Since I have no life right now, but a computer and a small recording studio, I wrote this anthem, to be sung to the melody of Gilligan's Island. I'm going to record it, and if anyone(s) from the McCoven wants to do semi-inebriated vocals, that would be great. The more the merrier, as a large group would make it sound great.

Here'tis:

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THE BALLAD OF MCCOVEY COVE

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale

A tale of a baseball team

That started from McCovey cove

Unlikely as that seems

The squad was stocked with cast-off men

All bought on Peter’s whim

In April they had one small goal

A post season win

A post season win.

The N.L. West was getting rough

Their hope was wearing thin

If not for a rally from behind

The Dodgers would win.

The Dodgers would win.

The team was winning often now

The pennant in their grasp

With Lincecum!

The Panda too!

The rally thong

And the beard

The starting nine

The pitching staff

The cheering stands

With rabid fans

Here at Willie Mays field!

2nd verse

So this is the tale of our castaways

They’ve played for a long long time

Now they are victorious

It was an uphill climb

They hope to win again this time

With the Rookie of the Year

Now that they are recognized

There could be some fear.

The bats the gloves

No billionaires!

A lovely place to play

Like Giants teams from long ago

They are here to stay

So join us here all season long

With Miller, Kruk and Kuip

From the city by the bay

Here at AT&T park!

I know we've done this before, but it's always worth getting opinions.

I'm just going with the Oakland franchise, 1968-on. And this is all off the top of my head, and I'm not going to the attic for my 1973-75 programs. (Although I will soon).

C- Terry Steinbach

1B- Mark McGwuire

2B- Dick Green (apologies to Ellis, who is the new Dick Green)

SS- Walt Weiss (I wanted to give it to Campy, but Weiss' Defense was better)

3B- Sal Bando

LF- RICKEY.

CF - Either Billy North, or I move Rudi to CF. Dwayne Murphy up there too.

RF- Reggie Jackson

Starting Pitching

Catfish Hunter

Dave Stewart

Barry Zito

Ken Holtzman

Bob Welch

BULLPEN

Rollie Fingers

Dennis Eckersley

Darrell Knowles

Ron Darling

Matt Keough

Vida Blue

BENCH

Dave Henderson

Joe Rudi

Carney Lansford

Jose Canseco (sorry- I'll take Reggie in RF)

Gene Tenace

Start the debate!

As a long time Brooklyn resident, and an even longer Oakland fan, I'm thinking of going to see Oakland play my least favorite team this weekend. Plus, I can say goodbye to Yankee Stadium. 

I'm thinking of going to the Sunday afternoon game. Let me know off site if you will be there or have extra tickets. 

(brothersky@earthlink.net)

Yankee fans are about as friendly as velociraptors in heat, so the more Oakland fans the better. We need to take this series.

Go Oak-Land!

I've been thinking that both the A's and AN need a theme song. I know we have some talented scribes/poets here, so a few sets of verses and a strong chorus shouldn't be too hard to come by.

 I'm a musician/composer, so I could write the music, record it, and even sing it in my best bad Bryan Adams style. For a reference of what my 'handiwork' is like, check out the theme song at
dumpyork.com

It's a bit cheesier than what I imagine for AN, and if there's anyone out there who's a real singer (not a  vocal stylist like me) I'm more than happy to let him/her to sing it. Of course, I live in New York, so I wouldn't be able to record anyone in California.
Any thoughts?
Go Oak-LAND!

As a long time Athletics fan (since 1973- I was 4) I am so glad to be back in the Bay Area for a week. Living in Brooklyn is great, but all I can see is the obnoxious Yankee and Met announcers, with the occasional A's/Giants game on ESPN.
 It is really odd and sad to not hear Bill King's voice this year. Still, Fosse is growing on me, and he was one of my favorite players when I was a kid.
  So is anyone going to Wednesday's afternoon game? I'm planning on attending with a few relatives and getting the 2 dollar seats, just because that is unheard of in NYC. And I need my sodium enriched hot dogs. And I need to see the A's play!
So lemme know either here or by cel phone if you'll be at the game. It would be nice to meet some fellow ANers.
My name is Jon and my # is 917 620-4444. I'll have my beat up A's hat, a Giambi shirt and a Jackie Robinson jersey. (Gotta represent Brooklyn yo).
Cheers!
Jon

OK, this has nothing to do with baseball, but I got to play organ and acccordion on a very special CD, the LIttle Willies. I know some MCers like old country, the real stuff, so I highly recommend this CD. It came out today, March 7th. It doesn't hurt that Norah Jones is one of the singers, or that the band really wails. It's 4 originals and 9 old covers. It all started out as a Willie Nelson cover band and proceded from there, so there's some Kris, Townes, and Bob Wills as well. Check it out at:
littlewillies.com

Pitch to Barry!
Jon

and here's the picture to prove it. It was taken just after my 6th birthday, which coincidentally was a month after they won their 3rd consecutive World Series. (I'll let you all figure out the year.) I've been with them through the dark years (anyone remember Mickey Klutts?)and of course through all the great years, and this great run we are in the middle of. And I'm going to the game on Wednesday the 17th with a sizable contingency, and plan on getting 2 dollar seats and quite a few dollar dogs.If you see a guy with a Giambi shirt, and ancient A's cap, and a Jackie Robinson jersey, that half-mind would be me. Come and say hi! I know my picture is not as cute as Maya, but I digress. Anyone else got old green and gold pics?

So, I've been an A's fan since the Nixon administration, and given that, I don't know how to place pictures into the comments or diaries. Any help?
 That said, I must make use of my space. Taking 2 of 3 from the  the angels angels was big ! Big! I wish I  was out there to have seen it, but I'll be in NorCal on Saturday, alas, too late for AN/ Eck day.
This team wails!

Hey all:
   I'm visiting my beloved hometown of aptos for 10 days starting on august 13th, and am planning to go to the day game on august 17th. that's a wednesday vs. the orioles, and it's 2 dollar ticket/dollar dog day. woo hoo!
if any other ANers are planning on going, let me know. it would be great to place a face with a screen name.
by my admittedly lousy calculations, it should be haren, smokin' joe, or loos kirk twirling for the athletics.
go green and gold!

Oh, because it's advertising. But I can't help but think about sex or porn when i log in here. any other guys here?
why can't they have a nice steak? oh, i guess it will do the same thing, different glands or organs.

i can actually watch some giants games. (i live in brooklyn). My friends and I were thinking of going to the july 5th game vs. cincy. i always seem to see cincy play, for some reason. anyone else down?

jondryden@yahoo.com

Hey all:
   I figured it let you all know (esp. those of you in NYC or thereabouts) that I'm going to shea on Friday June 3rd to see the Giants play the Metsies. If there are any of you out here who want to meet up before the game, let me know here or to:

jondryden@yahoo.com

maybe we'll have a full squad by then.

jon

in a shameless act of friends promotion, johanna wagner, long-suffering reds fan, just published her book 'a view from the stands'. she went to all 30 ballparks in 2002, culminating in the last game ever at riverfront. she has a lot to tell. dusty baker bought her a beer. dave righetti was nice to her. she liked pac bell(ahem) a lot, natch.
here's the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595669506/qid=1110497261/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl 14/002-0459617-5828862?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

and hefr website is:
lovemyteam.com

rawk on!

my friend johanna wagner just came out with her first book, ' a view from the stands'. she traveled to all 30 MLB parks in 2002 and finally got her experiences published. she had nice things to say about a's players and fans.
here's the amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595669506/qid=1110497261/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl 14/002-0459617-5828862?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

i think AN posters will appreciate it. you can also check out her website:
lovemyteam.com

and post your stories, get the forum going, etc.

go green and gold!

i know this is off-topic, but i have a feeling there could be some a's fans who also like the niners. my friends started a campaign to get the owner, john york to sell the team. we can complain about schott and the small payroll, but this york guy makes charlie finley look like an angel.
and i wrote and sang the theme song, which is really an 80s bryan adams ripoff.
blez can let me knoww if this site needs a song. it's pretty damn cool on its own, though.
go green and gold!

i recently acquired a 1972 world series program off of ebay (for only 3 bucks!) it came with a ticket stub for game 2 at riverfront, which i'm giving to my reds fan friend. it's not the program that describes all the games ( i have the '73 and '74 ones) but lists all of the players on both teams. pretty cool. anyone else have one, or one like it?

My friend Johanna Wagner has a book coming out about her travels in 2002 when she visited all 30 Major League ballparks. It talks about the fan's view of things at each park, and what she thought of each park.
She is a Reds fan by birth, and met Mike Gallego (former Oakland infielder) when he was coaching for Arizona, or Colorado or one of those NL expansion teams. When she told him she was a Reds fan, he said:" You weren't supposed to win that World Series(!1990)'. SHe had to say that she didn't win it, her Reds did.
anyway, I recommend the website, which has a forum, review of different ballparks, and lots of other stuff. I also recommend registering your favorite Oakland Athletic moments.here's the link:

lovemyteam.com

go green and gold!