Without further ado, I'd like to give kudos to one of my sportswriter heroes, the estimable Dave Newhouse, whose recent screed, Last Bah Humbug for 2015 -- in last week's issue -- hits many nails on the proverbial head. I couldn't agree with Mr. Newhouse more on his musings about the state of the local sports teams, especially his final paragraph, a heartfelt shout-out to long-suffering Oakland fans. I am one of those fans, and if I may, I'd like to add a few Humbuggian (is that a word?) observations to his fine piece.

 

Let me get this one out of the way first, because it's been sticking in my craw since I woke up this morning and looked at the front page of the Sporting Green. Like many people my age, I have a hard time with the insidious epidemic of cell phones. So I see a nice action photo of Klay Thompson going up for a trey, his oh-so perfect shooting form on display. At the bottom of the shot there is a young couple, sitting in the first row in Portland. She's looking at her boyfriend, and what is HE doing? NOT looking at Klay's incredible basketball artistry, taking place maybe ten feet from him, NOT even looking at his girl--no, he's looking down at his phone, of course. Are you kidding me? And how much did you pay for those front row seats, young man? I am incredulous, and saddened. Welcome to the new normal, pal....

 

The Warriors continue to be an amazing story on the court, but there is another story unfolding off the court. In today's San Francisco Chronicle, Matier and Ross's column is about the lawsuit filed by the foes of the planned Mission Bay arena. I love the irony coming out of the mouth of Warriors' spokesman Nathan Ballard; "This is a frivolous and doomed suit brought by a group of wealthy investors." Are you kidding me, Nate? Who is wealthier than Joe Lacob and Peter Guber? The hypocrisy is mind-boggling. There is only one reason they bought the team, and that was to move them to the emerald city, with the glitz, glamour, and dot.com billionaires who could not care less about our team. Yes, that city, the one that has sold its soul to Uber, Google, Facebook and Airbnb.

 

He then goes on to level a veiled insult to Oakland; "The decision to bring the Warriors home will be upheld in the courts." Uh, the W's have not been a San Francisco team since 1971, when they left for greener pastures in Oakland, where they've been for 45 years, winning two titles and earning the love of a passionate fan base. I wonder if Ballard was at the parade last June--I was, and I am sick of people trying to say that the Warriors should be a San Francisco team--hell, the 49ers are not even a San Francisco team anymore. Okay, I know that fighting the construction of this new arena is a loser--I'm resigned to it. But I don't have to like it...

 

There is one team in the city that has class, as much as I hate to admit it, and they are poised for their fourth consecutive even-year title run, having made three key acquisitions this off-season. The latest, deluxe leadoff man Denard Span, completes possibly the best one through nine, offensively and defensively, in the game. Throw in a solid veteran staff, a decent bullpen, and arguably the finest manager in the game, and Bochy's boys look pretty darn good.

 

Meanwhile, on our side of the bay, it's " Who's on first, what's on second, what's his name at third, I don't know in left." In reality, it's Marcus at short, Billy of Burns in center, Billy Butler (oh, no!) the DH again, and the chronicles of Reddick in right. At least we have two good catchers. And after Sonny, a starting rotation and a bullpen of, hold it-- I have no idea! 2016 might be a long year for A's fans.

 

January 12 could be Black Tuesday for the Silver and Black but my gut tells me that the NFL will stall on this one. The whole thing is so convoluted, what with Stan Kroenke and his billions, and the dysfunction swirling around the Chargers. All I know is that I want no part of Carmen Policy, the fixer behind the Carson deal. All we can do is cross our fingers, hope that Mayor Libby is as much of a Raiders fan as she says, and pray for a miracle that will keep our team in Oakland.

 

Saturday night the Warriors, led by Steph Curry and certain all-star Draymond Green, demolished a game and ultimately overmatched a Sacramento team. Their combined numbers are ridiculous: 63 points, 13 for 20 on threes, 15 assists, 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks. When the Kings, after being down by 16 with 4:22 left, somehow managed to cut the lead to 5 with 2:46 remaining, Luke Walton went small. In a blink of an eye the game was over, Curry nailing the coffin with two soul-destroying treys. I feel bad for George Karl--he deserves better. I still root for Karl, who to me is the epitome of class. He doesn't have to coach and absorb the constant abuse, but he does because he loves the game and he loves coaching. The man is a prince.

 

So, this is where the Warriors are. As terrific as they are, there are three issues they will face come playoff time.

1. Greg Popovich is arguably the greatest coach in NBA history, and he is mad; he wants payback for what happened in the playoffs last year, and he is orchestrating this season like a man possessed, on a mission to win one more title before his aging stars sail away into the sunset, a last hurrah. His Spurs are crushing everyone; nobody plays more than 30 minutes, key guys are rested periodically, and they are 13 deep.
2. Home-court advantage will be huge come playoffs; neither team has lost a game at home this year. The Warriors' four-game lead is very tenuous--one bad week can change all that. So the goal is to keep winning, right? With that in mind, how can you afford to rest Steph and Draymond? Uh-oh...
3. If April arrives and the Warriors have lost only five or six games, the allure of shattering the Bulls record will be a huge distraction, one the W's don't need, because now there will be yet another reason for them not to rest Curry and Green. The goal is to win the championship--and this is precisely why Steve Kerr needs to come back, hopefully healthy, to make sure that the team keeps its collective eye on the prize...

So there you have it, my New Year's revelations. What are my resolutions, one might ask? That's easy.

1. Another parade around Lake Merritt
2. A .500 season for the Athletics, and
3. Come September, the Raiders are still in Oakland

Happy New Year.

Pete Elman worked as a sportswriter for the Contra Costa Times and

Oakland Tribune from 2000 to 2011. In 1991 he came up with the iconic moniker RUN TMC for the Golden State Warriors of the early 1990s. He is currently publishing a children's picture book with music, titled

 Seasons, Rhymes in Time.  

( chillincrowbooks.com).

 

I've never been one to root against a team. The Bay Area teams I covered as a beat writer, or wrote about as a columnist, of course I wanted to win. And when I've been asked which are my favorite local teams, I always say that I root first for the Bay Area, because I want us to be better than New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and all other metro areas.

 

OK, maybe I lean a little more toward Oakland than San Francisco because I've lived and worked in Oakland for a half-century. But it's not blatant favoritism. If San Francisco wins a championship, believe me, I'm not displeased.

 

But for the first time that I can remember, I'm rooting -- and I mean strongly -- against a team, and I'm pulling hard for them to lose. I'm speaking of the Seattle Seahawks, a franchise devoid of class.

 

This deep dislike goes back to the last Super Bowl, which the Seahawks blew with the worst goal-line decision in the history of football, gift-wrapping a victory for the New England Patriots.

 

But it was a play before that dumb play -- a pass instead of a run from the half-yard line, which turned into an interception -- that grates on me even now. It involved a touchdown catch by Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin and his disgraceful behavior afterward, which resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty against Seattle, instead of Baldwin's banishment from the game.

 

If you didn't see what Baldwin did, well, it wasn't shown on national television. Baldwin mimicked pulling down his pants and going to the bathroom over the football. In all my years of observing sports, that is the most repulsive non-contact thing to take place in a football arena.

 

And the first football game I ever saw was in 1948 at Stanford, which is the alma mater of Baldwin, a school he devalued with his mindless maneuver in the Super Bowl.

 

Thus I couldn't wait for the Seahawks to cut him loose for embarrassing the NFL on its biggest stage. Who needs a clueless individual like that on your roster? I waited for team owner Paul Allen to order that Baldwin be removed from the roster, but that order wasn't given.

 

Then I waited for coach Pete Carroll to cut Baldwin, but that didn't happen either. Waiting for the Seahawks to do the proper thing was like waiting for Godot. Why wasn't that done? The only logical explanation was that Baldwin was their best wide receiver, and they opted for statistics over sanity.

 

The National Football League? Commissioner Roger Goodell could have made a rare statement of authority by suspending Baldwin, but he was fined a measly $11,025. Players are fined more for having their jerseys untucked. Toiletgate was flushed quickly from the league's consciousness.

 

There was no immediate reaction from the Seattle media demanding Baldwin's ouster. No one in Rainytown seemed to care, certainly not the team's rabid fan base known as The Twelfth Man.

 

And what was Baldwin's public acknowledgement of what he had done? First he said that his crass celebration was directed at an unnamed group which wasn't present at the game. Oh, really?

 

Then he changed his mind, saying that it was directed at Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, the end result of "built-up frustration I was letting out in that sequence, between him and I." Oh, really?

 

Baldwin didn't have an explanation that made sense. His head seemed full of air, hardly befitting a Stanford man. And so he returned to the Seahawks in 2015 and had his best season yet with 78 catches for 1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Seahawks must feel wonderful about their decision to keep him around, a decision enhanced by Baldwin's scoring the game's only touchdown in Sunday's 10-9 playoff win over Minnesota.

 

I pulled hard for the Vikings and cringed when Blair Walsh missed a gimme field goal that would have vanquished the Seahawks and Baldwin from the NFL scene and from my mind. But I'll keep rooting against the Seahawks, hoping that Carolina, their next opponent, and the gods of morality will keep them out of a third straight Super Bowl, this one in Santa Clara.

 

Baldwin ruined a good story, his own story. Undrafted out of Stanford, he signed with Seattle as a free agent in 2011, then proved himself on the NFL playing fields. You'll find him on YouTube, with his "Fresh Files" video series, answering fans' questions about events in his life. Oh, really? He frequently posts about his faith and various Bible verses on his Twitter account. Oh, really?

 

The word out of Seattle is that Baldwin is engaged in various charity activities. That reminds me of the sagacious words of Samuel Johnson: "Charity is the last act of a scoundrel."

 

Oh, really? Really.

Retired Oakland Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse published two books

in 2015: Founding 49ers: The Dark Days Before the Dynasty,

 and Dare To Dream: How James Madison University Became Coed and Shocked the Basketball World. Both are now available at bookstores and from Amazon.

16th annual MESHOF Induction Ceremony, January 28, 2016

Football fans, here is the news you have been waiting for.

In association with the NFL Alumni and as part of the Super Bowl festivities to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area this year, the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (MESHOF) will present its 16 th annual Induction Ceremony at the Double Tree Hotel Newark--Fremont on Thursday, January 28. The ceremony is dedicated to former members of the San Francisco 49ers.

The oldest professional team in the Bay Area, the San Francisco 49ers have also been the area's most successful. This is your chance to meet and mingle with many of the players.

Inducted and honored will be players from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s. Team owners, doctors, and former players who have positively impacted the community will be honored. Also honored will be those who contributed to the organization since the franchise moved to San Francisco in 1946.

Class of 2016: Dana Stubblefield, Ray Wersching, Willie Harper, Ted Kwalick, Jeremy Newberry and Allan Kennedy.

Community Honoree:  Eason Ramson -- Distinguished Service Award; Carolyn Hoskins -- Distinguished Service Award; Dr. Jamie Williams.

For more information, visit the MESHOF website at www.afrosportshall.com or call 510-629-2895. Or visit the NFL Alumni's site at www.nflalumninoca.org , or call 510-258-3555.

Purchase your tickets now because this event will sell out!

2016 Super Bowl Breakfast, Feb. 6

 

The 29 th annual NFL-sanctioned Super Bowl Breakfast is coming to the Bay Area!  It will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco.

 

Tony Dungy, Brent Jones, Benjamin Watson, Tim Brown, Jerry Kramer, Roger Staubach, Mike Ditka and others will be on hand to celebrate Super Bowl 50!

  

The Super Bowl Breakfast features the presentation of the  Bart Starr Award to a current NFL player, voted on by his peers, for outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. Winners in recent years include Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. Highlights of the program will include interviews with Super Bowl players via video, exciting NFL Films highlights, interviews, humor, personal stories, testimonies and a faith-based message.

 

Visit  www.superbowlbreakfast.com  for more information or call 800-416-9472.

 

The Super Fan Chase will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area on Feb. 3-6, the week before Super Bowl 50. It will involve up to 50 businesses providing sports-themed entertainment for contestants who will receive a passport that each business stamps before contestants move to the next destination. The first team delivering the most stamps within the allotted time wins a VIP viewing experience to the Big Game.

Participating businesses include the Taplands Taproom, Bottle Shop & Neighborhood Brewery of Santa Clara, Adobe Road Winery of Sonoma/TRG-Aston Martin Racing, Visionary Moments of Santa Clara, Russell City Sports Bar & Grill in Hayward, 7D Experience of PIER 39 in San Francisco, WimZr (at your app store), SF Drone School of San Francisco, Sports Basement, and DJI flying and camera stabilization systems. For fan and/or sponsorship details, visit www.SuperFanChase.com, www.Facebook.com/SuperFanChase, Twitter @SuperFanChase or info@SuperFanChase.com.

Below are the names of advertisers who will participate in our 2015 Fall/Winter Football edition. Add your name by calling and reserving your space. Good placement is available and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Be part of the most comprehensive sports magazine

in the San Francisco Bay Area. Call 510-845-2035 today or write:  theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com.

What do all these illustrious names have in common?

Michael Altfest, Steve Baker, James Brandt, Paul Brekke-Miesner, Robinson Brown, Walter Champion, Harvey Cohen, Isaac Cronin, Eileen Curran, Nick Curran, Glenn Dickey, Andy Dolich, Jeff Elefante, Pete Elman, Leland Faust, Nancy Finley and Chris De Benedetti, Jim Fitzpatrick, Rob Flammia, Daniel Geary, Andre Johnson, Kenny Karst, Ira Klein, Richard Lupoff, Bruce Macgowan, Patric Mayers, Ross McKean, Robert Moselle, Dave Newhouse, John Ourand, Howard Pearlstein, Rudi Petschek, Laurel Poeton, Phil Schaaf, Dan Siegel, Jonathan Siegel,  Tom Stern, Shelia Young

All of the above writers have contributed articles to 

SPORTS TODAY and their acclaimed work can be found at www.ultimatesportsguide.com. Simply click SPORTS TODAY

at the top of the home page 

and three indexes will appear: by issue, author and category. All are cross-indexed and provide links to every article we have published.

  Dave Newhouse's history of the 49ers' pre-DeBartolo years, 1946-76 is a must read for all San Francisco Bay Area sports fans. The book can be ordered at Amazon.com and at bookstores.

   Odds to win Super Bowl 50

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San Francisco

Abbey Tavern, 4100 Geary Street

The Blue Light, 1979 Union Street

Bus Stop, 1901 Union Street

The Chieftain, 198 5th Street

Danny Coyle's, 668 Haight Street

Dave's, 29 Third Street @ Kearny

Final Final, 2990 Baker @ Lombard

The Holding Company, #2 Embarcadro Center

Il Pirata, 2007 16th Street

Jake's Steaks, 3301 Buchanan Street

Jullian's, 101 4th Street

The Kezar Pub, 770 Stanyan Street

Mad Dog in the Fog, 530 Haight Street

Mucky Duck, 1315 9th Avenue

Nickie's Bar, 466 Haight Street

Players Sports Grill, Pier 39, Buildings L & M

Polo Grounds, 747 3rd Street

 

East Bay

Brennan's Restaurant, 4th & University, Berkeley

Churchward Pub, 1515 Park Street, Alameda

City Beach, 4020 Technology Place, Fremont

Crogan's Montclair, 6101 La Salle Avenue, Oakland

Cue & Brew, 1029 Arnold Drive, #6, Martinez

Dan's Irish Sports Bar, 1524 Civic Street, Walnut Creek

Diamonds Sports Bar & Grill, 77 Hegenberger, Oakland

Ed's Mudville Grill, 6200 Center Street, Clayton

The Englander, 101 Parrott Street, San Leandro  

Evie's, 7138 Village Parkway, Dublin

Francesco's Restaurant, 8520 Pardee Drive, Oakland

Frank's Saloon, 2014 Marina Blvd., San Leandro

Funky Monkey, 22554 Main Street, Hayward

George & Walt's, 5445 College Avenue, Oakland

Grand Oaks Restaurant, 3701 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Go Sports Bar, 736 Washington Street, Oakland

Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

Kingfish, 5227 Claremont, Oakland

Linguini's Pizza & Brew, 1508 Park Street, Alameda

Livermore Casino Sports Bar, 3571 First Street, Livermore

McCovey's Restaurant, 1444 N. California, Walnut Creek

Mr. Lucky's Bar & Grill, 1527 Locust Street. Walnut Creek

Oakland Moose Club, 690 Hegenberger Road

Oaks Corner, 4099 San Pablo, Emeryville

Otaez Mexican Restaurant, 1619 Webster Street, Alameda

Pacific Coast Brewing Co., 906 Washington Street, Oakland

Pasta Pelican, 2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda

Pete's Place, 610A San Pablo Avenue, Pinole

Rancho Sports Bar, 3912 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante

Ricky's Sports Grill, 15028 Hesperian Blvd., San Leandro

Sports Edition Bar, Hilton Oakland Airport, Oakland

Stadium Pub, 1420 Lincoln Avenue, Walnut Creek

Tierney's Sports Bar, 540 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

WPLJ's Dance Club, 2112 North Main Street, Walnut Creek

 

Brisbane

7 Mile House, 2800 Bayshore Blvd.

 

Burlingame 

The American Bull Bar & Grill, 1819 El Camino Real

Knuckles Historical Sports Bar, Hyatt Regency, Burlingame

 

Campbell 

Capers Eat & Drink, 1710 West Campbell   

 

Fair Oaks

Players Sports Pub, 4060 Sunrise Blvd.

 

Half Moon Bay 

Cameron's Restaurant Pub & Inn, 1410 South Cabrillo Hwy

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., 390 Capistrano Road

 

Foster City 

The Club House Bistro, 1221 Chess Drive  

 

Palo Alto 

Sundance The Steakhouse, 1921 El Camino Real

 

Point Richmond

Up & Under, 2 West Richmond Avenue   

 

San Jose 

Bay 101 Casino, 1801 Bering Drive

Britannia Arms, 5027 Almaden Expressway

Britannia Arms, 173 West Santa Clara

Britannia Arms, 1087 De Anza Blvd.    

 

San Rafael 

Pete's 881, 721 Lincoln Avenue

 

Santa Clara

City Beach, 2911 Mead Avenue

 

Santa Cruz 

One Double Oh Seven Club, 1007 Soquel Avenue    

 

Vacaville 

Stars Recreation Center, 155 Browns Valley Parkway