long and positive relationship with the Ontario Warriors and the American Indoor Football.”
    The AIF Western Division joins the six team AIF Eastern Division under the banner of American Indoor Football, an eleven team national professional indoor football league, Each team will play within their division during the regular season as well as two rounds of divisional playoffs. In 2012 the AIF Championship Game will be held on June 16th and will be hosted by the AIF Eastern Division Champion, In 2013 the AIF Championship Game will be hosted by the AIF Western Division Champion.
    The AIF is excited to announce the following AIF Western Division teams listed below:
Arizona Outlaws Prescott Valley, AZ
www.arizonaoutlawsfootball.com
Stockton Lightning Stockton, CA
(website under development)
Sacramento Eagles Sacramento, CA
www.saceagles.com
Sin City Blackjacks Las Vegas, NV
www.sincityjacks.com
Ontario Warriors Ontario, CA
www.ontwarriors.com

KINGS' 'BLACK IS BACK PACK'

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2012) -  With the Sacramento Kings new “Black is Back Pack,” fans can score tickets to four amazing games showcasing the last three NBA Championship teams, a trio of league MVPs and the reigning NBA scoring leader for a low price starting at just $199.
    The “Black is Back Pack” includes a ticket to each of the following top-tier matchups – a nationally televised contest versus the Oklahoma City Thunder led by two-time scoring champion Kevin Durant on Feb. 9, when Sacramento will don their black jerseys at Power Balance Pavilion for the first time since the season opener, the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks and 10-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki on Mar. 9, perennial championship contender Boston Celtics fueled by Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce on Mar. 16 and a visit by the L.A. Lakers and Kobe Bryant for the regular season finale on Apr. 26.
    As a special bonus, every “Black is Back Pack” purchased includes a total of four limited-edition T-shirts, one commemorating each game offered in the deal. Upper level packs start at $199 and provide significant savings over individual game prices.
    Based on extremely high demand for the original “Back-in-Black Pack,” which became the hottest-selling ticket pack in Kings history, inventory of the newly dubbed “Black is Back Pack” is expected to sell quickly. Fans are encouraged to visit www.Kings.com/tickets or call 888-91-KINGS to secure theirs today.
 

RIVER CATS STAY ON TALK 650 KSTE

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2012) - The Sacramento River Cats and Clear Channel Radio Sacramento have extended their broadcast agreement, continuing to make Talk 650 KSTE the exclusive broadcast home of all River Cats games. The three-year extension includes the airing of the River Cats vs. Oakland A’s exhibition game at Raley Field on March 31, all 144 River Cats’ regular season games and all Cats’ post-season action. The “Voice of the River Cats,” Johnny Doskow, will return to the booth for his 12th season with the team.
    “We are excited to continue our partnership with KSTE and the Clear Channel family of stations,” said River Cats General Manager Jeff Savage. “The regional exposure will help us promote the excitement of River Cats baseball and our on-field success, as well as enhance the value of our corporate relationships.”
    The first River Cats broadcast of the 2012 season on KSTE will be aired Saturday, March 31, when the River Cats host their Major League affiliate, the Oakland A’s, at 6:05 p.m. The team’s first regular season radio broadcast is Thursday, April 5 at 7:05 p.m., when the team travels to play the Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays). Sacramento’s first home broadcast is Friday, April 13 at 7:05 p.m., when Sacramento hosts the Reno Aces (Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks).
    Tickets for Opening Day at Raley Field are currently available through purchase of River Cats Full Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, Flex Plans and group packages, which can be purchased by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). River Cats season ticket holders and 36-game Founders' Club ticket holders will receive one complimentary River Cats-A's ticket per paid seat. For more information about the 2012 River Cats season, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.
 

49ER STADIUM SEAT LICENSES AVAILABLE

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2012) - The Santa Clara Stadium Authority and Legends Sales & Marketing announced today the launch of Club Seat and Stadium Builders License (SBL) sales for the new stadium in Santa Clara. The launch will begin with a seat allocation process for current lower bowl Candlestick season ticket holders. The SBLs for the majority of the 9,000 Club Seats are priced at $20,000 and $30,000. There is a range of payment options, including short-term installment plans or longer term financing for the SBLs. All payment plans will be interest-free prior to the year in which the stadium opens.
    Also, today, the San Francisco 49ers announced pricing for game tickets in the Club sections. The 49ers said ticket prices on the Club Seats will range from $325-$375 per game, depending on the location.
    “We expect a high demand for Club Seats in the new stadium and encourage all season ticket holders to take advantage of this opportunity to visit the Preview Center and meet one-on-one with their personal sales representative,” said Al Guido, Vice President of Sales and Service for Legends, the company selected by the Stadium Authority to market stadium seating. “Since this is a new product, we want to make sure that the 49ers season ticket holders have plenty of time to review the changes and understand how the seat allocation process works.”
    The 49ers CEO Jed York said he hopes every season ticket holder will dedicate the time to study the options at the new venue.
    “I know there are a lot of questions,” said York, “and I hope each season ticket holder will take time to meet with their Legends representative, visit the Preview Center and ask every question in their playbook about this venue and the seating. There are some extraordinary benefits you will have if you purchase the SBL and the rights to buy 49ers seats for the lifetime of the building.”
    In response to market demand for a super-premium all-inclusive seating area, Legends is introducing a Club Seat product that will have only limited availability and will provide access to the exclusive Legacy Club. These Club Seats will include extraordinary amenities such as all-inclusive food and beverage (except liquor), complimentary VIP parking, and guaranteed access to purchase future Super Bowl tickets for games held at the new stadium. Inside the Legacy Club, patrons can monitor unique behind-the-scenes NFL action. There will be less than one percent of these seats available, and the SBLs are priced at $80,000.
    All sellable seats in the new stadium will include an SBL, a one-time payment that gives buyers control of their seats for 49ers games and is good for the life of the building. SBL owners will receive priority access to purchase tickets for other events at the new stadium. As a Club Seat purchaser, however, there are additional benefits including VIP parking, access to designated exclusive Club areas through a private entrance and wider, cushioned seats in locations with tremendous sightlines.
    The new stadium will have roughly 150,000 square feet of Club space which is among the most in the NFL. In addition to the Legacy Club with its on-field patio areas that are situated behind team benches, there are three additional Clubs. The Champions Club is located just 35 rows above the playing field and runs the length of the 49ers sideline. The Broadcast Club is located in the Suite Tower and has viewing access to the Game Day broadcast teams. The Loft 1680 Club is above the east main concourse and is the “first-of-its-kind-loft-style” Club with glass walls giving unlimited on-field sightlines as well as views of the surrounding area.
    Legends officials said pricing for other areas of the stadium has not been established yet.
    “The allocation process is complicated,” said Guido, “especially since the new stadium has roughly 15,000 more seats in the lower bowl when compared to Candlestick Park. In addition, the new stadium has a suite tower on the west side of the building. That allows us to bring the upper bowl seats closer to the field. We believe that many current season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase the rights to seats that have better sightlines than their current Candlestick locations, but the manifest is not complete and won’t be announced for several months.”
    Today’s announcement coincided with a mailing from Legends and the Stadium Authority to 49ers season ticket holders explaining details of the seat allocation process. This is the first in a series of messages that will be delivered to season ticket holders through 2012. The process will occur in phases based on the location of a ticketholder’s season tickets at Candlestick.
    The new stadium in Santa Clara is estimated to cost approximately $1.02 billion. Officials expect it to be a landmark for Silicon Valley in addition to its role as the new home to the San Francisco 49ers. The 1.85 million square foot facility will seat 68,500 and feature 165 luxury suites. It will be designed with multi-purpose flexibility to host a wide range of events including domestic and international soccer, college football, motocross, concerts and various civic events, and is expandable for major events such as the Super Bowl. For more information, go to www.newsantaclarastadium.com.
 

CHUCK HAYES INJURY UPDATE

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2012) - Upon being re-examined today, it was determined that Chuck Hayes will miss approximately three to four weeks of action due to the dislocated left shoulder he suffered in the Kings’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks last night at Power Balance Pavilion.
 

FANS CAN VOTE FOR NFL ROOKIE OF YEAR

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Jan. 6, 2012) - Fans can vote for one of these five players on www.nfl.com/rookies through 9:00 PM EST on Tuesday, January 31 to determine the 2011 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

    ALDON SMITH (San Francisco 49ers) — Smith, the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Missouri, played in all 16 games for the 49ers. Smith tallied 14 sacks on the season, placing him in a tie for fifth among all NFL defenders. He finished the season just a half sack short of the single season rookie record. On the year, he also added 37 stops, including 31 solo tackles, four passes defensed, two fumbles forced, one fumble recovered and a safety. Smith was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week three times, winning the award twice.

    ANDY DALTON (Cincinnati Bengals) — Dalton started all 16 games for the Bengals and led Cincinnati to a 9-7 record and a Wild Card berth in the AFC playoffs. Dalton completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 3,398 yards and 20 touchdowns. Dalton is one of only five rookie quarterbacks to throw for 20 touchdowns in a season, and is also one of only five rookie quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards or more in a season. Dalton, who attended Texas Christian University, was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week six times, winning twice.
    VON MILLER (Denver Broncos) — Miller, a Texas A&M product, started all 15 games he played and tied Denver’s single-season rookie sack record with a team-high 11.5 sacks, placing him second among all rookies in 2011 and tied for third overall in the AFC. He was one of six NFL players to record a half sack in at least 10 games. He totaled 64 tackles (50 solo) and led the team with 19 tackles for a loss in addition to ranking second on the club with two forced fumbles. He was selected as a starting outside linebacker for the AFC squad for the 2012 Pro Bowl. The second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Miller was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week three times.
    CAM NEWTON (Carolina Panthers) — Newton set the record for most passing yards by a rookie in a season (4,051), surpassing PEYTON MANNING’s previous record of 3,739 in 1998. He set the single-season quarterback rushing touchdown record with 14. He is the first rookie to throw and rush for 10 touchdowns in the same season, and only the second player to pass for more than 20 touchdowns and rush for more than 10 touchdowns in a season. He is the first player in NFL history with more than 4,000 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same year. Newton, who started all 16 games, finished his first season with a 60.0 completion percentage and 21 touchdowns. He amassed an additional 706 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. The Auburn product was the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week 11 times, winning three times.
    PATRICK PETERSON (Arizona Cardinals) — Peterson started all 16 games for the Cardinals in 2011. He finished first in the NFL in punt return yards and second in punt return average. His four punt return touchdowns are tied for the most in a single season in NFL history. As a cornerback, Peterson recorded 64 tackles, including 59 solo stops. He tallied 13 passes defensed, two interceptions and one sack. Peterson was named to the NFC’s Pro Bowl squad as the team’s kick returner. Peterson, who played collegiately at Louisiana State University, was nominated three times for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week.
    The winner will be presented the 2011 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award in Indianapolis, the site of Super Bowl XLVI, at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on February 4, 9-11 p.m. EST on NBC.
    The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2011 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.
 

KINGS NAME KEITH SMART AS COACH

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2012) - The Sacramento Kings today named Keith Smart as the team’s 24th Head Coach, according to President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
    “Keith will bring a new perspective to the team as we try to move forward with the season,” said Petrie. “He’s very well prepared and will assume the job with some new ideas and new approaches of his own. We’re all excited and looking forward to working with him.”
    Smart, who spent last season as head coach of the Golden State Warriors where he compiled a 36-46 record, brings over 22 years of professional basketball experience as either a coach or player. Prior to his appointment as head coach for Golden State, Smart served seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Warriors, giving him the longest tenure of any assistant coach in Golden State history.
    “I had a chance to work for Paul Westphal in the brief time that I’ve been here and really enjoyed it,” explained Smart. “He was very supportive every step of the way. I want to thank Geoff Petrie and the Maloof family for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to implementing a few new things with what we want to try to do with our basketball team. Hopefully, they’ll respond to what I want them to do, and I believe they will. I think our players will be excited with some of the ideas that I have for our team moving forward.”
    The 47-year-old Smart originally joined the Warriors prior to the 2003-04 campaign after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was named the Cavaliers interim head coach in the middle of the 2002-03 season upon taking over for John Lucas. At the time, he was the second-youngest head coach in the NBA.
    “When I asked Geoff to add Keith Smart to our staff, I knew that he would be a tremendous asset going forward,” said Westphal. “Keith has my respect and blessing as he assumes the position he is exceptionally qualified to fill.”
    Before joining the Cavaliers, Smart spent three seasons as the head coach of the CBA’s Fort Wayne Fury, compiling a record of 85-83 (.506) and guiding the team to its first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history in 1997-98 and 1998-99. In his first campaign as a head coach at any level in 1997-98, he guided the Fury to a franchise-record 31-win season and a trip to the playoffs. The club made the playoffs again in 1998-99, despite having a single-season franchise record nine players signed to NBA contracts. He was awarded the American Conference Coach of the Month Award five times during his tenure with Fort Wayne and had a CBA-high 21 players signed to NBA contracts.
    During his professional basketball playing career, Smart spent six seasons in the CBA, two seasons in France and one in Venezuela. He also played briefly with the San Antonio Spurs during the 1988-89 season.
    Smart was originally drafted by the Warriors in the second round (41st overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft out of Indiana University. He is widely remembered for his Final Four heroics in 1987, in which he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after leading Indiana to a National Championship with his game-winning shot versus Syracuse in the title game.
 

A'S SIGN CRISP FOR TWO YEARS

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2012) - The Oakland A’s agreed to terms with outfielder Coco Crisp on a two-year contract through the 2013 season with a club option for 2014, the club announced today.
    Crisp batted .264 with eight home runs, 54 RBI and a career-high 49 stolen bases in 136 games with Oakland last year. He tied for the American League lead in stolen bases and led the A’s in hits (140) and at bats (531) while tying for the team lead in runs scored (69). Crisp became the 10th player (26th time) in Oakland history to steal 40 bases in a season and is the first Athletic to lead the league in steals since Rickey Henderson had 66 in 1998. The 32-year-old switch hitter also batted .298 with runners in scoring position and ranked 10th in the AL with an average of 8.97 plate appearances per strikeout.
    Crisp was originally signed by the A’s to a two-year contract prior to the 2010 season and has a .269 average with 16 home runs, 92 RBI and 81 stolen bases in 211 games in two seasons with Oakland. The stolen bases are fifth most in the AL over the last two years. Crisp has played for four teams in a 10-year Major League career that includes stops with Cleveland (2002-05), Boston (2006-08), Kansas City (2009) and Oakland (2010-11). He is a .275 hitter with 75 home runs, 419 RBI and 218 stolen bases in 1043 career games.
 

KINGS REMOVE WESTPHAL AS COACH

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2012) - The Sacramento Kings today relieved Paul Westphal of his head coaching duties, according to President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Current Kings’ assistant coach Keith Smart will serve as head coach in tonight’s game versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
    “I want to thank Paul for all of his effort on behalf of the Kings,” said Petrie. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not approached what we felt was reasonable to expect. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
    In two-plus seasons as head coach of the Kings, Westphal amassed a record of 51-120.
    “I would like to thank the Maloof family for the incredible opportunity they gave me to participate in the attempt to bring the Sacramento Kings back to prominence,” said Westphal. “While the job is far from finished, I am proud of the strides we were able to make.
    “Geoff Petrie and his staff have been nothing but honest and supportive throughout my time here. They are first class in every way and I wish them nothing but success. My hope is to see the fans of the Kings and the city of Sacramento rewarded with many years of great basketball.
    “Finally, I want to thank my loyal staff and players for their efforts in attempting to climb out of the hole we shared. Nothing comes easy in the NBA and I know they will not rest in their efforts to rebuild this team.”
 

QUAKES ANNOUNCE 2012 SCHEDULE

    SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2012) - Six nationally televised games and a June 30 date with the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium highlight the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2012 schedule as MLS unveiled its full slate for the upcoming season on Thursday. The team kicks off the season against the New England Revolution on Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. PT. The full television and radio broadcast schedules will be announced at a later date.
    The club returns to Stanford Stadium after drawing a crowd of 41,028 in 2011 when San Jose faced the New York Red Bulls on July 2. This time around, the Quakes will face defending MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy on June 30 at 7:30 p.m. PT, live on ESPN2. The match comes at the end of a four-game road stretch that begins on May 23 against the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. In addition to the game on June 30, San Jose hosts Landon Donovan and the Galaxy again on Sunday, Oct. 21 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
    Individual tickets for Opening Day and the club’s match at Stanford Stadium go on sale to Season Ticket Holders on Monday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available to the general public on Friday, Jan 13 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the remainder of San Jose’s 2012 schedule go on sale on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. For the first time in club history, the Earthquakes will feature a dynamic pricing plan for individual game tickets.
    NBC Sports Network tabbed the Quakes for three games in the station’s inaugural season with MLS. The first is San Jose’s game at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m. Next up is a home date with Chivas USA on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. followed by the club’s final regular season fixture, an Oct. 27 trip to Portland at 3:30 p.m.
    In addition to San Jose’s matches on ESPN2 and NBC Sports Network, the club was selected to host a pair of fixtures on Galavision. The game days include Sunday, May 13 against Chivas USA and Sunday, Oct. 21 against the LA Galaxy.
    The Quakes play six out of seven matches on the road between May 23 and July 7 with the June 30 game at Stanford the lone home fixture scheduled during that time. However, San Jose follows that stretch with seven out of 10 games at home from July 14-Sept. 19.
    No league matches have been scheduled on the FIFA fixture dates of June 1-5, June 8-12, Sept. 7-11 and Oct. 12-16.
    Season tickets for the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2012 campaign are now on sale. Packages include 20 games at a significantly discounted rate as well as a bevy of exclusive season ticket benefits. Prices start at $2,300 for Netsuite VIP On-Field seats and are as affordable as $260 in the Supporters Section. For more information about pricing, payment plans and more, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/season-tickets or call an Earthquakes sales rep at 408-556-7700.
 

SABERCATS ADD ALL-ARENA DEFENSIVE BACK ANDRE JONES

    SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2012) - The SaberCats today announced the addition of 2011 All-Arena selection DB Andre Jones.
    "Andre was an outstanding playmaker for the Milwaukee Mustangs and our Defensive Coordinator, Cedric Walker last season," said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. "With the other additions we've made in the secondary we are expecting big things from our defense in 2012."
    Jones (5-11, 195, Akron) led the Mustangs and finished fifth in the AFL with ten interceptions, returning two for touchdowns in his rookie campaign. On the season, he finished with 60.5 tackles, 16 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. For his efforts he was named second-team All-Arena and he will be joining former Mustang defensive backs Brandon Brinkley and Marcus Everett in San Jose. Jones also earned Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 8 in Milwaukee’s 50-33 win over the Tampa Bay Storm. He recorded six unassisted tackles, forced a fumble and had one interception in the Mustangs victory.
    A four-year starter at Akron, Jones spent his first two seasons at safety where he racked up 184 tackles, four interceptions, ten passes defensed, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one sack in 24 games (22 starts). He later made the switch to wide receiver his final two years for the Zips, starting in 19 of 23 games and totaling 80 catches for 1,231 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning All-Mid-American Conference honors as a senior.
    A native of Forestville, Md., he prepped at Avon Old Farms School (Avon, Conn.) in 2004 where he was named first team All-New England and first team All-Erickson League at both running back and defensive back after transferring from Forestville High School. He was a consensus All-State selection in 2003 after posting six interceptions and 70 tackles, as well as 1,215 yards rushing, 538 yards passing and 560 yards receiving. Jones was also named first team all-metro and first-team all-county.
 

SLAMSON NOMINATED FOR 'MOST AWESOME MASCOT'

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2012) - Sacramento Kings mascot Slamson has been nominated for the “Most Awesome Mascot” award by Cartoon Network’s Hall of Game Awards, which will air on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. Kings fans are encouraged to show their support for the lovable lion by casting their votes online through Feb. 17.
    “I am very honored for Slamson to receive this nomination,” said Todd Maroldo, Kings Director of Mascot Operations. “He is one of only four professional mascots competing and the only NBA representative in the competition. He looks forward to collecting as many votes as possible to help the Kings win this award.”
    Hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, the event is billed as an adrenaline-pumping, unconventional celebration of sports entertainment that recognizes kids’ favorite sports stars and athletic feats of 2011.
    Fans of all ages can help Slamson win the coveted prize by voting online: www.HallofGame.com.
 

49ERS SIGN DAVIS TO PRACTICE SQUAD

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2012) - The San Francisco 49ers today announced that they have signed LB Bruce Davis to the team’s practice squad.
    Davis (6-3, 252) has played in 15 career games. He originally entered the league as a third round draft pick (88th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft. He has spent time on the active roster with both the Steelers (2008) and the Oakland Raiders (2010-11). Davis also spent time on the 49ers practice squad in 2010, and the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in 2011.
    Davis, a 26-year old native of Los Angeles, CA, starred collegiately at UCLA where he ranks second in school history with 29.0 career sacks. He was a two-time All-American and All-Pac 10 selection.
 

SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS OFFER JOBS

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2012) - The Sacramento River Cats have announced their seasonal job openings, which are available at www.rivercats.com under “the “Ballpark Info & Contacts” tab. Between the River Cats and Ovations Food Services, there are more than 200 seasonal positions available at Raley Field. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and should be prepared to undergo a pre-employment drug screen and background check.
    Raley Field will not be hosting a 2012 job fair. All applicants must apply through the team’s website.
    The following is a list of positions available at Raley Field:
· Concession Workers
· Cleaning Staff
· Kid’s Corner Attendants
· Crowd Managers
· On Deck Shop (Team Store) Sales
· Parking Attendants
· Grounds Crew
· Ticket Sales Associates
· In-Game Promotions Crew
· Guest Service Attendants
 

A'S TRADE JAI MILLER TO ORIOLES

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2012) - The Oakland A’s traded outfielder Jai Miller to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations, the club announced today. Miller was designated for assignment December 23, 2011 following the Gio Gonzalez trade.
    Miller went 3 for 12 (.250) with a home run and two RBI in seven games with the A’s last year during a September call-up. He spent the balance of the season with Sacramento where he batted .276 with 32 home runs and 88 RBI in 110 games. The 26-year old ranked second in the Pacific Coast League in home runs, fourth in slugging (.588) and tied for seventh in extra base hits (60). Miller was originally drafted by Florida in 2003 and is a .235 career hitter in 28 games with the Marlins (2008), Kansas City (2010) and Oakland (2011).
 

49ERS PLAYOFF GAME SOLD OUT

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2012) - The San Francisco 49ers upcoming playoff game is sold out.
    The sellout occurred shortly after tickets were made available for sale to the general public Tuesday morning.
    The 49ers will host a Divisional Round game on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 1:30 p.m. PT at Candlestick Park.
    The NFL Ticket Exchange gives fans access to tickets to sold-out playoff games. The NFL Ticket Exchange  is the official ticket re-sale site for the 49ers.
 

THREE RAIDERS NAMED TO PRO BOWL

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Dec. 27, 2011) - Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, punter Shane Lechler and defensive tackle
Richard Seymour have been named to the 2012 Pro Bowl squad, the NFL announced today.
    This is the first Pro Bowl selection for Janikowski, while Lechler and Seymour will make return trips to the NFL All-Star game in Hawaii.
    Safety Tyvon Branch, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, running back Darren McFadden and fullback Marcel Reece have all been named Pro Bowl alternates for the January 29, 2012 game in Honolulu.

EIGHT 49ERS NAMED TO PRO BOWL

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Dec. 27, 2011) - San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers, safety Dashon Goldson, running back Frank Gore, punter Andy Lee, cornerback Carlos Rogers, defensive tackle Justin Smith, tackle Joe Staley and inside linebacker Patrick Willis have been selected to participate in the 2012 Pro Bowl. Rogers, Smith, Staley and Willis were named starters on this year’s NFC squad.
    The following players were selected as alternates for the NFC Pro Bowl squad: linebacker NaVorro Bowman, linebacker Ahmad Brooks, special teamer Blake Costanzo, tight end Vernon Davis, return specialist Ted Ginn Jr., center Jonathan Goodwin, guard Mike Iupati, defensive tackle Ray McDonald, fullback Bruce Miller and safety Donte Whitner.
 

NEW KINGS TICKET PLAN

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec. 27, 2011) - The Sacramento Kings are asking fans, “What’s in your starting 5?”
    The newly-released “Starting 5 Flex Plan” allows fans to choose five of their favorite matchups remaining on the Kings 2011-12 schedule for a customized ticket plan, complete with huge savings over individual games prices and an option to add additional contests.
    Beginning at just $16 per game, the “Starting 5 Flex Plan” provides maximum flexibility—offering fans the freedom to create a package that makes sense for their budget while securing great seats to the most desired matchups. Several high-caliber opponents will make stops at Power Balance Pavilion in the coming days, including 2011 MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 29, a New Year’s Eve affair against the N.Y. Knicks, led by perennial All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, and New Year’s Day versus the New Orleans Hornets.
    Additional games and star power highlighting Sacramento’s schedule include Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic (Jan. 8), rising star Stephen Curry and the Northern California rival Golden State Warriors (Feb. 4), back-to-back NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Feb. 9), the L.A. Clippers and All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin (Mar. 1), the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks (Mar. 9) and Eastern Conference stalwart Boston Celtics (Mar. 16).
    Fans interested in ringing in the new year with a “Starting 5 Flex Plan” are encouraged to visit www.Kings.com/tickets or contact a Kings sales representative by calling 888-91-KINGS.
 

A'S HOST FANFEST JAN. 29

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2011) - Free autographs and question-and-answer sessions with Manager Bob Melvin, rising stars such as Jemile Weeks, former legends like 1972 World Series MVP Gene Tenace and 20-game winning streak hero Scott Hatteberg, will be among the up-close-and-personal features at next month’s Oakland A’s FanFest 2012, which will be staged at Oracle Arena from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. The event will be sponsored by Comcast SportsNet California, the team’s local television partner.

    “Fans will have unique access to their favorite A’s players and the chance to meet some of the new additions to the 2012 club,” said Jim Leahey, A’s vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re excited to be holding the event in the Oracle Arena for the first time, which will provide a wonderful environment for interacting with our players and legends as we kick off a season in which we will be celebrating some of the greatest moments in A’s history.”

    With 2012 representing the 40-year anniversary of the 1972 World Series Championship and the 10-year anniversary of the 20-game winning streak, the A’s have announced in-season celebrations of those historic accomplishments. FanFest will initiate those festivities by featuring some of the icons from those teams. In addition to Tenace, FanFest will include appearances by 1972 team members Vida Blue, former MVP and Cy Young Award winner, and legendary left-fielder Joe Rudi. Hatteberg, recently portrayed in the acclaimed motion picture Moneyball, will also participate.

    The A’s 40th anniversary celebration of the ’72 World Series is set for April 21 vs. Cleveland, when 10,000 fans will receive a Rollie Fingers bobblehead, sponsored by Comcast SportsNet California. The 10-year anniversary of the 20-game winning streak will be commemorated in August against Cleveland, when 15,000 fans will receive a Hatteberg bobblehead Aug. 18, and 10,000 fans receive a 20th consecutive win streak t-shirt before the game Aug. 19.

    Admission tickets for Oakland A’s FanFest 2012 are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 14 and under. Admission to the event is free for current 2012 A’s season ticket holders and fans that put a deposit on a 2012 season ticket package.

    For more information about how to take advantage of this offer by becoming a season ticket holder, fans should visit www.oaklandathletics.com/fanfest.

    Parking for the event is free to all fans. Admission tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the A’s Ticket Services Office or online at www.oaklandathletics.com/fanfest.
    Oakland A’s FanFest 2012 activities also include free photos with the team’s four World Series Trophies and former A’s legends, a memorabilia sale to benefit the A’s Community Fund, the Comcast SportsNet Sportscaster Experience Booth and other fun offerings to be announced next month. FanFest also serves as the first opportunity for fans to purchase individual game tickets for the upcoming season, including the A’s home opener against the Seattle Mariners April 6.
    For more information, please visit www.oaklandathletics.com/fanfest.
 

PORTS, CATS HOST EXHIBITION SERIES

    STOCKTON, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2011) - Two of the Oakland Athletics’ most successful Minor League franchises will be on display once again, as the Stockton Ports will take on the Sacramento River Cats, on Tuesday, April 3rd at Banner Island Ballpark.
    The River Cats will host the first exhibition game on Monday, April 2nd at Raley Field in Sacramento, and the final game will be hosted a day later in Stockton at 6:35pm.
    Not only can fans get a preview of the 2012 Stockton club, but fans can also see 2008 Cal League Championship Manager Darren Bush and a large number of the top prospects in the Oakland organization in this exhibition series.
    “As a staple of our schedule since 2007, we couldn’t be more excited to continue this tradition” said Ports President and General Manager Pat Filippone. “ We appreciate the Oakland Athletics and the Sacramento River Cats continued participation in an event that our fans enjoy” added Filippone.
    Ports season ticket holders can enter the April 3rd game at Banner Island Ballpark free of charge, while mini-plan ticket holders must pay $3 for tickets. Groups of 25 or more will receive tickets for $3, while general public tickets will be available for $5. All tickets are for reserved seating.
    Tickets to exhibition game at Banner Island Ballpark will be available online at www.stocktonports.com, over the phone at (209) 644-1900 or at the ticket office at Banner Island Ballpark starting in mid-March.
    The Ports home opener is on Thursday, April 12th against Modesto at 7:05 p.m.
    For information about season tickets, mini-plan ticket packages, group outings or luxury suites, please contact the Ports front office at (209) 644-1900 or visit www.stocktonports.com.
 

RIVER CATS HOST A'S MAR. 31 AT RALEY

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2011) - Sacramento will host Major League Baseball for the first time in half a decade when the Oakland A’s visit the Sacramento River Cats on March 31, 2012. This marks the fifth time that Raley Field has hosted the four-time World Series champion Oakland A’s – the first four games were sellouts.
    River Cats season ticket holders and 36-game Founders’ Club ticket holders will receive one complimentary River Cats-A’s ticket per paid seat. Fans with 40-game flex plan Founders’ Club accounts will receive one ticket per paid plan. All other River Cats season ticket holders, plus A’s season ticket holders, will have the opportunity to purchase individual tickets to the exhibition game during a special online pre-sale beginning February 1, 2012, at www.ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets start at $12.
    Tickets to the exhibition game will go on sale to the general public via www.ticketmaster.com on Feb. 15, 2012 as part of the Franchise Frenzy Ticket Package, a 5-game ticket plan that includes:
· One (1) ticket to the River Cats vs. A’s exhibition game (Saturday, March 31 at 6:05pm)
· One (1) voucher to the River Cats vs. Stockton Ports scrimmage (Monday, April 2 at 7:05pm)
· Three (3) vouchers to any other 2012 regular season River Cats home game (must be the same seat level or better as the A’s game).
    Prices for the Franchise Frenzy Ticket Package start at $36.
    The March 31 exhibition game will mark the first time a Major League team has played in Sacramento since the River Cats hosted the A’s on March 29, 2007. Since the River Cats’ inaugural season in 2000, the team has hosted eight Major League games: the River Cats have played the Oakland A’s (2001, 2003, 2006, 2007), San Diego Padres (twice in 2001), and Colorado Rockies (2004), while the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners also faced off in an exhibition game at Raley Field in 2003.
    Notable River Cats who have gone on to play for the A’s include: Outfielders Nick Swisher, Eric Byrnes and Carlos Gonzalez; infielders Jemile Weeks, Cliff Pennington and Mark Ellis; catcher Kurt Suzuki; pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Barry Zito; and coaches/managers Bob Geren, Rick Rodriguez, Tony DeFrancesco and Todd Steverson.
    The River Cats begin their 2012 regular season on Friday, April 13 against the Reno Aces. The opening series is a matchup of the 2011 Pacific Coast League Pacific Conference Championship Series where the River Cats overcame an 0-2 series deficit to win the 5-game series. The River Cats have won 10 division titles in 12 years the most of any major, American professional sports team this century.
    River Cats season tickets can be purchased by calling (916) 371-HITS (4487).
 

A'S ANNOUNCE SPRING SCHEDULE

    OAKLAND, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2011) - The Oakland Athletics today officially announced their Spring Training schedule for 2012, a preseason which will feature an abbreviated 21-game Cactus League slate, a week-long visit to Japan to kick off the regular season, and a rare March 31 exhibition game in Sacramento.
    Official travel packages and season tickets for A’s spring training home games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium are now on sale on-line at www.oaklandathletics.com/spring. Single-game tickets are also on sale by calling (877) 493-BALL (2255) or visiting www.oaklandathletics.com. The Box Office at Phoenix Municipal Stadium will open Monday, Feb. 6.
    The Athletics, who christen the Cactus League season Friday, March 2 against the Seattle Mariners in Phoenix, Ariz., will play 11 fewer games in the desert this spring compared to 2011. The reduction in games was necessitated to accommodate Oakland opening its 2012 regular season in Japan, as the A’s will serve as the “home team” in playing two games against American League West rival Seattle in the Tokyo Dome March 28 and 29. This will mark the second time the A’s have participated in Major League Baseball’s Japan Opening Series. The teams split a two-game set with the Boston Red Sox in Tokyo in 2008.
    The A’s will play a total of 10 home games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium this spring, beginning with the home opener March 2 against the Mariners. Other home attractions include the defending NL Central Division champion Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, March 13 and the NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, March 19, as well as two visits to Phoenix Muni by the always-popular Chicago Cubs, including one on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) and a second that closes the home Cactus League schedule March 20. The remaining home games include the Los Angeles Angels March 5, Los Angeles Dodgers March 7, Cincinnati Reds March 10, Kansas City Royals March 11 and Mariners March 16. The A’s only play their cross-bay rival San Francisco Giants once in the desert this spring, a split-squad game at Scottsdale Stadium March 17.
    Following the two games against the Mariners in Japan, Bob Melvin’s club will fly directly to the Bay Area. After an off day, the A’s will bus north to Sacramento Saturday, March 31 to play an exhibition game (6:05 p.m.) at Raley Field against the Sacramento River Cats, their Triple-A affiliate—the club’s first appearance in the State Capitol since 2007. For ticket information for the March 31 game, go to www.rivercats.com or call 916-371-HITS.
    Oakland completes the preseason schedule by playing its traditional three-game Bay Bridge Series against the San Francisco Giants April 2-4. The Giants host the first and last game of the series, while Game 2 will be played at O.co Coliseum in Oakland Tuesday night, April 3. The A’s will then resume their 2012 regular season Friday, April 6 against the Seattle Mariners in the home opener at the Coliseum (7:05 p.m.).
    Ten of the A’s exhibition games will be broadcast live by 95.7 FM The Game and over the A’s Radio Network, as well as both regular-season contests in Japan against the Mariners.
    Pitchers and catchers report to Phoenix Saturday, Feb. 18, with first workouts scheduled for Feb. 19. The remainder of the team will report Friday, Feb. 24 with the first full squad workout slated for the following morning.
    Tickets will be available at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium Box Office beginning Monday, Feb. 6 at 10:00 a.m. MST. The Phoenix Municipal Box Office will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST. Base ticket prices are as follows: Field Box $25, Lower Box $22, Upper Box $18 and Outfield Reserve $12. Suites and group tickets can also be booked by calling 602-392-0074 or e-mailing spring@oaklandathletics.com. Complete Oakland Athletics’ Spring Training information is available at www.oaklandathletics.com/spring.

NEW NAME FOR CAPITALS STADIUM

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2011) - The Sacramento Capitals' stadium is getting a new name. Sacramento's winningest pro sports franchise will play at Sunrise Marketplace Stadium, located at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, Calif., when the Capitals start play next summer in their 27th season of the World TeamTennis Pro League presented by GEICO.
    The stadium naming rights sponsorship deal was announced today by Kathilynn Carpenter, Executive Director of the Sunrise Marketplace and the Capitals' new ownership group Capital Sports Management, which will be led by Managing General Partner Ramey Osborne. The Capitals, who moved back to Sunrise Mall last season, will once again play their seven home matches in a specially-constructed stadium in the parking lot on the northwest side of Sunrise Mall next July.
    The partnership with Sunrise Marketplace will include shared marketing programming such as direct mail, media advertising, community signage and promotional events. The Capitals will also open a ticket sales and informational center inside Sunrise Mall by early May.
    Capital Sports Management acquired the franchise earlier this month and the stadium naming deal is the first announcement from the new ownership group. "We're excited to grow our partnership with Sunrise Marketplace and the Sunrise Mall," said Osborne. "Their support is a big reason that our attendance was up in 2011 and we are glad to bring some new faces back to the Sunrise Marketplace area." Osborne, who has been involved in the Sacramento area tennis community for a number of years, previously owned the Capitals from 1987-1999.
Osborne also announced that Matt McEvoy will return as the Capitals' general manager. "Matt brings so much energy and passion to our team," said Osborne. "He's made a real connection with players, sponsors and fans."
    The Capitals advanced to the WTT Western Conference Finals in 2011 with a lineup that included Mark Knowles, Vania King, Dusan Vemic and local favorite Yasmin Schnack. During the 2011 season, the team's attendance numbers were up significantly with appearances by visiting marquee players Serena Williams, Mike and Bob Bryan, and Martina Hingis. The Capitals will start putting together their 2012 lineup with the WTT player drafts in the spring.
"We have a lot of momentum to build on from last year from both a performance and business perspective," said McEvoy. "Our focus is on bringing a 7th WTT Championship home to our fans, and giving all our partners a great experience with the Capitals this year."
    "Ramey Osborne and his ownership group bring a great deal of experience, passion and business savvy to the Capitals," said WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss. "Ramey played a major role in building the winning tradition and success of the Capitals both on and off the court. We are fortunate to have him back leading their franchise along with general manager Matt McEvoy."
    Season ticket will go on sale in January. For more information on the Sacramento Capitals, visit www.saccaps.com or call 916-859-0058.

QUAKES HOLD TRYOUTS JANUARY 22

    SAN JOSE, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2011) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club will host open tryouts on Sunday, Jan. 22 at Danville’s Mustang Soccer Complex, giving local soccer players the unique opportunity to try and earn a spot in training camp with a professional soccer team.
    The best 11-14 players from the tryout will be selected to play a game against the Earthquakes’ top Youth Development Academy squad. The match will be played in front of members from the Quakes’ technical staff, giving participants an additional opportunity to prove themselves.
    The tryout will be broken down into three heats between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each heat will last 90 minutes with players getting two opportunities to play in a 30-minute scrimmage in front of the Earthquakes’ technical staff. A maximum of 175 participants will be allowed to try out. In order to sign up, players must be 18 years or older and out of high school. In addition to the tryout, each participant will receive a ticket voucher to see the Earthquakes’ 2012 home opener on March 10 at Buck Shaw Stadium as well as an adidas training top.
    Registration will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at www.sjearthquakes.com/tryout. The cost is $80 per person. Each participant must show proof of identification and sign a waiver form on the day of the tryout. Financial assistance will be given on a case-by-case basis to qualifying participants. For more information about financial assistance or the tryout, contact the Earthquakes Front Office at 408-556-7700.
    Season tickets for the San Jose Earthquakes’ 2012 campaign are on sale. Packages include 20 games at a significantly discounted rate as well as a number of exclusive season ticket benefits. Prices start at $2,300 for Netsuite VIP On-Field seats and are as affordable as $260 in the Supporters Section. For more information about pricing, payment plans, etc., visit www.sjearthquakes.com/season-tickets or call an Earthquakes sales representative at 408-556-7700.

All logos, pictures & articles are copyright by their respective teams/authors. All other content copyright 1996-2011 by Joe Blenkle