Weekend DLD 22/7/06 - 23/7/06: Euro A's Sightings!

by rungood on Jul 21, 2006 3:25 PM PDT

Hey gang-

I'm a long time listener, first time caller to the DLD, so I hope you enjoy this as much as I will.

In any case, it's midnight on the 22nd of July where I am: Amsterdam. I'm actually comin' to you live from the balcony of the Hotel Di-Ann here in The Netherlands, using stolen wifi from the building next to me. I'm about a 5 minute walk from the Flower Market, right next to the post office, for anyone who knows the area.

I just finished up my European Fulbright adventure in Estonia, and since leaving Estonia on July 14, I've been in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and now Amsterdam. Tomorrow I head to Munich, then to Milan and finally to Paris before flying back to OAK on July 29th. After being gone for a year from the US, I'm both sad to leave Europe and excited to come home. I'm a bit scared as to what I'll find has changed-- either my home environment or...god forbid...myself.

In any case, walking/stumbling around the Amsterdam streets today, I had 2 A's sightings!! I've written a post or two on A's sightings around the world, and it always gets me really excited to see some A's representation outside of the Bay Area, let alone outside of the country.

The first was an Asian tourist and the colors of his hat weren't really the exact A's colors (it was a tan/green A's cap), so it's possible he just had the hat without knowing the A's...but of course I hope he does know the team. Possibly a Yabu fan?

The second A's sighting was a hat on a 10 year old kid in the Van Gogh Museum. Based on his parents' accent when speaking, I'd likely guess that he's from the Bay Area (Piedmont, I'd guess....haha, Piedmont).

While I didn't talk to either of the A's fans, I thought you guys would dig the fact that there are A's fans all the way over here, even in Amsterdam.

Has anyone out there had A's sightings outside of Oakland? What was the most ridiculous place you saw the A's logo?

A few links for fun, European style:
-Check out the Heineken Experience where I went yesterday...10 Euro for a tour, 3 beers and a free gift. Oooh la-la.
-"Chocolate Factory" theme park to open in Amsterdam
-For anyone who wasn't paying attention the last few days (and might care) Manchester United Rejects Real Madrid's Bid for Van Nistelrooy

And just for fun, a poll. If Lew Wolff moves the A's out of the country, what city would best suit the team?

Update [2006-7-23 14:13:59 by rungood]: As I posted below, I've made this into a weekend DLD. Thanks J^3-6^2 for the heads up on why there was such low volume... all this travelling has left me confused as to what day it is! ~rg

Poll

If Lew Wolff moves the A's out of the country, what European city would best suit the team?

Athletik Munchen

12 votes

Paris A's

5 votes

Los jugadores di Roma

5 votes

Os Jogadores Do S?o Paulo

6 votes

Los Atl?ticos de Barcelona

14 votes

De Spelers van Amsterdam

12 votes

54 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

additional poll option

Move 'em to Amsterdam: the Holland A's.

It wasn't biting viciously. They put their mouth on things to see what they taste like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 21, 2006 3:29 PM PDT 0 recs

Saucy!

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on Jul 21, 2006 3:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

fIrEd...both of you.

Tony LaRussa:"If you have the horses, you'll win. If you don't, you'll lose." Me: "We're missing some ponies!"

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2006 3:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

<hangs out shingle>

"Monkey 'n' Sal's Athletics-Oriented Protectorate. NO GRLZ ALWOED."

It wasn't biting viciously. They put their mouth on things to see what they taste like. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 21, 2006 3:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dude...

Good bye U...S...A....hallo Nederlands!

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on Jul 21, 2006 3:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

nice one

Definitely shoulda thought of that...

Join the Antonio P?rez Fan Club today!

My Blog.

by rungood on Jul 22, 2006 12:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

Then Swisher can...

...really party! ;)

Dorian on Bonds: "Still, I love it when Bonds wins at the game that he plays."

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Jul 22, 2006 3:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

btw, WAY too early for the DLD....

The 7/21 DLD has only been up for a few hours!! *sheesh*

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Jul 21, 2006 3:35 PM PDT 0 recs

He's in Europe!

The A's have already won over there!

Tony LaRussa:"If you have the horses, you'll win. If you don't, you'll lose." Me: "We're missing some ponies!"

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2006 3:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

sorry sorry

I didn't mean to step on any toes!

I just thought that since I've been in Europe for a year and haven't taken advantage of my living in the future, I'd better do so with a DLD... I reccommended the 7/21 DLD, so never fear! ;)

Go A's!

Join the Antonio P?rez Fan Club today!

My Blog.

by rungood on Jul 22, 2006 12:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

Seriously though...

...the trip sounds AWESOME!!!!

I found an A's fan last week in Cleveland, and then he found ME on AN and wrote me a note!

Small world.

Tony LaRussa:"If you have the horses, you'll win. If you don't, you'll lose." Me: "We're missing some ponies!"

by baseballgirl on Jul 21, 2006 3:35 PM PDT 0 recs

Strangest place

I've ever met an A's fan: Cairo.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/comments/2006/2/25/124311/144/10#10

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on Jul 21, 2006 3:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

If they go Euro

I vote for Euro soccer nomenclature, e.g. BC Munchen or Amsterdam 1901.

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Jul 21, 2006 4:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Athletik Munchen

sounds good, kind of like... AC Milan?

"The hard... is what makes it great."

by Jjjsixsix on Jul 21, 2006 8:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Uh... As to the poll...

Sao Paulo is in Brazil, in South America, not Europe.

Did you mean Lisbon?

by timed exposure on Jul 21, 2006 6:03 PM PDT 0 recs

True,

I knew/know that. D'oh.

Join the Antonio P?rez Fan Club today!

My Blog.

by rungood on Jul 22, 2006 12:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

and won't let me change it!

Damn, my idiocy is preserved for all time! ;)

Join the Antonio P?rez Fan Club today!

My Blog.

by rungood on Jul 22, 2006 12:55 AM PDT up 0 recs

Holland

I saw one in Holland as well, in a little town just outside of Purmerend, a suburb of Amsterdam. An old man on a bike wearing an A's hat.. He gave me a nod as he went by.

July 11th... My.....Space?

by ohad on Jul 21, 2006 7:56 PM PDT 0 recs

Deutschland

My wife who is from outside of Berlin in the state of Brandenburg has an A'S jacket at her parent's house. Along with both of my in-laws and I even have a jacket over there for when we visit. So if you should ever see a group of 3 Germans and 1 blind Mexican walking around Berlin in Oakland starter jackets, it's probably us...

by Cristobalm on Jul 21, 2006 8:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

OT: email i got that made me LOL!

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as an entertainer who knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he was still a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, two children, John Dough and Jane Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads it.

by gotgreen on Jul 21, 2006 10:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Canseco

Heated argument at hotel gets Canseco another run-in with cops

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-canseco-police&prov=ap&type=lgns

also, if you have a couple bucks to spare, check out this new electric car:
http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 22, 2006 4:41 PM PDT 0 recs

Crosby's back

I mean, his back, not he's back. Y'all have probably already seen this, or know this from yesterday, but since I missed yesterday's game this was news to me.

link

Hurt it on one of his ridiculous swings. I'd say I told you so but (a) I didn't, I said knees and back, and (b) this is not the type of thing I want to be right about.

Please, Bobby, hit me some opposite field doubles in the gap! I'll give you a dollar!

Day to day

by oblique on Jul 22, 2006 6:21 PM PDT 0 recs

Scot Williamson traded to Pads

Cubs acquire a couple of High-A pitchers. Williamson is a right-handed reliever with a 5.08 ERA. I wonder what Jay Witasick will fetch.

Can intangibles exist? Only the ones you can touch.

by salb918 on Jul 22, 2006 6:41 PM PDT 0 recs

Depends on

how good they are at headbutting.

"I've got a bat and I've got some hands, and I run into one every now and then," Chavez said.

by gimpy989 on Jul 22, 2006 8:41 PM PDT 0 recs

Jayson Stark on Zito

According to Stark, the Mets and A's may be talking about a Zito for Milledge straight-up deal. Stark says another AL executives says the A's would then target a pitcher in another deal.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors (Insider content)

"The first night, we were right there," Bradley said. "All we needed was a couple of touchdowns, and we would have had them."

by jeepers on Jul 22, 2006 9:03 PM PDT 0 recs

zito for milledge STRAIGHT UP?

does BB want milledge that badly?

by gotgreen on Jul 22, 2006 10:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't see this happening

unless the A's are giving up on this year. Milledge is great, but I think we take Zito for the rest of the year + draft picks... just my $0.02 though.

Join the Antonio P?rez Fan Club today!

My Blog.

by rungood on Jul 23, 2006 4:32 AM PDT up 0 recs

Can you quote the A's snippet?

That's fair use, you won't get Blez in trouble.

by Faust on Jul 23, 2006 8:35 AM PDT up 0 recs

A New York story?

Jul 22 - The Mets could dangle Lastings Milledge for Barry Zito, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. Oakland GM Billy Beane is the west-coast president of the Lastings Milledge Fan Club, and Beane has gone so far as to shoot off flares recently that indicate Zito isn't as untouchable as most teams think he is.

Dating back to last winter, the Mets have shown more interest in Zito than any other club. But in the past, it was the price (Milledge and Aaron Heilman) that was prohibitive. Now, according to baseball men who have spoken with Beane, he isn't even asking for Heilman anymore. With Rich Harden out until September, the A's would need to get a pitcher back -- but "not necessarily in that deal," said one AL executive.

I'm not sober.

by white rob on Jul 23, 2006 9:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

No one likes my DLD....

...I guess day early Euro DLD's don't really sell...kind of like ice cream in the winter, or hot cocoa in the summer...

I'll try again some other day, once I'm back in the US....

At the moment I'm in Munich, and on my train from Amsterdam to Munich last night/this morning, I saw another guy in an Athletics hat...I tried to catch his eye and say something to him, but he either ignored me or didn't speak english. Probably the latter, as there were many non-english speaking Asian tourists on my train...

Tomorrow I head to Milan, then Paris, and then home to Oakland!

Join the Antonio P?rez Fan Club today!

My Blog.

by rungood on Jul 23, 2006 4:35 AM PDT 0 recs