Andrea Mallis, Sports Astrologer, and Dave Newhouse, Oakland Tribune veteran sportswriter, at Andrea's Berkeley home

One on One
By Dave Newhouse
Staff Writer

Oakland Tribune

Wednesday September 27, 2006

Fame or Flameout? Check the Stars

Astrologer has interesting thoughts on Bay Area Athletes

Berkeley- Andrea Mallis wouldn’t join AAA because for one thing, she doesn't own a car. But she is an exclusive AAAA member.

What is AAAA? Why, Andrea’s Athletic Arena Astrology. She projects how sports heroes will do by studying their astrological charts.

"I’m like a cosmic umpire, she said. "I get 80 percent of my calls right."

Mallis grew up in New York City and attended Queens College. But after falling in love with the 1973 New York Mets, she found baseball more interesting than her major of sociology.

And after moving to Berkeley in the 1980s, astrology became her life’s calling. She then wove athletics into her astrological consulting business, officially titled "Virgo in Service."

Her baseball passion has led to local and national electronic media appearances, and she writes for major league magazines and ESPN.com.

With the baseball season winding down, football now under way, and hockey and pro basketball just ahead, Mallis was asked to read the charts of a manager/head coach and star player from the A’s, Giants, Raiders, 49ers. Warriors, Sharks, Cal and Stanford for some indicating signs.

Mallis pointed out she can’t project a team’s eventual record without reading every player’s chart, However, by studying two figures per team, she can get a strong sense of where that team is headed.

She just needs a birth date and a birth place to get started, then it’s in the stars. But for some local figures, it could be stardust.

Q. What information do you feed into your findings?

A. I’m as astrologer, not a psychic. I crunch numbers. It’s a practical science of cycles. Baseball and astrology run in cycles. What I specifically look up for an athlete is Mars, the planet of energy, assertion and aggression. It’s all about optimum performing cycles.

Q. What’s your reading on Barry Bonds?

A. He’s a Leo, born on a full moon. Those born on a full moon are spotlight seekers; they crave attention and are pretty insufferable. But he’s Leo, king of the zodiac: regal, self-assured, confident, proud, dynamic, melodramatic. It’s about him.

He had a very difficult Saturn patch; Saturn is like the cosmic cop of the zodiac. It’s a part of karma, so you do the crime, you do the time. Saturn has been on him for a couple of seasons, and it’s just about dissipating. In July ’07 he controls his temper. So if he wants to go DH in the American League, he’ll try to get another year out of if.

Q. What’s your take on Giants manager Felipe Alou?

A. It looks like it’s time to move on. He did a commanding job, He’s a Taurus: steadfast, stable, reliable, determined, even-keeled, He handled Bonds very well. But vitality is at a low point, ambitions may be thwarted, life feels like an endurance test. It would be completely defeating for him to stay on.

Q. What does A’s manager Ken Macha’s chart look like?

A. He’s a Libra. Easy-going, cooperative, agreeable, but somewhat indecisive, hesitant, passive, which is very good to counter-play (general manager) Billy Beane, who’s an Aries, very fiery, need to get his own way. It wouldn’t work to the A’s advantage to have a really strong manager. In terms of Mach being inspiring, no. His chart is really unspectacular.

Q. What part of the zodiac is Frank Thomas?

A. Gemini. Good communicator, adaptable, good leadership ability. According to his forecast, in October, it’s steady progress, confidence at an all-time high. I wouldn’t write off his injury (situation) next year, but he can still hit the ball.

Q. Let’s shift to the Raiders. What about coach Art Shell?

A. It’s turning uglier by the minute, unfortunately. Art Shell is a Sagittarius. Very philosophical, optimistic, idealistic, hopeful, all good for his playing career. Hall of Fame. For coaching, you want to look at Mercury, the planet of communication and learning. Communication is not his forte. Saturn, the planet of limitation, is making a difficult aspect to his Mercury. So (his) ideas are challenged the entire season, (he’s) likely to feel misunderstood, communication met with resistance and protest.

Q. Hmmm, Jerry Porter? But what about Randy Moss?

A. He’s an Aquarius. Independant, freedom-loving, original, eccentric, unusual, electric. Aquarians can take the high road or the low road. The low road is rebellious. Unpredictable, detached, aloof, unthinking. A kind of prima donna energy. And a foot-in-mouth disease with Mercury nest to his Mars. So this is a hothead, a very tough chart.

Q. What do the planets say about 49’ers coach Mike Nolan?

A. He’s a Pisces. Imaginative, dreamy, emotional, idealistic, spiritual, a visionary. (Ex-49er) Kevan Barlow called him a "little dictator." I actually thinks he’s much more intuitive than dictatorial. But September through January, some tensions and disputes, possible frustration and misuse of energy, confrontation. Things tend to get bogged down.

Q. What is your chart on 49ers quarterback Alex Smith?

A. You can check my Web site (www.virgoinservice.com). I said Alex Smith was going to be a bust before he took his first pass, He’s a Taurus. Industrious, persevering, determined, resourceful. He has those enduring qualities. He’s doing well now, because he’s in his Jupiter cycle, but he’s going to be like Ryan Leaf and Tim Couch. His charts show me one and done. By June ’07, Saturn, the planet of limitations, will square his Mars, signifying accidents and injuries. A huge red flag.

Q. Are the planets kinder to Warriors Coach Don Nelson?

A. He’s another Taurus. Practical, stable, productive, reliable…all good qualities to have as a coach. However, Saturn is squaring his sun, the same as Felipe Alou. Life feels like an endurance test, may feel discouraged.

Q. How do you see Warriors point guard Baron Davis?

A. He’s an Aries. The warrior, fearless, confident, forceful, assertive. He can also be independent, impatient, a little headstrong. The good news is Saturn in Leo is making a harmonious aspect to his sun in Aries, all three fire signs, This means significant progress in his career…gains recognition, prominence, promotion. Strong health.

Q.What of NHL MVP Joe Thorton of the Sharks?

A. He’s a Cancer. Emotional, sensitive, sustaining, shy, a little moody. In December Jupiter, which is expansion, oppose his Mars. He exhibits powerful leadership, does things in a big way. I like his chart a lot.

Q. How about Cal football, and coach Jeff Tedford?

A. He’s a Scorpio. He’s very intense with the dark sunglasses. Very powerful, magnetic, mysterious, psychological, deep. And very charismatic; he has the Tedhead cult following. Jupiter, the planet of good fortune, is in Scorpio. So this is a huge year for Scorpios, happens once every 12 years.

Q. Hey, maybe a Rose Bowl for Cal. What can you tell us about running back Marshawn Lynch?

A. He’s a Taurus. Same adjectives, but he has a really positive Mars aspect for September, October and January, when the bowl games come. He will quickly achieve basic goals and ambitions. His willpower serves him well. His star is on the rise, a potential Heisman trophy winner.

Q. And what of beleaguered Stanford Coach Walt Harris?

A. Scorpio. Regenerating, researching, emotional, He has one of those when it-rains-it pours charts, But the last two weeks of November, Jupiter to Venus, joyful state of abundance, fortunate and positive period.

Q. Look out Cal. What about quarterback Trent Edwards?

A. Another Scorpio. End of September and October, Jupiter makes a harmonious aspect to Mars; person is spirited and highly effective, confident and assured. Clear focus and attention, Fulfills desires with a minimum of struggle.