JR. JAM AUDITIONS!!!!!

Is your child a natural performer? Does he/she have what it takes to command the attention of an arena full of people?

If your child possesses these gifts along with a strong dance background than the Golden State Warriors Jr. Jam Squad is for you!

Auditions will be held on Saturday, September 12th at ClubSport in San Ramon. Registration begins at 5:00pm.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Outgoing, fun and energetic kids ages 5-13 (must be 5 years of age by June 1, 2009) escorted by parents or guardian only!

Bring I.D. and wear dance attire (i.e. comfortable, age-appropriate clothing that is easy to dance in)

Tennis shoes with non-marking soles are required. Knee pads are recommended.

Please bring snacks and beverages to help sustain your body for the audition process.

Parents are not permitted in the gym during the audition process.

AUDITION INFO & SCHEDULE:

5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Registration
5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Introduction
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Learn Audition Routine
7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Run Audition In Groups
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Round 1 Team Selections
8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - 2nd Round Of Audition
8:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Round 2 Team Selections
9:00 p.m. - Final Team Selection

*Times may vary depending on the number of people auditioning.

Location: ClubSport of San Ramon 350 Bollinger Canyon Lane San Ramon, CA 94582

Phone: 925-735-8500 http://www.clubsportsr.com/.

**Applications will also be accepted on-site the day of auditions.

For more information, please call 510-985-5705 or e-mail Susan Hovey at skhovey@gs-warriors.com.

Skyline product Smith, retires from NFL

By Felicia
Sports in the Bay

He started his prep career wearing the Skyline Titan colors of red and white he would end his professional career doing so.

After two Super bowl rings, one Pro Bowl visit and nine years in the league, the San Francisco 49ers recently announced that newly acquired tackle Marvel Smith (#71) has made the decision to retire.

Smith, an Oakland native who spent his whole career with the Pittsburg Steelers, was signed as a free agent by the 49ers this past spring and has battled back injuries for the later part of his career.

“I would like to thank Marvel for his service to the 49ers organization over the last several months,” said head coach Mike Singletary. “Marvel and I have spoken, and I know that this was not a decision he took lightly. We appreciate that he came to us when he did with this decision, and wish him well in the next chapter of his life.”

A product of Skyline High in Oakland, Smith lettered in football and was a two-time All-City selection, earning a Division I-A scholarship to Arizona State University in 1995 becoming the school’s first lineman to receive a Division I-A scholarship.

Pittsburgh’s second round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, Smith, 31, had one Pro Bowl selection (2004) and started 108 of the 111 regular season games that he appeared in with the Steelers, where he played his entire career prior to signing with San Francisco in March.

Sports in the Bay wishes Smith all the best as he enters the second chapter of his life!

Raiders & Niners Prepare for 2009 Battle of the Bay

By Felicia and Eddrick

Sports in the Bay

No doubt, the two cross town rival NFL teams are just that, rivals. The fans are different, on one side of the bay you’ve got authentic food and on the other side you’ve got cheese and wine.

The Niners traveled to beautiful Napa to practice with the Raiders on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for this Saturday evenings Battle of the Bay.

This Saturday will mark the ninth year that the Raiders and Niners have faced one another during pre-season, flip-flopping victories for the past seven years with Oakland holding a 19-17 advantage. If Oakland is victorious this week, they will have two consecutive wins.

Tom Cable and Mike Singletary will have their first head coaching experiences in the historical Battle of the Bay, which will begin at 5:15pm at Candlestick Park.

For sights and sounds from their afternoon practice session click here:

Raiderette Calendar Release Party

By Felicia

Sports In The Bay

We got the chance to speak with Karen Kovac, the director of the Oakland Raiderettes who have their annual calendar release party coming up.

“We are looking forward to our release of our 2010 swimsuit calendar of our lovely Raiderettes,” Kovac told Sports in the Bay. “The event will take place Monday, August 24^th at The Den right next to the Fox Theatre in downtown Oakland. We are so proud to be a part of the revitalization.”

A limited number of tickets will go on sale next week and be a part of the VIP group to Raiders.com click on their home page and everything you need his there. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Tickets for Kids program, a program that offers free Raider tickets to underprivileged children.

Kovac encourages all who would to attend to get their tickets ASAP as their will be a limited number. Go to http://www.raiders.com/ for more information.

Raider Fans Represent at First Pre-Season Game

By Felicia and Eddrick

Sports In The Bay

The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum may have had their fair share of Cowboy fans at their pre-season home opener Thursday night, however; they could never be more passionate and dedicated as the Raider fan. Just ask “Moe” and “Mike.” The two friends and Oakland residents got hooked up with field passes prior to the game and got to watch team warm-ups, the Raiderettes and the player introductions.

“We’re gonna take it all the way this year,” said Moe but quickly retracted his statement. “ Were gonna take it to the playoffs, that’s all I gotta say.”

His partner in crime wasn’t as hesitant, “We’re gonna take it all the way,” says Mike, expounding briefly on the Raiders top draft pick, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. “He’s the man.”

Rob Bledsoe, member of World Wide Fans in Black, an online booster club has big expectations for this upcoming season. “Were expecting at least eight wins this year, it’ll be nice to get more wins and get back to a respectable record, you know the last six seasons have been hard but as a diehard Raider fan our motto is: Win, lose or tie, Raider fan till I die.”

On the offense side of things Bledsoe is excited about the edition of Lorenzo O’Neal at the fullback position which he feels with his experience and leadership that we’ll be able to really push our running game to the next level with McFadden, Bush and Fargas.

“We’re also excited about the way we finished the season at 3-3,” noting that five head coaches were fired after Oakland beat them.

Bledsoe’s worldwide Internet booster club has united Raiders fans from all over the world for the past 12 years. This year the booster club will be bringing back Raider legends like Kenny Stabler, as well as holding parties in the West Side Club, a tour of the team’s facility in Alameda, raffles and autographs as well as guest speakers. “The goal is to put fans in the seat, to unite fans from all over the world.”

It’s free to join World Wide Fans in Black and if you’re down on your luck, someone will even sponsor you and foot the $30 yearly membership fee. The only recognized booster club that is Internet based, in the six years he’s been involved Bledsoe has watch the fan base grow. “We gather fans from all over the world and each year we get bigger and bigger,” said Bledsoe putting truth to “Once You Go Black, You Never Go Back!”

For more information about their site go to http://www.fansinblack.com/.

Raider's Pre-Season Debut

Sights and sounds from the Raiders pre-season debut!


Click here!

Dixon Enters Sonoma in Tight Three-Way

SONOMA, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2009) – Scott Dixon is riding a wave of success heading into the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 21-23, but it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top at Infineon Raceway.

Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) posted his fourth win of the season and 20th of his career at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this past weekend, vaulting him to first in the IndyCar Series standings, just three points ahead of Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe (460-457) and 20 over teammate Dario Franchitti (440).

The momentum bodes well for Dixon, who won at Infineon Raceway in 2007 and has started no worse than ninth in four starts in the Sonoma Valley. He has an average finish of sixth place at Infineon Raceway and he is the defending IndyCar Series champion.

“It’s the IndyCar Series so, obviously, it will come down to the wire and it’s going to be tough,” said Dixon, who now owns the IndyCar Series record for career wins (20), surpassing Sam Hornish Jr. “It’s been a strange season in the fact that it doesn’t seem like anybody really wants to lead the championship. There’s been some flopping back and forth between myself and Dario and Ryan and TK (Tony Kanaan) so it’s been quite interesting.”



Briscoe and Franchitti have also enjoyed success in Sonoma Valley, although neither has reached the Wine Country Winner’s Circle. Briscoe started on the pole in 2005 and placed second last year to teammate Helio Castroneves. Franchitti, meanwhile, was third in 2007 and second in 2006. He also started on the pole in 2007.

“I'm really excited to be in the championship," Briscoe said. "It's been a fantastic year. It's definitely intense and can get frustrating at times. You look back on races, and for me it's ones like Richmond where I only got 12 points. If I could have gotten top 5 or something, what the difference could be. But that's where you just need to keep looking ahead, keep your head down and you've got to finish these races and finish at the front and just stay focused.”

With only four races remaining, a strong finish in Sonoma could play a crucial role in determining the 2009 series champion. Castroneves, the 2008 Infineon Raceway winner, is currently fourth in points (359), while Danica Patrick (Andretti Green Racing) is fifth (321). Tony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing) claimed the inaugural victory in Sonoma in 2005.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.

Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Weekend

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

WHEN: Aug. 21-23

CIRCUIT: 12-turn road course

2008 POLE WINNER: Helio Castroneves (Team Penske)

2008 WINNER: Helio Castroneves (Team Penske)

NOTABLE: The weekend will also feature Formula DRIFT, as well as the Firestone Indy Lights Series, featuring Sausalito native J.R. Hildebrand.

TICKETS: $10-$65 single day/$65-$85 weekend; parking is FREE and kids 12 and under are FREE (Saturday only). Garage passes are available for purchase.

INFORMATION: 800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com/indy.

Root Beer and Rickey

By Felicia
Sports In The Bay

We used to immolate his batting stance, squatting down real low with our imaginative bat held high, twitching our fingers as we pretended to steal a base at the Not a Through Street sign that we used as first base and the tall wooden telephone pole that we used as second on our block in East Oakland.

That is the type of effect that Rickey Henderson and the Oakland A’s had on our close knit community back in the day.

It would only be fitting that on the 10th anniversary of the Oakland Athletics A’s MUG Root Beer Float Day last week, Henderson would also be present, signing autographs as the newly inducted member of the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame.

This year the Oakland A’s raised over $25,000 with all proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Since 2003, the A’s have raised over $270,000 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through MUG Root Beer Float Day.

A’s players, coaches, broadcasters and wives, along with local radio, television personalities and newspaper reporters served root beer floats in the East Side Club and the proceeds were raised through the sale of root beer floats, tips given in exchange for autographs and pictures with the celebrity scoopers, the sale of autographed mugs and a silent auction of sports memorabilia.

According to healthscout.com 35 American children are diagnosed with diabetes each day. Today, you rarely find children playing in the neighborhood swinging a stick used for a bat or a tennis ball used for a baseball and while it is uncertain what causes diabetes it is usually hereditary and a proper diet and exercise are key components in management.

Kids like Archie Lopez of Santa Cruz remain active by playing baseball. Playing since the age of five, the 12 year old made the winding drive up from the seaside city to watch the A’s and the Texas Rangers and to join the group of several hundred who stood in line to meet Henderson.

“I saw him on TV and wanted to meet him since he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Lopez who made the trip with his dad, brother and cousin.

Stephanie Price and Eva Randall of Oakland stood in line for about an hour and reminisced about their favorite Henderson moments. “I remember when he stole third and I was there when he broke the record,” said Randall.

An Oakland native who attended Oakland Technical High School Henderson was drafted by the A’s in 1979. When he retired in 2003 he would finish his career with four stints with the A’s and having played for nine other teams.

Henderson would also leave the game as one of the top lead-off hitters in the history of the game and he still holds the single season record for stolen bases
(100) in 1982.

Elizabeth Meneweather brought her 11 year old grandson with her, who she’s been bringing to A’s games since he was two months old. “We’re baseball buddies,” she said with a proud smile.

The A’s begin their nine-game home stand August 14th against the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. Go to www.oaklandathletics.com for more information.

Raider Nation Celebration - Fans support Silver and Black in a big way

By Felicia
Sports In The Bay

Every year the Oakland Raiders hold their annual Raider Nation Celebration at the Oakland Coliseum and each year the fans come out in a big way, this year was no different.

“We’re going to be a helluva football team this year,” said head coach Tom Cable who will be heading into his first full season as the head coach after taking over for Lane Kiffin late last season. “It’s time to give something back to you.”

For those who doubt what Cable just guaranteed the diehard Raider fans feel differently showing their support in numbers, with this year’s attendance at nearly 10,000.

Those in attendance were treated to how the Silver and Black conduct their work out drills and practices and interactive Kids Zone.

Celebrating their 50th season of Raiders football, a selected number of fans were treated to an autograph session with past and present Raider players and all fans in attendance were watched a video montage of Raider memories on the stadium Jumbotron.

Oakland native and first-year season ticket holder Jr. Ewing has never missed a Raider Nation Celebration. “I enjoyed watching the pre-game exercise practices, said Ewing. “I was most impressed by Darrius Heyward-Bey,” said the die-hard Raider fan. “I love those cats.”

Footballs Fabulous Females, The Raiderettes, one of the premier cheerleading teams in the NFL made their first debut as a team, doing several high energy dance routines.

The Oakland Raiders will be playing their first pre-season game this Thursday when they host the Dallas Cowboys at 7:00pm.

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