Andre Ward def. Sakio Bika

photos by Willie Eashman

Sports In The Bay

by

Felicia and Eddrick

Check out this photo essay of Andre Ward defending his WBA Middle Weight Title against challenger Sakio Bika last Saturday niight. Ward won the fight in a unanimous decision in front of his hometown fans in Oakland.

Shout Out

Former Oakland Raiders lineman and current Detroit Lion Ike Ekejiuba gives a shout-out to

Sports In the Bay!

Former Raiders lineman and current Detroit Lion Ike Ekijuka tells everyone what their watching

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Dolphins receiver returns home to play against his childhood team


Photo by Willie Eashman

Sports in the Bay!

Being of a smaller stature is something Davone Bess has heard all of his life so it is safe to say the 5"10 - 190lb Miami Dolphins wide receiver has made it his plight to prove people wrong.

Coming home to play in Oakland against the team that passed him over on draft day three years ago made the taste of a 33-17 victory that much sweeter.

"I was really impressed with what Davone did," said Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano of his speeder receiver who finished the game with 6 receptions for 111-yards.

A product of Skyline High School in Oakland Bess, 25, who grew up blocks from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum shook his head in disgust when asked for the final ticket count of tickets he purchased for friends and family. As of Friday it was 55 however after the game, he admitted that the amount had grown significantly since then.

Bess is proud to be from the Bay Area and has made no secret of his love of the Silver and Black growing up. Tim Brown was and still is his idol and Sparano has even compared him to former Raiders wide receiver.

He even has a Golden State Warriors tattoo proudly displayed on his left bicep to remind him that even though he plays in the Sunshine State he is still from the Golden State.　

WARD AND BIKA PREPARE TO GO POUND FOR POUND

Photo courtesy of Rich Hundley/SHOWTIME

Sports In the Bay / Info courtesy of Steve Pratt

World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward and world contender Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika met with local Bay Area media members on Wednesday to discuss their anticipated world title fight this Saturday at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California.

It will be the second consecutive defense of his world title for the local fighter Ward (22-0, 13 KOs), who will have his hands full against Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, via Douala, Cameroon on Saturday, Nov. 27, live on SHOWTIME (live at 9 p.m. ET/PT).

Both camps have been training hard for the past six-weeks and prior to their face-to-face meeting, the two talked about their anticipated bout in a teleconference earlier this week.

“I am happy Andre Ward has given us the opportunity. I am looking for the win. Training camp went very well and we will win this fight," said Bika, a native of Cameroon, fighting out of Australia.

The hometown favorite, Ward will be fighting his third fight in Oakland. November 21st marked a year since the last time he fought at ORACLE and although the Arena isn't yet sold-out it is anticipated Ward will still will give fans something to remember.

“Whether there are two or 100,000 fans in the stands makes no difference to me because I will still come in here to do my job,” said Ward.

In the first fight of the split-site doubleheader, “King” Arthur Abraham will meet Carl “The Cobra” Froch in the final Group Stage 3 bout of tournament for the vacant WBC super middleweight world title. The world title match will be televised on same-day-delay from the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland.

This World Championship night of boxing begins at 4 p.m. featuring undefeated Jr. middleweight and 2008 US Olympian Javier Molina (4-0, 4 KOs), Sacramento’s undefeated lightweight Stan Martyniouk (10-0, 1KO), Houston’s power-punching Cornelius White (15-0, 14 KOs), plus four other bouts with the main event featuring Oakland’s finest starting at approximately 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $150, $75 and $35 are on sale now at the Oracle Box Office or visit www.coliseum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

WARRIORS OWNER JOE LACOB SAYS “THANK YOU” TO NBA’S BEST FANS

New Owner Slashes Prices On All Remaining Tickets, Plus Concessions, For Monday Night’s Game


Sports in the Bay!

TICKETS...FOOD....AND DRINKS FOR HALF THE PRICE?

On behalf of his new ownership group, which officially took control of the Golden State Warriors last Friday, Joe Lacob is saying “Thank You” to the best fan base in the NBA by offering half-off on ALL remaining tickets to Monday night’s game versus the Detroit Pistons. In addition to the ticket slashes Lacob is also offering 50% off on ALL food and drinks purchased on Monday night at the arena concession stands.

Monday nights game will kick-off the first Warriors’ home game under the new ownership group, headed by Lacob and Peter Guber.

To take advantage of the 50% off ticket offer, fans must visit the team’s official website, warriors.com, to receive the special offer code - SOCIAL.

Fans of the Warriors Official Facebook Page were able to take advantage of this offer yesterday with an exclusive preview, and now the offer is being extended to the general public.

For more information on the Golden State Warriors, please visit www.warriors.com.

Bay Area's Own Andre Ward holds Press Conference for upcoming bout

Photo credit: Laura De la Torre / Goossen Tutor Promotions

Sports in the Bay!


The atmosphere inside Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill in San Leandro was buzzing with excitement Tuesday afternoon. Known as a hotbed for avid sports lovers, especially Oakland Raiders fans, it was also host for Andre "S.O.G." (Son of God) Wards press conference promoting his upcoming fight against Sakio Bika.
Ward, a native of Oakland and a 2004 Gold Olympian will have the home crowd behind him on Saturday, November 27th as he fights 12-rounds to defend his World Boxing Association Super Middleweight Championship against Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika of Australia.

At 22-0 record (13 KO's) the Wards career has been carefully crafted under the tutelage of his trainer Virgil Hunter who has trained him since the age of nine.

The two have fought hard to keep boxing in Oakland which was always been a dream for Ward who fought for the first time as a pro in his hometown in May 2009.

"It's always been sweet to fight at home," said Ward from the stage at Ricky's, "The experience is great."

Biko, 31, who is 28-4-2 with 19 knockouts is said to be the toughest opponent yet for the 26-year old Ward.

"Bika will come full steam ahead with wild punches. I am going to continue to do what I do and that is a little bit of everything. Just like when I fought (Allan) Green. We had a plan to fight on the inside but it ended up being a closed combat and I had to adjust. With Bika, depending on what he does I'll know how to adjust and what I need to do."

The bout will be televised on Showtime at 9pm ET/PT (delayed on the W. Coast) at the ORACLE Arena in Oakland.

Ellis suffers back injury in Warriors Win

Warriors guard Monta Ellis suffered a lower back injury during the 4th quarter of tonight’s 109-102 victory over Toronto Monday night.

Ellis underwent x-rays on his lower back following the game and results will be available Tuesday morning. He will remain in Toronto as the team travels to New York to face the Knicks on Wednesday.

Tip-off is 4:40 PST.


Info courtesy of the Golden State Warriors

Raiders 23 - Chiefs 20

Sports In The Bay!


Felicia and Eddrick recap the Raider's exciting win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Stay tuned for exclusive post game interviews later today...

Raiders prepared to break 7-year losing streak Sunday at home against Chiefs

Second year RB Marcel Reece had a breakout game, scoring TD on a 30-yard pass play from Raiders QB Jason Campbell in the second quarter for 33-3 victory over the Seahawks.

Photo by Willie Eshman

OAKLAND ON A ROLL, HOPING FOR 3 IN A ROW SINCE 2002

The Oakland Raiders won their second game in a row over the Seattle Seahawks 33-3 this past Sunday. Despite injuries to key players on defense and offensive the Raiders have stepped up to the task, filling in the necessary gaps by beating their last two opponent by a margin of 92-17.

A key injury to Pro Bowl Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will be a factor for the Chiefs as they will try to abuse Asomugha's replacement. However, RB Darren McFadden has been an unstopped machine.

Oakland (4-4) hopes to tie with their divison rivals at the top of the AFC leader board. The Chiefs (5-2) are in jeopardy of losing their first divisional lost of the season in a rivaly that dates back to the 1960's. They have not won at home against the Chiefs since their last winning season of 2002.

Be prepared for the possible AFC playoff match-up that could take place this January should both teams continue playing well.

Kick-off is 1:15pm at the Oakland Coliseum.