Oakland Tribune

July 10, 2004
by Carl Steward

Foyle's Paid Market Price

DARTING HERE and there ...

There are those who believe the Warriors paid too much to keep center Adonal Foyle -- a whopping $41.6 million for five years -- and those who don't. The fact of the matter is both sides are right. The price was awfully high, but that's the nature of this off-season's market. It'd be even more costly, though, to go into next season without an experienced big man.

Proof: Marcus Camby got $60 million for six years from Denver, Mehmet Okur has a $50 million, six-year offer sheet from Utah, and after originally being hot on Foyle's trail, the Boston Celtics re-signed Mark Blount at $41 million for six years. Erick Dampier? He'll probably wind up with something in Camby's range or a little more, possibly a Shaq-less Lakers club.

Foyle surely would have received the midlevel price of $5 mil per year from a number of teams, but he undoubtedly hit the jackpot with the Warriors based on his final two weeks of play while Dampier was injured. With increased playing time, Foyle posted a 20-point, 16-rebound game against Minnesota and an 11-point, 17-rebound, five-block game in a 36-minute season finale against Sacramento.

Chris Mullin obviously prefers Foyle's defense, shot-blocking and high energy level to Dampier's superior offense and rebounding, which the Warriors can compensate for in other areas. He's gambling that Foyle can handle a 30- to 35-minute load, but that's part of being a wise GM. Kudos to Mullin for being aggressive in his assessments about Foyle and getting a deal done. It says here he picked the right guy.

One more thing about Adonal: He is one of the nicest, most intelligent and most charitable athletes in professional sports. It's easier to go the extra mile for individuals like that, even in today's cold, callous sports world.

So instead of Coach K, the Lakers hired Rudy T ... as in Too Late.

It could turn out to be better than the All-Star Game itself: The anticipated gathering of all 14 living members of the 500 Home Run Club. That, plus a Roger Clemens-Mike Piazza battery? Hooks me.

Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada were to be expected, but I'm still trying to swallow the fact that these guys are All-Stars: Ted Lilly, Livan Hernandez, Joe Nathan, Kenny Rogers. What, no Ben Grieve?

Another appealing All-Star nod: Atlanta Braves catcher Johnny Estrada, who grew up in Hayward and was profiled in this space earlier this year.

Speaking of the Braves, a lot of people wrote after my column that suggested the Giants pursue Randy Johnson that Russ Ortiz would be a younger, cheaper, better alternative. One problem: The Braves are suddenly back in the race in the weird NL East, a situation that's not likely to change before the trading deadline. In other words, Ortiz isn't going anywhere.

Another East Bay "ex" notion: If Art Howe isn't the NL Manager of the Year at the halfway point of the season, then it's probably Tony La Russa.

A lot of pitchers are justifiably accused of being too fine, but in Barry Zito's case, it might be the opposite. Batters who simply put his first pitch in play are hitting .388 (26-for-67). Those who do likewise with his 2-0 offerings are 8-for-10 with four homers and a double. Wow. Think Zito might be laying it in there just a tad too fat at times?

Taking some of the steam out of ESPN's otherwise entertaining Top 25 series: The NFL -- and its new NFL Network -- not allowing footage of past games to be shown on the weekly show.

His skills had eroded, and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that he would leave, but it doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to Mike Ricci, maybe the San Jose Sharks' most identifiable and popular player over the past several seasons and a standup guy besides. The 32-year-old Ricci, who played seven with the Sharks, has signed with Phoenix Coyotes.

Copyright © 2004, Oakland Tribune

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