Thursday, April 20, 2006
Sports News Update
This column regularly posts on the topic of sports in the Valley. Sports is a unifying cultural aspect of residents here, and the future of sports in the Valley will affect how the region develops in a variety of ways.
In the past few weeks, a number of interesting developments occurred on the sports front. To start, the Sacramento Kings, the Valley's highest profile sports franchise, having turned around their dismal season, made the playoffs and will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Kings fortunes have changed since trading sharp-shooter Peja Stojakovic to Indiana for much maligned Ron Artest. The gamble seems to have worked, as the Kings again became a winning team and returned to the playoffs.
While the continued post-season presence of the Valley's only major sports team was important for basketball fans, something else happened which could affect the long-term health of the franchise. In the league meetings, NBA commissioner David Stern briefed the owners on the league's troubled franchises. While Sacramento was discussed as having arena issues (with the antiquated Arco Arena), the commissioner apparently thought the Kings were moving closer to resolving the problem. ValleyVue, while excited that some behind the scenes work may indeed produce a viable arena plan, is puzzled by Stern's statements. Hopefully, there is some substance to Mr. Stern's claim.
In other news, Stockton continues to establish itself as a center for sports in the Valley. The Stockton Thunder (hockey) and California Cougars (soccer) have both wrapped up their seasons. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for the year. The Stockton Lightning (football) have started their season, and will have their home opener versus Bakersfield on April 29. Besides Bakersfield and Stockton, the AF2 includes a third Valley team with the Central Valley Coyotes, playing their home games near Lemore. Stockton also saw the opening of a new sports facility on Tuesday with the first baseball game at the Klein Family Field on the campus of the University of the Pacific.
Recently, Sacramento State University announced a benchmark of donations had been accepted allowing the school to move ahead on plans to build new facilities. Included in these plans were a student center, and apparently added was a new fieldhouse for the football program. Unfortunately, Sacramento State has decided that plans for a new event center/arena will stay on hold until a greater amount of support can be reached.
So there you are. Up and down the Valley, sports is picking up speed as the sun begins to return after the long, wet winter. The strength of area sports says a lot about the strong spirit of our people. The grass is green; the sky is blue; the umpire yells, "Play Ball". The Valley is primed for winning.
In the past few weeks, a number of interesting developments occurred on the sports front. To start, the Sacramento Kings, the Valley's highest profile sports franchise, having turned around their dismal season, made the playoffs and will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Kings fortunes have changed since trading sharp-shooter Peja Stojakovic to Indiana for much maligned Ron Artest. The gamble seems to have worked, as the Kings again became a winning team and returned to the playoffs.
While the continued post-season presence of the Valley's only major sports team was important for basketball fans, something else happened which could affect the long-term health of the franchise. In the league meetings, NBA commissioner David Stern briefed the owners on the league's troubled franchises. While Sacramento was discussed as having arena issues (with the antiquated Arco Arena), the commissioner apparently thought the Kings were moving closer to resolving the problem. ValleyVue, while excited that some behind the scenes work may indeed produce a viable arena plan, is puzzled by Stern's statements. Hopefully, there is some substance to Mr. Stern's claim.
In other news, Stockton continues to establish itself as a center for sports in the Valley. The Stockton Thunder (hockey) and California Cougars (soccer) have both wrapped up their seasons. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for the year. The Stockton Lightning (football) have started their season, and will have their home opener versus Bakersfield on April 29. Besides Bakersfield and Stockton, the AF2 includes a third Valley team with the Central Valley Coyotes, playing their home games near Lemore. Stockton also saw the opening of a new sports facility on Tuesday with the first baseball game at the Klein Family Field on the campus of the University of the Pacific.
Recently, Sacramento State University announced a benchmark of donations had been accepted allowing the school to move ahead on plans to build new facilities. Included in these plans were a student center, and apparently added was a new fieldhouse for the football program. Unfortunately, Sacramento State has decided that plans for a new event center/arena will stay on hold until a greater amount of support can be reached.
So there you are. Up and down the Valley, sports is picking up speed as the sun begins to return after the long, wet winter. The strength of area sports says a lot about the strong spirit of our people. The grass is green; the sky is blue; the umpire yells, "Play Ball". The Valley is primed for winning.
