Monday, July 20 through Sunday, July 26, 2020
Issue No. 338
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Farewell to the Whiteskins
by Pete Elman
Monday, July 13, 2020, Washington, D.C.
“
The Washington Redskins announced Monday that the
y will
change their team name
and logo after 87 ye
ars in the wake of corporate and public pressure.”
In hindsight, it was a no-brainer. And in this case, hindsight is either the next day, or 87 years, depending on how you look at it.
“
July 13, 2020 is now a historic day for all indigenous peoples as the NFL Washington-based team officially announced the retirement of the racist and disparaging team name and logo,”
Navajo Nation president Jonathan Nez wrote. “
This change did not come about willingly by the team’s owner, but by the pressure and advocacy of people such as Amanda Blackhorse, who fought long and hard for this change.”
This morning, as I was taking my daily walk, I listened to the intrepid Amy Goodman on KPFA, who interviewed Ms. Blackhorse, a social activist and member of the Navajo tribe. She has been, more than anybody, the person who worked relentlessly to force the Washington team to drop its racially offensive nickname. Out of respect for her, I will not spell out that nickname again in this column.
She recalled an incident from her college days: “
While a student at the
University of Kansas
, I was at a game between the Washington R------s and the Kansas City Chiefs. People yelled, 'Go back to your
reservation
!' 'We won, you lost, get over it!' 'Go get drunk!' and other
slurs
. I've experienced
racism
in my lifetime, but to see it outwardly, and nobody did anything?”
* * * *
I have written in these pages about growing up in the nation’s capital. I loved football; we played touch after school and I was usually the quarterback. But when it came time to play tackle football in high school, I opted out at 5’8”, 140 lbs. I didn’t wanted to get hit and I was not keen on being berated by a pro-Vietnam War, bigoted, sadistic head coach who called five pass plays a game.
But boy did I love my hometown R------s, who were perennial losers back then. My hero was the indomitable Duke Blue Devil quarterback, Sonny Jurgensen, the “Red Roach,” who arrived in Washington in 1964 after seven years with Philadelphia and stayed for the decade of his 30’s, racking up records galore and winning the hearts of every R-------s fan. The man possessed a quick release and the ability to throw tight, feathery spirals with touch, speed and accuracy. Quite a feat for a guy with a pot belly who routinely closed the bars on Saturday nights.
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One of the greatest Washington R------s quarterbacks
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I loved the brilliant runner/receiver Bobby Mitchell, who became the first African-American to play for the R------s and who sadly passed away in April. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1983, along with Jurgensen. Another great from that team was receiver Charley Taylor, a finalist on that 1983 Hall of Fame ballot who was inducted the following year. I lived--and mostly died—with every Sunday game. When I was 13 I played trombone in the marching band for those games at D.C. Stadium, where I got to see Jurgensen, Mitchell and Taylor, in their first year together, work their magic up close. It is a memory I will always cherish.
* * * *
But there was a dark side to all that gridiron glory and my parents never let me forget it. The owner of my beloved team was George Preston Marshall, a notorious racist who was the last NFL owner to hire a Black player, trading for Mitchell in 1962, finally buckling under pressure from the government, which threatened to block the use of government-owned
D.C. Stadium
.
My Dad, a civil rights lawyer for the Justice Department, would always refer to the team scornfully as the “Whiteskins” out of disdain for Marshall, a West Virginian who had made his millions in the laundromat business.
Somebody should wash his mouth out with soap,
my Mom used to say. Perhaps the reason why the R------s only had three winning seasons between the 1946 integration of the NFL and Marshall's death in 1969 was the lack of Black players on the team. Last month a statue of Marshall was removed from the grounds of RFK Stadium after it was defaced and vandalized following the
George Floyd protests
. When I heard, all I could think was that it’s about time.
The head coach from 1971-77 was George Allen, Sonny Jurgensen’s antagonist, a defensive-minded Luddite who once taunted Dallas Cowboys players while wearing an Indian headdress. He was such a close friend of Richard Nixon that the Trickster sent in plays for Allen to call. The coach had been hired by then owner Edward Bennett Williams, a high-powered D.C. insider lawyer whose client list read like a who’s who of first-ballot Hall of Fame gangsters:
Jimmy Hoffa
,
Marc Rich
,
Joseph McCarthy
,
Michael Milken
, and the Reverend
Sun Myung Moon
, among others. And that is why I stopped rooting for the team in the early 1970s.
* * * *
Fast forward to 1999 when 35-year old Dan Snyder, who made his fortune leasing jets to fly college students to
spring break
in
Fort Lauderdale
, took over the team. Within months Snyder became universally despised by DC fans. Maybe it’s his abrasive personality. In 2004 he brokered an illegal deal with the
National Park Service
to remove trees from national parkland behind his home to grant him a better view of the
Potomac River
.
USA Today
described him as “the worst owner in the NFL,” which is saying something in a league with Jerry Jones and Bob Kraft. And in 2013 Snyder famously said, “"We'll never change the name. It's that simple. NEVER—you can use caps." Hey Dan, guess what—NEVER just arrived.
The New York Times
said today, “
His about-face comes after hundreds of universities and schools have in recent years abandoned team names and mascots with Native American imagery.”
But everyone knows it was not morality or ethics that finally made Dan Snyder change his tune; it was corporate pressure.
And now things have come full circle for the R------s. The chickens have come home to roost and the roosters of racism have mercifully (we hope) left the building. Watch out Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves and even the Cleveland Indians—Amanda Blackhorse is not finished.
And that famous fight song I used to play 56 years ago, marching down the field at halftime at DC Stadium, my trombone in hand? We won’t be hearing that one anymore. Good riddance.
Hail to the Whiteskins.
You’re just ghosts now.
Pete Elman
Oakland
July 14, 2020
* * * *
From 2000-2005 I wrote a column for the late great Oakland Athletics Fan Coalition (OAFC) entitled Elman Swings, a play on the fact that I'm a musician. Some of you may remember the OAFC, an East Bay organization that at its peak had several thousand members devoted to keeping the A's in Oakland and guess what? They succeeded! -- Pete Elman
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Gems
Over the years we have reviewed thousands of 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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Bay to Breakers, 2019.
A quintessential San Francisco experience since 1912, the race is interwoven into the fabric of the city and is a true reflection and celebration of life between the breakers and the Bay. Above, an array of Ruth Bader Ginsburgs are about to lay down the law! To view a photo album, visit our
Facebook Page
and be sure to LIKE us or visit
www.ultimatesportsguide.net
.
Photo by Rich Yee,
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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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Now entering my sixth season with the Oakland Athletics, I set career highs in batting average, runs, home runs, on base percentage, and slugging percentage in 2019.
Concept and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Giants Fan Cutouts
Your Opportunity to be in the Ballpark
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Be in the ballpark this season – sort of. While fans can't attend games at Oracle Park in person, your image can still be in a seat! For $99, select a seat and upload a smiling photo of yourself wearing your Giants gear. Then look for yourself in the stands while watching Giants games on television.
Select a seat near your favorite celebrity or Forever Giant whose cutouts will be scattered throughout the ballpark:
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Metallica
Carlos Santana
Tony Bennett
E-40
Joe Montana
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George Kittle
Jimmy Garoppolo
Rob Schneider
Multiple Forever Giants
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Use our helpful
Photo Submission Guide
to take and upload the best photo. There are many ways to take a great cutout photo... and a few ways to not! Photo upload instructions will be emailed separately after purchase.
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San Francisco Giants Summer Camp
Saturday, July 18
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Third Base Guardian? Few have ruled third base for the Giants in such high dramatic fashion over the years and if starter Evan Longoria should ever falter, the fall-off is not far. We are also reminded that Pablo Sandoval can also pitch!
Photo by Rich Yee.
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A close play at first base brought outfielder Mike Yastrzemski back to the bag, ahead of the throw. The Giants continued preparations for Opening Day of the 60-game season which starts on Thursday evening in Los Angeles versus the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:08 p.m.
Photo by Rich Yee.
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Non-roster infielder Darin Ruf (33) and non-roster catcher Chadwick Tromp (82) each saw playing time at the Giants Summer Camp.
Photo by Rich Yee.
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Masked-up as required, outfielder Hunter Pence (8) and infielder Mauricio Dubon (1) share a moment at the end of the Giants Summer Camp on July 18 at Oracle Park. To view a game photo album, visit our
Facebook Page
and be sure to LIKE us or visit
www.ultimatesportsguide.net
.
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Don’t miss your chance to be at the Oakland Coliseum this season!
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A's fans --
Don't miss your chance to be at the Oakland Coliseum this season. In accordance with local health and safety guidelines, unfortunately fans will not be permitted to attend games, however, you can still grab a seat at the game with our Coliseum Cutouts program. Upload a photo of yourself in A's gear and you may spot yourself in the stands while watching games on TV this season.
You can purchase a cutout for $89 per cutout or a special Foul Ball Zone cutout for $129. If a Foul Ball Zone cutout gets hit with a foul ball, we will send you that ball. Plus, with every purchase of a cutout, you’ll also receive two complimentary tickets to our first exhibition game at the Coliseum during the 2021 season. Proceeds from Coliseum Cutouts benefit the Oakland A's Community Fund.
Coliseum Cutouts will be authenticated and recognized by MLB as official "virtual fans." Due to limitations, not all sections and rows are available for this program and we cannot accommodate seat requests. Your cutout will remain in the ballpark for the 2020 regular season and you'll have an option to pick it up following the season. Please note, we cannot guarantee the condition of your cutout after exposure to weather and outdoor elements.
For best practices on submitting your photo, please reference our
Once you receive the link in your confirmation email at the completion of your purchase, please upload your photo online.
While it won't be the same without you there, we're excited to highlight the best fans in baseball during this memorable season. Thanks for your support.
Play ball,
Dave Kaval, Oakland A's President
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Oakland A's Summer Camp
Saturday & Sunday, July 18 & 19
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The Oakland Athletics continued their summer workouts at RingCentral Coliseum over the weekend in preparation for Friday's season opener. Third baseman Matt Chapman takes grounders at shortstop during infield practice on Saturday, July 18.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Center fielder Mark Canha bumps elbows with outfielder Skye Bolt after hitting a three-run home run in an intrasquad game on Sunday, July 19.
Caption
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Cutouts of fans are placed in seats along the third base line. The Athletics are running a promotion that if a foul ball hits a fan cutout, that fan will be sent that baseball.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Starting pitcher Frankie Montas throws a pitch during an intrasquad game on Sunday. Montas will be the Athletics' opening day starter against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, July 24.
Caption
and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Oakland Athletics catcher Jonah Heim and relief pitcher Joakim Soria talk on the mound in an intrasquad game during the Oakland Athletics Summer Camp workout at RingCentral Coliseum. To view a game photo album, visit our
Facebook Page
and be sure to LIKE us or visit
www.ultimatesportsguide.net
.
Caption
and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Odds to win the 2020 World Series
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San Francisco Giants -- 300/1
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Oakland Athletics -- 30/1
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For Your Handy Use
2020 San Francisco Giants Schedule
2020 Oakland A's Schedule
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This Day in Sports -- July 27, 2019
San Jose Earthquakes 3, Colorado Rapids 1
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Above (center), Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas’ shot finds the net in the 83rd minute.
The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Colorado Rapids, 3-1, on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at Avaya Stadium, marking the club's fourth consecutive victory and third straight by the same scoreline. The win extended the Quakes' unbeaten streak at home to nine games (8-0-1) and saw the club jump to fourth place, just one point behind second-place Seattle. To view an annotated game album, visit our
Facebook Page
and be sure to LIKE us or visit
www.ultimatesportsguide.net
.
Photo by Alex Ho.
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Pork Barrel Legislation in D.C.
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Will "Washington Pigskins" carry the day?
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The Washington (insert here) Name Game
by Andy Dolich
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No matter what name is selected
, whatever the convoluted process of
re-branding brilliance is used, the new name of the Washington Redskins will be debated for weeks, months and years to come. Everyone will have a favorite.
As a lifelong sports marketer I went with a basic thought process of looking for a name that immediately identifies the team and the sport with significant upside in marketing the new image.
NFL Football fans, please say hello to the
Washington Pigskins.
There is a little known local historical connection as well. Archaeologists discovered that ancestors of the
Washington Pigskins
of today roamed the lands near Virginia as far back as the Saus Age.
It may take some time getting used to but you might as well get comfortable with:
New name for FedEx Field --
The Sty
Dance Team to be renamed --
The Piglets
Fan arm-movement for the defense on a third down –
The Pork Chop
V.I.P. restaurant for suite holders --
Snouts
Official team sandwich --
BLT
Washington Pigskins Official Sponsors:
Official beer --
Hamms
House wine --
S-wine
Motorcycles --
Hogs from Harley Davidson (
The fact that the offensive line has long been known as
The Hogs
is additional justification.)
Parking lot and tailgate areas --
Oscar Meyer will sponsor the Porking Lot
Airline --
WPF
Soft drink--
Mr. Pig
Potential new investor group talking with owner Dan Snyder:
Kevin Bacon,
Mia Hamm & John Hamm
Here are some of the songs that the
Pigskin Players can rock out with at halftime:
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It’s Snout Unusual
When Pigs Fly
Days of Swine and Roses
You’ve Got Porcinality
Theme from Root 66
Don’t Go Bacon My Heart
Swine
War Pigs
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The Pig Calypso
Ain’t That Porkuliar
Twist & Snout
I Walk the Loin
Hello Brother, Hello Fodder
I am a Hock
You Better Slop Around
Pork Salad Annie
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NFL players that could immediately be added to the
Redskins Pork Rind of Honor:
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Jack Ham
C.J. Ham
Derrick Ham
Waine Bacon
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Coy Bacon
Frank Bacon
Paul Butcher
Wendell Butcher
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If you think this porcine prognosis is completely full of fodder, take a look at the team's draft picks over the past few years:
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Kamren Curl
Jeremy Sprinkle
Tevin Mitchel
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Martell Spaight
Zach Hocker
Ravin Caldwell
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Where did they go to college? You guessed it. The University of Arkansas --
Razorbacks
Are you ready for some NFL Football with the
Washington
(insert name here) in Landover, Maryland? If you have a comment for owner Daniel Snyder and coach Ron Rivera, why not send them a note at redskins.com. Hard to believe they haven’t changed their website?
* * * *
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:
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Earthquakes celebrate Shea Salinas' late game-winning goal, erasing 3-1 deficit
Match Recap: Earthquakes 4, Whitecaps FC 3
Quakes erase two-goal deficit, move into first place in Group B
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SAN JOSE, Calif. - In their second match of the MLS is Back Tournament, the San Jose Earthquakes erased a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the final 20 minutes to win, 4-3, over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday evening at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The victory sees San Jose move into first place in Group B with an undefeated 1-0-1 record (4 pts.) through
two games.
San Jose conceded twice in the first 22 minutes of the match, including an own goal, before forward Andy Rios scored in first-half stoppage time to halve the deficit. Vancouver then extended their lead in the 59th minute, scoring three goals on a total of two shots on target.
Head coach Matias Almeyda made four substitutions simultaneously in the 63rd minute, sparking three unanswered goals over the final 20 minutes plus stoppage. Chris Wondolowski and Oswaldo Alanis scored a pair of goals less than 10 minutes apart, before Shea Salinas' game-winner eight minutes into stoppage time.
San Jose held 68% possession, completed more than twice the number of passes as their opponent, and set a new MLS record with 22 corner kicks.
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Who Am I?
Oakland A's outfielder
Mark Canha
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Mark Canha attended Bellarmine College Preparatory (high school) in San Jose, CA. After graduating in 2007 he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played college baseball. After the 2010 season the Florida Marlins selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 MLB draft. In 2014, Canha played for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. The Colorado Rockies chose Canha in the 2014 Rule 5 draft from the Marlins and traded him to the Athletics for Austin House. In 2016 Canha underwent season-ending hip surgery after only 16 games. Returning in 2017, he played six games with the A's before being optioned to the Nashville Sounds of the PCL. On November 8, 2017, Canha underwent right wrist surgery to remove a cyst. In his 2019 A's season Canha set career highs in average (.273), home runs (26), runs (80) and walks (67) in 126 games. He is known for his bat flips after hitting home runs.
Concept and photo
by Darren Yamashita
.
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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, July 20 through Sunday, July 26, 2020
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Games for most major and minor league sports, including collegiate and high school teams,
have been cancelled
.
Monday, July 20
Oakland A's vs. San Francisco Giants, (SS), Summer Camp, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, July 21
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland A's, (SS), Summer Camp, 6:45 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22
Thursday, July 23
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:08 p.m.
Friday, July 24
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Los Angeles Angels, 7:10 p.m.
Saturday, July 25
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Los Angeles Angels, 1:10 p.m.
Sunday, July 26
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:08 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Los Angeles Angels, 1:10 p.m.
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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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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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Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723
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Ultimate Sports Guide
P.O. Box 4515
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510-845-2035
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The
Ultimate Sports Guide
is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst, now retired. Mr. Karst continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.
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