ABC7's Larry Beil passionate reaction to A's owner John Fisher sending a goodbye letter to A's fans

[@cjagimnz]

Thank you Larry beil. We'll sayd for us all A's fans.

[@IamNiggler]

Need a tampon?

[@emstorm1725]

Wow. Holy guacamole. This was on live TV? I'd watch this guy.

[@IamNiggler]

Gay comment lol

[@paulvon2378]

Las Vegas fans will show up

[@CarlosMedina-wu8ug]

Only year one ​@@paulvon2378

[@brianschwartz80]

​@@paulvon2378 - No, they won't. Sure, there will be a temporary uptick as the novelty of the team and the stadium brings in some new fans, but that won't last long. The temporarily increased revenue will go right into Fisher's pockets. He will invest none of that back into the team or the community. He will do nothing to grow the brand among new potential fans. I promise you that residents of Las Vegas (with a metro population smaller than Sacramento and San Antonio) will not be showing up 20k strong to one of the smallest stadiums in the league for a weeknight game in the middle of July to watch a team with no star players, no household names, and no regional history or connection, bumble their way to a 3rd straight 90-loss season. Even if the A's are somehow able to capture lightning again and put together another improbable playoff contender that generates any excitement, Fisher will be right there to raise ticket prices and chop the legs off the team before it has a chance to grow into any kind of sustainable force so he can pocket the profits, then beg for even more investment from Vegas & Nevada taxpayers which he himself will refuse to provide. Heck, the Raiders are already struggling to sell out games and have some of the lowest attendance figures in the league, and that's WITH the draw of visiting fans needing to show up to only 8-9 mostly Sundays. There are a lot of entertainment options in Las Vegas. LV fans aren't going to put up with Fisher's incompetence for anywhere near as long as Oakland fans did

[@kaidenisme9521]

hes been great of many years, its crazy that he hasn't been picked up by espn (again) or barstool. he's consistently great

[@KrisRowberry]

Larry speaking from the heart here. This should be every Bay Area sports anchor this week.

[@smokey5100]

@@KrisRowberry 💯💯💯🐘

[@mstar034]

@@smokey5100 Lol John Fishers Heart exist as much as the tin man from wizard of oz

[@2whl4re]

As a Las Vegas resident - please find a way to keep the team. The sports teams with the “lets move to Vegas” bandwagon is just overdone. Its a disaster in the making. Traffic already sucks. Parking sucks. There really isn’t room for a stadium on the strip - yet they keep trying to squeeze stuff in. Please, don’t move the team to Las Vegas.

[@smokey5100]

@@2whl4re MLB are you listening?

[@bbtodd]

@@2whl4re driving through east bay is also horrific ... and dangerous. Take the monorail in vegas, I bet most attendees will be vacationers without cars

[@blakenorquist9843]

I'm not an A's fan, but well done sir! Their fans deserved this response!

[@tvtek]

Larry is a hero for saying to Fisher on TV what he needs to hear. Mr Biel is legendary for speaking up and quite obvious his love for the OAKLAND A's.

[@AnthonyGraeme]

I'm 100's of miles away from the U.S. but I loved everything about the Oakland A's. They have such a rich history of baseball from the 70's threepeat team to the 1980s to early 1990's A's teams, and the iconic moneyball A's teams. The fact that the owner went to that level of bullshitting in people's faces was an absolute disgrace to baseball fans all over the world, let alone the poor citizens in Oakland. I will support the A's players, but will never support that putz of an owner, and pray that some day the A's can eventually return to Oakland.

[@Heathcoatman]

@@AnthonyGraeme Bottom line is if more people showed up to the games, they would probably not be moving. You all love to whine and cry about the As and the Raiders and the Warriors but few of you actually were buying tickets. That stadium is almost as dilapidated as the USC Coliseum. Funny how this guy talks about the Warriors had to spend money to make money. Yeah, he did that by spending money outside of Oakland. Does this 'hero' not know the Warriors arent in Oakland anymore? Great at the whining in Oakland, not great at buying tickets to see the game. It's like listening to WNBA players whine about not making as much as NBA players.

[@MyselfTheThird]

​@@Heathcoatmanshow up for what? A team that used the legacy of the Moneyball era as an excuse to cheap out on practice facilities and player acquisition while profiting record amounts off of Revenue sharing? They would have found an excuse to move this team even if fans were showing up. If they were filling up the Coliseum every night, they would find that tax break in Vegas anyway, or increase public funding in some other city like these leagues tend to do when they want to hold something over a fan base's head as a threat (see: LA for the NFL all throughout the 2000s and 2010s). So long as there are members of the public willing to simp for billionaires using language just like yours, so too will there be a negligent owner willing to take advantage of it.

[@AnthonyGraeme]

@@Heathcoatman It's because the Warriors' owner actually put a group of investors together to actually invest in a new stadium and was prepared to pay and retain free agents. And of course it made sense to move the stadium to San Francisco given that there was no local pro basketball team in San Francisco at the time and the returns have been substantial given the local income and greater population of San Francisco relative to Oakland. But it all took private investment to make that happen. You're talking about the reporter whining? Seriously? This is not a case of Oakland not having the capacity to support a local baseball team. Fans are sick and tired of having to rely year in year out of playing moneyball to compete against the rest of the league and having no identifiable star as an ambassador of the organisation, as no player stays in Oakland longer than 5 years. The attendance figures if you actually researched, significantly dropped after ownership changed in 2005. Prior to that attendance figures at Oakland games were roughly middle of the pack in the MLB at 20-25 thousand per game, peaking at 27,000 per game in 2003 thanks to the A's teams being able to field relatively competitive teams at the time. So the revenue was there, but the owner being a cheapskate continuously did the opposite of spend money for free agents unlike other owners of MLB teams. Whether you want to argue about the fans or not, the bottom line is in the business of sports if you're not fielding competitive teams and prepared to invest the money to make that happen, fans will not show up. To have 20,000 plus fans at a game, you have to spend. MLB by laws not allowing the sale or added ownership to keep the team in Oakland is a disgrace to sports, and likely a result of MLB being in cahoots with the owner to move the team to Las Vegas. What a disgrace!

[@mj072400]

Thank You Larry Beil! This is how we all feel!

[@IamNiggler]

Need a tissue little girl?

[@d.jphillips9040]

You all in Oakland deserved better than this. It's beyond disgusting what Fisher did to this great team and city.

[@apwkastmaster2096]

Larry the legend Beil. Thank you

[@IamNiggler]

Need a tissue?

[@christmashake8968]

From a Mariners fan: THANK YOU for being a man of the people, Mr. Beil. You're a true example of what a professional journalist and commentator looks like, and a voice for every single A's fan, past and present, who's had to put up with Fisher's garbage since the day he bought the team but have lacked the means to have their feelings seen and heard. I salute you, good sir.

[@Kouvre]

I too am a Mariners fan, and you took the words right out of my mouth.

[@smokey5100]

Larry is the realest! Thank you for speaking out for us!! They belong here at home and the fact that John Fisher purposely didn't try to genuinely build a stadium here in good faith when Howard Terminal could've been a reality and ripping this team out of our community with NO REAL PLAN is UNFORGIVABLE!! SELL THE TEAM TO LACOB THE A'S BELONG HERE!!

[@michaellee4276]

The Laney College/Peralta proposal; was a slap in the face. He pretended to try something, but it had Zero chance. It would have destroyed Chinatown and other downtown neighborhoods. It wasn't revitalizing areas, it was smashing healthy areas to bits. Then he would have grifted his take from what was left. But everyone knew it was impossible. Oh and remember the Gondola to connect to BART. The should have got Conan O'Brien and Homer Simpson to announce a Monorail.

[@AEMoreira81]

Fisher absolutely refused to sell the team to anyone wishing to keep the team in Oakland. He was dead set on moving the team. Ironically, Peter Seidler, former owner of the Padres, had mustered enough opposition to the move, but...before the vote could be taken, Seidler died. With Seidler dead, Manfred strong-armed the other owners who had been organized by Seidler.

[@jph4852]

I love Larry Beil. I first saw him on KTVU in the early 90s when I was a student in the area.

[@robsan9017]

Yes he's a bay area staple. We love him, and love him even more for roasting A's ownership on live TV 💪🏼💪🏼

[@ericsanchez4638]

Damn, he's been on the news for that long huh

[@FanboyCantina]

Thanks Larry Beil. That open letter was an offense to all A’s fans.

[@blind_t2]

I already see that now. the fans are about to have his head as a bounty.

[@thejenniferlee]

Thank you for using your platform to speak up for all the broken hearted Oakland A’s fans. It never had to be this way. That’s what hurts most of all 💔

[@ninjanoodle2674]

Thank you for having our backs and publicly responding to the Oakland A’s the way that we all felt when hearing this statement. Sell the team and bring back our A’s!!!!

[@Jcozz]

Thank you Larry.

[@bobbywysing47]

Larry!! Thank you!! I’m a Giants fan but it hurts to see the A’s leave Oakland behind the failures of this spineless owner! Well said sir!!

[@markdixon9740]

Thank you Larry Bell! Thank you for being a voice for us A's Fans. - Oakland Forever -

[@XLRAshon]

We need more reporters like this. People that actually care about their community

[@neneshubby]

Thanks Larry, couldn’t have said it better

[@gillian.grace6]

I can’t even express how much this meant to hear. Fisher needs to see this and face all the damage he’s done. From all of us A’s fans, thank you Larry Beil.

[@brentduanefoster]

Unfortunately, Fisher doesn't give a damn. He'll just walk away from the damage and thinks it's all done. Karma will not be kind to him.

[@Brady_Corrin]

The frustration extends beyond Oakland too. Everyone up here in Seattle that I know expresses sympathy for Oakland. It's sad enough when a team MUST leave a city for genuine reasons, but this whole situation is completely unfair for Oakland.

[@MPHswayze]

What are "must leaves?" So you mean places like Arizona Coyotes that couldn't support a hockey team?

[@AEMoreira81]

@@MPHswayze -- Or New Orleans for a time when the Smoothie King Center was damaged by Katrina.

[@Alisonws]

Thank you, Seatown!! 💚💛 💙💚

[@MrSpeedracer510]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This hurts so much. So many memories with my family and friends at the coliseum. Now gone.

[@SPRailfan4449]

Larry Beil is a true legend. He was before this speech and now he is even more a legend after this speech. Thank you Larry for expressing how we all feel right now. ❤️👍🫡

[@lendygomez]

Larry Beil says it with authority! Love it big man.

[@kmore2766]

for real, full heart in it... love him!

[@KRSf2375]

Thank you, Larry. Though I live in Southern California, I've been a lifelong A's fan. And even though they are attempting to move closer to where I live, they belong in Oakland where they've established a great history and have been the best team in the American League Western Division with the greatest fan base.

[@alwillk]

Oakland hasn’t been good since the late 80s. Nobody cares about your crappy division titles when you’re 1-12 in the playoffs since. Angles Astros and rangers all have more pennants since.

[@SuperCatacata]

@@alwillk So what? Until the recent Astros domination over the last 10 years the A's have a much better history. The whole reason the A's faded in the 2000's is because of this terrible owner.

[@nickhughes8179]

The Astros?? I hear trash cans thumping and buzzers beeping, and what is that illegal camera bay doing inside those hedges??

[@bbtodd]

The A's once belonged in Kansas City and once belonged in Philadelphia too. Things change

[@KRSf2375]

@alwillk Angles??? This ignorant comment isn't a surprise coming from someone that can't spell.

[@slimarellano33]

As a Dodgers fan who was there in Oakland when Dodgers were in town, I’m sad for this overall! Me & my uncle attended all 3 games & enjoyed every second of it. Getting to meet & talk to A’s fans & hear what they have to say about the departure is emotional. The baseball world feels for you Oakland. Lots of history in that stadium. Sad to see it go💙💚💛

[@dustinrhodes4793]

Hope your Dodgers win a bunch of World Series with Ohtani! Fu*k Fisher and the Giants

[@smokey5100]

💚

[@DeronGlover]

Well, like everything in California... Your cities and state suck.

[@williamwatts6063]

I’m sorry for the A’s fans. Y’all deserve better.

[@alesolren]

I love this. I wish anyone in Chicago on our local news stations had the balls to say this about Jerry and the Bulls/Sox.

[@leaveittobaker]

This was fire 🔥

[@ala1223]

Great rant Larry Beil. That's what we A's fans have been saying for years. Fisher is a colossal failure!!!

[@AnthonyGraeme]

The A's together with Oakland are iconic. That owner is an iconic asshole!

[@idigbill]

I received that letter too but didn't want to waste 30 seconds of my life reading it. I think my reaction would have been similar to Larry's even though I'm a life long Giants fan. I'm tired of seeing Oakland get the shaft when it comes to pro sports. Go Ballers!

[@jimmurphy834]

A's bailed out Giants and gave them san jose as fan base to keep Giants in SF. Fast forward 20 years, A's wanted to build stadium in San Jose and Giants nixed it. Truth.

[@idigbill]

@@jimmurphy834 I'm aware of that and I think it was a punk move by the Giants. I still think the A's should remain in Oakland but SJ would have been a better option over Sac/Vegas.

[@stevenhempel2311]

If Joe buys the team which is still a real possibility (with the sac move not approved yet and still no financing on the Vegas ballpark) would the giants be cool and let the A's play in your park while a new stadium is built on the coliseum site?

[@dustinrhodes4793]

​@@stevenhempel2311if they actually built a stadium in Howard Terminal. The A's could just play at the Coliseum until the new park is built

[@joesakic91]

​@@stevenhempel2311If that happens, I would like to see Oakland take a page out of San Diego where SD tore down Qualcomm Park and built Snapdragon Stadium for the San Diego Aztecs football team and San Diego Wave and have the Oakland Ballers play there in a 15,000-seat stadium as the A's triple A team and have their single A squad, the Oakland Panthers, play at Raimondi Park.

[@stevenwoo2881]

Larry is the man and thank you for speaking for the whole Bay Area!

[@stevenkramer3431]

Orioles fan here...fortunately, we were able to get a decent ownership group in place in the past year or so, and I only wish I could say the same for Oakland fans. You all have shown heart and class in backing your team, and you deserve ten times better than John Fisher (and the Commissioner's Office!) has given you. This gentleman, Mr. Beil, speaks the truth and speaks it from the heart. I'll retain hope, on behalf of all of you, that MLB realizes their mistake and keeps the A's in Oakland, or quickly sponsors another franchise for the city.

[@ragefierce]

This reaction video is awesome! Thanks, Larry!

[@sdot2007]

Grew up on Larry Beil, now I'm 39 y/o. Thank you Sir calling this dude out. Hate how the A's fans got played. Signed a Giant's Fan.

[@mattybeezy67]

Larry is a real one 🎉❤

[@nathburg2003]

Enjoyed seeing this said. The A's are a storied and legendary team in baseball history. Their fans deserve better. It's shameful MLB is letting this happen. Current owner can't make it work find one who will. Moving should be absolute last resort. From a Blue Jays fan.

[@kmore2766]

apparently he's doin't it to the Earthquakes, also.... soccer team that started on top, but he quickly started cheapskaping them and running them into the ground, like he did to the A's, and now they're loosing. used to be a winning team! But there, I heard the whole stadium chants "F**K JOHN FISHER!" on repeat! proud of them. That didnt really happen at the A's, baseball fans are more calm than futbol fans lol.

[@donaiv]

John Fisher’s actions or lack thereof for the past 18 years say a lot more than any words… I would tell JF that I was ready to give him my money if he actually showed me that he gave a damn about a maintaining a winning team. Instead, he proved nothing and would rather go elsewhere for his long sought after hand out.

[@lemmiwinks09]

Oh wow, haven’t heard Larry since his days on Sportscenter in the 90’s. Well said. Fisher is a disgrace to Oakland and baseball.

[@1koolkat76]

You da man Larry Beil!

[@badguy89o32]

I like this guy he speaks his mind we need more people in sports like this 👍

[@amiesweeney9426]

I am Orioles fan and I've had the fears for my own team that are being realized in Oakland. I feel for y'all and I absolutely love this guys fire.

[@craigarritola7754]

From Wisconsin, Thank you Larry Bell.

[@ShyGuyLoveSongs]

Also from Wisconsin , 100% with this guy. This is move is BS

[@JoblessMusic]

What a great speech. Amazing, had more heart than fisher had in years

[@jitow7347]

Thank you Larry! Exactly how we all feel

[@BayToTheUniverse]

Thanks for speaking for how we all feel Larry!! You have Backbone !!

[@jannamurray]

Thank you Larry!! Agree with all of that!

[@guillermomedina6625]

On behalf of many from Las Vegas, we don't support the move. I wanted them to stay in Oakland. We don't want to flip the bill for a team owner that doesn't spend to compete. Plus the place where he wants to build the stadium is a nightmare for traffic.

[@seanmiles6991]

Simply not true, I live in Las Vegas and I regularly go past Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana regularly, I get thru that intersection easily within two minutes 99% of the time.

[@SpecialAgentEBunny]

I haven’t been to an A’s game in over 15 years because like many people I don’t want to go to Oakland. Vegas I will do.

[@805fillmore]

Speak for yourself.

[@fredoyang9722]

I live in Vegas and grew up in Oakland. They belong in Oakland.

[@SpecialAgentEBunny]

@@fredoyang9722 like everyone else you left Oakland. No one wants to stay there. No one went to the games. Leaving Oakland is the only way.

[@IamGenoBlack]

This guy is the real deal. True fan. That’s wassup.

[@mrmartywaring]

Larry Biel, the legend! He was part of the golden era of ESPN

[@rrbautista8930]

Respect ✨

[@ericsj40885]

Larry this speech damn near brought a tear to my eye. You were already a legend in my book but this sealed the deal. Can't wait to see you more often for warriors post game. You are cleverly hilariouse and a master at your position. YOU DA MAN !!!

[@RichardGrijalva]

Former East Bay resident here: John Fisher has done the Athletics and fans a true disservice. And that patronizing letter will do very little to mollify fans, and it will do less to clean his conscience of what he has done. It’s so sad to see a storied franchise be dragged in the dirt by such terrible management.

[@afmx1]

Thank you Larry! I'm a Giants fan but I will miss the A's.

[@jakeferreirafamily]

Thank you deeply Larry

[@efelix1086]

Thank you for speaking truth!❤

[@omarluciano8687]

Larry, greetings from New York and thank you for baseball fans everywhere.

[@beautiful80sladies22]

Texan here....there was a celebration of my Uncle's life in 1992 in the Bay Area. In my 20s I took the opportunity to ride BART to the stadium. That was really cool. Beautiful day it was. Dusty Baker made a great throw. What an arm. Believe Jose Canseco was with the team. Toronto Blue Jays, the opponent, had great teams back then. The hardest ball hit I ever heard was a single up the middle that day by Cecil Fielder. Thank you Oakland for that memory. Really sad how loyalty has left the game and most sports. Us common folk see life different. It would be great that when sports teams left a city they change their mascots. That way if the team restarted again they could be called the original mascot....Still remember Tenance Wilson first base mitt. Names like Jackson, Rudi, Kingman, Fingers....heckuva ride

[@MrMkd1202]

I love the passion.

[@allenkrimmel8072]

Kudos to you for standing up for A’s fan. You’ve made me a fan of yours.

[@MarcusB-qr1hk]

As a Yankees fan out here in the northeast, my heart goes out to A’s fans. This is just a shambles! Your team deserves so much better! 😢

[@pkfailed]

Vegas resident here: Our state Supreme Court and Clark County officials have denied every attempt the public has brought on to bring the A's stadium funding to a vote We want the A's to stay in Norcal, we don't want the A's here

[@EugBaseball]

Ty Larry, that was awesome and needed! I have been an A's fan for 50 years and will continue to root for them in Sacramento, but if they make it to Vegas, I am done.

[@TheOtherDerek]

I love the real emotion.

[@georgeennis6982]

Thank you, good to see the frustration out there where people can see it.

[@marceloloayza4273]

Not an A's fan but as a Baseball fan, I applaud this gentleman. Well done. 👏🏻

[@geo641]

Larry Beil for President!!

[@RespondifImright]

Don't really like baseball. Don't live in Oakland. This dude seems cool as hell. Respect for being true to his feelings. This is strange to see. Refreshing.

[@NickBringham]

Larry has always been real. Thanks man for saying this on behalf of all A’s fans.

[@theoriginalsurferbob]

Just another ESPN reject who’s full of shit.

[@michaelgriffith4110]

This was beautiful!! Im so glad this was live and someone in his position on tv spoke in this nature!!

[@uncletido99]

Absolute poetry. Beautiful.

[@oaklandish-metalboy1194]

Larry needs come hang out with the Oakland Fans, Oakland 68’s, and the Last Dive Bar crew!

[@jbwhitak]

props Larry, won't be forgotten

[@geertvandijk1738]

Larry is the man

[@antonioprovenzano5130]

This is real television

[@CrawfishDeluxe]

It's completely true. There were literally several instances where funding was offered from the city and proposals made, and all it would take was a commitment from Fisher, and he held out for more money. There were several people and financial interests willing to buy him out of the team as well, but he held out for more money. The dude played chicken with the city of Oakland in hopes to save a buck, and in the end decided to take the team and leave, even though he has no tangible plan for a new stadium. Manfred is a spineless pail and won't force him to sell, but he absolutely should. It's a complete disgrace what has happened to the team, and it hurts baseball to have this happening. Anyone who says there's no money in the Bay area for the A's is a complete idiot.

[@estebanmoon9242]

Thank u larry

[@bergbryce]

HELL YES. thank you.

[@michaelc9842]

Larry’s the best!

[@Mr70srocker]

Definitely Mic drop! Well said Larry!

[@SO-if3yn]

That’s a legit response. Thats an authentic man, and he’s in media which is crazy.

[@oaklandish-metalboy1194]

LARRY! LARRY! LARRY!

[@clairestephens2187]

Thank you for speaking for us

[@rrbautista8930]

Larry Beil is A'some AWESOME ✨

[@alm5851]

Wow. This is so real

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

Look how many players the A's had that went onto become stars on other teams (and even win chips) because homeboy didn't want to spend.

[@510projectpat]

Preach 👏🏽

[@rickcasedrinksbud]

Beautifully done Larry 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ericsanchez4638]

That anchor guy was not f*cking around. I bet his boss is going to give him a bonus on his next paycheck 👏👌👍

[@pstandlee]

Thank you sir!

[@ziggzaggzip8241]

Thank you Larry. " Aloha means goodbye and hello"

[@carolynnlara9910]

Larry, thank you for your passion and frank, honest reporting! Go Oakland A’s! 😢💚💛⚾️

[@rbuttons20]

Amazing

[@jasonmoyers767]

That was soooo from the❤heart❤

[@fraige2010]

Fisher is doing the same thing to the SJ Earthquakes. Fisher doesn’t deserve any team.

[@tro8191]

Larry we luv ya buddy. You’ve always been a Bay Area guy and yes us oaklanders are always overshadowed by that “other” City 20 Minutes away. My heart is still broken for my beloved hometown. A culture has been driven to extinction.

[@camicawber]

I'm a Giants fan in Sacramento. I thought I'd love Major League Baseball in Sacramento. I don't want this. Sell the team. The A's belong in Oakland. Baseball belongs in Oakland. Shame on MLB leadership and the 29 other teams - especially the Giants - for allowing this to happen.

[@jtknight4647]

Larry Beil, all a A’s fans applaud your passion abd not holding back. Im gonna have to watch you more bro

[@PJJ196]

I’m not an As fan but I feel bad for that base .. losing all your teams in the span of 10 years .. think of the people that worked the stadium that lost their jobs.. the cops that got time and a half to work the games.. the As we’re requesting insane amount of money from the government to fund the new stadium.. it’s a shame.. the fact is the As turn out were a direct reflection of the investment ownership put into the team.. any good player the As have had dating back to Reggie Jackson were gone after their deals expired.. think of it, giambi, Jackson, Donaldson, cespedes, Sonny gray, Johnny Damon, Marcus semien, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Ricky Henderson.. they never prioritized retaining their top talent and fielding legit competitive teams.. if they did the fans would show.. it’s a shame

[@joesakic91]

Catfish Hunter as well.

[@Miguel69velle]

Larry you're the best!!! Keep up the great work.

[@wyeung24]

Rancid and Green Day both cursed out John Fisher during their show on Friday at Oracle Park, and Larry has added the exclamation mark. I really hope the Vegas deal collapses so it can be another big middle finger to Fisher.

[@briantabor9265]

Thank you sir for your honest editorial .😢