Let me say to begin that I have long dreamed that the Oakland Athletics would move to my hometown of San Jose.
The issue has long been that the San Francisco Giants "own" the rights to the San Jose market, which in my opinion is anachronistic.
The San Francisco ownership of the San Jose market is from a time before San Jose became the technological powerhouse of Silicone Valley, and one of the largest cities in America, larger even than San Francisco.
To me, it echoes the sentiments of Thomas Paine and Common Sense ; why should a smaller city own the rights to a larger city that has an independent identity?
The primary fanbase for the Giants has come from the San Jose market. Yet, it seems quite unfair that the Giants should own the rights of two major cities.
The MLB however, can vote to terminate the Giants territorial rights to San Jose, which I would favor.
San Francisco city attorney Daniel Herrera, of course, does not support such a move by the MLB, and has stated such in a letter to MLB commissioner Bud Selig, because the MLB has been investigating a solution to the Athletics' desire to leave the Oakland Coliseum.
I support the move for two reasons: I have always wanted the A's to play in San Jose, and the move would mean that the Oakland Raiders would not have to play on a baseball field until the end of either September or October.
In my personal opinion, the solution is quite simple: Move the A's to San Jose and have them trade the Sacramento market—where their Triple-A Rivercats play—to the Giants. Then Oakland can be the new location of the Rivercats.
While I sincerely love the intent of the World Baseball Classic, I have lambasted commissioner Selig in the past for the problem of steroids, mainly by exclamations that amounted to, "You fix it!" Furthermore, I was livid when the MLB considered contracting the A's in 2001.
Simply put, if the MLB votes to terminate San Francisco's territorial rights to San Jose, all would truly be forgiven. Realistically, seeing the A's move to San Jose is all I've ever wanted in sports, and underlines the heart of why I've passionately questioned the MLB.
Like I said, if the A's move to San Jose, all would truly be forgiven.
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