A6 The BulleTin • Tuesday, May 25, 2021
ON THE AIR
SCOREBOARD
TUESDAY
TENNIS
Ultimate Tennis Showdown, French Riviera
Ultimate Tennis Showdown, French Riviera
ATP, Belgrade/Parma; WTA, Strasbourg;
Roland Garros qualifying
ATP, Belgrade/Parma; WTA, Strasbourg;
Roland Garros qualifying
BASEBALL
College, SEC Tournament
College, SEC Tournament
College, SEC Tournament
MLB, L.A. Dodgers at Houston
College, SEC Tournament
MLB, regional coverage
MLB, Seattle at Oakland
GOLF
Women’s college, NCAA, Team Match Play QFs
Women’s College, NCAA, Team Match Play semis
HOCKEY
NHL playoffs, Toronto at Montreal
NHL playoffs, Nashville at Carolina
BASKETBALL
NBA, Boston at Brooklyn
WNBA, Atlanta at Chicago
WNBA, Connecticut at Seattle Storm
NBA, L.A. Lakers at Phoenix
Time
6 a.m.
11 a.m.
TV
FS2
FS2
ON DECK
1:30 a.m. (Wed) Tennis
3 a.m. (Wed)
Tennis
7:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
2:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
6 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
SEC
SEC
SEC
FS1
SEC
MLB
Root
9 a.m.
2 p.m.
Golf
Golf
4:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
TUESDAY
Boys basketball: Bend at la Pine, 7 p.m.; Crook Coun-
ty at Pendleton, 6:30 p.m.; Ridgeview at hood River
Valley, 6:30 p.m.; The dalles at Redmond, 6:30 p.m.;
Madras at estacada, 7 p.m.; newport at sisters, 7 p.m.;
Culver at Gervais, 6:30 p.m.
Girls basketball: Pendleton at Crook County, 7 p.m.;
hood River Valley at Ridgeview, 7 p.m.; Redmond at
The dalles, 6:30 p.m.; estacada at Madras, 6 p.m.; sisters
at newport, 6 p.m.; Culver at Gervais, 5 p.m.
Wrestling: sisters invitational, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Boys basketball: Mountain View at Bend, 7 p.m.; sis-
ters at Philomath, 7 p.m.; Central Christian at Prospect
Charter, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball: Madras at Mountain View, 7 p.m.;
Philomath at sisters, 6 p.m.; Central Christian at Pros-
pect Charter, 5:30 p.m.
Wrestling: Mazama at la Pine, 6 p.m.
PREPS
NBCSN
CNBC
4:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
TNT
CBSSN
CBSSN
TNT
Time
7 a.m.
7:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
11 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
6 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
TV
ESPNU
SEC
MLB
SEC
ROOT
SEC
ESPN
SEC
MLB
WEDNESDAY
BASEBALL
College, Big 12 Tournament
College, SEC Tournament
MLB, regional coverage
College, SEC Tournament
MLB, Seattle at Oakland
College, SEC Tournament
MLB, L.A. Dodgers at Houston
College, SEC Tournament
MLB, San Francisco at Arizona
GOLF
LPGA Tour, Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play
Women’s college, NCAA,
Team Match Play National Championship
European Tour, Made in HimmerLand
SOCCER
UEFA Europa League, Villarreal vs Man United
NWSL, Chicago at Kansas City
BASKETBALL
NBA, Atlanta at New York
WNBA, Las Vegas at Phoenix
NBA, Memphis at Utah
Prep Sports
11 a.m.
Golf
2 p.m.
4 a.m. (Thu)
Golf
Golf
noon
5 p.m.
CBSSN
CBSSN
4:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
TNT
CBSSN
TNT
Listings are the most accurate available.
SPORTS BRIEFING
Boys basketball
Monday’s Games
summit at Mountain View, late
Trinity lutheran at Madras, late
hosanna Triad at Central Christian, late
Girls basketball
Monday’s Games
Madras at summit, late
hosanna Triad at Central Christian, late
BASKETBALL
NBA playoffs
FIRST ROUND
(Best-of-7)
Monday’s Games
Milwaukee 132, Miami 98, Milwaukee leads series 2-0
Portland at denver, late, Portland leads series 1-0
Tuesday’s Games
Boston at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m., Brooklyn leads series 1-0
l.a. lakers at Phoenix, 7 p.m., Phoenix leads series 1-0
dallas at l.a. Clippers, 7:30 p.m., dallas leads series 1-0
Wednesday’s Games
Washington at Phila., 4 p.m., Phila. leads series 1-0
atlanta at new york, 4:30 p.m., atlanta leads series 1-0
Memphis at utah, 7 p.m., Memphis leads series 1-0
WNBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W
L
Pct
Connecticut
5
0
1.000
new york
5
1
.833
Chicago
2
1
.667
atlanta
1
2
.333
Washington
1
3
.250
indiana
1
4
.200
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W
L
Pct
seattle
3
1
.750
las Vegas
2
2
.500
Phoenix
2
2
.500
dallas
1
2
.333
Minnesota
0
3
.000
los angeles
0
2
.000
Monday’s Game
new york 88, dallas 81
Tuesday’s Games
Washington at indiana, 4 p.m.
atlanta at Chicago, 5 p.m.
Connecticut at seattle, 7 p.m.
GB
—
1
1
1½
2½
2
NHL playoffs
MLB
OSU’s Cooper Hjerpe named Collegiate National
Player of the Week — Cooper Hjerpe’s electric performance
last weekend against the Arizona Wildcats didn’t merely de-
liver a much-needed win for the Oregon State baseball team.
It also earned him a national honor. The Beavers’ left-handed
starter has been named one of Collegiate Baseball’s National
Players of the Week for his dominant outing against one of the
nation’s most potent lineups. Hjerpe held the Wildcats in check
Saturday, allowing just one run on two hits — while striking
out a career-high 11 — during a 3-1 Oregon State win. The
Wildcats lead the nation in runs scored (459) and rank fourth
in batting average (.327), and lead the Pac-12 Conference in
virtually every offensive statistical category. But Hjerpe was
masterful, limiting Arizona to just two singles and a single run
that came on an attempted double steal in the sixth inning.
Oregon slips slightly in polls after series loss to Stan-
ford — Oregon baseball dropped slightly in the major polls
following a series loss to Stanford. The Ducks (35-13, 18-9 Pac-
12) are No. 9 in the USA Today coaches poll, No. 10 in Colle-
giate Baseball and d1baseball.com, No. 13 in Baseball America
and No. 14 in Perfect Game after dropping two of three to the
Cardinal this weekend. That’s down from Nos. 6-13 last week.
Oregon, which is No. 17 in RPI, wraps up the regular season
with a three-game series at Cal (28-24, 14-13 Pac-12) starting
Thursday at 6 p.m. UO can earn a share of the Pac-12 title with
a sweep.
TOKYO GAMES
U.S. warns against all travel to Japan as Olympics
loom — U.S. health officials and the State Department on
Monday warned Americans against travel to Japan because of
a surge in coronavirus cases in the country, which is prepar-
ing to host the Olympics in just two months. The twin alerts
don’t ban U.S. citizens from visiting the country, but they
could have an impact on insurance rates for travelers and may
factor into decisions by Olympic athletes and spectators on
whether to compete in or attend the games, which are due to
start in July. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Com-
mittee said it still anticipates that American athletes will be
able to safely compete at the Tokyo Games.
FOOTBALL
AP: Rodgers doesn’t attend Packers’ 1st day of OTAs
— Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t
present for the first day of organized team activities Monday,
according to a person familiar with the situation. These OTA
sessions are voluntary, but Rodgers generally has participated
in them in the past. ESPN first reported Rodgers wasn’t with
the team on Monday. Rodgers’ decision not to participate this
time comes amid reports that the reigning MVP wants out of
Green Bay, where he has spent his entire NFL career. ESPN re-
ported in the hours before the draft that the three-time MVP
doesn’t want to return to the Packers. Later that week, Packers
CEO Mark Murphy wrote in a column posted on the Packers’
website that the team “is very much aware” of Rodgers’ con-
cerns and that “this is an issue that we have been working on
for several months.”
— Bulletin wire reports
MEGABUCKS
The numbers drawn Monday night are:
6 13 15 19 20 33
The estimated jackpot is now $3.2 million.
As listed at OregonLottery.org and individual lottery websites
Tampa Bay
Boston
new york
Toronto
Baltimore
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East Division
W
L
30
19
29
19
28
19
23
23
17
29
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East Division
W
L
Pct
GB
new york
21
20
.512
—
atlanta
23
24
.489
1
Miami
23
24
.489
1
Philadelphia
23
25
.479
1½
Washington
20
23
.465
2
Central Division
W
L
Pct
GB
st. louis
26
20
.565
—
Chicago
24
22
.522
2
Milwaukee
23
23
.500
3
Cincinnati
20
25
.444
5½
Pittsburgh
18
28
.391
8
West Division
W
L
Pct
GB
san diego
30
17
.638
—
los angeles
29
18
.617
1
san Francisco
28
19
.596
2
Colorado
19
29
.396
11½
arizona
18
30
.375
12½
Monday’s Games
Colorado 3, n.y. Mets 2
Miami 9, Philadelphia 6
san diego at Milwaukee, late
st. louis at Chicago White sox, late
Tuesday’s Games
Chicago Cubs (arrieta 4-4) at Pittsburgh (Ponce 0-0),
3:35 p.m.
Philadelphia (Velasquez 1-0) at Miami (alcantara 2-3),
3:40 p.m.
Cincinnati (Mahle 2-2) at Washington (scherzer 4-2),
4:05 p.m.
atlanta (Morton 2-2) at Boston (Richards 4-2), 4:10 p.m.
Colorado (González 2-2) at n.y. Mets (deGrom 3-2),
4:10 p.m.
san diego (Musgrove 4-4) at Milwaukee (Burnes 2-3),
4:40 p.m.
l.a. dodgers (Kershaw 6-3) at houston (Greinke 4-1),
5:10 p.m.
st. louis (Flaherty 8-0) at Chicago White sox (Giolito 3-4),
5:10 p.m.
san Francisco (Gausman 4-0) at arizona (Martin 0-1),
6:40 p.m.
HOCKEY
BASEBALL
BASEBALL
Oregon
Lottery
results
GB
—
½
2
3
3½
4
Central Division
W
L
Pct
GB
26
19
.578
—
24
20
.545
1½
22
23
.489
4
18
28
.391
8½
17
29
.370
9½
West Division
W
L
Pct
GB
Oakland
28
20
.583
—
houston
26
21
.553
1½
Texas
22
27
.449
6½
seattle
21
26
.447
6½
los angeles
20
27
.426
7½
Monday’s Games
Tampa Bay 14, Toronto 8, 11 innings
Cleveland at detroit, late
Baltimore at Minnesota, late
st. louis at Chicago White sox, late
seattle at Oakland, late
Tuesday’s Games
Toronto (Matz 5-2) at n.y. yankees (Kluber 4-2), 4:05 p.m.
atlanta (Morton 2-2) at Boston (Richards 4-2), 4:10 p.m.
Cleveland (Civale 6-1) at detroit (skubal 1-6), 4:10 p.m.
Kansas City (Keller 3-4) at Tampa Bay (hill 3-1), 4:10 p.m.
Baltimore (Kremer 0-4) at Minnesota (Berríos 4-2),
4:40 p.m.
l.a. dodgers (Kershaw 6-3) at houston (Greinke 4-1),
5:10 p.m.
st. louis (Flaherty 8-0) at Chicago White sox (Giolito 3-4),
5:10 p.m.
Texas (yang 0-1) at l.a. angels (heaney 1-3), 6:38 p.m.
seattle (Gilbert 0-2) at Oakland (irvin 3-5), 6:40 p.m.
Chicago
Cleveland
Kansas City
detroit
Minnesota
Pct
.612
.604
.596
.500
.370
GB
—
½
1
5½
11½
FIRST ROUND
(Best-of-7)
Monday’s Games
n.y. islanders 3, Pittsburgh 2, n.y. leads series 3-2
Montreal 2, Toronto 1, Toronto leads series 2-1
Florida 4, Tampa Bay 1, Tampa Bay leads series 3-2
edmonton at Winnipeg, late, Winnipeg leads series 3-0
Minnesota at Vegas, late, Vegas leads series 3-1
Tuesday’s Games
Toronto at Montreal, 4:30 p.m., Toronto leads series 2-1
nashville at Carolina, 5 p.m., series tied 2-2
SOCCER
MLS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF
new england
4 1 2
14 10
Orlando City
3 0 3
12
7
Phila.
3 2 2
11
6
nashville
2 0 4
10
7
atlanta
2 1 3
9
7
ny City FC
2 2 2
8 11
CF Montréal
2 3 2
8
9
Columbus
2 2 2
8
5
inter Miami CF
2 3 2
8
8
new york
2 4 0
6
8
d.C. united
2 5 0
6
5
Toronto FC
1 3 2
5
7
Chicago
1 4 1
4
4
Cincinnati
1 3 1
4
6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF
seattle
5 0 2
17 14
sporting KC
4 2 1
13 12
la Galaxy
4 2 0
12 10
houston
3 2 2
11
9
Colorado
3 2 1
10
9
Portland
3 3 0
9
9
san Jose
3 4 0
9 11
Real sl
2 1 2
8
8
la FC
2 2 2
8
7
Vancouver
2 4 1
7
6
austin FC
2 4 0
6
5
Minnesota united 2 4 0
6
5
FC dallas
1 2 3
6
8
nOTe: Three points for victory, one point for tie.
Sunday’s Games
atlanta 1, seattle 1, tie
Phila. 1, d.C. united 0
nashville 1, austin FC 0
GA
7
2
5
4
5
6
9
5
10
9
11
10
10
14
GA
3
8
11
9
8
8
11
6
7
9
8
10
8
NWSL
W L T Pts GF
louisville
1 0 1
4
2
Orlando
1 0 1
4
3
Reign FC
1 0 1
4
2
Gotham FC
1 0 1
4
1
Portland
1 1 0
3
6
Kansas City
0 0 2
2
2
houston
0 1 1
1
2
north Carolina
0 1 1
1
1
Washington
0 1 1
1
1
Chicago
0 1 1
1
0
nOTe: Three points for victory, one point for tie.
Sunday’s Games
Reign FC 2, Portland 1
Kansas City 2, houston 2, tie
Wednesday’s Games
Portland at Orlando, 4 p.m.
houston at Washington, 4:30 p.m.
Chicago at Kansas City, 5 p.m.
GA
0
2
1
0
2
2
3
2
3
5
SOFTBALL
NCAA Regionals
NORMAN (OKLA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
Oklahoma 24, Wichita state 0, Oklahoma advances
TUSCALOOSA (ALA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
alabama 5, Clemson 0, alabama advances
SEATTLE REGIONAL
Sunday’s Games
Washington 2, Michigan 0
Washington 10, Michigan 5, Washington advances
LEXINGTON (KY.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
Kentucky 7, notre dame 0
Kentucky 4, notre dame 0, Kentucky advances
KNOXVILLE (TENN.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
James Madison 8, liberty 5, James Madison advances
TUCSON (ARIZ.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
arizona 12, Mississippi 6, arizona advances
COLUMBIA (MO.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
Missouri 5, iowa state 0, Missouri advances
FAYETTEVILLE (ARK.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
arkansas 7, stanford 3, arkansas advances
STILLWATER (OKLA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Games
Oklahoma s. 10, Mississippi st. 2, Oklahoma st. advances
Oakland A’s
Continued from A5
He’s the ex-mob lawyer
who became a wildly popu-
lar mayor who won reelection
over and over with more than
80% of the vote. Oscar left of-
fice after his 12-year term limit
expired in 2011. Carolyn took
over and is now on her third
term. Be sure, Team Goodman
dreams big, knows where the
money is buried and has a nose
for opportunity.
Mayor Goodman — the
wife — plays a mean poker
game, too. We know because
she went public immediately
after the A’s announced they
had permission from MLB to
seek possible relocation cit-
ies. Goodman said, “Las Ve-
gas is excited.” Also, the mayor
claimed she had been in con-
tact with A’s representatives as
early as 2019.
That last part may be techni-
cally true. But we all know nu-
ance is served up as a speciality
on The Strip. The A’s have been
engaged in a number of failed
stadium proposals in Oakland,
patience with local politicians
is wearing thin, and the orga-
nization would be foolish to
not stay in touch with a variety
of possible relocation cities all
along. Officials with the Oak-
land A’s have also been in touch
with Portland for some time,
turns out.
Are the A’s actually serious
about moving?
Meaning, is this a bluff?
That’s become the question
to ask. Because it may very
well prove that we’re all being
used here. Oakland Mayor
Libby Schaaf said she’s com-
mitting to keeping the A’s.
The city council is expected to
review another stadium pro-
posal in July. But the A’s are ap-
parently discouraged enough
with the landscape to stop pri-
vately talking and begin taking
sight-seeing road trips.
Las Vegas will likely offer to
build the A’s a new stadium. It
will throw financial incentives
at the baseball club, find inves-
If the MLB franchise really is on the move, this
feels like a Portland vs. Las Vegas battle. Right
now, because of the aforementioned issues, I’d
probably make Portland a six-point underdog.
Thomas Northcut
tors willing to partner on the
real estate, and attempt to add
the A’s to its growing stable of
professional sports offerings.
Goodman will be the project
manager, because at this point
she’s essentially the entire A’s to
Las Vegas pitch.
Portland has some disadvan-
tages it needs to shore up. Ones
I’ve written about that need
more careful examination. Our
downtown needs a massive
and immediate clean-up effort.
Our city and state politicians
also need to study the “Good-
man Effect” in Vegas and ask
whether we’d be interested in
adding a multibillion-dollar
entity to our region. The A’s to
Portland would bring massive
construction, real estate devel-
opment, housing, infrastruc-
ture, jobs and tax revenue.
If the MLB franchise re-
ally is on the move, this feels
like a Portland vs. Las Vegas
battle. Right now, because of
the aforementioned issues,
I’d probably make Portland a
six-point underdog. But that’s
something our city could easily
overcome with adjustments.
It would require going all-in
along with the smart, well-
funded effort already under-
way. We’d also need a distinct
and noticeable pivot from city
and state leadership.
The Portland Diamond
Project has some preferred
stadium sites, owns ballpark
renderings, and already has
an estimated $2 billion-plus in
financial commitments. The
group has solid momentum
and has positioned itself as ei-
ther a relocation or expansion
candidate. (The more I think
about it, maybe the line should
only be Portland +3?) Team
Goodman’s “Pleasure Island”
pitch will be difficult to resist
at first glance, but if I’m the
Oakland A’s I’m tired of being
treated like a second-class fran-
chise.
The A’s have to ask them-
selves where they’d rank
among the entertainment of-
ferings if they moved to Las
Vegas. Not in front of the
NHL’s Golden Knights or the
NFL’s Raiders. They’d again be
second-tier. Probably just after
the Knights/Raiders and some-
where just above the Blue Man
Group and UNLV athletics.
Also, they’d be playing games
when it’s 114 degrees outside.
In Oregon, the A’s would be
the summer headliner.
MLB’s regular season works
nicely in contrast to the Trail
Blazers’ (October to April)
NBA regular-season. Base-
ball isn’t likely to cannibalize
the success of the Timbers
and Thorns, either. There’s a
finite amount of local corpo-
BATON ROUGE (LA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Games
louisiana-lafayette 2, lsu 0
lsu 8, louisiana-lafayette 5, lsu advances
AUSTIN (TEXAS) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Games
Oregon 3, Texas 2, 8 innings
Texas 1, Oregon 0, Texas advances
TALLAHASSEE (FLA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
Florida state 2, uCF 0, Florida state advances
ATHENS (GA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
Georgia 10, duke 9, Georgia advances
TEMPE (ARIZ.) REGIONAL
Saturday’s Game
Virginia Tech 11, Byu 3, Virginia Tech advances
GAINESVILLE (FLA.) REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
Florida 8, south Florida 1, Florida advances
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL
Sunday’s Game
uCla 2, Minnesota 1, uCla advances
DEALS
Transactions
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
American League
BOsTOn Red sOX — Optioned inF/OF Michael Cha-
vis to Worcester (Triple-a east).
deTROiT TiGeRs — Optioned CF JaCoby Jones to To-
ledo (Triple-a east). Recalled CF Victor Reyes from Toledo.
Placed C Wilson Ramos on the 10-day il. activated lhP
derek holland from the 10-day il.
Kansas CiTy ROyals — Optioned RhP Jake new-
berry to Omaha (Triple-a east). Placed 3B hunter dozier
on the 10-day il.
seaTTle MaRineRs — Purchased the contract of inF
Ty Kelly from long island (atlantic league). assigned
inF Ty Kelly to Tacoma (Triple-a West). Claimed 2B Tra-
vis Blankenhorn off waivers from los angeles dodgers.
Optioned 2B Travis Blankenhorn to Tacoma. activated
inF/dh Ty France from the 10-day il. Placed inF/OF sam
haggerty on the 10-day il.
National League
aRiZOna diaMOndBaCKs — Optioned CF daulton
Varsho to Reno (Triple-a West). activated C Carson Kelly
from the 10-day il.
ChiCaGO CuBs — Purchased the contract of ss Tyler
ladendorf from high Point (atlantic league). assigned
ss Tyler ladendorf to iowa (Triple-a east).
CinCinnaTi Reds — sent RhP Carson Fulmer out-
right to louisville (Triple-a east).
COlORadO ROCKies — Claimed 2B Rio Ruiz off waiv-
ers from Baltimore. designated inF/OF Bret Boswell
for assignment.
MiaMi MaRlins — Optioned C Chad Wallach to
Jacksonville (Triple-a east). Returned and activated C
Jorge alfaro from the 10-day il. sent CF starling Marte
to Jacksonville on a rehab assignment.
MilWauKee BReWeRs — Optioned RhP alec Bet-
tinger to nashville (Triple-a east). activated 2B Jace Pe-
terson from the 10-day il. Recalled 1B Keston hiura from
nashville. designated 2B Jace Peterson for assignment.
neW yORK MeTs — selected the contract of ss Or-
lando Calixte from york (Triple-a east).
san dieGO PadRes — Recalled OF Brian O’Grady
from el Paso (Triple-a West). Placed OF Trent Grisham
on the 10-day il.
FOOTBALL
National Football League
aTlanTa FalCOns — signed WR Tajae sharpe.
CaROlina PanTheRs — signed dT Caraun Reid.
Waived lB Chris Orr.
dallas COWBOys — signed WR Johnnie dixon.
denVeR BROnCOs — signed P Max duffy.
deTROiT liOns — signed PT darrin Paulo.
GReen Bay PaCKeRs — Released CB KeiVarae Russel.
signed QB Blake Bortles.
hOusTOn TeXans — Waived QB Ryan Finely.
las VeGas RaideRs — signed Ol Patrick Omameh.
MinnesOTa ViKinGs — Claimed C Cohl Cabral off of
waivers from houston.
WashinGTOn FOOTBall TeaM — named Zaheer
Benjamin VP of business intelligence and analytics.
HOCKEY
National Hockey League
nhl — suspended edmonton F Josh archibald one
game for clipping Winnipeg d logan stanley during a
May 23 game in Winnipeg.
COLLEGE
FlORida — named Tony amato women’s soccer
head coach.
rate sponsorship dollars but
we’re essentially the most un-
derserved sports market in the
country.
It should be noted that
there’s a difference between
event “attendees” in Las Ve-
gas and “fans” in Portland at
play here. The A’s might draw a
crowd in Vegas. But they’d get
a fan base in Portland. I’m not
sure the fact finding visit will
capture how much untapped
enthusiasm there is in Oregon
for another major league sport.
Also, the potential TV rights
contract for market No. 21
(PDX) would be stand to be
more lucrative than No. 39
(LAS). Currently, six MLB
clubs claim Las Vegas in their
broadcast “territory” rights.
That will be a headache to un-
ravel. Only the Seattle Mari-
ners — three hours away by
car — currently claim Port-
land.
I have to think families from
Eugene, Corvallis, Bend and
other parts of the state would
make regular outings to down-
town Portland to catch a week-
end A’s series. They’d stay in
hotels, visit restaurants and
help revitalize the city. But I’m
getting ahead of myself now.
We’ll remain underdogs until
the city is cleaned up and the
politicians actively support
MLB to PDX.
The news here is that the
A’s are coming to Portland to
kick the tires. They’ll visit with
the Portland Diamond Project
partners and probably get an
aerial tour of the city. There’s
no more strategic way to see
Portland right now. The won-
derful potential of our city,
now a sleeping giant, has to be
part of the pitch.
The A’s are going to visit Las
Vegas this week. I hope they
have a nice trip, see a show,
and think about whether they’d
matter much amid the noise.
It’s a growing city with great
night life and memorable pool
parties. But no way is Las Ve-
gas the best place for the A’s
franchise. Not as long as Port-
land is in play.