ON THE AIR
‘Big Unit’ origin
One of the great mysteries of our time is solved. Comcast SportsNet Bay Area sat with Giants pitcher Randy Johnson for its “A Conversation With …” series, and interviewer Scott Reiss asked: How did Johnson get the name Big Unit? (This is an especially meaningful question at the Mercury News, where the question was once asked, Randy Johnson, is that the guy they call The Big Package?)
“Tim Raines is about 5-9. I might be generous there,” Johnson says of his former Expos teammate. “He was taking B.P. and he just walked up to me and looked up and said, ‘You’re a big unit.’ “
Greatness is always so simple.
Johnson talks about emulating Vida Blue while growing up in Livermore, and about the similarities he sees between himself and Tim Lincecum despite being a foot taller. The half-hour episode airs at 8 tonight, although it could start earlier if the Warriors game that precedes it ends early.
HEARD THIS ONE?
What next, 49ers?
Jed York reportedly met with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday. First he meets with Kurt Warner and now this? Gee, playing owner is fun! Next on the agenda of Equally Likely To Happen, Jed will hire Condoleezza Rice, plan the 2011 Super Bowl parade route, and buy the A’s and Warriors and start shopping for a tri-purpose stadium.
RANDOM THOUGHT
Back to the future: The A’s might struggle this year. But with Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra, they will be ready to make a run at the pennant in 2002. (Seriously. All four players turned in their RBI career highs from 1998-2002.)
