Over a long career in sports journalism, Jack Menges saw a great deal. But not too many journalists remember seeing Menges. He was the invisible man of Bay Area sportswriters.

It was one thing to say you were a colleague of Menges, which I was for 26 years at the Oakland Tribune, but another thing to say that you actually saw him. I might have seen him a few times, but he still had to be pointed out, because I couldn't be sure if it was really him.

Menges was a candidate for the Bureau of Missing Persons. And don't just take my word for it.

"What's odd -- or maybe not -- is that I was at the Trib from 1980 until 1982, and I don't think I ever met him," said Janet Silver Ghent.

"I hardly saw him at the (Tribune) office, but he was always friendly and interesting to talk with," said Bob Loomis.

"I worked at the Tribune 18 years, and I think I saw him twice," said Jim Johnson. "The track was his office."

That would be the horse racing track, which explained Menges' invisibility. If you visited Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows or the fair circuit tracks, there you would find Menges, handicapping racings and writing daily track stories for the Tribune. But even at the track, to see Menges you had to visit the press box. He rarely even placed a bet on his picks or anybody else's; and if he did make a wager, it would be for $2, nothing more.

Jack Menges died Oct. 12 in Livermore from complications of Parkinson's. He was 87, though quite visible the last 15 years of his life. That's because he retired from journalism in 1990, after 43 years at the Tribune, which then meant re-introducing himself to the general public. No more hiding out.

But what a loss for the horse-racing crowd when Jack stopped his handicapping. He was so good at predicting how races would turn out that he once picked seven winners in a nine-race card and 13 winners in two days. And you couldn't, or shouldn't, say he was lucky. For he understood the full scope of horse racing. You see, early in his career, he worked the backstretch of tracks in the early morning hours "to get a better understanding of racing." He was, indeed, a pro's pro.

"Jack was meticulous in his record-keeping, and that helped make him an excellent handicapper," said John Simmonds, a Tribune assistant sports editor during Menges' time at the newspaper. "He also did a popular daily feature called 'Menges Longshots', and was on top of every development in the local racing circles. He was the best."

You wouldn't find Menges covering horse racing's Triple Crown, as local tracks were his domain. Nevertheless, as a journalist and as a man, "he was a Triple Crown winner all the time," said a fellow Tribune sportswriter, Dave Lovecchio, who might have seen him a half-dozen times.

Menges didn't start out, or prepare himself initially, to be a horse racing scribe. After graduating from Oakland High, he joined the Tribune in 1947 as a prep writer. If he had any sports fancy, it was hardtop and midget racing cars, which he not only reported on, he also drove in competition.

He covered USF and Santa Clara football before the two schools gave up the sport in the early 1950s, plus he filled in on Oakland Oaks Triple-A baseball games. And he had the USF basketball beat when Bill Russell led the Dons to consecutive NCAA titles in the mid-1950s. Menges also was at Squaw Valley in 1960 covering the Winter Olympics.

But, by that time, he had started his career at the horse track, getting that assignment clandestinely.

"I started making picks under an alias," he said. "Management didn't think a prep writer should be selecting horses." But this former hotfoot quickly delivered hot tips. "I led all handicappers four of the first five meetings," he said of his introduction to the Sport of Kings, "but I hardly thought it would last this long."

He received many local racing awards and he helped put on the annual horse racing awards dinner for Northern California. And after leaving the Tribune, he shifted from writing to photography and could be seen photographing various sporting events in the Brentwood area.

Menges was cremated at his request. He leaves behind his wife, Colleen, and four children: Barry Menges, Ginger (Mike) Rolf, Robin (Tim) Neal and Jacie (Mike) Robson; three stepchildren: Michael (Laura) Donahue, Patty (Rob) Carey and Erin (Phil) Davis, plus 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

 

Retired  Oakland Tribune

columnist Dave Newhouse will have two new books

published this year: Founding 49ers: The Dark Days Before the Dynasty, now available, and an as yet untitled Hoosiers-like basketball book,  due out mid-fall.

Send us your Memorable Sports Moment or Sports Pulse and we will share them with our readers. Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com. 

Wayne Mabry -- The Violator

 

My name is Wayne Mabry. I became a Raiders fan in 1970, back in Mississippi while watching the Raiders play the Chiefs.

 

My transformation into The Violator takes about an hour and a half to complete. I am then ready to be an Ambassador of the Game -- NFL Football. I currently live in Moreno Valley, CA where I recently retired after 36 years in the Carpenters Union (#1506).

 

Some of my accomplishments, over my 24 years of being The Violator, include being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fans in 2000, appearing in several commercials: Coca Cola, Direct TV, Bud Light, Tide, and the NFL Network. Numerous appearances on TV and radio include HBO's Inside the NFL, ESPN's Outside the Lines, HBO's Sport in America films, the NFL Show, ESPN The Magazine, FOX NFL Sunday, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, and ESPN's SportsCenter.

 

My goal is to help enhance the GAMEDAY experience for the fans, travel to every NFL stadium, help kids who are battling devastating diseases, like cancer, etc., and be instrumental in helping change the negative stigma about Raiders fans. Have a blessed day!

 

The Violator is among a number of Oakland Raiders Super Fans who add excitement and delight to attending Raiders games. Photos by Ed Jay. 

Send us your Memorable Sports Moment or Sports Pulse and we will share them with our readers. Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com. 

To participate, send your answer to the above question and a photo to theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com.

To participate, send your answer to the above question and a photo to theultimatesportsguide@gmail.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, subject and category. All are cross-indexed and provide links to every article we have published.

   Odds to win the Super Bowl 50

Click here to activate link

Click here to activate link.

 

 

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