Monday, May 4 through Sunday, May 10, 2020
Issue No. 327
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Nets have been tied. Photo by Andy Dolich.
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Sounds of Silence
&
Swish!
by Andy Dolich
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In a galaxy far, far away sports used to play a major role in our lives. Now we are blacked out, shut out, closed down, sheltered in place without any specific timeline on when and how sports is coming back, both for participants and spectators.
The only place we can see stars is to go out at night and gaze into the galaxy.
The stars that lit up arenas, ballparks and all other sports venues are hunkered down in place. One of the most overlooked sensory selling points of sports is sound. Now the Sounds of Sport Silence rule the day. Not only can’t we see our stars and their achievements but we can’t hear their magical sounds. For those who love to play all manner of games we can’t listen live to what we used to love.
The first recorded use of the term "swish" is believed to have come from the written words of Trebor Yarruns in a 1913 story called
The Coward
. His protagonist, Dempsey Darden, takes in a college basketball game-winning shot: “The ball described a half ellipse in mid-air and descended straight for the basket. A
swish
of netting resounded as the ball dropped through the goal without touching the iron rim.”
We were all anticipating March Madness and the oddity of the Golden State Warriors not participating in a run for another NBA championship.
I’m a weekend Warrior on the courts and I love the sound of net-snapping nirvana. What started as a Swish List became my words for the sounds of net-snapping. When you go down to the local playground the rims have been taken down or the nets have been tied. Sure sign that the world is upside down. I have worked on what that Swish sound sounds like to Hoopers everywhere.
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Swish List
Swish
Thwick
Thwack
Whhhhhump
Thwit
Swit
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Shoo
Shipp
Fwipp
Pfft
Rip
Rattle
Schewiitt
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Whhoosh
Swoosh
Thwip
Whiip
Chaa
Shiip
Phwi
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Many other Sounds of Sports have sadly faded away this Spring:
*
Crack of the Bat
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Thwack of a Tennis Ball
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Overpriced Driver smacking a ball down the Fairway
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Diving into a Pool
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Your laps in the Pool
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Ball smacking into a Little Leaguer’s Mitt
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Weights hitting the ground at the Health Club
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Sneakers on the Treadmill
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Soccer Ball rolling down the back of the net
Millions of people play everything and love the sight and sounds of their sports.
The Dalai Lama said: “Silence is sometimes the best answer.” With all due respect, I’m not sure if he is much of a sports fan.
We need some noise!
* * * *
Andy Dolich has over five decades of leadership in the sports industry, including executive positions in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, pro soccer and lacrosse. Presently Dolich is COO of the Fan Controlled Football League (FCFL) and teaches sports business at Stanford's School of Continuing Studies.
Dolich is also co-author of the new book:
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Gems
Over the last year we reviewed thousands of sports photos to bring you the finest work from some of the Bay Area's top sports photographers. Each week during the Coronavirus-induced sports lull we will bring you one of our favorites.
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May 25, 2019, San Francisco, CA; In the bottom of the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park last year, right fielder Kevin Pillar hit a line drive into center field and tried to leg out a triple, only to be tagged out at third base by the D-backs Eduardo Escobar. Score: Diamondbacks 10, Giants 4.
To view a photo album, visit our
Facebook Page.
Photo by Rich Yee
.
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May the Force be with you...
on Star Wars Day, May 4
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Sept. 16, 2018, San Francisco, CA: Fans pose with Star Wars cosplayers as part of Star Wars Day before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Sept. 7, 2019, Oakland, CA; Star Wars characters stand on the field as part of Star Wars Day before the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Detroit Tigers at RingCentral Coliseum.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Washington Redskins quarterbacks suffer gruesome injury 33 years apart
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Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (left) suffered a gruesome ankle injury midway through his game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018. The severity of the injury made it unlikely Smith would ever play in a professional game again. Former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann suffered a broken leg on Nov. 18, 1985, exactly 33 years earlier, while being sacked by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. For Theismann, it was the last game of his 12-year NFL career. Smith has undergone a remarkable recovery and was the subject of ESPN's Project 11 (Smith's jersey number), which aired last Friday. Despite overwhelming odds, Smith hopes to resume his football career.
Photo by Ed Jay.
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The BEST Bay Area sports photos from
Michael Zagaris, Ed Jay, Rich Yee, Darren Yamashita,
Ron Sellers, Alex Ho, Rob Edwards, Kenneth Wong,
Timothy Reynolds and Larry Rosa
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Where The Bay Comes To Play!
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"It's an ocean planet. As the oceans go, so goes the planet."
-- Bill Carvalho, Wild Planet founder and president
Wild Planet Foods has been honored with TWO awards by Whole Foods Market -- Global Supplier of the Year AND Environmental Stewardship! The annual awards recognize suppliers who embody Whole Foods Market's mission and values through a proven commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, organic integrity, innovation,
and partnership.
More Awards and Counting!
Prevention
-- 100 Cleanest Packaged Food Awards
Men's Health
-- 125 Best Foods for Men
Prevention
-- Eat Clean Best Packaged Foods
Every Day with Rachael Ray
-- Brand New Buy
Better Homes and Gardens
-- Catch of the Day
Clean Eating
-- Clean Choice Awards
Natural Health
-- 3rd Annual Good Food Awards
Runner's World
-- Good Catch
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Out of respect to the Covid-19 virus epidemic, Golden Gate Fields will remain closed for the immediate future.
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On Aug. 16, 2019, I was doused with water by teammates after delivering a game-winning single in the 13th inning to beat the Houston Astros, 3-2.
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Who Am I?
Oakland A's outfielder Robbie Grossman!
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With two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning, Robbie Grossman singled on a sharp ground ball to center fielder George Springer, scoring Corban Joseph with the winning run. Joseph had opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Chris Hermann. Score: A's 3, Astros 2.
To view an annotated game photo album, visit our
Facebook Page
.
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Sports Prep Star -- Alejandro Lopez
Ygnacio Valley-Concord -- Soccer -- Senior
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Alejandro Lopez was a four-year varsity player and three-year captain for the Warriors. He closed out his prep career by leading the team to the North Coast Section Division III championship. He scored five postseason goals to help the Warriors to the program’s second title and its first since 2016. The First Team All-Diablo Athletic League selection will extend his academic and athletic career next year at Humboldt State University. Photo by Ygnacio Valley Athletics.
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The 2019 Fall/Winter edition of the
Ultimate Sports Guide
, a San Francisco Bay Area sports reference publication published twice a year for avid Bay Area and Northern California sports fans, is in the house. The
Ultimate Sports Guide
is distributed free of charge or may be ordered via subscription. Each seasonal edition provides professional and collegiate team coverage through commentary, photo essays and player profiles. To order, visit
www.ultimatesportsguide.net
or send $5 to:
Ultimate Sports Guide
,
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Back Issues
not to be missed!
Offering superb photography and
entertaining chronicles
*
Click
here
for 2019 editions.
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WEEKLY SPORTS CALENDAR
Monday, May 4 through Sunday, May 10, 2020
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All games for major and minor league sports, including collegiate and high school teams,
have been cancelled
.
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Enjoy the
Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant
Ultimate Sports Guide
website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit
www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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Need a website designed or tuned up?
We can help!
Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
or call (510) 845-2035
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Join Us As A Sponsor!
Economical and rewarding.
Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
or call (510) 845-2035
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The vast majority of student-athletes dreaming of athletic stardom won't make it to the pros. Yet, the discipline and skills they've developed while balancing a sport and academics make them ideally s
uited for satisfying careers elsewhere. In
20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won't Go Pro
,
the authors draw on personal experience, interviews, expert opinion, and industry data to provide a game plan for student-athletes through key transitions at each stage of their careers, from high school through college and beyond. Modeled on Stephen Covey's
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
, this book provides a much-needed strategy for achieving career success. Readable and concise, it will be a valuable tool for students, parents, and sports administrators. To order,
click here.
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5980 Stoneridge Drive, Ste. 122
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723
CalBRE License #:01770629
Agent 510.512.2145
Office 925.847.8900
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Ultimate Sports Guide
P.O. Box 4515
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-845-2035
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