Monday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020
Issue No. 355
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A Sportscaster's Memories |
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Robin Williams is pictured in his last year at Redwood High School,
sporting a Big Red letterman jacket
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Celebrity Time – My Casual Friendship with Robin Williams
By Bruce Macgowan
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Bruce Macgowan, Bogey, wife Colette and daughter Molly
I went to Redwood High School in Marin County in the late 1960s. The class one year ahead of me had a couple of future celebrities: college and NFL standout coach Pete Carroll, and comic and actor Robin Williams. I knew who Pete Carroll was, because he was a star of both the Big Red baseball and football teams and a ‘big man on campus,’ who was recognizable because he always wore his letterman jacket.
But I never remembered meeting or knowing who Robin Williams was during those years. We had over 2,600 students at Redwood during those days, so it was kind of like being in a small university. Williams, I found out later, was a cross country runner who took part in a few of the school’s theatrical productions. He later got very much involved with theater when he attended the College of Marin in nearby Kentfield. But he was, like many performers, not outgoing but somewhat shy.
I met Williams the summer after I graduated from Denver University in 1974. My parents were nice enough to give me a three month ‘break’ before I started my broadcasting career that fall, and a couple of high school buddies and I would routinely hike the Dipsea Trail or the Matt Davis trails from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach and then meet up with a bunch of friends and guys and gals we knew from Redwood. We’d go bodysurfing, play volleyball or throw the Frisbee around. It was a fun time, kind of our ‘last summer of innocence' before we began to shoulder the obligations of adulthood.
One afternoon Robin and a buddy of his named Eric shyly approached me and we started a conversation. He told me he was working in the kitchen at a popular restaurant in Sausalito and was looking forward to attending the prestigious Juilliard School of the Arts in New York City that fall.
I noticed that he was not only extremely intelligent but serious, almost to the point of having a sobering personality. I learned many years later he suffered from depression and his work as a performer provided a creative distraction. My friends thought he was a little strange and didn’t interact with him much.
A few years later I was working at my first broadcasting job in sports at a TV station up the coast in Eureka and one night, between our 6 and 11 pm newscasts, I glanced up at one of the TV monitors in the newsroom. I was stunned when I saw his familiar face. He was wearing a weird costume and mugging hilariously on some prime time network show.
I immediately recognized Robin and ended up watching Mork and Mindy, that zany comedy series which catapulted him into the world of Hollywood where he ended up starring in dozens of popular films while making the national TV talk show circuit.
A few years later I was back the Bay Area and took a girlfriend to see Williams perform a standup routine at the Boarding House on Columbus Avenue in the city.
After a typically high energy and hilarious performance, we went down to his dressing room to say hello. I noticed he was sweating as he was still coming down from his time on stage, With great relish he was entertaining a cluster of friends and acquaintances who were gathered around him. The continuous explosion of spontaneous and hysterical jokes which were his trademark were still on display. I was amazed at Robin’s energy level, even after he left the stage. I think it was his way of slowing down gradually without quickly ‘putting on the breaks.’ Eventually he had to take a breath and that’s when I moved in to say hello. He shook my hand, smiled and then briefly said, “Stinson Beach!”
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Stinson Beach in Marin County is about a 35-minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge on California's Highway 1. With a long beach, the cold water produces fog throughout the year and attracts bodyborders and surfers
Later that year I was living with a roommate in the Sunset District on the west side of San Francisco and one night we were out having dinner at Zim’s, a popular burger joint just off of busy 19th Avenue. A few minutes after sitting down I noticed Robin alone in the shadows of a corner table. No one seemed to notice him. I went over to say hello again and he looked up at me with a sad expression.
After a brief greeting he admitted that he really didn’t feel like chatting as he was mourning the death of a close friend. I later discovered that the week before he had been in the room of a Hollywood cottage where his buddy, the iconic comedian John Belushi, had died. Robin had been with his friend only an hour or so before Belushi suddenly collapsed.
Years later I saw him several times out at Candlestick and then Pac Bell Park. Robin was a big Giants fan and was invited to a bunch of games by the club, sometimes to even throw out the first pitch. I was in the Giants clubhouse following one of the many games I covered during the season, and I noticed Williams in the corner of the clubhouse. He was having a merry time joking around with two of the players. They seemed to be getting a big kick out of meeting the well-known comic.
When he broke free and headed across the room, I slowly walked up to him and asked if he would like to do a quick radio interview for our post game show. I had already gotten taped comments from manager Dusty Baker, pitcher Jason Schmidt and shortstop Rich Aurilia, so I thought it would be fun for our listeners to hear something different.
When I told him where I worked he laughed and then said: “Oh, you’re on KNBR, THE Sports Leader! with a big grin.
I asked a few questions about his interest in the game and then shook his hand, thanked him and asked him if he remembered me. I explained to him we had been casual friends one summer many years before.
He studied my face hard for a few seconds and then brightened.
“Stinson Beach!”
Long-time Bay Area sportscaster Bruce Macgowan has been recording his 45 years of broadcast experience for a forthcoming book to be published shortly.
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49ers mauled by Saints, 27-13 |
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Tough and resilient describes San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Nick Mullens' performance on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as he absorbed vicious hit after vicious hit from Saints defenders. Despite the punishment, Mullens numbers were respectable, completing 24 of 38 passes as the Niners out-gained New Orleans in total yards, 281 to 237. But two team fumbles and two interceptions contributed to a third straight loss, 27-13. The 49ers (4-6) begin a scheduled Bye Week, aiding the team's recovery from decimating injuries. The return of healed players will not rule out a late season playoff push. (Above, Mullens was impressive in the 2019 win over the
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San Francisco 49ers Schedule |
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Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Another stellar effort, Chief.
I remember meeting years back at Mountain Mike’s Pizza and saying that your big selling point is your fantastic photography. The Best in the Bay, as I put it.
It’s nice to see your fans agree. Cheers!
Mike Calamusa
Publisher
Sportstars Magazine
Dear Editor:
It is nice that ST points out Sonoma Raceway’s support of Bay Area food banks. ( See Issue #354.) Everyone at our own food bank is exhausted from the prolonged effort which is only now getting into high gear for these next few weeks. Every week’s distribution is setting new records.
Fortunately the public is responding generously with records being set in that sphere as well. Our clients can no longer pick and choose from what is displayed, having to settle for whatever is pre-packed in boxes and bags we install directly into their vehicle’s trunk space. But, and it is a huge BUT, these drive-through distributions are now weekly instead of monthly, with an astronomic quantity of nutritionally rich items being handed out.
Rudi Petschek
Food Bank of Nevada County
Nevada City, CA
Dear Editor:
"Why do major sports networks treat Bay Area teams like Rodney Dangerfield?"
No respect, no respect at all...
Robert Moselle
Counselor at Law
Executive Director, Center for Continuing Education
Monterey, CA
Dear Editor:
I grew up an avid Packer fan in Appleton, WI and therefore thoroughly enjoyed the recent drubbing handed out to the 49ers by my Packers. (See Issue #354. )
I was weaned on Bart Starr and worked for Packer Greats Max McGee and Fuzzy Thurston at the Left Guard Charcoal House for a brief time before moving to California where my love of NFL football found a new home with the
Oakland Raiders.
I enjoyed following the Raiders in your publication and now that the team has been lost to Las Vegas, it seems they have been lost to Sports Today as well. Please rectify this awful change as the base of Raider fans is STILL here in the East Bay of California, barely at all in the state of Nevada!
Still bleeding Silver & Black...
Ann M. Cooke
Independent BEMER Distributor - US #23285
Alameda, CA
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San Jose State Spartans 34
UNLV Rebels 17
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San José State graduate wide receiver Bailey Gaither (#84) takes a pass 41 yards for the Spartan’s first touchdown of the evening. Gaither ended the evening with six receptions good for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns. San José State defeated UNLV 34–17 in a Mountain West Conference game at CEFCU Stadium on November 14, 2020 in San Jose, California. Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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San José State wide receiver Tre Walker (#10) draws pass interference in the end zone in the second quarter. With the win, the Spartans have started 4-0 for the first time in 65 years. Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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San José State sophomore running back Kairee Robinson (#32) stretches for a touchdown after a 12-yard run up the middle in the third quarter. SJSU ended the game with a 457-294 advantage in total yards and out-gained the Rebels 176-70 on the ground. Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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San José State sophomore defensive end Viliami Fehoko (#42) celebrates after sacking UNLV quarterback Max Gilliam. The Spartans scored 17 straight points in the first half to take control, then responded with touchdowns both times the Rebels got within one score in the 34-17 win.
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San José State senior running back Tyler Nevens (#23) breaks free for a 35-yard gain in the closing seconds of the game. Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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San José State Spartans head coach Brent Brennan greets UNLV Rebels head coach Marcus Arroyo after the game. Arroyo is a San Jose State alum and both coaches worked together as assistants under Dick Tomey between 2005 and 2008. The Spartans now take their unblemished record on the road, facing the Fresno Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 21. Game time is 4 p.m. and will be carried by CBS. 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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Stanford Cardinal 32
Colorado Buffaloes 35
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Stanford quarterback Davis Mills threw for 327 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score during the Cardinal's 35-32 loss to the Colorado Buffaloes at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14.
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Stanford Cardinal safety Malik Antoine (3) intercepts a pass during the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Stanford Stadium.
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Kicker Jet Toner connected on all three field goal attempts, bouncing back from an 0-for-4 performance against the Oregon Ducks last week.
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Cutouts of Stanford Cardinal football alumni occupy seats in the stands before the game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Colorado Buffaloes at Stanford Stadium. Stanford is now 0-2 in Pac-12 play and hosts the Washington State Cougars next Saturday evening at 8 p.m. The game will be carried on FS1. 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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Cal Bears 10
UCLA Bruins 34
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Cal's quarterback Chase Garbers was the only Bear to cross the goal line in their 34-10 opening season loss to the UCLA Bruins, played on Sunday morning and in direct competition with the NFL. Cal's earlier scheduled game on Saturday, against Arizona State, was canceled due to COVID tests from the Sun Devils. Garbers 8-yard touchdown run marked the fourth game in a row in which he has scored a rushing touchdown. (Garbers is pictured in his game against Stanford last Nov.) Cal now travels to Corvallis to face Oregon State on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m. on FS1. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Peter Kalambayi, outside linebacker,
Houston Texans
by Kenny Karst
Stop me if you've heard this one before: a Stanford linebacker sacks a visiting quarterback down on The Farm. Sound familiar? In this case, it was Peter Kalambayi (34) looking for teammate approval from the Cardinal sideline while hovering over a pigskin-clutching Josh Rosen of the UCLA Bruins. Later in the same sophomore year of 2014, he recorded three sacks in a single game against the Washington Huskies. As a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Kalambayi was rated a five-star high school recruit by ESPN. After graduating from Stanford as a fifth-year senior in 2017, he entered the 2018 NFL Draft and was selected 214th overall by the Houston Texans in the sixth round. Kalambayi continues to be an active member of the Texans' 2020 defense
in the AFC South Division.
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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Fantasy Football is now a huge part of football culture. Before Fantasy Football was a huge thing, there was a fantasy film about football. What NFL team did Warren Beatty’s character play for in the 1978 film Heaven Can Wait, is the question. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards. The cast included Beatty, Julie Christie and Jack Warden... You are truly a genius if you
know the name of Beatty's character!
(See answer below...)
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Kim Ng joins the Miami Marlins as the first woman MLB general manager. Ng formerly worked with the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox,
and Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Miami Marlins break glass ceiling – hire first woman GM in MLB history
By Amaury Pi-González
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The Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball became the first team of any of the four professional sports leagues in the United States to break the glass ceiling for women when they announced the hiring of Kim Ng.
Ng is the first female GM in Major League Baseball history and will turn 52 on Tuesday. After graduating from the University of Chicago, Ng went to work as an intern for the Chicago White Sox, where she worked for 21 years, later as an executive with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
“On behalf of principal owner Bruce Sherman and our entire ownership group, we look forward to Kim bringing a wealth of knowledge and championship level experience to the Miami Marlins,” CEO Derek Jeter said in a statement.
“I entered Major League Baseball as an intern and, after decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins as their next general manager,” Ng said in a statement.
Just like the Brooklyn Dodgers were pioneers in 1947 when general manager Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson as the first black player in the MLB, the Miami Marlins are the first team to sign a woman as their general manager. Florida is the third most populous state in the country and one of the most diverse.
Congratulations to the Miami Marlins' organization and Good Luck to Kim Ng
Stay well and stay tuned.
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Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s radio on 1010 KIQI Le Grande San Francisco and contributes News and Commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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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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San Jose Earthquakes Update |
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Our playoff opponent is set and the date is confirmed! We’re taking on Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, November 22 at 1 p.m., presented by Intermedia Cloud Communications, in Round One of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. Cheer us on with fellow Quakes fans at our free Drive-In Viewing Party. Tickets are available. |
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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The Los Angeles Rams is the answer to the question... Genius is what you are if you know Joe Pendleton, backup quarterback for the Rams, is the character played by Beatty. I never saw the film, https://bit.ly/38CiYI3, but will, soon...
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In the last seasons of the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Ultimate Sports Guide photographer Ed Jay collected images and stories of some of the Raiders most passionate and beloved fans. To view and read their stories, click on this link and revisit your all-time favorites. Above, Kathy Sandelin (aka, Skull Lady).
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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 Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, November 16 through
Sunday, November 22, 2020
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Games for most major and minor league sports, including collegiate and high school teams,
have been cancelled.
Monday, November 16
Tuesday, November 17
Wednesday, November 18
Thursday, November 19
Friday, November 20
Saturday, November 21
Cal Bears @ Oregon State, 12:30 p.m., FS1
Stanford Cardinal vs. Washington State Cougars, 8 p.m., FS1
San Jose State Spartans @ Fresno State Bulldogs, 4 p.m., CBS
Sunday, November 22
San Jose Earthquakes @ Sporting Kansas City, 1 p.m., FOX, DESPORTES, FS1
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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 suited 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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Many people -- maybe even you -- have been getting out on their bikes more during Shelter-in-Place. "Check for Bikes" clings and bumper stickers are great ways to keep bicyclists safer out there on the road by promoting awareness by drivers to share the road. Keep safe out there and keep your neighbors safe by using or passing along vinyl clings for inside a car window or windshield and
4" circular bumper stickers. We have Youth and Spanish versions, too!
with questions or to order.
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Ultimate Sports Guide
P.O. Box 4515
Berkeley, CA 94704
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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