3 Stories You Should Know: Golden State, Sepp Blatter and MLB Replay

The Golden State Warriors celebrated last year's Finals victory — the first in 40 years — with a ring ceremony and banner unveiling at their 2015-16 NBA season home-opener on Tuesday. Despite the high spirits, some in attendance could not help but feel a bit disheartened. Also, what in the world has Sepp Blatter done now? Even in the midst of a suspension, the FIFA president is doing more to reveal the corruption of soccer's governing body.

In this week's “3 Stories You Should Know,” sportswriter Erik Malinowski and Shira Springer of the Boston Globe join Bill Littlefield for these stories, plus the power outage that occurred during the first game of the 2015 World Series and what role technology should (or shouldn't) play in baseball.

1. Warriors Fever

On Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors welcomed the New Orleans Pelicans to Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. for the Warriors' home-opener. Before the game, there were celebrations and ceremonies in honor of Golden State's 2015 NBA Finals victory. The Warriors went on to beat the Pelicans 111-95, led by Stephen Curry's 40 points. Why, then, among the jubilation, did Erik Malinowski feel just a little bit down?

EM: I couldn't help but think that it was just a little bit bittersweet, because the Warriors are, as everyone here in the Bay Area knows, just three years away from moving from Oakland to San Francisco. I mean, I get it. On the one hand, Oracle Arena opened in 1966. It's the oldest arena in the NBA. It's gotta go. But at the same time, you know, we're talking about the core identity of who the Warriors are, especially who the fans are.

2. Digging His Hole Deeper

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, in the middle of a 90-day suspension, has hinted again about the misdoings of soccer's governing body. The most recent controversies involve how the bids were handled for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Blatter told Russian news agency TASS, among many things, that Russia had been picked as the host of the 2018 World Cup before voting even occurred and that the United States was meant to get the nod for 2022. Shira Springer thinks FIFA's problems won't have a simple solution. 

SS: But I'm wondering, you know, have we reached a point — finally, with Sepp Blatter and the way FIFA seems to operate in a totally corrupt atmosphere — where they have to look outside for leadership when that election comes next February, in February 2016? Because it certainly seems — I've looked at the list of seven candidates, including one who has also been suspended for 90 days, and I just wonder if it's time to bring in people from the outside because FIFA simply can't do it themselves.

3. The Technological World of Baseball

A power outage during Game 1 of the World Series caused a delay and made it impossible for authorities in New York to provide instant replay capabilities to umpires in Kansas City. After just a few minutes delay, the game was allowed to continue. Bill Littlefield presents his thoughts on why the lack of technology might be a good thing.

BL: The managers both agreed the game should go on without that feature, and I should hope so. Baseball was played at the highest level for more than a century without anybody being able to review calls. All an angry manager could do was get in the umpire's face and kick dirt on his shoes, and I, for one, wish that that's the way it still was.

More Stories You Should Know: