Juan Toscano-Anderson upset by possible Athletics move, will remain a fan
JTA upset by A's possible Vegas move, but will remain a fan originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Athletics have an uncertain future in Oakland after the franchise entered a binding agreement with the city of Las Vegas for a site intended to be used for a $1 billion ballpark.
Since the announcement, there's been plenty of reaction from A's fans, including former Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson. The 30-year-old noted how hard it's been for Oakland to lose several teams in a span of a few years.
"It sucks," Toscano-Anderson said Monday on 95.7 The Game's "Willard and Dibs." "I look at it from two different perspectives. I look at it from a perspective from an Oakland native, and I still have residency in Oakland. All my family still lives in Oakland. The Oakland A's, the [Las Vegas] Raiders and the Warriors have been everything to us, as I'm sure other sports teams are for people in other cities.
"So it sucks. The teams being there provide a lot of entertainment, jobs. It helps the economy in Oakland, keeps kids having something to look forward to do, [going] to games, [trying] to stay out of trouble [and] some positive role models in the city. So that part sucks."
However, Toscano-Anderson also sees the business side of the A's wanting to move out of Oakland. The franchise wants a new stadium and is prepared to look at Vegas as a viable option for their future.
"Being in the business, around the business, understanding that we live in a capitalist world, that pretty much everything is about business and about money, so I understand," Toscano-Anderson continued.
"I mean, if I was the owner of a sports team or a CEO, I would look for the best opportunity for my business to thrive. Unfortunately, the A's [and] the Raiders have not felt like that's been in the Bay Area or Oakland. So it's unfortunate, but I get it. There's two sides to the coin, so I'm upset about it. But like I said, I understand. I get it."
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Additionally, Toscano-Anderson revealed that if the A's move to Las Vegas, his fandom will follow. The soon-to-be NBA free agent shared his story of staying away from the NFL after the Raiders left the Bay Area but soon returned to being a fan.
"After [the Raiders] left [for] Vegas, I didn't watch one NFL game for a whole year, but I couldn't see myself rooting for another team, so I gave in," Toscano-Anderson said.
"I'm a Raider fan at heart, so it doesn't really matter to me anymore. So to answer your question, no, I would never root for another baseball team. I'm Oakland A's and Warriors till I die."
The A's aren't heading to Las Vegas just yet, considering all the hurdles they'll need to overcome in the city to build a new stadium. Nonetheless, they now have at least one foot out of Oakland.
