This Oakland Athletics of mine

(My perspective as A's fan living outside America)

It’s heartbreaking to write my feelings down here. Since the Nevada announcement, I only had the strength and energy to deal with the Oakland Athletics’ misconduct ownership decisions. I have ignored other North American sports clubs I support, including the NBA, NHL, MLS, and NFL.

My story with the A’s started in late 2011. I’m a Brazilian fan of the A’s. It’s not the Kelly Green and Gold colours that made my decision to support them in another country. It was the Moneyball thing — the movie. And then, the book.

My imagination about the Oakland A’s came from the movie, its flick colour tone, atmosphere, and the team’s colours. In reality, I wonder if the motion picture represents all that Oakland is or what a run of 20 games with no losses meant for the fans at the time. You can tell me.

It caught me instantly because I like how the team’s Front Office had a creative philosophy to win with a not competitive payroll. It is because this meets me in a way that leads to creativity, my DNA — another point of view to make things happen.

But these words are about my feelings toward the Oakland Athletics.

I went to Oakland twice. First in 2019. Another, in 2023.

My first visit to California was an LA and SF/OAK trip. I stayed in Oakland, not in SF because I wanted to feel the city and get to know it better. I went to an A’s game. It was a great Tuesday night. I visited the shop and bought some stuff. I finally saw the walls of the Oakland Coliseum. O.Co. The texture. The atmosphere. And I felt so at home.

As an outsider fan, I could feel the people around me were warm with each other, laughing and smiling, cheering for the team and talking as old companions to each other, like they had been there for years. I thought: ‘Three days ago, they had a huge barbecue or tailgate together, sharing good feelings and moments about it and enjoying the game’. I bought a beer. Expensive. I don’t even know about the concessions prices at that time. And I said it out loud: God, 12$ a beer can? And a laughing fan by my side spoke to me, agreeing. Not just her, but more than two people did. And I felt at home, once more, like I had known her for a long time. The experience was complete. We won it, 2–1 over KC Royals. September 17, 2019.

When the news broke about the move in the media, there was an instant mixed feeling: WHAT?! NO! Oakland must fight back!

I wished to be in the city to participate in ‘Sell and Stay’, ‘We Are Here’, and ‘Sell The Team’, wear the ‘SELL’ shirt and flag, and participate in many other protests — fan activism — to feel part of changing the narrative about the fans, as the ownership points fingers at them (I also can say, us).

I have been visiting and collaborating with Reddit’s Oakland A’s sub for some time. Some days, I don’t even have the heart to go there because of Vegas Senate Voting, you know it.

It was a no-brainer thought that I needed to support the cause. I did it far away from the city. I participated in the SELL shirt crowdfunding, donating to someone representing me in Reverse Boycott. That time, I felt and understood the fight-back spirit of the club Stay In Oakland. I prefer to keep fighting than accept defeat. It was tremendous to be part of it. So, it was whole connected with myself and my way of living. I’m a guy that doesn’t accept defeat easily. So, I wept. Because of the fight to keep our colours in Oakland. History. Memories. Because of how I felt when I stepped into the Coliseum.

I followed all the news about the A’s move on YouTube through Broadie Brazil and Casey Pratt.

There were many rumours at that time, leading to more anxiety; then, I chose to follow only Casey and Broadie, almost as if they were my safe sources of A’s news. And some moments DA, too. They were a source of hope for the team to stay in the city.

One thing I did the whole time was to put my first-ever-bought A’s cap on my chair’s arm as a ritual, an act of superstition, to believe it would help the team stay rooted in Oakland. The cap is still there and awaits the good news. I’ll only pick it up if I see the Athletics fielding with another city name.

In November 2023, I booked a trip to Australia. I tried to go there through Dallas, but no flights were available. I took it as a life call to go through SF/OAK, and I booked it. It was the best thing I did — the second time in Oakland.

On November 07/23, I was at City Hall in Oakland for a last-breath fans reunion, trying to get MLB owners to vote no to the move. I grabbed the “Stay” t-shirt at the central hall room entrance. I stepped in and followed the chant — Sell the team and Stay in Oakland — for the first time, together as a local A’s fan. I listened carefully to everyone at the pulpit.

Around the room, I took every A’s colour in front of me as a souvenir of that moment. I never thought I’d be in the city to fight with the Oaklanders. It was a massive highlight for me as a fan and human being.

I wanted to join you and the Last Dive Bar guys for a beer afterwards, but I didn’t have time.

Then, I paid a tribute and goodbye to the Coliseum, but unfortunately, just outside the stadium. I played a song representing the meaning of the A’s in my earbuds and started walking around, making raw videos and photos. But most of all, I kept the images in my organic HD, my heart.

It was funny because a security guard came and asked me what I was doing there. I said I was ‘waving’ goodbye to the stadium. I showed my passport. He got the radio and spoke to someone, saying, “He’s a Brazilian fan of Oakland A’s?!” Hahah, WTF, right? I wanted to laugh, but I kept my mouth shut. LoL. He guarded me until I headed to the subway station, but before that, I sent a kiss in the air to the Coliseum.

But finally, I was in the city, collaborating with the fans, although living far away, and speaking out my emotions about Oakland and the A’s. It’s still my cause.

Thank you, Oaklandish, for sharing the game’s final moments on September 26. Far away, I could feel included in that sea of green, yellow, grey, and white. PS: I recorded a video to keep in my camera roll.

I followed many ‘gram stories, posts, and lives about that day’s media. I also watched the huge DA’s night live on YT.

It took me some weeks to write this paper. I often carried everything with the Oakland A’s logo around me, even a plastic bag I refused to throw away. My A’s stuff makes me feel more close to Oakland in general. I also have caps, cups, jerseys, wallpapers on my phone, and my fav song from the Moneyball movie, “It’s a Process.”

This song is my main drive for creating something from scratch. It connects with my creativity and instantly leads me to the Oakland A’s. Every time I make something, the team goes with me.

The A’s mean Oakland. I always know how to feel when I see my caps with the logo. For me, the city and team remain as one. The A’s colours and crest will always be Oakland, as its diversity and community.

Oaktown, Oaklanders and A’s fans made me believe and feel that I can experience different emotions between my passions and values, discovering that their colours are Kelly Green and Gold.

I’m Rooted in Oakland. 💛💚

PS: Last but not least, Fck John Fisher, Fck Dave Kaval, Fck Manfred, all MLB owners and Fck Bud Selig. F*ck them.