Charitable giving shows recent signs of life in valley By Leigh Weimers Mercury News – June 7, 2004 Continuing signs from the philanthropic front that the economy is improving. The Palo Alto Library Foundation and a coalition of sponsors, for instance, recently raised $2.6 million for rebuilding and expanding that city's children's library. (The foundation is thanking donors tonight with a party at the Garden Court Hotel, featuring National Public Radio commentator Geoffrey Nunberg and what Guinness says is the world's biggest book, the 130-pound ``Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom.'') Menlo School's 1940s theme fashion show/dinner, meanwhile, raised more than $275,000 -- not bad for a night's partying. And the VIP (Volunteers Inspiring People) committee of EMQ Children and Family Services brought in $235,000 at its ``Entertaining Through the Seasons'' fundraiser -- not bad for a lunch. MUSIC NOTES: One of the season's top feel-good shows is set for 7 p.m. today at Villa Montalvo's Carriage House Theater. It's the annual concert by the Rhythm Makers -- musicians with developmental disabilities from HOPE Services, directed by teacher extraordinaire David Ladd Anderson -- and their enthusiasm is upliftingly contagious. Another guy who loves music -- legendary jazz drummer Louie Bellson -- won't turn 80 until July 26, but San Jose fans of his adopted hometown will celebrate at 6 p.m. Saturday at Theatre on San Pedro Square. Naturally, Bellson will play -- with the Musician's Warehouse big band. A REAL DRAG: They may have knocked our Sharks out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the Calgary Flames and their hockey-crazy Canadian hometown still managed to capture a lot of hearts here -- including those of three guys wearing dresses. Dean Devincenzi of Double D's sports bar in Los Gatos had bet his counterpart, Steve Sheridan of Calgary's Pig & Whistle Pub, on the outcome of the Sharks-Flames series. The loser had to serve drinks at the winner's bar -- in drag -- which is why Devincenzi and staffers Dan Harris and Chris Pettingill headed north with some trepidation. Not to worry. ``Everywhere we went, people treated us like royalty, with a red carpet,'' Devincenzi says. ``There were camera crews to meet us at the airport,'' adds Harris. ``And a limousine. They gave us Flames jerseys. They even gave us tickets to Game 3, with seats on the glass. I felt like a celebrity.'' Even if he had to wear heels and makeup first. Pig & Whistle manager Mark D'Angelo says his side is planning a reciprocal visit to San Jose. ``They're great people and I know they're going to treat us well when we go down.'' Just don't expect many camera crews in blasé S.J. Speaking of blasé, that's more and more my attitude when I hear Denver-based Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the San Jose Earthquakes, talk of moving the team elsewhere if we don't come up with a fancy new soccer pitch. Have you ever seen any of these out-of-town owners getting involved in anything else locally? And as for the team, despite having a huge potential fan base of residents who play and follow soccer -- and Major League Soccer's most photogenic star, Landon Donovan -- it still hasn't figured out how to put more bodies in the seats. Blaming Spartan Stadium is a feeble excuse. If the team did leave, would anyone notice? I know this may just be one opinion. But do you think it is an example of what most people in San Jose think about the Earthquakes?
Nah... it's more an example of what most of America thinks about soccer (still - having an MLS telecast bumped for a WNBA telecast shouldn't have come as any surprise, after all) - though it seems that his point is directed more toward "out-of-town" AEG than at San Jose. In any case, though, your first sentence is much more accurate. Strangely, it seems to contradict his earlier, more positive stance on the subject. -G
I dont know what the prob in SJ is. Usually winning puts asses in the seats. I know it doesnt have anything to do with former mgmt. Greg Elliott is now in Dallas and I think I can speak on the behalf of most Burn fans when I say he has been very impressive.
Greg Elliott is a good guy (no relation), but he hasn't exactly proved his ability to get big crowds in Dallas, either.
Dallas has played only 4 home games this year so I would say the jury is still out. Greg Elliott has the unenviable task of rebuilding after the Southlake debacle last year. Give him time he will right the ship.
San Jose has played only 4 home games this year so I would say the jury is still out. Alexi Lalas has the unenviable task of rebuilding after numerous management debacles over the years. Give him time he will right the ship.
You also forgot to mention a history of underacheiving teams. At least SJ has won the last 2 of 3 MLS Cups. We'll see how SJ and DAL attendence numbers stack up after the Freddy Adu show rolls into town on the 26th of June. I think they'll at least get the 17K+ that SJ did.
Should I take it as an underhanded compliment that you've forgotten how underachieving SJ's MLS teams were pre-2001? I hope both teams (heck, all MLS teams) continue to improve their attendances throughout the year. -G
It may not bring more people to the games, but a new stadium would surely make keeping the team in SJ more financially reasonable.
The problem is that most stadiums are built atleast in part by taxes. If there isn't enough support for the team or the city doesn't see having an MLS team as an asset than getting a stadium is a problem.