Sean Jones - Sports 2009

(updated 3/12/09)

Ricky Clark - Basketball v. Cabrillo

The men's basketball team defeated Cabrillo 73-68 last night to boost the team's record to 9-5. This weekend the Gladiators will have a tournament Dec. 19-21.

Spectator - Triumph!! Over KCRH

Photography by Sean Jones

In the most epic of battles the Spectator prevailed gloriously over Chabot radio station KCRH 30-28. To get the game rolling, the Spectator ran through a sign to get pumped up. Despite the intense action, both sides were able to unite at the end in celebration for the Mass Çommunications field.

Ricky Clark - Laney v. CH football

Photography by Sean Jones

In Chabot football's rivalry game and season finale vs the Laney Eagles, the team was brutalized 32-0.The defense was outgunned and the offense never got going for Chabot. Brandon Williams was a lone bright spot for the team with 102 yards on 17 carries. Chabot finishes the season 5-5, 2-2 without a bowl birth.

Ricky Clark - Men's soccer a nail in the coffin

Not quite the ending the men’s soccer team would have wanted, with a season finale loss to Foothill College 2-1. The Gladiators went down the stretch without winning a single
match since Oct. 21 against Mission College (five losses, two ties). Coach Markus Bathelt explains the string of bad luck has been due to inconsistencies.

“We do good against good teams, but we lose focus in games we should have won,” said Bathelt. Against Foothill the Gladiators were outplayed and mounted little offensive pressure. The lone goal came from forward Pablo Moreno in the first half to tie the game 1-1. Moreno booted the ball approximately 20 yards for a score that sailed past the Foothill goalkeeper’s head.

Moreno was often in the mix throughout the game, in the second half he leaped in the air to head-butt the ball, but clashed heads with a Foothill player. Moreno later re-entered the game, and over kicked the ball past the net after getting a break away.

The Gladiators finish their disappointing season at 7-9-3 and out of playoff contention.

Ricky Clark - Volleyball's Sophomore night a hit

It was just another moment for a Chabot sports program to play their last home game of the season, this however was nice for the volleyball team.

Chabot volleyball swept Skyline College in three sets (25-22,25-21, 25-22). After the game the volleyball players embraced one another and many players said their goodbye's from playing at Chabot, winning in a sweep was ever the perfect ending. "It's really exciting, we pulled through [winning efficiently]. It's sad [to finish at Chabot], I don't was to miss the team," said Irene Takahashi-Coker.

The last game for the Lady Gladiators will be away at Foothill College (Nov. 19). Earlier this season Foothill got the best out of Chabot, the team will definetly want to make the most of this game by ending the season with a "W".

Joey Brownlee - A's trading for Holliday is a mistake

Billy Beane was right in rebuilding the farm system last offseason. However, he is wrong for this time around.

The Colorado Rockies have agreed in principle to trade all-star outfielder Matt Holliday to Oakland for pitchers Greg Smith, Huston Street and promising outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

Holliday will turn 29 in January and is looking for a huge contract. And no better man to negotiate that than, Scott Boras. He’s the best big-money agent in baseball who will no doubt use Alfonso Soriano’s as a starting point in negotiations.

The Cubs signed the converted second baseman to an astounding 8-year, 136 million contract, during the 2006 offseason. Soriano, 32, is atrocious defensively, isn’t the RBI man Holliday is, and certainly doesn’t produced like a 17-million dollar player.

Power hitters will hit for power no matter where they play. 38-year old Frank Thomas, coming of two injury-marred seasons, hit 23 hrs in 2006 at the Coliseum.

Giambi, Tejada, Chavez, Cust and Dye never had trouble going yard at the coliseum. It's the marginal players you worry about; Suzuki, Crosby, Cunningham and Sweeney.

I don’t foresee any formidable decline in Holliday’s power production. He’s a man on a mission to get paid.

If he's as advertised, then where do talks with Holliday begin? Never has he hit below .290 in a season (four straight over .307), is a proven clean-up hitter and performed better than Soriano in postseason play. 8 years and 180 million?; Oakland couldn’t match New York ’s offer to Jason Giambi in Dec. 01 of 7-years and 120 million. So...what's changed since then?

Nothing’s changed since then. Fans have not supported the team, leaving Oakland to retain its small-market tag. They’ll be waving good-bye to Holliday during the trading deadline or in Nov. 09.

It’s your basic one-year rental. Just like Johnny Damon, Ray Durham and Jose Guillen were.

But this will pale in comparison to what this team is giving up. Only one player –Aaron Harang- in those deals produced. All three will in this one.

Parting with Street and Greg Smith is acceptable because highly-touted relievers Andrew Carignan and Henry Rodriguez are emerging; starting pitchers Brett Anderson, Vin Mazzaro, Trevor Cahill and James Simmons have bigger upside than Smith.

What you worry about is trading the best prospect on the team: Carlos Gonzalez. He's the kind of player that makes people think they can play baseball.

What do I mean by that? Well, he makes the game look so easy, and is so imperturbable under duress, that a pathetic athlete like me believes they have a chance to make the big leagues.

While he struggled at times last season, he clearly demonstrated tools superlative than anyone in the A's outfield. Ryan Sweeney is a decent player, but got by with a lot of broke n-bat hits and is injury prone. Nobody in Oakland has seen the caliber of prospect Gonzalez since Reggie Jackson.

He’s the combination of speed, power, defense, arm and ability to hit for average that scouts adore. Giving up six years of him for one of Holiday should get someone fired.

The kid is just 23 and will be 29 when he can become an unrestricted free agent. Holiday will be 38 and declining. Gonzalez will still have some prime years worth investing in, Holiday won’t.

This trade weakens the outfield as well. You are replacing an already above-average center fielder with an ordinary outfielder in Ryan Sweeney. He’s not Jack Cust out there with a cast-iron pan for a glove, but he’s better suited for a corner spot.

These are the kind of deals you make on the brink of World Series contention, not playoff mediocrity. You don’t waste 13-years of service time (before all three become free agents) for one-year of Matt Holliday.

Colorado strolls into Oakland on June 26-28. Gonzalez will be there; Holliday…mite.

Ricky Clark - Football vs. Cabrillo preview

Last home game of the season, it seems like it's going bye too fast. The Gladiators are coming off a win against Los Medanos 38-14, but this team has not won two games in a row. It's been a season in between average and above average for coach Calcagno's Gladiators with a win loss record of 4-4, 2-1. On Saturday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. the Gladiators will host Cabrillo Seahawks (0-3, 2-6). The Seahawks are on a four game losing streak and were shutout by Modesto. Perhaps the Seahawks are just a victim against top teams. Their first game was with last year's state winners City College of SF, an undefeated Monterey Peninsula, and the two top Golden Gate Conferece teams Laney and Modesto. Chabot has a slim shot of winning the conference. In order for the team to accomplish this, they must beat Cabrillo and Laney (Nov. 4), and have other conference teams do some things for the Glads.

Here is the synopsis: If Modesto beats Laney this weekend, they will have to lose to Merced. If Laney beats Modesto, the Glads will still need Merced defeat Modesto and ultimately beat Laney for the season finale.

Ricky Clark - Wrestling quick notes

The wrestling team was at Cuesta College for a tournament. Out of 16 teams the Glads placed 10th. Stephan De La Cruz earned 3rd place at 141-pounds after defeating Sacramento City College's Blake Nichols by a 10-4 decision. Carlos Martinez (157-pounds) beat Palomar College's Aaron Eberhart by injury forfeit, earning 5th place.

Ricky Clark - Volleyball defeats De Anza

The volleyball team finished of De Anza 3-1 in a teeter-totter match tonight. Sammy Capurro simply summed this win saying, "It felt good." Sets one, three, and four belonged to the Lady Glads. The first set went 25-20, third set went 25-22, and fourth set went 25-21 with the team losing in the second 25-20. For those who have not seen a volleyball game this season, Christa Hicks is a very talented player. Hicks plays outside hitter and in this latest game she constantly delivered scores on spikes, towers, and serves. Without Hicks this team probably would have a terrible season. Another player who's coming along for the Lady Glads is Amanda Meyer. She was a force in the middle, blocking shots and finishing spikes. Next week (Wednesday) will be the team's last home game at 6:30.

Ricky Clark - Football Recap

Photography by Sean Jones

The football team defeated Los Medanos 38-13 in a rainy affair Saturday night.

Defensive back Matt Parker breaks up a pass to stop the Mustangs drive on a third and long. Parker returned a 25-yard punt for a touchdown.

Brandon Williams and Tyler Mason combined for five touchdowns (4 runs, 1 kick return) against the Mustangs. The team is now 4-4, 2-1.

Ricky Clark - Soccer Recap

Men's Soccer tied City College of San Francisco 3-3 on Friday night. The Gladiators pulled off the tie after a 0-3 first half with goalkeeper Chris Nguyen making important blocks. Goals were made by Dupree Gant, Nick Arredondo, and Andres Ponce.

Ricky Clark- Chabot sports go 1-2 Friday night

Photography by Sean Jones

Volleyball - The volleyball team suffered a tough and disappointing loss to Foothill College 1-3. The Lady Gladiators won by a high-margin in the first set 25-16, yet this proved to be the only bright spot of the night for the team.


Men's soccer - The Gladiators were shut out 3-0 against Cabrillo College. Throughout the game, the Glads struggled to get the ball in enemy territory.


Women's soccer - Only women's soccer was able to record a victory in Friday's match-ups, pulverizing an outmatched Hartnell College 10-0.

Ricky Clark - Gladiators (football) manage to win

Photography By Sean Jones

In Saturday night's contest vs. the Merced Blue Devils, the Gladiators had enough offensive production to hold off their opponents in a 28-18 win. Thomas Lanto once again received the majority of the playtime at quarter back and is starting to establish himself as a capable leader for the Gladiators.

During the second quarter Lanto connected on a 37-yard pass to Lee Pinkston that eventually set-up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Roy Polk.

Defensively the Gladiators allowed some big plays that led the Blue Devils to score, often the defensive line pressured the Blue Devil quarterback.

Free safety Tiquan Payne was an active force in the Gladiator secondary, finding himself around Blue Devil ball carriers for tackles most of the time. The key play of the game for the Gladiators came in the fourth quarter when defensive back Matthew Parker returned a kick off for 80 yards.

This effort set up running back Tyler Mason for a two-yard rushing touchdown which was the final Gladiator score (28-18). The Gladiators are now 3-3 on the season.

Joey Brownlee - Maybe Al is on to something

If you’re a Raiders fan who thought nothing iniquitous could happen during a bye-week, oh how naïve you were.

Al Davis not only told you what’s obtuse with his franchise, he read it out loud and illuminated it with an over-head projector. He called Lane Kiffin a “flat-out liar,” and was heard after the presser if he called him a liar enough.

Truth is: Al Davis was the only liar in that room.

“There are reasons which I could go into,” the devil begins. “But I thought what I would do is bring you up to (the time that led to the firing)…”

OK, so, you, Al, you don’t want specific dirty laundry to get into the open? Then, what was the purpose of projecting the letter you gave to Kiffin? Or so you say, “I sent him a letter,” he says. He quickly corrects himself and utters, “gave it to ‘em, actually and Federal Expressed it to him.”

Reads like a lie, doesn’t it?

Later on he feels a sense of regret because, “I hired the wrong guy.” Sorry, Al. He actually was the right guy, but you never gave him a real opportunity to prove that.

My gosh, perhaps, another fib. Maybe Al is on to something.

Subsequently, Davis rambles on why he didn’t offer his version of the story due to the fact he “didn’t want to win in the press, I want to win on the field.” Then why hold a 45-minute conclave with the media bashing Kiffin?

Kiffin said that Davis and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan were in constant communication about schemes. Davis ordered Ryan to publicly refute that claim. Last week former Raider Warren Sapp helped corroborate Kiffin’s assertion on Showtime's Inside the NFL.

"I remember one time we had a defensive game plan because we were struggling against the run. We were going to get our safeties and put them up in the box and almost have a nine-man front. We practiced this thing 80 percent of the time on Wednesday and Thursday. We showed up that Friday morning, [defensive coordinator] Rob Ryan came in and he looked like someone had just shot his dog. He said [Davis] pulled it on us. ... He snatched the teeth out of our defense," Sapp said.

Another lie by the domineering proprietor/general manger/I’m in the market for a convalescent home dictator named Al Davis.

The only propaganda bellowed in that room was what Davis sold to the gullible media in attendance. Davis was on the point of an entity lying. He failed to differentiate himself from Kiffin.

Ricky Clark - Volleyball player returns from major injury

After dealing with pain from a torn ACL and waiting on the sidelines, Christa Hicks is back in action

For the entire story visit the Chabot Spectator website.

Ricky Clark - Volleyball Recap

(Media Credit: Sean Jones)

The Lady Gladiators demonstrated the efficiency on offense, and team quickness Last Wednesday after sweeping the Ohlone Renegades 3-0. This season the volleyball team has new uniforms.

Joey Brownlee - Al Davis is ruining the Raiders

I never fathomed a person, anything for that matter, arriving late to their own funeral; yet every day Al Davis, walker and all, paces the earth I’m proven wrong.

Al, haven’t you put us through enough? Joe Bugel, Norv Turner, Bill Callahan? The guy, who coached in 06, was so awful he doesn’t merit reference.

He is the immovable force that prevents the Raiders from ascending to the plateau Lane Kiffin had his sight set for. Hopefully Coach Kiffin can continue to set sail on the heading he’s set.

Mike Shanahan fired after 20 games, captained the hated Broncos to victories in ’98 and ’99. The best coach to last more than two seasons under the master of disaster –Jon Gruden- beat his former employer, 48-21, in SB XXXVII, beginning this catastrophe that has been a five-year reality.

Kiffin brings a hope, vision and enthusiasm that a return to glory is probable again. But he can’t unleash this plan with Davis’ interference in football related decisions. No plan interrupted has a chance for success.

C’mon, Al, if Steinbrenner can relinquishe his supremacy in New York, you can too. You were the man in your hay day, now you’re the man running this team into the gutter.

You can’t win football games like you did in the 70s anymore. The times of workout warriors and track stars ended the instant disco died.

I’m tired of your antics that always comeback to afflict us (fans, team) in a negative fashion. You think you know what you’re doing, but you have no idea. A first-round pick on a kicker?

The Raiders, under Big Al’s jurisdiction, will never, ever be what they were –the best there is, was and ever will be.

You’ve tickled my last nerve. If Kiffin is gone, so am I and my wallet. Just die (or kick rocks), baby!

Ricky Clark - Saturday Night (lack of) Lights

(Media Credit: Sean Jones)

A power outage occurred in Chabot football's first home game of the season (Sept. 6) for over 30 minutes in the fourth quarter, the atmosphere of the fans attending the game was energetic while having a sense of curiosity. Fans were waving their cell phones in hopes of having some light during the darkness. The opponent (West Valley) received a much needed break after a 60-26 beating.