BY RICK PORCARO
So many of our country’s big sports stories and histories tend to focus on the East Coast, the Midwest and the South. The small states of New England have a disproportionate number of the professional sports teams in America clustered close together. The obsession with teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs is the stuff of legends. The South is renowned for their devotion to their local high school and college football teams. With so much sporting noise coming from these regions, it would be easy to overlook any West Coast sports teams.
It would be easy to overlook these teams except for the fact that Northern California has produced some of the greatest teams across all the major sports leagues.
Martinez is far enough from San Francisco to have its own community and identity. It has done its best to protect its own history and legacy, an impressive feat for a small city within commuting distance of a major metropolis that is internationally recognized. This proximity has allowed Martinez to claim and celebrate the Bay Area teams.
Baseball
The San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics are two giants in the MLB. Both teams started out on the East Coast, but they have had most of their success since their move west. The Athletics haven’t been having the best season, but the Giants still have a chance to make it to the playoffs this year.
Few cities can boast of being the hometown of an athlete as iconic as Joe DiMaggio. While he never played for the Athletics or the Giants, DiMaggio is still a culturally significant part of Martinez’s sporting history. He was known on the field for his talent with a bat, and he still holds the record for the longest hitting streak with 56 games. He was known off the field for his relationship with Marilyn Monroe.
While many star athletes from the 1950s-60s have faded from our collective memory, DiMaggio’s image and name have remained a constant thanks to all the artists who have been inspired by him. There are numerous works of art dedicated to DiMaggio and he has even featured as a character in comic books from the 1940s to the 1990s. He has been referenced in songs by artists as varied as Simon & Garfunkel, Bon Jovi, Madonna and Billy Bragg. He has also been a character in numerous television shows and movies.
Basketball
The Los Angeles Lakers were the dominant NBA team and media darlings of the 1980s, but more recently the Golden State Warriors have taken over that role.
The Warriors certainly rewarded the faith that had been placed in them this season. They hadn’t been the favorites to win the NBA Finals this year but their impressive displays during every stage of the competition showed that Steph Curry hasn’t lost any of his talents or his ability to bring out the best in his teammates.
Online sports betting with the major sportsbooks such as bet365 might not be legal yet in California — keep an eye on the November 2022 ballot for a chance to change that — but bettors in other states who recognized the Warriors potential despite all the hype surrounding their rivals were well rewarded. Modern sportsbooks, such as bet365, offer many betting options and promotions. Hopefully by next year, Martinez residents will be able to bet on the Warriors to repeat their impressive display.
Football
Up until the Raiders move to Las Vegas in 2020, football in the Bay Area was defined by the rivalry between the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers. It is hard for many to accept that this era is over since it was such an iconic and well-known rivalry.
The Oakland Raiders spent their early years cultivating a reputation as the roughest, toughest and meanest team in the NFL. Their coaches and executives in the 1970’s and 80’s intentionally recruited players who were as rough and tumble as the team was to help bolster their reputation.
It was easy for the San Francisco 49ers to step into the role of the good guys when they were up against the Raiders. With a name rooted in local history and their smiling miner mascot Sourdough Sam, they presented a much more wholesome image.
As anyone who has lived in a city with a major sports rivalry can tell you, hating the opposition is half the fun. As much love as you have for your team, you have just as much sporting disdain for the other side. Martinez is located on the Oakland side of the Bay, but team loyalty is rarely that simple. For now though, they’re left with just the 49ers.
