AC Transit Bus Rapid Transit: Oakland should see New York and Seattle

New York, NY - On Tuesday night, the Oakland, California City Council passed a resolution to study configurations for, but not build, an AC Transit Bus Rapid Transit system through Oakland's spine from Telegraph Avenue to along International Blvd. Even though the resolution was supported by the Oakland City Council, it was not without a fire-breathing argument from legendary Oakland City Councilmember Larry Reid.

Reid and his constituents feared that a dedicated bus transit lane set would turn International into a kind of "freeway" that divided East Oakland. Reid said that people from North Oakland would not travel down to East Oakland to spend money anyway. I watched the City Council hearing from a distance back east and with sadness because it looked like a terrible racial issue, with older African Americans arguing that their neighborhood was essentially being invaded and destroyed by AC Transit.

This blogger completely understands Larry Reid's fears, but urges that he and his staff look at what's being done in Seattle and New York. The code-word is flexibility. In Seattle, BRT is used as part of its new light rail system, the Central Link. In New York, there's an ambitious plan to created a "greener, pedestrian-friendly" 34th street, and Bus Rapid Transit is a central part of the idea.

According to The New York Times, transit advocates and residents don't have the concern that the neighborhood will be divided. The point is, Oakland AC Transit BRT could be a way to encourage a more pedestrian-friendly International Boulevard, perhaps even a car-free one along some stretches.

AC Transit BRT's study should be seen as an open-door to consider ways to reshape International Boulevard into the kind of street that helps, not harms, the East Oakland neighborhood.

The Dan Patrick Show's "McLovin" on Brooklyn Decker at NFL Draft

This NFL Draft installment (thanks to the Inn at Irving Place, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World brand) comes from New York, Radio City Music Hall - Readers of this space will remember my rant about how fomer ESPN star Dan Patrick and "The Danettes" of The Dan Patrick Show accused President Obama of not being a real "homer" for the Chicago White Sox because he did not name a childhood favorite White Sox player; he didn't have one.

That started a good Twitter exchange between this blogger and one of the Danettes, "Seaton" and then I happened to run into another Danettes, McLovin. All of the "stuff" aside, McLovin's a cool dude.

In the video above, we talked about the Obama issue via battling Flip cams, and then how he make Sports Illustrated Model Brooklyn Decker into "what she is." And he says Brooklyn Decker is a cool person.

He met Brooklyn Decker when she was 18 and came into the S.I. offices to do a video. "And that's how she sort of took off. She is the coolest person. Down to Earth. Smart.." McLovin says.

I enjoy the show and want to continue to Obama exchange. McLovin and I had a laughing good time.

Stay tuned.

Tiki Barber's Advice to 2010 NFL Draft Rookies

New York, Radio City Music Hall - Tiki Barber, happy to talk about anything sports-related and away from the personal issues Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey skewered him about two weeks ago, gave his advice to 2010 NFL Draft Rookies on video and while backstage with this blogger at Radio City Music Hall at the 2010 NFL Draft.

Previously I told Tiki that he needed to have his own YouTube channel; This was a kind of preview of things to come. He clearly has something he wants to say about whatever problems led to his split with his wife Ginny (Tiki was not sporting a wedding ring), but doesn't want to say anything. As Tiki said "You can't fight city hall."

Tiki says that the NFL rookie is is for "nothing you'd expect and all the hype is pointless once training camp starts. It's a different game...with men. As to all the hoopla with the NFL Red Carpet outside Radio City Music Hall, Tiki Barber said "The NFL's a machine. It's growing year after year,..I don't know if that's such a bad thing."

Not sure if Tiki will be at Radio City Music Hall for Day Two of the NFL Draft, but stay tuned anyway. More videos to be uploaded of interviews with 2010 1st round NFL Draft rookies to come.

Sam Bradford St. Louis Rams 1st NFL Draft pick interview (video)

This NFL Draft installment (thanks to the Inn at Irving Place, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World brand) comes from New York, Radio City Music Hall - Former Oklahoma Sooners Quarterback Sam Bradford is now a St. Louis Rams player and the first one taken in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Personally, Sam Bradford's one of the nicest rookies this blogger has ever met in the six years he's covered the NFL Draft in New York City.

Sam Bradford 

Bradford's much like Detroit Lions Quarterback and 2009 first 1st round pick Matt Stafford in his cool attitude, though his playful streak is not as great as Matt's, he's certainly personable.

Before the calling of his name, Sam Bradford told me he was nervous (with big eyes) during the NFL Red Carpet. He was relaxed; that's what ending the selection process and knowing you've got $50 million coming to you will do. As Joe Montana said "make sure you get the check."

Here's Sam Bradford:

SAM BRADFORD: I feel great. Obviously it's a dream come true, you grow up, you dream of playing in the NFL and you dream of hearing your name called on Draft day, but to actually have it happen, it's a feeling that's really unexplainable.

Q. What did they say to you on the phone?
SAM BRADFORD: You know, just asked me if I was ready to be a St. Louis Ram, and I told him, absolutely.

Q. Don't you wish that you had the right to negotiate with all teams? There's a lot of pageantry here tonight but don't you wish you could negotiate with all 30 teams?
SAM BRADFORD: You know, I've never thought of that. That's not the system we have and that's not how it works. This is what we have and this is what we have to do and I thought tonight was pretty exciting and I wouldn't change tonight.

Q. What did it mean to share with your mom and dad and grandmother and family?
SAM BRADFORD: Yeah, that was great and something I'll probably remember for the rest of my life. They have been so instrumental getting me to this point, without them there's no way I would be sitting here right now, they have supported me in everything I've done since I was four years old. They took me to practice at 5:00 in the morning and I remember they were in the stands ready to go. I can't thank them enough for all they have done.

Q. When did you find out for sure?
SAM BRADFORD: The phone call was definitely when I knew for sure, but I had a pretty good feeling coming into tonight that I was going to get that phone call.

Q. Last September when you got hurt in the BYU game, did you think this moment was possible?
SAM BRADFORD: No, I didn't.

Q. Are you looking forward to getting together with your receivers soon?
SAM BRADFORD: Oh, definitely. I'm just looking forward to playing football and getting back out there and doing what I love to do. Obviously this year didn't end up the way I wanted it to be. I wasn't able to play a game and part of two games. To get back out there especially with my new receivers and start getting some chemistry, I can't wait.

Q. You've been named "The Big Easy," is your heart still racing?
SAM BRADFORD: It's calmed down.

Q. Is it like a 4‑foot putt to win a tournament?
SAM BRADFORD: No, but it picked up ‑‑ on the fourth pick, when I heard Trent's name, I was pretty stoked.
It's amazing, because I came in with those guys, absolutely love them, Gerald and Trent and Trent protecting me, G.K., we have known each other since elementary school and to have this happen, I couldn't be happier for those guys.

Q. Talk about the kind of guy he is ‑‑
SAM BRADFORD: Yeah, he told us, he said when I hear my name, I'm going to try tonight and we knew it was coming. That's just who he is. He's one of the best personalities that I've ever come across. He's one of my favorite guys and I can't wait to watch him play in the NFL.

Q. When you look at what happened with Roethlisberger and now you're the face of the franchise, can you talk about the pressure ‑‑ obviously you conduct yourself in a certain way off the field and stuff like that.
SAM BRADFORD: Obviously there's things out there, people out there are going to try to bring you down. I think as long as you surround yourself with good people and place yourself in good situations, you can eliminate a lot of the possibilities of bad things happening.

Q. What does this say about the Big 12, the first four picks and potentially the fifth.
SAM BRADFORD: That's pretty cool because I know that the Big 12 caught a lot of slack lately. People for some reason didn't think we played much football in the Big 12 and they for sure didn't think we played much defense and now we have two defensive tackles going in the Top 3. I think it's a credit to the Big 12 and the football that's played in that conference.

Q. Looking forward to St. Louis?
SAM BRADFORD: Oh, yeah, I can't wait. I was there on a visit last week and got to see the facility and thought the facility was very nice. I loved the coaching staff. I thought they had a great group of guys in the locker room. I can't wait to get there.

Q. So was Coach on the phone can you?
SAM BRADFORD: Yeah, it was Stags, Billy Devaney, Chris Rodriguez.

Q. Are you looking forward to playing with Steven Jackson?
SAM BRADFORD: He's a great player and any time a quarterback has a running back like that, I know it's going to make my job easier. I look forward to meeting him and getting to work with him.

Q. Any special words from your family as far as mom? What did mom say, because we know mom's in the back.
SAM BRADFORD: I think Mom was speechless, you can probably ask her. She's not big on words. She didn't say much.
No, my parents told me they loved me and they are proud of me, so it was great sharing that moment with them.

Good luck to Sam Bradford! He deserves it.

Jahvid Best Detroit Lions 1st NFL Draft pick interview (video)

This NFL Draft installment (thanks to the Inn at Irving Place, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World brand) comes from New York, Radio City Music Hall - Former Cal-Berkeley and now Detroit Lions 2010 NFL Draft 1st round pick Running Back Jahvid Best sat down with the media for the first time after he was selected by the Lions as the 30th pick in the first round.

Jahvid Best seemed relieved to have gotten over with the whole thing. Plus, note Cal Alums that Best was wearing a RED TIE! More on that below, because I got after him about it.

Here's the transcript of the interview, with some corrections to match the video above that the FastScripts people missed:

JAHVID BEST: I feel great. This is a dream I've had since I was a little kid growing up just to play in the NFL. So this moment here, just experiencing it with my family and my friends and just getting selected is just amazing.

Q. What about (Cal Defensive Tackle) Tyson (Alualu) going ahead of you?
JAHVID BEST: I'm happy for him, but I almost stood up cheering when I heard his name called. He's a great player and so this is a good pick for him.

Q. Did you know it was you they were coming after?
JAHVID BEST: Actually the phone rang and the TV didn't even say they traded a pick yet. They were like, why is the Lions calling me when it's not their turn and they told me they were going to trade and I got really excited. I was so excited, I can't even have words for this moment right now. It's hard to express my feelings.

Q. How would you compare yourself to other running backs?
JAHVID BEST: It's hard to compare myself right now because I haven't played yet, I haven't even played a down yet. I just have to go out and work hard and make a name for myself in the NFL because everything I've done up to this point is irrelevant.

Q. You said yesterday that you had not had much contact yesterday, are you surprised?
JAHVID BEST: Yeah, I'm surprised. I had a great conversation at the Combine but after the Combine it just stopped. It was a little bit of a surprise for me but it was a great experience.

Q. Around the Internet, people are saying that the Lions were targeting you.
JAHVID BEST: Yeah, I was aware of it. (Correction: Best said he was not aware that the Internet chatter was that the Lions were going to draft him; I made the statement.)

Q. Who was on the phone and what did they tell you about the reaction there?
JAHVID BEST: Everybody came on the phone, and they just told me when they got the green light to pick me that the room just erupted being everybody was excited about it.

Q. (Inaudible).
JAHVID BEST: He texted me before the Draft and he was at home watching, too.

Q. (Inaudible).
JAHVID BEST: I'm just going to be a back ‑‑ whatever they need me to do, return game, I can be an every down back for them. I can definitely bring the home run ability to the offense and just make it a more high‑power offense. I'm definitely going to bring some things to the table.

Q. What about the concussion ‑‑
JAHVID BEST: I've seen so many doctors, definitely, I think I'm passed that.

Q. (Inaudible).
JAHVID BEST: I'm excited, those are two guys I used to watch all the time and those are great players right there, so just adding myself, and then Suh, he went earlier. That's a couple of names that added to that team.
So we might be able to do some things.

Q. You come from a great tradition in Cal, successful running back; how did your time there prepare you for the next level and how do you feel you'll do once you get there?
JAHVID BEST: My time there? I mean, the running back coach, he prepares us ‑‑ he prepares us like nobody else. All of the running backs I was talking to, Justin for Seth when I was training for the Combine and everything, and he was telling me if you just listen to Coach G., you'll be fine when you get to the next level because Coach, he prepares all of his running backs to play in the NFL.

Q. (Inaudible).
JAHVID BEST: He was on me on the field but off the field he was also on me as well, everything about me, my lifestyle, what I eat, constantly on me. So I kind of see him as a father figure, just always making sure I'm doing the right thing no matter what I'm doing besides the football, just making sure I'm in the classroom and just doing everything right.

Q. Do you think about inspiring people in the whole economic climate and giving them a reason to come to Ford Field on Sundays?
JAHVID BEST: Oh, yes, that's part of our job as athletes is to bring excitement to the city. I plan to do my job and do that in Detroit, as well.

Q. Do you think you'll have a chance to make an immediate impact?
JAHVID BEST: Yeah, definitely, I think it will, but there's a lot of things I have to work on still. I have to go in and work real hard to get on the field so I'm not going to be ‑‑ I'm not going to be expecting to be given anything.

Q. What was your day like today? What did you do to pass the time?
JAHVID BEST: I woke up real slow. Just took it kind of slow. I got about 20 people here supporting me and we all went to eat lunch and then I got dressed and then came here.
So it was a real slow day.
It's kind of in between, some parts feel like a dream, some parts feel like reality, so just going to ride the wave a little bit.

Q. Did you think it wasn't going to happen tonight?
JAHVID BEST: For a second. It was in the back of my mind. Me and my agent kind of had teams we felt like were our best candidates and those teams were passing, so I was thinking about that. I wasn't really too worried about it, because at the end the day, all I need is an opportunity. But then the Lions gave me an opportunity so I'm going to take it and make the best of it.

Q. If you could play offensive coordinator, how many times would you touch the ball per game?
JAHVID BEST: As many times as I need to win? It's all about winning. I don't really care about numbers, I don't really care about stats. I just care about winning.

Q. You don't care about stats? You're an explosive guy. Do you expect friends who play fantasy football to start calling you now?
JAHVID BEST: I'm pretty sure they.

Q. What are you going to tell them?
JAHVID BEST: I'm going to tell them to pick me.

Q. Do you have any thoughts in the back of your mind, growing up and playing college ball out west in California and now going to the Midwest, different climate and lifestyle in general, do you think about that or just thinking about football?
JAHVID BEST: I'm just thinking about football right now. I'll deal with that when I get out there but I'm pretty sure it won't stop me from playing the game.

Q. Do you have to go back for classes?
JAHVID BEST: I'm going to get the classes whenever I can. It's not a high priority, because obviously I came out early, so my priority is football right now. Down the line, at some point in the future, I intend on getting my degree, so that definitely is in the plan.

Q. Can you talk to Kevin Johnson or Russell White ‑‑ inaudible.
JAHVID BEST: I haven't talked to any of the legends but I've been talking to a lot of guys in the NFL right now, Justin for Seth, I was talking to ‑‑ mostly those two guys and they were just giving me advice on how to handle this process.

Q. Barry Sanders is here tonight, did you meet him at all?
JAHVID BEST: Not tonight, I met him yesterday but it was just a brief meeting. He didn't have time to give me words of advice.

Q. You mentioned Jackson, did you ever race him in a sprint and if you did who won?
JAHVID BEST: We raced one time. We run two separate sides of the field so from my angle it looked like I was, and when we walked to each other, he said he was.

Q. If there's one thing you could tell the fans what would you say?
JAHVID BEST: Go get season tickets.

Afterward, Jahvid Best went to the backstage media room for more talk, and thanked Cal Football fans for "having my back all those years" but it was clear he moved on. I teased him about wearing of all things a red tie! He chuckled about that, but to Cal Alums like me a major Cal star like Jahvid Best sporting a tie and shirt that match the rival Stanford Cardinal cause me to ask if Jahvid Best really enjoyed Cal at all.

I make this statement because at NFL Play 60 on Wednesday, Jahvid Best said he would miss his players and coaches, but said nothing about Cal itself. In retrospect I hope I'm wrong about all this, but I doubt it. My impression is Jahvid Best didn't enjoy his Cal experience as much as this Cal Alum hoped he would have. Ok, one doesn't have to be a rah-rah person, but I do think Cal athletes should show some school sprit.

That's my view and I'm sticking to it.

Stay tuned and GO BEARS!

NFL Draft: DeMaryius Thomas on Tim Tebow, Brandon Marshall

This NFL Draft installment (thanks to the Inn at Irving Place, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World brand) comes from New York, Radio City Music Hall - In the 2010 NFL Draft, Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow is now a Denver Bronco player and was drafted by the Broncos with the 25th pick in the 1st round.

That's almost right on the heels of the Broncos drafting the person I just interviewed Georgia Tech WR DeMaryius Thomas with the 22nd pick in the 1st round. Thus, it was only logical to talk to DeMaryius Thomas about the prospect of playing with Tim Tebow in Denver. What's he think about catching passes from Tim Tebow?

"I don't know. A lot of people talk about the way he throws," Thomas said, "but I think it will be fun. I'm looking forward to it." Thomas says the pass pattern he most enjoys running is one that will make football blogger Chris Brown of Smart Football happy: the post / corner with the safety read. That's a pass pattern in the Broncos offense, so look for Tebow to Thomas from that pattern.

The most interesting and frank talk came when the subject of the Oakland Raiders and former Broncos now Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall came up. On the matter of the Oakland Raiders, who DeMaryius Thomas will face twice, he said "I know they've got a good cornerback. I got nothing to say to him (Nnamdi Asomugha). I'll see him on the field.

On the matter of Brandon Marshall, who DeMaryius Thomas was essentially drafted to replace, Thomas said that Marshall was a good guy, and they both had similar body types, and the "same speed," but Thomas then added, "but I'm a better blocker."

That's confidence. It doesn't bother Thomas that he's the replacement for Marshall or that Denver Broncos fans have high expectations for him. It also doesn't bother Thomas that he's coming to Oakland to face Asomugha or The Black Hole.

2010 will be an interesting season. DeMaryius Thomas has already given both the Raiders and The Miami Dolphins blackboard material.

Stay tuned.

NFL Draft: backstage with Tiki Barber and Sam Bradford

Tiki Barber 

The 2010 NFL Draft has it's surprises, from three of the four first picks being Oklahoma Sooners (for the first time in NFL history that one college so dominated the early first round picks, to of all people Tiki Barber (yes, the same Mr. Barber who's the focus of gossip about leaving his wife while she was eight months pregnant with twins) waiting backstage as a representative for Yahoo Sports for new St. Louis Rams Quarterback Sam Bradford, to trading videos with "McLovin" from the Dan Patrick Show and remarking how wrong Dan and "The Danettes" were about President Obama and The Chicago White Sox.

But I digress. This is, after all, the 2010 NFL Draft and the business at hand is one of picking the future stars of the NFL. The surprise as this is written is that at the 16th pick, the Cal Golden Bear that was drafted first was not Jahvid Best.

In fact, "McLovin" asked me "Who's that Tyson Alualu?" I remarked that Tyson was an incredible run stopper for Cal and pointed to games the NFL Network flashed on the screen in the interview room that I attended where Tyson made an obvious contribution; there were a lot of them.

The nice part was just to see Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy so happy. Gerald McCoy lost his mother two years ago, so the pain of not having her here at Radio City Music Hall came out on television when he cried, and continued in the interview room, when he said "My dad and I talked about how we wish she was here and how she would sit in that chair."

The other surprise, now that the 49ers took Mike Iupati from Idaho, making this the second offensive lineman the Niners have taken, is just that. It's a clear signal of how little the quarterbacks and running backs are valued. Only one quarterback, Sam Bradford, has been taken as of now pick 18, and one running back C.J. Spiller and that was to Buffalo.

Tim Tebow still sits.

Oh, and Tiki Barber?

I asked Tiki about the hoopla and media attention he received and said "Man, when I heard that, my first thought was 'his wife's hot.'" Tiki got a good natured chuckle out of that, and said "You can't fight city hall." I said he should have a YouTube channel to tell his story. "That," Tiki Barber said, is a good idea. I should do that."

There's more. Gotta go back and collect information.

Stay tuned.

NFL Draft: Joe Montana, Alyssa Milano at NFL Red Carpet

Joe Montana 

As I write this I'm in the media interview area at Radio City Music Hall for the 75th 2010 NFL Draft. My co-worker Bill Chackhes is on the main floor of the building in the "orchestra room" where it's filled and frenetic.

This is the business area, where the matter of talking to the new draftees is done. We're just 14 minutes from Draft time.

The NFL Draft Radio City Red Carpet was a hoot. All of the stars I mentioned were there and there's a lot of video material to upload. The highlight of the NFL Red Carpet was San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice clowning around in an informative way that you have to see and hear. Rice said that a new pick of the 49ers who's new to the Bay Area should just be themselves.

Joe Montana's advice for rookies was to "make sure you get the check!"

There's 8 minutes now to the start.

Stay tuned for the NFL Draft.

2010 NFL Draft has its own Red Carpet with Alyssa Milano

The NFL's going all out for the primetime version of The 2010 NFL Draft. Little reported (and this and all of the other 2010 NFL Draft video interviews should be featured on the sites that have Zennie62, like SFGate.com and The Examiner) is that the NFL Draft will have its own version of the Oscar Red Carpet, featuring the college players invited to the 2010 NFL Draft, Alyssa Milano, Drew Brees, Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Montana, Dan Lauria, Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, Rod Woodson, Jillian Michaels, Behati Prinsloo, and others including Jarrett Payton and Brittney Payton, the son and daughter of NFL Legend Walter Payton.

The Red Carpet starts at 6 PM EDT between 51st and 50th Streets. I don't know about TV coverage, but it's best to watch the NFL Network.

And stay tuned to this space for a ton of videos.

Off to Radio City Music Hall.

NFL Draft: Steve Mariucci on Sam Bradford and Pete Carroll

New York, NY - Former Cal and San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Steve Mariucci talked about the quarterbacks at the 2010 NFL Draft's NFL Play 60 event Wednesday. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen are considered to be the best of a class that's not set to see a lot of first round picks. What does Steve Mariucci, the man who explained the details of what a quaterback looks for when running the Bill Walsh Offense to me, think?

Steve Mariucci

"Well, Sam Bradford is the best, in my opinion. It's a good group. I don't know that we're going to have a lot in the 1st round like we did in 1983, but we're going to have a lot on the second day and the 3rd round will be full of quarterbacks, I think.

Steve Mariucci's high on Sam Bradford because even though Bradford did not play in 2009 after his shoulder injury, the same doctor that checked on New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees after his injury "says he's fine", and points out that Bradford "put on more muscle."

The other issue is that Sam Bradford did not play in a "pro offense", but Steve says he's told that Bradford has done very well in workouts. He can throw the ball from a rollout left or right, which Steve says is rare for a big quarterback. Steve also says Bradford's smart: "He scored a 36 on the Wonderlik. So he's a guy who's going to learn fast."

On Jimmy Clausen, Steve Mariucci says his winning percentage wasn't one you would hope for, but that's not his fault. But Steve says "He's a heck of a player. Charlie Weis "did a heck of a job developing his skills" and getting him ready for the NFL by placing him in an NFL-style offense. "As far as his college career, (Notre Dame's offense) probably benefited him the best."

Mariucci says 2010 NFL Draft quarterbacks Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, and Dan LeFevour all played in shotgun offenses, so they're not used to the "step system" of passing, where a certain number of drop back steps are timed to a pass route and come from getting the ball from under center. Because of this Clausen's ahead of the others in the 2010 NFL Draft.

On Tim Tebow, who was recently panned by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Steve said he could go in the first round, "Somebody might want him." Mariucci praised Tim's character, calling him a "class act" and "a worker," but left a lot of "reading between the lines" messages in the video interview. He looks for Tebow to be "drafted on Friday" which means not the 1st round.

On Pete Carroll

On Pete Carroll, who left USC to become the head coach of The Seattle Seahawks, I asked Mariucci what Carroll was faced with in making the transition from college to the NFL. "Pete had an advantage over some of these other college coaches who have went solely from college to the NFL, 'Ha! cultural shock,' Pete's benefits from having been there. He was on my staff for the 49ers for about three or four weeks, then took the head job at the New England Patriots."

Steve says Carroll's got a rebuilding job ahead of him, but he thinks it will not be hard because the AFC West is in his view a weak division. He think the Seahawks will help themselves in the NFL Draft and that Carroll will do well.

We'll hear and see more from Steve as the NFL Draft progresses.

Stay tuned.

Don Perata gets Diane Feinstein endorsement for Mayor of Oakland

From my bed at The Inn on Irving Place in New York - Don Perata has scored what he thinks may be a valuable "coup" in the Oakland Mayor's race, but this corner thinks that it was an awful risk, and not for him. The Legendary Senator Diane Feinstein endorsed former California State Senator Don Perata for Mayor of Oakland.

In a press release sent to this blogger, Feinstein reports "Don delivers results," said Senator Feinstein. "Whether it's increased funding for urban schools, or securing $27M annually for cancer research, he holds an extraordinary record in California for making things happen. That’s the kind of leadership Oakland needs now."

The question is will the endorsement really help Perata in the quirky politics of Oakland? It helps with those in Oakland's District 4 who are most likely to vote in Oakland elections; that means it harms Perata's opponent Oakland Councilmember Jean Quan, who represents the district.

But can it effectively counter a groundswell of Asian political involvement with rallies and reports from the Oakland and World Chinese Community in the wake of the Oakland Uptown beating death of Tiansheng Yu, and headlines like Chinese American dies from brutal attack in US city of Oakland‎.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said that she didn't feel the act was a hate crime. "In this particular case, we have not seen any evidence that would support it was a hate crime," she said according to ABC News. I respectfully disagree; had Tiansheng Yu been half-black, Lavonte Drummer and Dominic Davis, both 18 years of age and African American, would not have hit him.

That I can assert with confidence.

But I digress. Congratulations to Don Perata for getting the Feinstein endorsement. It's great for him, potentially damaging for Senator Feinstein if Perata loses, and makes a complicated Oakland Mayor's Race even more so.

Stay tuned. NFL Draft is today!

NFL Draft: Jahvid Best will miss Cal teammates

See > nfl, nfl draft, nfl play 60, 2010 nfl draft, Jahvid Best, cal berkeley, luxury hotels, new york,

New York, NY - This NFL Draft update: Jahvid Best says he will miss players, coaches at Cal. This NFL Draft installment (thanks to the Inn at Irving Place, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World brand) comes from Wednesday's NFL Play 60 Event in Central Park.

Jahvid Best 

When this blogger arrived in New York City and to the NFL's second annual "NfL Play 60 Event" the first player sought was Cal Running Back Jahvid Best. Standing at what was the "50" yard line of the touch football playing field, Best seemed to be just taking in the busy scene of college players, media, "secret service" level security men, NFL officials, and Jillian Michaels with a calm smile, but also still trying to figure out where he was.

Best, who said he was just enjoying being in New York, briefly talked on video about what he would miss in leaving Cal for the NFL, his Oregon State injury, and the value of athletics at Cal.

The guess of where Jahvid Best may go in the 2010 NFL Draft varies. Some NFL Mock Drafts had Best going in the 1st round to the San Diego Chargers, while others had him going to the Detroit Lions in the 2nd round. While Best says he will play wherever he goes, the focus really is on leaving Cal Berkeley. Best made the decision to "go pro" after his junior year last season.

"I'm gonna miss my relationships with my players and coaches. My running back group, I love those guys. It's gonna be hard leavin' em. And also my running backs coach (Cal Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs, Ron Gould). He's one of the best coaches I've had my whole life. He's like a father figure to me. But that's what I'm gonna miss the most."

The Oregon State game was the pivotal step in Jahvid Best' college career. The Cal star jumped over would-be Oregon State defenders and to the Beavers' end zone, but while he was in the air was pushed by an OSU defender. Jahvid Best turned in the air and fell on his neck and head in the end zone. He froze motionless and was taken off the field on a stretcher, having suffered a concussion.

But if Best had just scored and got up, would we be standing at the NFL Play 60 event talking? "Honestly, when you get a concussion it kind of blocks your memory a bit. So at that point I was just sit and coming back to, and everything was kind of fuzzy. After a while, I came to and felt like I just got knocked out."

Best' best runs at Cal

Jahvid Best had so many "best runs" it's hard for him to pick out one. For this blogger, it was his rapid 75-yard-touchdown run to open the 2009 season against Maryland. For Best "there's a lot of different plays. Sometimes even a cut block would be considered one of my best plays, but there's just a lot of plays I made that could be coined 'the best play.'"

Best feels he can play in any NFL offense because Cal, under Head Coach Jeff Tedford, has ran so many different formations, from single-back to two backs, and at times no backs in the backfield. Bsst says he's prepared for whatever a team asks him to do, including playing the slot receiver position.

Regarding the current debate on the value of athletics at Cal, where some Cal professors have called for the entire athletics effort to be disbanded in the wake of California's massive budget deficit, Jahvid Best says the program "is essential. It's a two way street as far as the academics and the athletics. I mean the athletics bring a lot of money to the university, so it's a two way street. They need each other."

But what Best needed was a map and a compass, because he had no idea he was in Central Park and on a man-made area of grass that was the NFL Play 60 event until someone told him where he was. "I love New York. I didn't even know we were in Central Park until five minutes ago."

Something tells me Best isn't going to have the problem of knowing where he is again after this week.

Stay tuned and GO BEARS.