With the relocation vote finalized, the Oakland Athletics would make Las Vegas one of 20 American cities with at least three of the big four major sports teams.
Sports Columns
A youth movement left the Athletics with the most losses since moving to Oakland in 1968, and things aren’t likely to change for the foreseeable future.
The soon-to-be-Las Vegas Athletics are a public relations nightmare off the field, most recently with a problematic retirement gift to a future Hall of Famer.
Bettors who have faded (wagered against) the A’s this season are up big. Oakland is on pace to finish with the worst 162-game record in baseball history.
The Athletics are reportedly considering starting games at 4 p.m. in Las Vegas if they relocate here. But let’s go the other way. How about starting late?
The team’s 10-38 record translates to a winning percentage of .208. Only the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (23-113, .157) and 1899 Cleveland Spiders (20-134, .129) were worse.
The Athletics under John Fisher don’t deserve $500 million in tax revenue to bring MLB’s worst team to Las Vegas.
Oakland Athletics fans are angry, sad, and bitter about the prospect of their team relocating to Southern Nevada. Several offered their thoughts at Friday’s home game.
“When the Knights came here, they were born here. They’re like a little baby,” Jeff Evtushek said. “These other teams who come here, it’s like adopting a 50-year-old man.”
It will be interesting to see if the worst team in baseball is serious about spending money for the on-field product more than it has in forever.
The Athletics don’t belong in Las Vegas. They belong in Oakland, a historical hub of blue-collar sporting culture.