SPIRITED OAKLAND A's ARE TEAM TO BEAT IN AMERICAN LEAGUE

Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick, left, pies teammate Josh Donaldson in the face after Donaldson drove in the winning run against the Boston Red Sox in a crucial Major League Baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2013 at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. The A's won in 11 innings, 3-2. (D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group)

Having been a NY and then SF Giant fan for most of my life, I was unprepared for the unabashed spirit and enthusiasm of both the Oakland A's and their fans when I moved to the East Bay in late 2012. Now I'm convinced that this band of disciplined yet fun loving over-achievers, led by their steady and savvy 2012 manager of the year Bob Melvin, is the team to beat in the American League: Allen L Roland

Having just watched the Oakland A's take two out of three from the Boston Red Sox last weekend ~ I am more convinced than ever that this exciting and underrated team with the third lowest major league payroll ( 60 Million ) has the right stuff to not only win the American League but wrest the World Championship crown from my beloved but now struggling SF Giants across the bay. There is no question they are on a roll ~ in recent games against the Pirates, Cardinals, Reds and Red Sox, the A's won eight of eleven and they are 19-11 in one run games. Quite simply, they believe in themselves and they are having fun as they dismantle their opposition.

To get the full flavor of the A's, you must attend or see a game, listen to the upbeat and continuous rap music and join the laughter and fun of these players ~ for they obviously respect the game of baseball and enjoy each other immensely as witness Reddick pieing Josh Donaldson after his walk off single to beat the Boston Red Sox in the eleventh inning on July 14th.

The A's are the true boys of summer in 2013 and fully embody the spirit, fun and enthusiasm that I vividly remember as a teenager ~ when summer baseball ruled my world and the smell of leather, pine tar and the loud crack of the bat was music to my senses.

But only a true A's fan, not a Johnny come lately like myself, can fully do justice to the spirit of this team. That would be Idalia Topete ( a big time A's fan ) who published this video tribute on June 2, 2013.

 

This is her first ever highlights video. She wanted to make it shorter but there was just too many awesome moments. WATCH IN HD! For she obviously fully captured the spirited A's. ( 14 minute video )  All videos belong to MLB and CSN California. As she said ~ "I don't own any rights, I'm just a fan."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMinCQs1WHA

Songs used:

Feel Again- One Republic
Can't Hold Us- Macklemore
The Fighter- Gym Class Heroes
Let It Rock- Kevin Rudolf

"When baseball is no longer fun, it's no longer a game." Hall of Famer, Joe DiMaggio

Allen L Roland

http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/spirited-oakland-as-are-team-to-beat-in.html

Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and transformational counselor Allen L Roland is available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private Skype consultations (allen@allenroland.com )

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his web log and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net