How to Fight the Cheapest Owner in Sports

EPISODE 112: Oakland’s rebellion.

Our correspondent today, if you did not know, is a writer for Slate and host of the trophy-winning podcast series Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas.

But the other thing to know about Joel Anderson is that he lives in the Bay Area. Meaning that a big story we’ve been monitoring from across the country is, for him, decidedly local.

And I just need you to wrap your head around the concept of a “reverse-boycott” here. Because typically, when you want to protest something, you refuse to spend money or pay for tickets.

But in Oakland, with the A’s, what fans have been protesting is the fact that the man in charge of their favorite team doesn’t want them.

First the Warriors left for San Francisco. Then the Raiders left for Las Vegas. And currently the Athletics’ owner, John Fisher, is threatening to move the team to Sacramento, and eventually Vegas, in large part because the city of Oakland doesn’t spend enough.

So it felt radical when some 28,000 fans showed up to Oakland Coliseum last season to buy tickets from — and very clearly protest — the billionaire they despise.

And this season, the reverse-boycotters have only continued to organize. Most stunningly, they’ve even convinced some actual A’s players to support their land war against both MLB commissioner Rob Manfred — who also wants the A’s in Vegas — and Fisher, the players’ actual boss.

One wrist, allegedly, at a time.

DKN/YOUTUBE SPOILER ALERT:

Flaggingly,

Pablo