Oakland and Hawai’i

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Daily writing prompt
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?

As crazy as it sounds, if I won two free plane tickets, the first place I would go is to Oakland, California to see the a’s play a game at the Coliseum before they leave Oakland for Las Vegas.

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time having you know that I am a huge baseball fan. One of the biggest stories in major-league baseball this year is the plight of the Oakland athletics.

It’s been no secret that Oakland is not exactly considered a “major baseball market” the team has struggled at times financially and on the field. For the masses, Oakland struggles to compete with big money teams like the New York Yankees was popular sized in the major motion picture Moneyball. While some artistic liberties were taken, Moneyball is based on the true story of the Oakland athletics during the early 2000s.

The last days of baseball‘s last dive bar. 

However, A’s ownership of the early 2000s was at least committed to winning, even if they weren’t committed to spending an arms of bunny on the plane field. Under the current athletics owner, John Fisher, of the gap fame, these are neither committed to winning nor spending money on the field. This lack of interest in winning his disillusion, even Oakland‘s most devoted fans, resulting in mega attendance figures. With the lease at the Colosseum ending, and being at a stalemate with the city on how to fund a new stadium, Fisher decided for moving the team to Las Vegas.

The MLB owners agreed on the move, and plans are in place for a new athletic stadium on Las Vegas trip. As of this writing, these and that secured funding to finance the new Ballpark. So there is a chance that these may not complete their move to Las Vegas. However, it looks like their days in Oakland are done at the end of this season one way or another. For that reason, if I had two free airline tickets, I would like to go to Oakland to see the athletics player at the Oakland Colosseum, at least once before they leave town.

However, if I won two MORE plane tickets, I’d got to Hawai’i. I’ve never been there and it looks spectacular. I mean, it’s Hawai’i! I would be happy to go there any time of the year. However, one thing on my bucket list is to spend a a Christmas in Hawai’i. More specifically, I want to book a room on the first floor, right off the beach. My goal is to wake up Christmas morning, go into a full sprint into the Pacific ocean, while “mele kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby is playing. As long as my kids are there with me, my life would be complete.

If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?

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8 responses to “Oakland and Hawai’i”

  1. Cee Tee Jackson Avatar

    In the mid 80s I formed a team in Manchester, England. I named them after The A’s (Stretford A’s) and when I contacted Oakland to tell them, they sent over some memorabilia, including a signed Baseball card of Jose Canseco. I’ve had a soft spot for them ever since. 😃⚾

    Liked by 2 people

    1. rebuilding rob Avatar

      That’s awesome! I think they had much better ownership in the 80s than they do now.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Silk Cords Avatar

      Oakland is my hometown, so I’ve always had a soft spot for the A’s also. Canseco though… I was there at the World Series game where he walked after a fly ball. Nothing nice to say about the guy since.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Cee Tee Jackson Avatar

        Not so much up on my baseball history here … I can’t remember my football team’s results month to month. 😉

        Must have been such a monumental error if you take such a dim view after his showing for the As during his time there?

        🤔

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Silk Cords Avatar

        It was pretty heinous, but not an error. The ball was hit towards his position, and not that far away from him, and he just walked after it. He did it because he didn’t feel he was getting enough respect from management. Keep in mind this was a championship game too. After the manager benched him, Canseco had his wife get out in front off the media and call the manager a punk. I was a fan up to that point. Now I’m with Michaelangelo in the first 1980s TMNT movie “A Jose Canseco bat?!? Tell me you didn’t pay money for that.” LOL

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Cee Tee Jackson Avatar

        Wow! I’ve completely missed that. Yeah – that’d do it for me too, I have to say.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. MyGenXerLife Avatar

    If you’re flying west, you should try for the twofor. See an A’s game then hop back on a plane for the islands…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Silk Cords Avatar

      That’s easily doable actually. Oakland has an airport with connections to Honolulu (SF is easier and more frequent though). You can bus to BART (the area light rail) and there’s a BART station right there at the stadium.

      I have to be honest though… Oakland has been BAD since the late 70s. Now it’s like getting off at the wrong train station in South Chicago, taking your life in your own hands bad. The stadium got a minor face lift after the Raiders left Oakland, but it’s still older than dirt and nothing special. I hate o say it, but you’re not missing all that much there.

      Hawai’i… Been there, done that just over 5 years ago. Unless you’re itching to see Pearl Harbor (military family here), I’d avoid Oahu / Honolulu. It’s overpriced, crowded and caters to the rich. Waikiki is full of shops selling expensive designed brand clothes, watches, etc… right up to an indoor Tesla showroom. After we got locked out of our room, and had to deal with constant elevator issues at our hotel, we left Waikiki and paid extra to stay at the Kahala. Blew our budget big time but it was worth it.

      Anyway, point being, if you want the peace and quiet, Island Vibe experience, go to Maui or Kauai and stay at a resort there.

      Liked by 1 person

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