Real play-off: Warriors versus environmentalists over end-run arena effort*

The Warriors organization’s attempt at an end run around two agencies entrusted with protecting San Francisco Bay in a bid to build a new arena over the water at Piers 30-32 moves to Sacramento today. They along with city officials will be pushing a bill by Assemblyman Phil Ting that, if passed and signed by the governor, would give the arena a legislative blessing prior to deliberations by the state Lands Commission and Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Unusual, to say the least.

But could it be a miscalculation? Maybe, it if turns out to be perceived as the wealthy owners of an NBA franchise stepping on hallowed environmental turf (or water, in this case). In any event, the Chronicle says that Sierra Club and Save the Bay reps are also in Sacramento, along with the newly-formed San Francisco Waterfront Alliance headed by former mayor Art Agnos and ex-chief administrative officer Rudy Nothenburg.

[And after the big day in Sacramento the Warriors’ public relations apparatus swings into high gear on the home-front, with a bit of programmed enthusiasm in front of City Hall Wednesday dubbed as a “Warriors on the Waterfront” rally. But, as SF Weekly notes, not without glitches.]