I was excited when I heard that Mayor Ron Gonzales was headed to Spring Training to make his case to Major League Baseball this weekend that San Jose is a major league city. Then, I went to his website and … gulp … saw the photos.
Gonzales, reading from prepared text, is standing next to some guy in a baseball cap holding a big cardboard sign. It’s an odd scene. At first glance, you’d expect the sign to say something like “Will Stand Next to Big City Mayor for Food.”
But if you look closely the sign has the city seal and some promotional data on it. If you look again, you’ll notice that the sign holder is our beloved and slightly sunburned County Assessor Larry Stone.
Okay, so neither guy appears very excited. The few reporters standing around them look like they’re taking lunch orders at an outdoor cafe. And the fans ignoring them in the background probably figure these guys are with the Lyndon LaRouche campaign. (Here’s the link, 3 photos).
But they’re carrying our fight to Major League Baseball. So what’s the problem?
It’s the photos. It just looks … well … boring.
You see, last year, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman took his city’s case to the baseball owners, too. His entourage included two showgirls and an Elvis impersonator. I’m just guessing that they were performers from the Strip and not Las Vegas city councilmembers, but I’m not 100 percent sure. (Here’s a photo).
Anyway, if you’re a Major League Baseball owner, a sports writer or worse – a blogger—whose city are you going to remember?
But we can still rescue this year’s effort. Gonzales and Stone need to find a white Elvis suit and a showgirl outfit—pronto. It’s for the good of the city and we all need to quietly support their efforts to compete with Mayor Goodman. For my part, I promise not to disclose which one comes home with high heels and feather boa in his suitcase.
You missed bill chew skating around in the backround.
We as a city look so bad and small time. Tuesday 7am and I’m calling it day; I need a drink:-(
After this sad display; I think their going to take our little league teams away! Let alone let us have a big league team.
Couldn’t they at least wear something that says San Jose? Or these guys dopes?
I’m not holding my breathe with these leading the effort.
Goodman for mayor OF SAN JOSE.
That’s what we need. A mayor with personality. He can bring the showgirls, too.
Back in the ‘70’s, a friend of mine briefly taught at UNLV, which to his credit he never once asserted could pass for a legitimate institution of higher learning. He also described Las Vegas as an aberration that Karl Marx might have liked, as Vegas is truly without class. In any event, Las Vegas merits a major league team in much the same way Joan Rivers can justify another face lift. Suggestion: at the next news conference/promo opportunity, surround Ron and Larry with the SNL characters who many years ago made so many of us laugh through their “pump me up” routines. It would fit, given the aura that now hangs over baseball. Beyond that, Ron and Larry should both know that a lot of hard work in our own community and a concerted sell to major league baseball, not concocted photo ops as an excuse for taking a trip to spring training, is the only thing that’ll stand a chance of bringing the A’s to San Jose.
Jude has an interesting point. The cold statistics and economic issues are one thing, but some showmanship would help. As a member of the Democratic National Committee, I was sent videos of Chicago, invited to jazz band parties, and also sent some baseball caps. The showmanship helps.
Showmanship could help San Jose State Spartan Athletics as well. Indeed, Tom Bowen and Don Kassing need to explain to the community as a whole, why they are spending so much time trying to get student body funds, and encouraging student leaders to advocate taking student body funds for athletics, when some promotion and smart consulting could get them a new stadium.
Anyone that heard that President Kassing wants 3 million dollars of student body funds for athletics, meant to promote campus clubs and pay for programs for child care, should email him at
sj******@sj**.edu
, or
ka*****@sj**.edu
, and ask him, why not promote athletics instead of using funds meant for students.
I really couldn’t care less about sports, but the sad truth is that having a major league team does put a town on the map, and we know SJ has more or less exhausted all other avenues trying to get recognition.
I think more than showmanship, the bottom line is what will get MLB to approve a team for SJ. Ron & Larry make some excellent points about population, weather, income levels and potential corporate sponsorship. Only a foolish team owner would vote against the guaranteed success of placing a team in SJ and if you make your case to them using dollar signs, it’s a no-brainer.
Territorial rights aren’t even an issue. They’re being dealt with right now with Baltimore as a result of the Expos moving to DC. If we take advantage of the greed factor among the owners, this whole thing is a cinch. The tough part will be getting a ball park approved by the voters.
Looks like Amateur Hour!
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/11199256.htm
“We knew it was spring training for us, too,’’ the mayor’s press secretary, David Vossbrink, said Monday. “We’re just kind of getting our warm-up exercises in on talking about baseball.’‘
There are some kinks. Vossbrink noted that Gonzales saw ESPN’s Peter Gammons in the stands at the A’s-Giants game and made his pitch. What the mayor’s office didn’t know is that Gammons and Peter Magowan are good friends from prep school.
Another bobble: Press releases proclaim San Jose as the largest city prohibited from owning a team, leaving off Dallas. But, you say, Arlington—home of the Rangers—is really just a suburb. Yes, we say, then the claim that San Jose would rank fifth in the American League in population shouldn’t use Arlington’s 300,000 in the comparison. Minor mechanics, though. Nothing a fielding drill or two can’t solve.
Hard to determine which is more embarrassing—this lame attempt to get attention or that the Mayor would actually release these pictures of Ron and Larry’s Excellent Adventure.
Hopefully, they at least picked up some spare change to help pay for the stadium so they won’t be holding out the cup for the public to pay.
Goodman is good for other things, too. You boys up in San Jose have a lot of catching up to do…
The second photo looks like they are spitting watermelon seeds at the reporters.
Yuck.
As San Jose is lobbying for baseball, why would they not hire a lobbyist and a community relations specialist who knows something about influence and messaging?
A baseball lobbyist would set-up meetings—not only with Bud, but with Peter, Steve, George, and the rest of the boys. They would meet in a social situation, complete with refreshments—possibly entertainment.
The lobbyist would then garner information from the owners as to what it would take to get the A’s to San Jose. Possibly the lobbyist would give the owners information on the potential revenue they could expect from a move to San Jose, the increased gate, the marketing share potential and, of course, the potential new venue.
Next he would invite them all to San Jose on an individual basis. The visitors and convention bureau would pick-up their tab, as they surveyed the town, looked at possible stadium sites, met with the “stars” of San Jose (ie. Corporate CEO’s Chambers, Cartwright, Jobs and others) who would assure them the Corporate boxes would be filled. They would eat at the best restaraunts, drink at the best watering holes and be provided the best San Jose could offer.
If the Community Relaitions people were to have a press conference. It would involve a visual that is appealing to television. The content would be entertaining (as was done by Vegas). The message would resonate.
Maybe we should get a couple of ex San Jose major league baseball players out, Carney Lansford or Dave Righetti—bring out our sports stars from BASOC, utilize Ann Cribbs and her influence with other sports figures to talk about the benefits of San Jose
Let’s have Bill Walsh and Ronnie Lott talk to them about the virtues of San Jose.
You need more than a press conference and “will build stadium for food sign”.
You need a public relations plan, a little glitz and a couple of, god forbid, baseball lobbyists.
This is all I have to add:
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.02.05/biter-0509.html
lobbyists are like _____’s; everybody needs one. Gonzo needs two.
Had enough of our worthless mayor and pay to play BS.
Jude,
You are being far too charitable in describing the photos as “boring.”
A better word would be “embarrassing.”
Fortunately nobody seemed to have noticed!
The question has to be asked: After his late and lukewarm support for bringing baseball to SJ, just how serious is the Mayor’s support today?
I believe there is support; but gonzo’s an idiot at best. Not the best person to have pushing this forward. It is real embarrassing to see what a small time goofball he has become.
Great at talk; can’t walk the walk though.
We are better off have richard robinson as mayor; well maybe not.
Go back and look at the sign Larry Stone had. This is what it said:
Great City
19 MLB cities have
populations small than San Jose
Good job guys. Glad to have ya representing our city.
Before San Jose residents start clamoring for Oscar Goodman, it’s important to note that Goodman’s showgirls routine is more likely to have backfired than to have been successful. Many baseball insiders called it embarrassing. Unlike other leagues like the NBA, MLB is full of boring, stuffed shirt types who are generally conservative and aren’t interested in upsetting the status quo. They men are not the the International Olympic Committee. Sure, the Ron and Larry show could have benefited from a better presentation, but Goodman’s preso, while memorable, probably did Vegas more harm than good. Or have you not noticed why there aren’t cheerleaders at baseball games?
…too funny. You guys are killing me….
Please…somebody tell me that no public money was spent on this trip. Right?
This Mayor is the biggest joke ever.
First, you have a pro sports team aside from the Sharks. They are called the San Jose Earthquakes. Why don’t you try and save a major league franchise before you try and get another.
Second, in the council hearing last week the council and mayor spoke about the Quakes situation. The Mayor himself stated that he is “tired of being a cheerleader for sports”.
Well Mr. Mayor, although you were lacking a skirt and pom poms it sure looks like you’re acting like a cheerleader at spring training.
Funny how you can push away one sport, and focus on something you’re not even going to get.
Oh…and before I forget. Over 1500 people showed up to a rally in downtown San Jose last August to show support for the San Jose Earthquakes. You, Mr. Mayor, failed to show up. The Mayor of Santa Clara didn’t seem to have a problem showing up to a rally for the Quakes on your doorstep. Not only that, but a rally held in downtown San Jose just weeks earlier to show support for bringing baseball to San Jose was attended by less than 200 people.
Pick your battles Mr. Mayor. 1500 for soccer. Less than 200 for baseball.
Next time where a skirt and stuff your bra. It might work better than Elvis.
James,
Good luck on your SJSU quest, it is high time you got that Masters.
You’ll have to refresh my memory, but I never took Kevin to task for helping bring the A’s or Giants to Santa Clara.
On the contrary, I supported
efforts to bring the Giants or A’s and a stadium to Santa Clara. You should talk with Kevin Moore about my efforts in that regard.
P.S. I read your views on Trippi, a bit convoluted. But as I recall you supported Nancy McFadden in a big way over Trippi when he ran for Student Body President. That was really the first in a string of spectacular losses for the Tripster.
The photos are just awful!!
When are we sending these two clowns back to Sunnyvale?
Gee, Rich, you describe what Kevin Moore did for the Giants and A’s proposals for Santa Clara. Didn’t you call him into question for doing what you are advising others to do?
A free trip to Scottsdale….that’s all that is….
Rich
I did support Nancy over Joe. Ps, Nancy’s first major campaign job was a Bradley effort that Joe lined up for her.
I believe you did help a lot of times taking Kevin to task, and Joe never asked for some favors without first making sure there was a way for him to pay you back. He never blew people off, that I remember, and if he did not remember someone, he did seem fairly collegial about it.
Rich, Joe never took a benefit from me, and then failed to return it.
Is that Michael Moore with Ron?
By the way, Rich, has is that Rivermark doing out there? Seems there were a couple votes no, but I have to credit Patty Mahan, she did meet with those people.
James,
You are not on my enemies list.
It is true I have never used your services for opposition research—for a number of reasons we can talk about off-line.
However, I do have wonderful memories of our time at SJSU and I wish you well in your quest for a Masters.
Thought I said Rivermark is doing well. Oh, you never asked to meet with someone about Rivermark that given your activities in Santa Clara (Lasher, McLemore, etc, ) someone else did not want to consider??
Okey dokey. Yes, Richard, as I said before the difference is Joe always acknowledged help, and also, Joe as I stated before got people jobs that were working for the other side.
Gee, Rich, according to your comment, “I never ask people on opposite sides for things or help them” Is that not an enemies list approach???
1992 Democratic National Concention, or maybe it was a month before that. Guy walks up to Trippi, and Joe does not recognize him. Guy chastises him and Joe looks contrite and offers to buy the giuy lunch. Guy then, in a little more forceful manner reminds Joe of this deal or that, and Joe shrugs and says, “look I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, sometimes I do give people the brushoff, and if I did it here, sorry”
The guy then cools off and tells me about it.
Now, I started this comment and am finishing it saying, I have seen Trippi be arrogant, and I have read his book and it is got a lot of revisionist history in it, in my opinion. It’s funny how someone did not acknowledge I said that at the beginning. Bur I did say at these instances, Joe did give work for people icnluding Nancy, did respect the guy’s version of a deal as true because he was just trying to be a nice guy, and for that, well, he is a better man in that circumstance.
Ps, I did read something put out by someone in 1994 in Santa Clara about a friend of the Giants and A’s true believer, “wasting our city’s time” about it. Guess the copy just is their copy refined.
Gary Singh,
Are you saying that Larry Stone had a sign out there that he did not check???
The assessor not checking a public sign??
The math on it was bad, too???
Rich
You can write all about Trippi and exhibit the very traits that you find fault with him about, and I am sorry, but you did ultimately miss the point. You missed it completely, and it is time to move on. Once again, I am very happy Rivermark in Santa Clara is thriving, and I think everyone associated with it deserves great credit. Indeed, in talking to some over the years, I am glad they received so much respect from our senior members of the City Council, it is just a shame that you just choosenot to remember it with the missing part others played, but again, that is fault of Joe’s right that you talk about.
James,
It is my experience that victory has a thousand fathers and defeat is an orphan. Rivermark is a tremendous project and I believe Rod Diridon Jr., Aldyth Parle, Jamie Mathews and Lisa Gilmore provided tremendous leadership on that issue.
As for your assertion I have “missed the point”—that assumes an issue has been raised. I simply have never been able to speak, listen or read in tongues.
So let us move on. . .whatever that means.
James,
Trippi’s enemies list is longer than Nixons and Nixon was a nicer human being. Even his “friends” do not defend his character.
As for Rivermark, you need to update me on whatever you think is happening. Last I saw the project it was going well, especially the affordable housing.
Finally, did you once do me a favor that I have forgotten or failed to recognize? Given our respective views in Santa Clara and the fact we were, in most cases, on opposing sides it seems unlikely.
How embarrassing… The mayor of the 10th largest city in the nation standing outside the stadium looking like he’s scalping tickets.