Just had our first child in November, and although I've been to the Coliseum plenty of times before as a fan, I've never looked at its amenities from a parent's POV.

Any recommendations from veterans on that perspective? Best seating locations, especially during daytime so as to protect the little guy from the sun? Changing stations? Parking versus BART? Any other little details that I'd never think of but would come in way handy?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

Just saw this ad by the "Bright Future for the A's" fan post, with a picture of Obama:

"Is it OK to Meet with Anti-American Foreign Leaders who hate small children and kick kittens for sport?"

Paid for by some guy who is not Obama.

Anyhow, I'm pretty sure if somebody posted this, they'd be flagged. Since I can't flag an ad, I'm posting this. Feel free to delete it if the issue gets resolved.

EDIT: and if you read the CGV page, you'll note that "AN does accept political advertising as long as it is not offensive in any way, shape or form, but we subscribe to the belief that advertising and editorial are separate."

If it's not editorializing, this ad is pretty on the verge.

I read that the order is based off of winning percentage first, then strength of schedule.

Now, I also read that the Raiders had the strongest strength of schedule in 07. So I've got some questions.

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This week on AN, there's been a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth. And it's understandable. Even though it's an old, old story, when you're an A's fan, seeing your best talents go to richer teams hurts each time. Reggie and Catfish, Rickey, McGwire, Giambi, Tejada, the Big Three, and now Haren. When it comes to wounds that don't heal, Oakland has it all over say, the Cubs and their Billy Goat Curse (much less the spoiled ilk in Boston). Unlike them, when we say, "Wait 'til next year!" we usually have reason to believe.

Now the cries on AN are "Wait til 2010, or maybe 11. Or maybe even longer."

3 years is a long time to wait. Especially in a division with smug fans to the south, fans of a team that actually signs free agents to the southeast, and those...those...okay, I don't have anything against Mariner fans.

However, there are reasons to be optimistic about being a fan of the green and gold. Ten of em, actually. In no particular order, they are...

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Purely speculative and useless info, of course, but they have some interesting takes, foremost among A's fans being that Mark McGwire would hold the single-season HR record at 64, adjusting Mr. Balco's high to 61. Reason?

"Mark McGwire had a greater established level of "home runs per at bat" before his record-breaking 1998 season, including a 49-homer season in his rookie year. By contrast, Barry Bonds' 73-homer year was a greater deviation from his established performance level."

It's probably fair to note that Baseball Mogul is "not surmising the guilt or innocence of Mr. McGwire or Mr. Bonds. We are simply using the Baseball Mogul statistical and physics engines to "replay" the last 20 years without the estimated effects of steroids on baseball as a whole. "

Check out the link here:

http://www.sportsmogul.com/content/steroids.htm

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/baseball/mlb/oakland_athletics/11332963.htm

Here's to hoping that Scutoro's newly acquired plate discipline is for real.

"Davis said the healing process is different for every player but mentioned that the time between inactivity and a rehabilitation process is similar to the recovery for an abdominal strain that sidelined pitcher Tim Hudson last season from June 23 to Aug. 1. In other words, Crosby could be out six weeks, maybe longer.

Davis said Crosby could have cracked the ribs on just one swing. ``He's got a particularly violent swing,'' Davis said. ``Looking at the swing, that's maximum effort and a lot of force.'' "

Just when I was starting to think that maybe people had started to evaluate Beane's moves with more open minds.

David Sabino of si.com writes in his fantasy preview, "Since the other three teams in the division have all improved, I have a hard time fathoming Oakland finishing anywhere but last."

Nothing else of real substance or anything new here, but it will be nice to add this to the list of pundits eating crow by season's end.

Here's the link:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/david_sabino/03/22/athletics/index.html