Latest news with #PaulFreedman
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minor league baseball could be coming to Long Beach
Could the fourth time be the charm for minor league baseball in Long Beach? On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council is scheduled to consider whether to order city staff to work toward an agreement with the ownership group for a 'new professional baseball team' that would play at Blair Field, the city's storied ballpark. The ownership group includes Paul Freedman, one of the co-founders of the Oakland Ballers, a successful independent league team launched last year amid the departure of the Oakland Athletics. The new team would open play next season and participate as an expansion team in the Pioneer League, the same league in which the Ballers play. The league includes teams in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. 'I got into this industry because of love for baseball and the community, and love for Oakland,' Freedman said. 'I see a tremendous amount of parallels between the city of Oakland and the city of Long Beach, and I think the kind of community-oriented baseball that is working in Oakland can work in Long Beach as well.' In minor leagues affiliated with major league organizations, those organizations sign and pay players, then assign them to a minor league team. In an independent league, the teams sign and pay players, most of whom hope to play well enough to earn a contract from a major league organization. Read more: Shaikin: How to revitalize baseball's All-Star Game? Bat flips Independent leagues also serve as labs for the major leagues: The 'swing-off' that decided this week's All-Star Game has been a rule in the Pioneer League since 2021. Three independent minor league teams have come and gone in Long Beach over the last 30 years: the Barracuda (renamed the Riptide) in 1995-96, the Breakers (2001-02) and the Armada (2005-09). Freedman said he believed the struggles reflected instability in the various leagues in which the teams played more than an inability of Long Beach to support a team. 'It's a city with a huge baseball tradition,' Freedman said. 'It's a diverse city on the rise. It's hosting the Olympics. I think now it's time to have a team to represent the town. 'I think baseball has worked in Long Beach, and I think Long Beach is in an even better condition now to embrace a new kind of baseball.' The Long Beach State baseball team, proudly known as the Dirtbags, attracted more fans last season than any of the other nine Big West Conference teams based in California. The Dirtbags are the primary tenant of Blair Field, and the motion before the city council would require city staff to work with Long Beach State on a 'collaborative partnership agreement.' A city spokesman did not return a call seeking comment. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Minor league baseball could be coming to Long Beach
Could the fourth time be the charm for minor league baseball in Long Beach? On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council is scheduled to consider whether to order city staff to work toward an agreement with the ownership group for a 'new professional baseball team' that would play at Blair Field, the city's storied ballpark. The ownership group includes Paul Freedman, one of the co-founders of the Oakland Ballers, a successful independent league team launched last year amid the departure of the Oakland Athletics. The new team would open play next season and participate as an expansion team in the Pioneer League, the same league in which the Ballers play. The league includes teams in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. 'I got into this industry because of love for baseball and the community, and love for Oakland,' Freedman said. 'I see a tremendous amount of parallels between the city of Oakland and the city of Long Beach, and I think the kind of community-oriented baseball that is working in Oakland can work in Long Beach as well.' In minor leagues affiliated with major league organizations, those organizations sign and pay players, then assign them to a minor league team. In an independent league, the teams sign and pay players, most of whom hope to play well enough to earn a contract from a major league organization. Independent leagues also serve as labs for the major leagues: The 'swing-off' that decided this week's All-Star Game has been a rule in the Pioneer League since 2021. Three independent minor league teams have come and gone in Long Beach over the last 30 years: the Barracuda (renamed the Riptide) in 1995-96, the Breakers (2001-02) and the Armada (2005-09). Freedman said he believed the struggles reflected instability in the various leagues in which the teams played more than an inability of Long Beach to support a team. 'It's a city with a huge baseball tradition,' Freedman said. 'It's a diverse city on the rise. It's hosting the Olympics. I think now it's time to have a team to represent the town. 'I think baseball has worked in Long Beach, and I think Long Beach is in an even better condition now to embrace a new kind of baseball.' The Long Beach State baseball team, proudly known as the Dirtbags, attracted more fans last season than any of the other nine Big West Conference teams based in California. The Dirtbags are the primary tenant of Blair Field, and the motion before the city council would require city staff to work with Long Beach State on a 'collaborative partnership agreement.' A city spokesman did not return a call seeking comment.
Middle East Eye
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK: Rabbis condemn Israel in latest show of Jewish opposition to Gaza war
A group of rabbis in the UK have condemned Israel's assault on Gaza in the latest public indication of growing dissent and opposition to the conflict within British Jewish communities. In a letter published in the Financial Times on Friday, 30 Jewish religious leaders called on Israel to end its renewed bombing campaign and to allow aid into Gaza. They also appeared to show support for 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the UK's largest representative Jewish organisation, who are facing disciplinary action after speaking out about the conflict. Referring to a previous letter in the same newspaper, in which the 36 board members said they could no longer 'turn a blind eye or remain silent', the rabbis said they were also 'horrified' by Israel's actions. 'We feel it is our duty to remind Israel's leaders of the core Jewish teaching that war can never be waged for revenge or expansion. The Israeli government must uphold international law, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza,' they wrote. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'We stand with all those in Israel-Palestine seeking to bring about a just and lasting peace. We share in their call for an end to the bombing; an end to the siege; and the safe release of the hostages.' The rabbis' intervention appears to hint at growing frustration and impatience within British Jewish communities towards the staunchly pro-Israel stance and claims to leadership of conservative Jewish institutions such as the Board of Deputies. Signatories of the letter include prominent figures within both Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism. Among them are Robyn Ashworth-Steen, co-chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors; Paul Freedman, senior rabbi at Radlett Reform Synagogue; Laura Janner-Klausner, rabbi at Bromley Reform Sylenagogue; Jeffrey Newman, emeritus rabbi at Finchley Reform Synagogue; and Gabriel Kanter-Webber, rabbi at Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue. The letter's publication comes after the Board of Deputies suspended a member of its executive committee and began disciplinary proceedings against all 36 members who signed last week's letter to the FT. That letter was described by the FT as the 'the first public show of opposition' to Israel's war by members of the board, which refers to itself as 'the voice of the British Jewish Community'. 'Israel's soul is being ripped out' As well as condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for breaking the ceasefire in Gaza, the letter also condemned violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and accused the government of "extremism" which threatened Israeli democracy. "Israel's soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to," they wrote. But the letter was quickly denounced by the board's leadership. Chief executive Michael Wegier accused the signatories of 'misrepresenting our community', while its president Phil Rosenberg noted that the letter was only signed by about 10 percent of the board's members. After meeting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in London last week, Rosenberg wrote on social media: 'Jewish leadership is standing up for peace & security in Israel & the Middle East: Getting hostages out, defeating Hamas, pursuing lasting peace & security. Unity is strength. Division serves only our enemies.' Middle East Eye has asked the Board of Deputies for comment.
CBS News
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Oakland Ballers to transform BART legacy car rejected by A's into concession stand
A decommissioned BART car that was rejected by the Athletics has found a new home with the Oakland Ballers and will be transformed into a concession stand, BART said on Thursday. BART said the Athletics had plans to bring the legacy car with them to their new Las Vegas stadium to commemorate their long history in Oakland. But in 2023, BART received an email from the Athletics that stated the team would no longer accept it. So, instead, the BART car was delivered to Raimondi Park, home of the Ballers, as part of BART's legacy car decommissioning program. The Ballers plan to transform the car into a concession stand at the park and have plans to unveil it next season. "Adding this BART legacy car is one of many examples of how our ballpark is going to continue to grow with us," said Ballers Co-Founder Paul Freedman. "We want Raimondi Park to be a living museum full of tributes to Bay Area culture. We can't wait to repurpose and creatively feature our BART legacy car in the near future." The Ballers and BART have worked together before. They entered a partnership ahead of the team's inaugural season , even hosting a BART Night at the Park in 2024. "It was disappointing when the Athletics notified us by email that they no longer wanted this car," said BART Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost. "So, we asked Oakland's newest professional sports team if they'd like to have it, and they responded with an immediate, 'Yes!' We are grateful to the team for saving this piece of Bay Area history so that Oakland baseball fans will be able to enjoy it." In April of last year, BART retired its legacy fleet after serving the Bay Area for more than 50 years. Eight recipients were then selected to transform the legacy cars.
