Friday, May 17, 2013

John Madden calls out Steve Bitker on KCBS; And gives out a Shout for Oakland; Rips Warriors Proposed Move to SF; Friday Starter


John Madden confronted a justifiable IN-YOUR-FACE  to a clearly flustered Steve Bitker on KCBS Friday morning.

Good for the coach.

Talking about the now-concluded Warriors season, Bitker, towing a company line about how the Warriors will have more fun and pack the new arena in SF, (I'm paraphrasing), was put in his place by Madden.

Madden thought it was a sham that despite the Warriors packing the Oakland/Oracle Arena, they'd be moving across the bay, (we'll see), to SF. Bitker was incredulous. So was Madden.

Madden seemed pissed off. "How do you, (Bitker), know they'll be a 'success in SF--What about Oakland?"

Bitker finally acknowledged "your allegiance to Oakland, John." Gees, thanks Steve for your insight.

I like Madden. I like the fact that he bitch-slapped Bitker ON THE AIR. While the other SF Media sports lemmings dare lament the fact that Oakland and the Eastbay have SOLD OUT the building, made it the loudest arena in the NBA, etc, Madden, of all people, called out Bitzie, who should know better.

Madden doesn't do this for shock. He's irritated and so am I in case you can't tell. I realize, as did Bitzie, that the proposed move to the city is all about money and location but Oakland deserves better. It's Oakland and the ROARCLE fans that are taken for granted by the Warriors owners. Do any Bay Area writers or broadcasters talk about this? Madden got it right. Too bad the writers and some broadcasters are clueless.

More Madden: "You know, Oakland needs a win. " Coach, you couldn't have said it any better.

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52 comments:

  1. I wish Oakland would catch break too. The trouble is the government in Oakland doesn't make things easy. Jean Quan is perhaps the worst mayor Oakland has ever seen. So the folks at the Warriors naturally want to be with a(somewhat) competent city government in SF.

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    1. You obviously did not hear the Forum show last week about the proposed moved to SF. Art Agnos is spear heading opposition to the building of an arena on the waterfront. This is about money and catering to the business interests of billionaire owners using public land and funds. The real losers will be the working class fans who've supported the Warriors for decades.

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    2. Idk...Ron Dellums was pretty bad also, imho

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    3. Yes, SF is a competent city, which is why they are losing the 49ers to Santa Clara...

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    4. Er, ah, Santa Clara is a very "corrupt Little City." Some of the BS that went down in Santa Clara to build the 49ers a stadium would not have never taken place in "any" other Metropolitan Big City. Our so called Local Media refused to report on any of it, but its gonna come out sooner rather than later...It always does.

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  2. Oakland deserves to keep the Warriors. The Raiders made the same mistake when they moved to LA.
    ps: they Dubs should be known as the Oakland Warriors not the GS Warriors

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    1. I agree.

      I remember hearing that they were going to change the name from GS to Oakland after the (Coliseum/Oracle) Arena was renovated back in '97. Have wondered why that name change never occurred.

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  3. "The City" will once again be restored. Never liked Oakland, never liked the arena, blah blah blah.

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    1. Who gives a shit if the Warriors once played in SF? Big deal. That was decades ago. Their history lies with Oakland. Always have and always will.

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  4. I hope the Warriors never get to San Francisco. Oakland deserves to keep 'em there. It's not as if I have anything against San Francisco - those old "The City" jerseys bring back lots of memories, but Oakland has to sit in San Francisco's shadow enough as it is.

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  5. Weren't they the SF Warriors in the first place? Did SF bitch and moan when they moved to Oakland?

    Sorry, but brand-new waterfront arena > old arena located in the middle of 880 hell.

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    1. Did they stop running BART trains to Oracle?

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    2. They were originally the Philadelphia Warriors...

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  6. I honestly like John Madden, as an NFL Announcer, & Coach. But personally for me John would have had more cred if he had Slammed the 49ers move to Santa Clara, than the Warriors move to SF. After all the Warriors originally were "in" San Francisco. But John Madden chose to remain "silent," on the move to Santa Clara,even though the 49ers had been in SF for 66 years.

    Also after the Warriors playoff game last night, another mindless murder/killing was committed on 880...I'm not saying that SF, doesn't have its issues, but this seems to happen more in Oaktown, than not. Btw, condolences out to the families, of the victims...

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    1. Yes, but the Niners have given SF multiple chances to get a new stadium built in SF, dating back to the mid-90s. SF couldn't get it done, and Santa Clara has ponied up funding. Candlestick Park dates back to 1960, was not originally designed for football, and lacks many modern amenities. It is the third-oldest stadium in the NFL.

      The Warriors just had the Oracle Arena pretty much gutted and rebuilt to modern standards in 1996.

      The Warriors are not moving because they're in an outdated facility, like the '9ers are, and the Warriors didn't really give Oakland a chance to build them a new facility (given the age of the remodel, they really shouldn't have to). Your point is taken, but the situation with the Warriors & '9ers is much different. The '9ers situation is more akin to the situation with the A's. The O.Co. side the complex is now more of a football stadium than a baseball stadium (despite the fact that the Raiders cut out of town and the A's have been there the whole time), and the A's have been trying unsuccessfully to get a new one built for a while.

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    2. Yep, yep, yep....That's the story that 49er ownership put out there, and the masses just keep on repeating it...The "Truth" is that the citizens of SF voted 3 times for a NFL Stadium to be built in the City. And the Fact of the matter is that Ed DeBartolo is on record saying that "IT WAS HIS FAULT" that it didn't get done in the City. Mr. DeBartolo said this at his San Francisco HOF induction for the 49ers, and went on to say that, "the Stadium would have been built in SF, if I had not got in trouble with the FEDs.

      But U just keep on repeating the False Story that was put out there by the Yorks...smh. U can't build a stadium without the support of ownership.

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    3. It may be what they're putting out, but that's their stated reason for moving and short of proof as to any other reason why they're moving, that's what we have to go with.

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  7. How many of those fans are Oakland residents each night? A thousand maybe?
    This "Oakland deserves to keep them" is nonsense.
    They aren't even called the Oakland Warriors for obvious reasons. You can bet that within 2 years of moving to SF they will drop that 'Golden State' stuff.
    While I'm not convinced the proposed location on the pier is best for SF, an arena somewhere else, say across Mission Creek/China Basin just south of ATT Park makes a lot of sense because there is something to do before and after the game (as there would be on the pier too)
    At Oracle it is just the game.
    I'd go to more Warrior games if they played in SF for sure.
    Yes "Oakland needs a win", but seriously, why do all the Oakland teams want out?

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    1. The only nonsense is your post.

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  8. Madden is a senile rambler at this point. It is sad listening to the mofo, at least Nelly is mostly still there.

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  9. San Francisco deserves a world class arena. The location is ideal. When built, it will be a huge success. Oracle may sell out and support the Warriors, but that doesn't mean it's a world class arena. Try sitting in the upper deck, which was constructed with in a mid-60s style bowl, putting fans miles away from anything. Compare that to the modern narrow build of the HP Pavilion in San Jose and the viewing is night and day. And I haven't even started discussing the surrounding neighborhood. Yes, Oakland is likely to eventually lose all of their major sports franchises....but reality is that the Bay Area money resides in San Francisco and the South Bay....not Oakland. Time moves on.

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  10. It's true, the Warriors have a greater fans base on the east side of the bay. When they moved to the-then 'Oakland-Coliseum Arena' permanently in the early 1970s, it was because both the Cow Palace and the downtown Civic Auditorium (now Bill Grahame Auditorium) were not adequate for their needs.

    San Francisco may have been where the Warriors first played when they moved here in 1962, but close followers of this team might remember that outside of the Cow Palace and Civic Auditorium and of course, the Coliseum Arena, the Warriors played occasionally played games in Sam Jose, in Stockton, and even in Reno (pre season games).

    Until the Kings moved here and the NBA really 'took off' (FYI- it was a great league in the pre Magic Johnson era, it just wasn't promoted that effectively until David Stern became Commish), the Warriors were the only NBA team in Nor-Cal and they had a built-in fan base.

    Moving them out of Oakland would not be fair to some of the fans, but I have been to about an average of 15 games a year over the last 10 years as a media member, and a lot of the 'fans' who come to Warrior games are not only from Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Alameda, and Richmond, as well as Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and other east bay bedroom communities, but there are also plenty from the north bay, SF and the peninsula.

    This is a 'regional' team and it's also the only team not to have fans who hold divided loyalties such as the Niners/Raiders or A's/Giants. I think a new arena would be great for the city and would draw just as many if not more people than 'Roaricle' currently does.

    The problem of course is money....the tickets will be much more expensive, and I wonder in these shaky economic times, how fans are able to come up with $100 a ticket (average prices for most of our pro area games) to go to any local pro sports event. And that doesn't include food, beverages, parking, or keepsakes bought at the concession stands.

    Another positive of building a state of the art facility in SF; it will host many other events, will significantly upgrade the SF waterfront as A T and T Park has done at China Basin, and fans going to games will have to use more means of Mass Transit, (BART as they do for the Oakland Arena), plus ferry service. Parking is expensive and at a premium in that area, so coming to games in SF will require more special ferries and more frequent BART service.

    However, given how long it's taken to build a new Bay Bridge, I think this whole discussion is a moot point. Environmental studies, special interest groups that oppose such construction, and linking up transit terminals to the new site will all require a lot of time, money, patience and work.

    I applaud Warriors' owner Joe Lacob for trying to do what's best for his franchise's interests, but my prediction is that this proposed Arena will face a very difficult series of obstacles before it becomes a reality. I wouldn't expect any move to SF for at five years at the very least. I could be wrong, but that's just a guess.

    And again:
    The Warriors are, have been, and will always be, (with all due apologies to the NHL Sam Jose Sharks), the one bay area team that seems to have few detractors. Even the non-basketball fans say nice things about them. How could they not after watching Coach Mark Jackson guide, cajole, and inspire his team to go this deep into the playoffs? And isn't it great that the Warriors have become relevant again after all of the mediocrity and endless merry-go-round of players, coaches and front office folks under the previous ownership?

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    1. Bruce,
      Your absence from KNBR is sorely missed. I miss the days when the hosts like you would actually engage in objective converation. What they are doing these days is truly embarassing

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    2. Jeez, where to begin?

      You predict the proposed arena will face obstacles? I predict that the sun is hot and water is wet.

      Comparing it to the CalTrans fiasco Bay Bridge is way off. The arena will be built privately, it isn't some public works boondoggle. A better comparison would be to PacBell Park, no?

      Linking transit terminals?
      -BART is 5 blocks away already, those who can't handle the 10 minute walk can hop on MUNI that runs in front of the pier.
      -The Ferry Building is 3 blocks away
      -The TransBay Terminal is about 5 blocks away too.

      And yes, tickets will be expensive (as they are now BTW), but who wouldn't spend a little more to attend a game in a great area, within walking distance to stores, bars and restaurants. Not to mention the tens of thousands that could walk there from work should they choose. Can't do that now.

      I remember the Civic Auditorium days as well as the Cow Palace, and Kezar Pavilian where they had summer league and exhibitions. Those were some fun times.

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    3. "This is a 'regional' team and it's also the only team not to have fans who hold divided loyalties such as the Niners/Raiders or A's/Giants."

      Um, San Jose Sharks?

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  11. BOOM! WHAP! BANG! DOINK! I guess Chris Dobbins, David Carter (of Save The Bay), and Robert Redford aren't the only ones that think that the money-laden SF arena plan is an environmental disaster. Way to go, John! Remember that Peter Guber's well-reknowned schmoozing storytelling ability allowed the SF Arena to pass through the Board of Supervisors without nary an Environmental Impact Report. The pollution - especially the arena waster - will infinitely endanger our great San Francisco Bay! It's bad enough that our America's Cup yachtsmen have a hard enough time navigating the Bay's tricky winds and waters. And forget the two oil rig spills below the Bay Bridge! The environment will suffer greatly if the SF Arena is built, regardless of financial sense!
    Oakland's Arena can be remodeled and turned into a world class area at a much, much lower cost! And it won't pollute as much!

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    1. You tell 'em!

      I saw the plumbing prints for the new area and the toilets dump directly into the bay. Oops, the secret is out.

      Regarding Oakland making something world class...a haven for criminals and dysfunctional politics

      PS, I bought a box(1000)of plastic bags for shopping. I will cast a few in the bay tonight in your honor.

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    2. Maybe 259 that's part true. What better cure then to tear down and start over? Yet,Oakland haters who say that's what the city needs,don't want thatt with the sports stadiums.
      Go figger.

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  12. Oakland couldn't even make room for the Warriors when they won their only championship in 1975. An ice show was booked and the Warriors had to move back across the bay to the Cow Palace to play the Washington Bullets in the Finals. The Giants are close to 200 straight sellouts, the 49ers have soldout since the early 8-0's - the Warriors will do fine.

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  13. Spurs coach Greg Popovich in a timeout interview,said "Oakland has played great". That sounds so much better then that weird Golden State Eastbay State of California crap.

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  14. The Warriors have been one of the worst franchises in all 4 professional sports for a very long time now. Just because they sell out the arena for a twice in a generation playoff series does not mean they have the best fans, etc. I have been to plenty of games there where the stadium was maybe half full. The only time it sells out is when the Lakers or Lebron comes to town. A few years ago I walked up to the stadium ticket window and got a ticket for opening night! There is no way in hell the new owners bought the team with the intentions of keeping it in Oakland. The quote the new owner gave not too long ago was from the heart and should squash any doubt that the team is staying in Oakland. "We now own a Ferrari and we don't want to park it in Oakland". These guys are no idiots, why keep it in an old, dilapidated stadium in what is regarded as one of the most horrible and dangerous cities in all of the US when you can bring it right over the bridge to a world class city, get a brand new stadium built with heavyweight sponsors that will bring more concerts, events, etc. to the city and reap the benefits that comes with it? It's a win-win for everyone involved. You Oaklnad fans complain now, but just wait until it happens, much like the 49ers fans that are complaining moving the team to Santa Clara. Once you have a new stadium, you forget about the old one. I mean, do you Giants fans really miss the stick for baseball? I wouldn't be surprised if all 3 teams are moved out of Oakland within the next 5-7 years. It would only be for the better. Develop that area into condos, restaurants, stores, movie theaters so there is an alternative place to live for those that work in SF or in downtown Oakland. Restore family life and civic pride to Oakland. Those 3 teams in that area are hardly helping with that cause.

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    1. "Just because they sell out the arena for a twice in a generation playoff series does not mean they have the best fans, etc. I have been to plenty of games there where the stadium was maybe half full. The only time it sells out is when the Lakers or Lebron comes to town."...

      WRONG! Since 2006 the Warriors percentage of seats filled - 93%, 92%, 100%, 97%, 92%, 95%, 96%, and this season 99% (selling out the final 32 games of the regular season. (source: ESPN NBA Attendance Report)
      Almost all those years without being a playoff team. Sure there were a lot of Laker and Lebron fans for those few games, but night in and night out for a long time there are Warriors fans who really support their team.

      From the Warriors site: The Golden State Warriors established the second-highest total attendance in franchise history for the 2012-13 season with 794,320 fans, the team announced tonight after this evening's regular season finale at Oracle Arena drew a capacity crowd of 19,596. The team also had a per-game average of 19,374 fans which marks the 8th straight season average over 18,000 fans per game and represents the second highest average attendance in franchise history, with the 2007-08 season reaching 19,631. The Warriors are one of only seven NBA teams to average over 18,000 per game in each of the last eight seasons, joining the Bulls, Mavericks, Knicks, Lakers, Jazz and Spurs.

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  15. you know who would really love the Warriors to build a new arena in SF - the visiting teams.
    Almost all the NBA teams stay in San Francisco hotels already (as do a lot if not most of visiting baseball teams that play the A's).

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  16. This is interesting: Radnich on his KNBR show put it out there that Greg Papa wants the Warriors TV pbp job. Radnich even said that Papa has been courting Joe Lacob for the position. Papa himself on today's Papa/Lund show on THEGAME, stated that "The Warrior PBP is what I do best"..He went to say he did the teams announcing when they did nothing but lose and would like-of course- to get in with the new ownership.
    Radnich made it sound like his mole is Gary St. Jean. Better watch what you say around that stoolie Greg!

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    1. Hope Mr Papa is successful in his quest. Considering how he lost the job to the current TV occupier it would be, as Gordon Gekko said "It's payback time, sport."

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    2. I doubt Greg Papa goes back to calling Warrior games. Yes, it was messed up how he lost the job, but Fitz would have something to say about Greg Papa wanting the Warriors TV play-by-play analyst job. I'm sure Fitz would put up a fight if Greg Papa seriously went after this gig.

      Plus, would Greg Papa still call Raider games, if he called Warrior games again? There would obviously be some scheduling conflicts in November and December when football and basketball overlap.

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    3. Let's hope this (Warriors play by play job) is true.
      Greg Papa is the better pbp man than the current caller of Warrior games.

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  17. The warriors are like 415 media, the owner(s)can and should do what they feel is in their best interest.

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  18. they're moving to SF. the day it was mentioned was the day the wheels began to turn. the raiders will be out too. no one gives a shit that the fans show up. they want the sexy, and they want the big monied SOMA crowd. - dw

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  19. Bottom line: Should the Warriors stay in Oakland??? Should the Raiders stay in Oakland??? Should the Athletics stay in Oakland??? Coliseum City or Victory Court???

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  20. @4:24 you can quote all the stats you want, I have no idea if its true, but what I can tell you is that 1:10 is correct. I hate to admit it, but he is. I have been a full plan warriors season ticket holder for 8 years now and attend 75 percent of the games. The stadium is hardly ever full. Maybe 60% for most games. The only exception is when the big teams or big stars come to town. I'm not sure if that stats you gave are for purchased tickets or attendance in the stadium, but they are wrong. I wish that wasn't the case. As a second generation fan I want that stadium rocking all the time but its hardly the case. This season has been better, but early this year it was half empty for weekday games.

    To throw my two cents in about relocating the team, I live in West Oakland and work downtown Oakland. t would more than welcome a move to SF. I'd love to be able to get something to eat or drink around the stadium before or after a game. I'd also really like a fancy new stadium, I will admit its my only complaint about the team. Well that and a few more playoff rounds in route to a championship wouldn't hurt! Dub love!

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  21. Wow Rich, calling writers and broadcasters clueless? When the announcement first came down, it dominated the sportspages, talkshows and had been talked about on Ws broadcasts numerous times. Tim K and his colleagues from the BANG (Poole, MTII) all did a lot of work talking about it, from both sides of the issue. It looks nice to frame it that way for your post, but really, do some research before spouting nonsense.

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    1. In Rich's world, everyone aside from himself are clueless.

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  22. Just something to note:
    In the 1996-1997 season, the Warriors played in San Jose while their arena was being remodeled. Despite playing in a smaller arena, the average attendance per game was slightly higher in San Jose than it was in Oakland the previous year. It also dropped by about 3,000 per game when they moved back to Oakland the following year (despite the extensively remodeled facility)

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  23. Couldn't agree more Rich. Pathetic statement by Mayor Ed Lee. Where the heck is Jean Quan, represent your city, Mayor Quan!

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  24. I am sure that the team's abysmal performance (19 wins, 63 losses) affected fan interest/attendance in '97-'98. That was also the season when Latrell Sprewell attacked head coach P.J. Carlesimo. Even the freshly remodeled digs in Oakland couldn't draw attention away from the bad play and bad vibes during that period in Warriors history!

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  25. Good for John Madden.
    Steve Bitker? Biggest carnival barker for the SF sports teams.
    Steve, how much is Larry Baer paying you?
    What is it like being the 49ers payroll?
    Good objectivety Bitker!

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  26. Rumor has it that Bitker was living in the sunny side of Alameda while his wife Ms. Lai-Bitker was working in Oakland. Why would he care about people in Oakland?

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  27. Here is my 3rd post:

    Don't get me wrong, even though I would love for the Warriors to move to San Francisco, I do like Oracle Arena and it truly is a great time out there at Warrior games, and it definitely was rockin' during the playoffs this year. Oracle Arena is great, but it would be cool for the Warriors to play here in San Francisco though. This is what I've wanted for a long time, as well as other native San Franciscans, I'm sure. It would also be nice to finally have a state of the art arena here in San Francisco. Plus, the Warriors moving back to San Francisco, would ease the blow of the 49ers moving to Santa Clara. San Francisco would still have 2 pro teams playing in San Francisco. Even though the 49ers would still be a San Francisco team when they move to Santa Clara, it would almost be like they would feel kind of like a South Bay team at the same time.

    If the Warriors move back to San Francisco, the Warriors could probably break out their classic throwback "The City" jerseys or the San Francisco Warriors throwback jerseys that they wore three seasons ago ('09-'10 season) for Hardwood Classic Nights that season, for some games!

    But yes, I'm all for the Warriors moving back to San Francisco, without a doubt! Like I said, it just makes sense. It's kind of too bad this argument turns into a San Francisco-Oakland debate, but the Warriors moving to San Francisco has nothing to do with Oakland really. I mean, yeah it does, but it doesn't. Not to the way people are making it seem.

    Yes, like I said, you would feel bad for Oakland a bit, because yeah, it would feel like they would lose in this since the Warriors are the best thing going for Oakland sports wise right now but, the Warriors are taking advantage of the opportunity to move to San Francisco, which could work wonders for this franchise on and off the court. I bet if you gave all the major pro Bay Area sports teams (Giants, 49ers, Warriors, A's, Raiders, and Sharks) the chance to play in San Francisco all things being equal, they would probably do it. San Jose would probably be a close 2nd, but San Francisco is the place to be! But yeah, can you really blame the Warriors for wanting to move to San Francisco though?

    Plus, as has been mentioned, the Warriors moving to San Francisco, would improve the gameday experience moreso before and after games. The Warriors have no problems with their gameday experience during the games, but there's nothing to do there before and after Warrior games, and after Warrior games, you just want to get the heck out of Oakland. You put the Warriors in San Francisco, it would probably be similar to a Giants game experience before and after games as far as having nice places to go and eat, before and after games, and you wouldn't mind hanging out in downtown San Francisco for a little while.

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  28. I'm hoping Papa regains the mic for Warriors TV. Until then I'll keep the mute switch on and listen to music.

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