San Francisco Giants re-sign CF Angel Pagan

The defending World Series Champions are one step closer to having the old group put back together again. The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a 4 year $40 million deal with CF Angel Pagan. The new contract comes with a $5 million signing bonus, and will pay Pagan $7 million this season , $9 million in 2014 and 2015 and $10 million in 2016.

The Giants acquired Angel Pagan last offseason when they traded OF Andres Torres and RP Ramon Ramirez to the New York Mets. Pagan immediately became the Giants starting CF but expectations were low. Pagan surpassed all expectations in 2012, finishing the regular season with a .288 BA, 29 SB's and 95 Runs. What made Pagan's season even more spectacular was his major league leading 15 triples. He also broke the Giants team record for triples in a season, which was previously held by Willie Mays. Pagan's game went beyond the stats as he provided the Giants excellent defense in a vast center field and gave the team the leadoff hitter it had been lacking for some time.

Before the Giants signed Pagan, there was speculation that Pagan was being looked at by the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and several other clubs. The Giants also looked into CF's Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn, but focused their efforts on re-signing Pagan. Now with Pagan locked up, expect San Francisco to go hard after 2B Marco Scutaro. "Blockbuster" as he was nicknamed by his teammates was a mid-season acquisition from the Colorado Rockies. If the Giants could bring back Scutaro, they would have the same lineup that won Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers.

The Real Motives Behind the Spurs Fine

This all started Thursday afternoon when San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced that the team sent PF Tim Duncan, PG Tony Parker, SG's Danny Green and Manu Ginobili home early. It was just hours before the team was set to face the Miami Heat in a big East vs. West game that would be on TNT. While most respected the decision and understood what Popovich was doing, NBA Commissioner David Stern was irate.

When David Stern learned what Gregg Popovich was doing he immediately issued a statement saying "I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the Spurs. Substantial sanctions will be forthcoming. Many thought Stern was collapsing under the heat of the moment and if the sanctions would be severe at all. We learned today that the Spurs were fined a whopping $250,000 by the NBA. While Stern claims to be caring about the fans, his decision had nothing to do with people in attendance or watching on television. The only thing Stern cares about is making money and it doesn't matter if logic gets in the way, they just run over it for financial gain.

Gregg Popovich made the right move in sending his star veterans home early ahead of this game. The Spurs were playing their 4th road game in 5 days, while the Heat had 4 days off at home before their Thursday night battle. If anyone should be fined it would have to be David Stern for setting up this ridiculous schedule. It puts the Spurs at a complete disadvantage to play 4 road games in 5 nights, while Miami rested at home. That is an unprecedented mismatch that was bound to turn ugly. This is an 82 game season and Popovich had to rest his veterans. San Antonio has the day off on Friday but a crucial game against the Memphis Grizzlies, a game far more important than some non conference game. It is simply absurd to fine a team $250K because a coach made a decision for the health of his players, something it appears the NBA has little interest in.

I understand fans in attendance would be upset over not being able to see Duncan, Parker, and Manu play, but you take that risk when you go to a game. I know that ticket prices are insane, and even going to one game is hard to do for families. The fine has nothing to do with you not being able to see someone play, in fact if this were a Spurs vs. Washington Wizards game we never would never have heard a peep out of David Stern. I also ask David Stern, is any part of the fine going to the fans who bought tickets. This is just another instance of David Stern reaching his hands into basketball and squeezing out every last penny. I know I am not alone when I say, I can't wait until David Stern retires.

This is Our Team!

I have been a Sacramento Kings fan since I could even remember the game of basketball. The Kings were my team and Sacramento was my home. The Sacramento Kings have long been the love of so many sports fans in Northern California, and now George and Gavin Maloof want to rip that away from us.

C-Webb was my childhood idol

Before I dive into the inevitable move, let me just talk about what this team has meant to me. I still remember the first ever Kings game I went to. it was April 10th, 2001 against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Kings went on to win that game in overtime 116-109 and I became even more attached to my local team. One year later it was the Western Conference Finals against the hated Los Angeles Lakers. A rivalry for the ages with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Entering Game 6 I thought we had the series in hand, and as I sat anxiously in front of our television I counted down every second. Even at 8 years old just watching that game you knew something wasn't right. The foul calls always seemed to go against the Kings and it cost them in the end. I won't get into what we learned years later, but I will never forget that series for as long as I live. Even that series though doesn't come close to the day I learned the Kings traded Chris Webber. I was heartbroken the franchise I had loved for so long traded my favorite player and childhood idol. I couldn't understand how they could do that to me, and while I don't remember it I was told that I did cry about it. Now we fast forward to today, the Kings haven't made the playoffs in 6 years but I have supported them all the way.

I know I am not in the minority when it comes to my love for the Sacramento Kings. While I know there are Kings fans all across the globe, I want to focus here on the local fans. The fans who kept going to games despite the ineptitude of the front office to improve the team. Even when George and Gavin Maloof raised ticket prices as the team fell further into the standings, families continued to find ways to shell out the money and attend games. Attendance slowly declined as the future of the team grew more and more bleak. Rumors swirled that George and Gavin Maloof were ready to move the team in order to get a new stadium. Nobody was entirely sure how a stadium could be built in the financial crisis we were experiencing, especially when the owners themselves were on the brink of bankruptcy. Then the rumors turned into reality as the Maloofs began talks to move the franchise to Anaheim. The Maloofs threw salt in the wound when they had the team where classic "Royals" jerseys that many considered were going to be the new design when the team moved. When all looked lost for this team, it was the same fans who stepped up to the plate to keep their team in Sacramento.

In Sacramento we were given a choice; let the Maloofs walk out the door with our heart and soul or fight for this team until the end. Thanks to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, local businesses and hundreds of thousands of fans we achieved the impossible. The city was able to raise enough money to put the wheels in motion for a brand new arena. The light at the end of the tunnel was there, and that light grew even brighter on February 27th, 2012 when the Maloofs reached an agreement with the city to build a new stadium. Only a few days later they came out on the floor and started waving their hands to the crowd celebrating the great news with cheering fans. Unfortunately, just a month later the Maloofs backed out of the deal saying it was too expensive and that they were lied to during negotiations. Now we stand here today, he relationship between the city and the owners is beyond repair. It is no longer if the team moves but when. The same team this city has supported since 1985 is on the verge of being ripped out of our hands. All because 2 owners living off of their inheritance have let greed take over. It doesn't matter how many billionaires offer them money to buy the team and keep them in Sacramento. The Maloofs have tied themselves to the ship and are going to go sink it, just like they have with their casino and wine company. 

In the end there will no longer be the Sacramento Kings. Sleep Train Arena will fall apart, the rafters will hang empty, and we will be forgotten by the NBA. The greatest tragedy in all of this is what can never be replaced. That spot in the heart of every Kings fan young or old, who will never forget the memories. 

THIS IS OUR TEAM!

I AM BACK!

GUESS WHO'S BACK!

Ladies and Gentleman I am back and better than ever. After nearly a five month layoff I am coming back for my original blog "247 Sports Zone". When I left you last I was going to become a writer for "The Pigskin Report" among several other websites. I am still going to write for The Pigskin Report, but I wanted to come back to my beginning.

I left 247 Sports Zone suddenly and I come back just as I left, without any warning. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am back and I hope you are as excited as I am for my return.

My Farewell

For those of you that follow me on Twitter formerly @247SportsZone you learned of my announcement to close this blog 247 Sports Zone this past week. This decision wasn't an easy one, with over 100 articles it has been my showcase as I have grown up not only as a writer but as a person. The people I have met along the way, have been some of the greatest people I have ever had the chance to talk to. My greatest interviews with NFL Agent David Canter, Jets LB Ricky Sapp, UCLA DB Marcus Rios, and Dolphins DL Derrick Shelby. I have had so many wonderful people stop by and spend some time to read my articles, and for that I thank you. I want to make one thing clear, this is not me saying good bye. It is me moving on from one aspect of my life and going on to the next. I now write for several sites which I listed below and am truly appreciative for being given the opportunities. There are so many people that I could thank so I simply will just thank you all, because every single one of you, had a significant impact on my life. Without you guys I would not be the person I am today

You can now follow me ( @ThreefortheWin ) which is the name of the upcoming BlogTalkRadio show I will be co hosting with my great friends Trey Thomas and Adam Beddawi.

Below are the sites I write for as of now

A Royal Pain

The Pigskin Report

End Zone Report

For those of you that don't follow me on Twitter, I would love it if you could click the "Follow" button will talk sports with you or just chat 24/7.
If you don't use Twitter that's fine to. You can always email me at packfan_04@yahoo.com and the same rules apply
I realize this may be the end for some of you. So I just want to say one final thank you, and may you and your family be blessed for the rest of your lives, and only the best things happen.

It is with a tear as I type these final words, goodbye 247 Sports Zone, you will never be forgotten