38th Notable: "Made in America"

If you're an Oaklander and haven't seen Made in America, you need to get with the progam. The 1993 flick stars Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson, Will Smith, Nia Long and the city of Oakland. Ted Danson runs a truck dealership on Broadway's auto-row, Will and Nia attend school at Oakland Tech (school scenes were filmed there) and Whoopi gets chased into Lake Merritt by a runaway elephant. Those are just a few of Oakland's starring moments and good reason to check out the film. And in case I forgot to mention it, it's also a good ass movie.

Clint Eastwood Reflects on Oakland Tech

For those of you who don't know, motion picture icon and prototype of no-nosense masculinity Clint Eastwood is a member of Oakland Tech's graduating class of 1949. In a LA Times interview earlier this year, in promotion of Gran Torino, he mentioned Tech when addressing the supposed bigotry demonstrated by his lead character in the film.

"He could be from another world but he's a common guy for his generation," Eastwood said. "Everybody talked like that in the 1940s. I remember going to Oakland Tech and it was a high school but it also had a trade school connected to it. All the vets coming back from World War II were going there, so we were going to the same campus as guys who were 25, 26, 27 years old. They talked like that. They called each other Sam the Jew, Joe the Mick, Frank the Dago, whatever. Of course, you always said it with a smile on your face. If you said it without a smile on your face, well, then it meant something different."

It seems to me that not much has changed in this regard. A lot of my folks are hella racist to each other in jest, but there is also an understanding that you don't cross certain lines.

On a completely seperate note, there has been speculation that Clint graduated from sorry ass Piedmont High rather than the legendary Tech House, which cranked out legends like the Oakland A's Ricky Henderson and The Black Panther Party's Huey P. Newton. BUT the above picture is straight out of Tech's 1949 yearbook, irrefutable evidence that Dirty Harry himself is an Oakland Tech Bulldog. Now tell me that Clint's hairdo ain't clean and that my archival game ain't mean!

Oakland Inside Out: Portrait of a City

The students of Oakland Tech High School's advanced drama class have put together a dynamic production based upon interviews with Oaklanders from all walks of life. Oakland Inside Out: Portrait of a City relays the good, the bad and the ugly of our city in the words of Oakland's diverse citizenry. The Family friendly version of the show will be presented this Thursday night, while the explicit version will be featured on Friday night. Both shows will take place at 7pm in the Oakland Tech Auditorium on 42nd st at Broadway.

This is an amazing opportunity to support Oakland youth and a grass roots drama program. Oakland Tech's floundering drama academy was cut in 2001 and remained non-existent till a parent led push rebuilt the program from the ground up this last year. The program is primarily funded through grants, and now includes drama, music and dance. It is a young program but has been extremely impressive thus far. Please go out and support the kids and the community effort that comprise the program. Oakland has produced a wealth of famous actors, dancers and musicians over the years; Help Tech find its next Clint Eastwood.

If you want to get involved with the arts rebirth at Oakland Tech, leave a comment or contact me at coolhandluke38@hotmail.com

Naming Oakland Tech's Field of Dreams

As 38thnotes has reported, Oakland Tech’s baseball team just got a new diamond thanks to the efforts of parents, players and community members, but the name of the field is still in limbo. At present most people refer to it as the Field of Dreams, which is catchy, but will not stand as a permanent name.

Because Oakland Tech's Rickey Henderson was recently voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, many have supported naming the field after him. The problem is that there is a field in East Oakland that already bears his name. Does that matter? Please let us know what you think the field should be named in the comment section.

Above: Oakland native Jimmy Rollins expertly imitates his childhood hero's signature stroll to the plate, batting stance and home run jog.

Above: ESPN breaks down Ricky's career accomplishments

Town Syndrum's OAL Basketball Preview

Contributed by Sean Brekke-Mieser aka Town Syndrum

The Oakland Athletic League kicked off its basketball season two weeks ago and looked as if little had changed in the off-season. Through the first week the McClymonds Warriors look to be just as strong if not stronger than last year, when they won the Division 1 State Title. Featuring the trio of Damon Powell (left), Will Cherry (below right), and Quincy Hill the Warriors have managed to send an early message that the OAL is their’s for the taking.

With the graduation of Frank Otis, many thought Mack wouldn’t be quite as powerful. But after an impressive pre-season the Warriors had managed to remain undefeated in their last 50 games until they fell to De La Salle on Monday. Some have doubted their ability to run the table as they did last year, with the impressive 32-0 season, but thus far they look capable of a repeat performance. I have not seen a high school team play defense the way they do in a long time. Their team speed and depth off the bench is something to be reckoned with, and their home fans can easily rattle you in their small cracker box gym.

The other teams in the OAL are fighting for the remaining playoff spots, and I am positive it will come down to the final week of the season. The OAL graduated a lot of players last year, so this season will be a coming out season for a lot of players who were buried on the bench for some teams.
The Oakland Tech Bulldogs who have been the doghouse dwellers the last few years seemed poised to compete in the top of the league based on their pre-season performance, but the first OAL week seemed to prove otherwise. A win in the pre-season against De La Salle, an annual power in the Bay Area, opened a lot of eyes to this team’s capabilities, but a sloppy loss against Fremont and a blow out by the Warriors have set them back. But even with these opening losses, I believe they will make the playoffs thanks to the consistent play of Richard Boston and Deandre Campbell.

Meanwhile, Oakland High graduated 8 seniors and features a young nucleus that should prove to be exciting the next couple years. The Knights from Castlemont have a dynamic point guard in Omari Evans, but don’t have the big men to compete against top teams. The Skyline Titans also have a great guard in Nefi Perdamo (right), but also lack the depth to compete deep into the season. Lastly, the Fremont Tigers have a young team that showed some competitive spirit against the Bulldogs, but have had a tough time finding an identity without any natural leaders.

In a quick look at the women’s side of the OAL, the Bulldogs and the Warriors look to lead the way here too. The Bulldogs are out to get revenge for not making the playoffs last year for the first time in at least seven years. Meanwhile, the ladies from West Oakland seem to believe that this is their year to prove they have what it takes. The Lady Knights are a relatively unknown entity this year, so look out for them as well.
Last Year's Division 1 State Champion McClymond's Warriors

Overall it looks to be a very exciting year for both the boys and girls of Oakland. If the Mack boys are able to repeat as state champions, they would become the OAL’s second back-to-back Division 1 State Champions in the last 8 years, the Oakland Tech girls being the first to do it. But no matter what, please go out to a gym near you and support the young men and women of Oakland. I was pleased to see the turn out at the Mack-Tech game, where I am sure we broke the fire code. All games are played Tuesday’s and Friday’s at 4:30. Go to any gym on those days and you will see either a men’s or women’s game.

North Oakland's Field of Dreams

Oakland Tech's Field of Dreams at 45th and Telegraph in the Temescal.

There has been much written in the local press about the amazing genisis of Oakland Tech High School's Field of Dreams. For those of you who arent familiar, you can catch up via coverage provided by the Oakland Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Magazine, The Education Report & KTVU (Just click the links). In short though, a tremendous effort was launched by Oakland Tech parents, students/players and community members to turn Carter Middle School's abandoned playground into a beautiful new baseball field for a Bulldog team that has never had it's own digs. . . In just 7 months!!

For those of you who know anything about OUSD bureaucracy, this feat is nothing short of astounding. As a point of contrast, the recently redone Raimondi field in West Oakland took about 5 years to complete. Tech's Field of Dreams campaign proved that fast and comprehensive change is possible in Oakland, but that it takes a dedicated citizenry willing to work hard and circumvent the red tape when necessary to make things happen.The Oakland Tech parents who led the charge.

Most Oaklanders would like things to change, but too often look to larger entities to facilitate it. It is true that no one should have to bust their ass just to ensure things happen in this city, but that is often the reality. Even when we generate great ideas, the city of Oakland, Parks and Rec, the School Board, the City Counsel, or whoever else unabashedly make things difficult because that's the nature of our slow status-quo system.

The idea to build the field was hatched by Paul Brekke-Miesner, a veteran of the school district and a current city employee, so he understood how the cards were stacked. Nonetheless he and a core group of parents went into the planning stages. They consulted with local firms, the Coliseum grounds crew and then began fundraising. They raised close to $400,000 dollars in mostly small donations from businesses, foundations and individuals; secured free supplies and recycled materials where they could; and built the field by hand with the help of Oakland Tech students and volunteers from the Coliseum grounds crew. Weekends and dusk hours were spent tearing up asphalt, leveling the field, raking gravel, laying sod, mounting fencing, painting bleachers, etc. This sweat equity may not have been glamorous, but it was an amazing example of what a little money, maneuvering and moxie can get you in the Wild West.

The parents were prepared for the district's resistance, and so they were able to remain resolute throughout the proceedings. They fought the OUSD the whole way to gain and retain rights to the lot, but in the end they did prevail. The key was persistance and networking. Luckily, a Tech parent was on the school board, so she was able to help the effort on the bureaucratic front. The majority of it was sweat equity though. Organized parent's did in 7 months with $400,000 what would have taken the district at least two years and three times as much money. This cadre of coaches, parents and students were able to do that because they were resourceful and dedicated to seeing the job through by any means.

One important lesson I've learned through my years attending Oakland Public Schools, is that organized parents are often the only group able to crack the district's inaction. Whether it's the fear of not being reelected, or the frustration of community members holding them accountable, the district will often concede when pressed by mobilized parent's. But this is only when parent's organize and make it known that they will make the desired change happen one way or the other. It is unforunate that we have to do the district's job at times, but it's good to know that if we raise enough hell that they will usually cave. It should also serve as a call to Oakland parents who have ideas of their own. Organize, strategize and make it happen!
This Tech group was organized, but they didn't initially realize how complicated putting together a ball field was. But drawing upon various resources and sacrificing time and energy, they ensured that the new field would be ready for the Bulldog's first home game, a victory over league rival Skyline.

There are memories attached to Tech's old stomping grounds at Bushrod Park. Rickey Henderson, Curt Flood, Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson were among the Oakland greats to play there over the years, but the new field in the Temescal at 45th and Telegraph has been a long time coming. Too often, Oakland kids travel out to the Bay Area's suburbs for games and tournaments and see state of the art facilities. Then they come back to Oakland to the run down grounds we provide them with each year. That is unfair to our kids and undeserved given Oakland's rich local sporting history.
Bushrod Park. Home of Tech Baseball for decades.

It is our responsibility to offer our children the best. It may be a tad inconvenient that Oaklanders have to donate their time and energy to hustle up what other city's readily provide, but that's the Oakland way. In fact, I would argue that we are fortunate to get to have such a hand in our city's transformation, all while we teach our youth and communities about the value of hard work. The Oakland parents, coaches, players and community members that stepped forward proved that Oaklanders do care about their city and are willing to build something larger than themselves.

This notion is cemented by the field's purpose. Yes it is Oakland Tech's home field, but it also hosts little league games and other community events. The goal was to do something unprecedented in Oakland for our kids, and that has happened. They still need money and material to complete Phase II of the project however, which will build a softball field on the grounds as well. And of course the district is not forking over any money for field maintenance, so that money will have to be fundraised too. If you'd like to donate money or services, please leave me a comment.

Also, if you haven't taken the opportunity to check out any Oakland Athletic League games in any sport, please do so. Some of the world's greatest athletes have come out of Oakland and we get the privilege of watching the next generation play for free. Growing up playing and attending games in the OAL, it is quite frequent that games are sparsely attended. If most other parts of the country had the opportunity to see the caliber of prep play we take for granted, the gyms and fields would be packed.

Come out to Tech's Field of Dreams for their Spring Break tournament at the beginning of April, to see some good baseball and support community development. Also, please come to any OAL gym in the coming weeks, as it is the OAL's basketball regular season. Support our youth and support Oakland!

Click this link for OAL schedules by sport.