Ricky's in the news |
Ricky's in the News
Sports take center stage at San Leandro hot spotBy Dave Newhouse Thursday, November 07, 2002 IT'S MONDAY night at Ricky's Sports Theatre & Grill in San Leandro. Green Bay is dominating Miami on a big screen. The Golden State Warriors are struggling against Dallas on a small screen. Waitresses in referee-striped shirts are carrying burgers on trays to men slurping their draft beers. No Bay Area sports bar is more popular than Ricky's, an East Bay institution since 1946. Ricky's has 75 TVs, including some in the bathrooms. This is a hard-core sports environment. Just ask the few women in the nearly filled bar area. "Men are very pre-occupied," said Pam Dixon. "I can't believe how men just watch TV. They don't even turn around and look at you. The waitresses are beautiful, but they just get out of the way." That's how it is at Ricky's. Attractive women such as Dixon and her friend, Terry Parker, barely are noticed over Brett Favre. And they're likely not noticed at all whenever Oakland Raiders games are shown at Ricky's, a happening spot for sports fanatics. No Bay Area sports bar is more popular than Ricky's, an East Bay institution since 1946. Ricky's has 75 TVs, including some in the bathrooms. Jerseys of Ken Stabler, George Blanda, Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, George Atkinson and other past Raiders are framed on the wall, along with current Raider Sam Adams' Seattle Seahawks jersey. Ricky's is a watering hole for Raiders, players and fans alike. But its appeal extends beyond silver and black. A San Jose woman drives to Ricky's to watch Kansas University basketball games via satellite. "If it's on TV, we'll get it for you," said owner Ricky Ricardo Jr. "We have a mix of people here, from assembly-line workers to vascular surgeons. And there are no problems here. If you see one, you defuse it. People respect me. It's a mutual respect. We have people bring their children in. It's a restaurant." On the menu are sandwiches named after Raiders greats and appetizers named after sports media. I'd, ahem, recommend the fried zucchini. The servings are ample and tasty, and that includes pregame breakfasts. "You find a commonality in sports," said Dr. Bob Gingery, who actually is a vascular surgeon. "It's a slice of life down here. I enjoy talking to the other patrons, who have a fervent interest in sports and are very knowledgeable about strategy. This is a real hot-bed of sports." Gingery watched the Packers-Dolphins game before returning to San Leandro Hospital to fix a clot in a patient's arm. The good doctor, sipping on a soft drink with his salad, works 70 to 90 hours a week. "I like sports, and this is a good escape," he said. Ken Blackman, formerly of San Ramon, now lives in Los Angeles. He works in manufacturing and visits the Bay Area once a month. "I don't want to sit in my (hotel) room or drive to the city," he said. "So I come to Ricky's. You feel welcome here, even though it's Raider-dominated." Blackman, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, overheard what Dixon had to say about pre-occupied men at Ricky's. "I did look at you when you were eating," he said to her. "Then speak," she replied.
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