It was officially announced about 30 minutes ago that MLB approved the relocation of the Athletics to Las Vegas. This relocation saga has plagued me, my home, and my community for some time. I’m from the LA area, born and raised. I went red when most everyone else in the neighborhood went Dodger blue. I got to see my team win their one and only World Series title, watched it on tv with my dad. Have continued to be a fan through all of the clubs bullshit these last almost 40 years. But now I’m supposed to blindly march forward with my fandom knowing our crap owner could pull the same bullshit as John Fisher, and that MBL will without issue support it. That shit don’t fly for me.

I moved away from the southland to pursue college in NorCal. Been here in the east bay for some time now. My partner of 8 years is a diehard A’s fan. Baseball was a cornerstone in our home; we went to every Angels/A’s game when Anaheim came up to Oakland. We both hated on our respective regional rivals (her the Giants, and me the Dodgers). Being a fan of the bigger better ball clubs was easy. Being a fan of our teams was a choice and took work. That’s what being an underdog is all about.

We have matching OG Starter jackets, new school Starters, matching ugly christmas sweaters, custom jerseys, hell, we have a reversable team blanket on our bed (winners team gets to have their team up for the night). Baseball is a cornerstone in our relationship, specifically Oakland baseball. I’ve now easily seen more games at the Coliseum than back in LA during my childhood. Local east bay baseball means a great deal to us, so we were passionate about this relocation.

But now, how am I (and even her more so) supposed to continue supporting MLB for ripping baseball away from our community, from us? I am appalled at the handling of the relocation in support of a broke billionaire that wants nothing more than free money. And to hear there are almost 7 other teams (including our own) waiting in the wings to pull the same stunt is inexcusable.

This scam professional sport teams pull for public money in exchange for our fandom is a greedy attempt of making money at the expense of the poor. These organizations and teams are asking for our hard earned dollars upfront and then stealing our wallet to further line their own pockets. How much money do these owners really need? It’s an embarassment, and they should all be ashamed for supporting the distruction of our love for the game. Thanks clown-shoes Manfred, limp-dick Fisher, and everyone other owner that voted yes for ruining something so special to so many people. With the Athletics completing their move to Vegas, baseball is officially dead in our home. The romance of the game is forever gone.

Today I hang up my Angels hat.