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February 27, 2023
Issue No. 474
For Gmail addresses, we recommend using the link immediately below for a pristine copy.
View as Webpage
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Director of Sales: Ann Cooke
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee. Kenny Karst (retired).
Contributors: Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Dave Newhouse, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young
Social Media: Applications invited via email. Please include resume.
Website: www.UltimateSportsGuide.net
Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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The Ultimate Sports Guide proudly announces the release of Insights and Outtakes, Excerpts and Epiphanies from the World of Sports, a compendium of Pete Elman essays which have appeared
in Sports Today.
Crafted to perfection, talented sports writer Elman covers the Warriors, A's, Raiders and
Bay Area sports.
Absorbing, frank and informative, Elman's smart prose makes for entertaining reading and brings to life our sports world with a deft touch.
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* * * * *
"Elman's writing probes the brain, clutches the heart and grips the reader with its wisdom, tenderness, humor and haymakers."
-- Dave Newhouse, former Oakland Tribune sports journalist and author of 19 books
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"Insights and Outtakes enables readers to understand the who, when, where, how and why of pro sports. Pete Elman brings his microscope, telescope and stethoscope for an in-depth look into stories that come from all avenues of professional sports. Having spent a lifetime in the business of sports, the stories told in this book resonated with me on many levels. Insights and Outtakes is a must read."
-- Andy Dolich, prominent sports executive with fifty years experience with the NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL
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"Chock full of tidbits that promote his excellent writing skills and knowledge of the world of pro sports. It's a thrilling addition to the legacy of outstanding Bay Area sports journalism. Thanks to The Ultimate Sports Guide for recognizing the importance of Elman's articles."
-- Arif Khatib, author, filmmaker, founder of the African American Sports Hall of Fame
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Bonus for Sports Today Readers!
One of Pete Elman's essays is included
for your enjoyment
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Letters to the Editor
Sports Today's "30-1 Minimum Odds Non-Profit"
Final 4 Tournament
Okay. I've studied the data, watched games with teams about which my knowledge was limited and reviewed the selections which readers have already submitted. The time has arrived for me to step up and enter this noble contest and get some promo from Sports Today for my favorite non-profit. Admittedly, these picks are less obscure than some previous entries (College of Charleston?), but nevertheless meet the 30-1 odds criteria yet still could reach the Final Four.
Iowa -- Impressed by the way they rallied with a flurry of 3-pointers to beat Michigan State: 30-1 U-Conn: Adama Sanogo is a force to be reckoned with. 30-1 Providence: Cooley is an experienced coach and if they get on a roll, they could be dangerous. 40-1 Northwestern: A "reach" I admit, but I like surprises. 60-1.
Jerry Monkman
South San Francisco
The Golden State Warriors' Returning Boomerang
There are many types of boomerangs, but only one with which we are all familiar. 'Returning Boomerangs' fly and are examples of the earliest heavier-than-air human-made flight. A returning boomerang has two or more aerofoil section wings arranged so that when spinning they create unbalanced aerodynamic forces that curve its path into an ellipse returning to its point of origin when thrown correctly.
Without Curry, 2-Way Wiggs, Gary Payton II, Klay on the bounce-back and even Draymond hurt from time to time, the Warriors have flown to parts unknown this season. However, with the team soon to be back to full strength, Kerr at the controls, plus impressive,
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now-experienced rookies, they are programmed to curve their path into an ellipse and start a return flight, like the flying Boomerang, and return to their Champions' point of origin.
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
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Stunning New Book
Goodbye, Oakland, written by Andy Dolich and Dave Newhouse, is soon to be available and is a ‘must read’ for any Bay Area sports fan.
As a former employee of both the Oakland Athletics and the Oakland Raiders, I lived many of the stories reported therein. I am moved to tears by the reasons and poor decisions forecasting the pending loss of our third team, the Oakland A’s. Like so many fellow fans, I am searching for the magic bullet, (deep pocket) that could save/rebuild the Oakland Coliseum, the best choice and logical location for the A’s forever home.
Goodbye, Oakland includes multiple quotes, interviews, fantastic stories of a very personal nature, historical facts and all is written with humor, grace and warmth, creating a true masterpiece. Due out on April 11th, pre-order your copy now!
https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Oakland-Dave-Newhouse/dp/1637272154
Ann Cooke
Group Sales Area Manager / Oakland Athletics
Alameda, CA
More Kind Words
Rain or shine
20-20 vision or blind
TUSG is always on time
On holidays or not
Expect delivery and it will be hot
Respectfully,
Arif Khatib
Founder and President Emeritus
Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame
Author: In the Shadow of Obscurity, Toiling In A Reluctant Society
Remember Their Sacrifice, Stories of Unheralded Athletes of Color
Film Producer: Because They Believed
Cultural Ambassador for Indian American Hindu Community
www.becausetheybelieved.com
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Contents
Columns
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Games
Cal Bears (MBkB) 57, Washington State Cougars 63
Cal Bears (MBkB) 56, Washington Huskies 65
Stanford Cardinal (MBkB) 81, Washington Huskies 69
Stanford Cardinal (WGYM) 197.575, Oregon State Beavers 198.075
Features & Commentary
Consider A Donation
Knockin' on Heaven's Door, by Pete Elman
Pete Elman Can't Stop, by Dave Newhouse
The Dubs, the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, and Chesty Puller, by Howard Pearlstein
Warriors, A Disappointment This Season, by Bruce Macgowan
Organizations
Cal Bears
Golden Gate Fields
Oakland A's
Oakland Roots
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco Giants
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
Sonoma Raceway
Stanford Cardinal
University of Pacific
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
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Pete Elman Can't Stop
by Dave Newhouse
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There are numerous touchstones and turning points in Pete Elman’s well-traveled life, Maryland to California, but a super-celebrity moment in a Texas night club might be the topper.
Elman, then 25, was listening to Freddie Fender sing Wasted Days and Wasted Nights on stage at the Rome Inn in Austin, when who should sit down at an adjoining table but Bob Dylan. If that wasn’t enough gathered celebrity, Elman spotted Joni Mitchell seated across the dance floor with two bodyguards.
While digesting this Hall of Fame music triumvirate, Elman’s buddy prodded Pete to ask Mitchell to dance, which he did, and she said yes. After a rock-and-roll number, they slow-danced, and Elman then walked Mitchell back to her table.
“She was so nice,” he recalled last week, “and she was so beautiful.”
That was nearly a half-century ago, and Elman, now 71, resides in Oakland, where he has continued his Renaissance Man existence as studio musician — he plays the piano and guitar -- record producer, composer, newspaper columnist and author, K-12 teacher, and adult music instructor at Bay Area universities. The creative Elman also originated the term Run TMC, honoring Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin of the Warriors. Elman came from a thinking family: His father, an attorney, wrote the final brief in Brown vs. the Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court case in 1954.
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Caption from The San Francisco Examiner: "Pete Elman and his wife, Lisa, celebrate after learning he had the winning entry in The Examiner's Name the Warriors' Trio contest."
Did I leave anything out? Oh, yes, the singing duo of Peaches and Herb asked him to be their touring band leader — when he was a high school senior, so he said no — plus he accompanied Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers and country singer Lacy J. Dalton.
But you readers of Sports Today might be more familiar with his insightful sports writing which appears regularly. The Ultimate Sports Guide recently published his columns in Insights and Outtakes: Excerpts and Epiphanies from the World of Sports. This followed his previous book: Remember Their Sacrifice: Stories of Unheralded Athletes of Color, co-authored with Arif Khatib. (Rowman & Littlefield publishers.)
Elman hasn’t lived his diverse life in slow motion, and though a senior citizen, he’s still going full throttle.
“For Sports Today, I write like I feel — I’m not trying to be fancy or cute,” he said over lunch at Mama’s Royal Cafe in north Oakland. “I want to write about what’s important. I love sports, I love writing, and maybe the reader will see a different perspective of sports journalism, one that incorporates politics, history, and, most importantly, the human experience.”
Elam has enough human experience to fill an autobiography. He grew up in Bethesda, MD, started piano lessons at seven, performed professionally at ten, played tennis and baseball in school, and graduated from Boston University before moving west to LA with a rock band. He married a musician, Lisa Goulder, and they have two children, son Willy, 32, a Washington, D.C. lawyer, and daughter Katie, 26, a New York City actress.
Writing is Pete Elman’s true occupational love — first music, then sports — and he has produced multiple CDs as well as books. I listened to his Durango Saloon CD and his expressive piano playing is part of the album’s orchestral realism, which is an extension of his writing form.
“I want (readers) to laugh, to feel emotion, to feel wisdom,” he said of his prose. “People want words of wisdom."
Asked to name an athlete who inspires wisdom, he didn’t hesitate.
Stephen Curry, he said, “because he’s the ultimate team player. He brings out the best in people. He’s like the person you’d want your daughter to marry.”
Whatever Elman chooses to write, he will insist upon wisdom. It’s as if Bob Dylan is whispering in his ear.
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Dave Newhouse's journalism career spans more than half a century, including 45 years at the Oakland Tribune before his retirement in November 2011. His most recent book, Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and on amazon.com. Dave grew up in Menlo Park, graduated from San Jose State, and has radio and television experience, in addition to his work as an award-winning sportswriter and columnist. For earlier articles by Dave published in
Sports Today, click HERE.
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Golden State Warriors Update | |
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Could Steph return in time to rewrite history books? Stay tuned!
Photo by Rich Yee.
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Warriors -- A Disappointment This Season
by Bruce Macgowan
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It’s time to be realistic Warrior fans; this just isn’t your year.
The Warriors face a lot of uncertainty over the stretch drive of the 2022-2023 campaign. They have been playing mediocre basketball all season.
They have shown an alarming tendency to blow leads in the fourth quarter, something they rarely did in past years. They turn the ball over too much, they take ill-advised shots and most significantly, they don’t play the kind of shutdown defense displayed throughout that sterling run of four NBA titles over eight years.
And let’s be real here; the Warriors are NOT going to have any chance of making it past even the first round of the playoffs unless they have a healthy Stephen Curry. The all-world talent may be at the peak of his powers, but he also has a gimpy knee that recently put him on the shelf. People also seem to forget that throughout his career, Curry has had other significant injuries. During his first few years in the league, he suffered recurring ankle sprains. More recently, when the Warriors’ first season at their opulent new home in San Francisco was ruined by injuries, the most damaging one was a broken hand Curry suffered early that year.
While this superbly conditioned athlete has been available for most of the playoffs over the last eight years, coach Steve Kerr has been cautious the last few seasons to not overwork Curry. He’s given him an occasional game off, especially when the Warriors have played on consecutive nights.
And remember this; Curry is now 35 years old and has a lot of mileage on his body. That’s an inconvenient fact that many overlook. The Warriors have averaged about 95-100 games a season, including the playoffs, in eight of the last ten years. So Curry has played a LOT of hoops. The wear and tear of all of those games adds up, especially for a guy his age.
Meanwhile, Kerr has not found a reliable assistant since Mike Brown left for Sacramento. Brown is now working wonders with an exciting young Kings team so he will be a favorite for Coach of the Year.
The Warriors are also a team in transition. Draymond Green turns 33 in March, and given how hard he plays, it would not be any kind of surprise to see the man, who is truly the heart and soul of this team, have to take a week or two off with some kind of malady.
The other cornerstone guard, Klay Thompson, has made a remarkable comeback from two devastating injuries. Klay is perhaps the hardest worker in the NBA, but he is no longer the shutdown defender who was one of the best in the league.
On the plus side, Jordan Poole has become one of the game’s emerging stars. He can light up the scoreboard with a 40-point performance, sometimes saving the day. Yet Poole often tries to do too much, forcing ill-advised shots and making sloppy passes.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga is coming along very nicely, and it will be great to have Gary Payton II back, but it might not be until next season because of that core muscle injury. Kevon Looney has been the Warriors’ iron man, playing virtually every game over the last four years, while doing the ‘dirty work’ in the paint by blocking shots, gobbling up rebounds and converting second chance points.
One guy who seems about ready to hit his best years is Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins has shown he can carry the Warriors to a win now and then, almost through sure will. But Wiggins has also not been able to stay healthy this season, as he’s been dogged by nagging injuries plus a mysterious malady that robbed him of a chance to contribute for a sizeable stretch of games.
Overall, the Warriors’ bench lacks muscle and experience. Remember that when the Warriors won all of those championships, they had guys such as David West, Shaun Livingston and JaVale McGee available. Players who had been there before. Players who were calm and poised. Now they’re depending on Donte Divincenzo, JaMychal Green (who has mostly been a disappointment), and youngsters such Ty Jerome and Moses Moody who can’t be relied upon night-after-night.
For what it’s worth, I will pick the Warriors to move up to the number six spot in the playoff ladder, with a strong push down the stretch. After all, they have won a bunch of titles over the past decade and are guided by arguably the best coach in the game. And despite their maddingly uneven play, they remain a supremely confident team. Last year’s title was unexpected so it was a wonderful gift to Warriors’ fans. But because they’ve set such a high standard over the last decade, many expect the Warriors to be there again at season’s end.
Sorry Warrior fans, but it won’t happen.
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Long-time Bay Area sportscaster Bruce Macgowan has been recording his 45 years of broadcast experience for a forthcoming book to be published shortly. For earlier articles by Macgowan, published in
Sports Today, click HERE.
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Cal Bears 57
Washington State Cougars 63
Saturday, February 25, 2023
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The last home game of the season brought out a pregame celebration for outgoing seniors Joel Brown, Jarred Hyder, Kuany Kuany, Lars Thiemann and DeJuan Clayton. A good, close game until the last few minutes when both starting center ND Okafor and starting forward Kuany Kuany fouled out with less than two minutes to play. For senior Kuany, this was the end of his playing career in Haas Pavilion. The University of California Golden Bears played host to the Washington State University Cougars on Saturday evening, February 25, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. Final score: Cougars 63, Bears 57.
Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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The youth of the Cal basketball program got significant playing time, including Monty Bowser (#2), a redshirt sophomore who played 27 minutes and ended the game with 10 points. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
Stepping up to get 17 minutes of action due to Lars Thiemann out with an injury and starting center ND Okafor in early foul trouble, the 6’-7” Obinna Anyanwu (#23) finished with nine points. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
Outgoing senior Joel Brown (#1) gets a special moment from his coaches in the closing seconds as he walks off the court from his last game at Haas Pavilion. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
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Stanford Cardinal 81
Washington Huskies 69
Sunday, February 26, 2023
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Stanford senior Spencer Jones scored 21 points on Senior Day as the Cardinal defeated the Washington Huskies, 81-69, at Maples Pavilion on Sunday, February 26th. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | |
Major League Baseball Changes | |
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Consider A Donation
Sports Today is a dynamic sports journal distributed each Monday to the sports industry and media professionals, colleges and universities and avid San Francisco and Northern California sports fans.
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Cal Bears 56
Washington Huskies 65
Thursday, February 23, 2023
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The California Golden Bears played host to the Washington Huskies at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thursday evening, February 23. The second to last home game for the season ended as expected as Washington got an early lead, going 10-0 before Cal got on the board. The Bears then battled all game to stay close but never pulled even. At one point Cal trailed by only four points but in the end, Washington would pull away. Final score: Huskies 65, Bears 56. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
Coming in off the bench to log almost 28 minutes of action, Sam Alajiki (#24) drove to the basket for an emphatic slam dunk, on his way to becoming Cal's scoring leader with 13 points. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
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No. 24 Stanford Cardinal -- 197.575
No. 11 Oregon State -198.075
Friday, February 24, 2023
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Earning the program’s best score in Maples Pavilion since at least 1999, No. 24 Cardinal earned its season-best score in a battle with No. 11 Oregon State, falling 198.075-197.575 Friday night in Maples Pavilion. Above, sophomore Isabela Onyshko took a moment to look into the camera during her balance beam performance in this 15-image in-camera composite image.
Credit: Stanford Athletics. Photo by Rich Yee.
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Kerri Walsh -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee | |
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In 2011 I met Olympic Women’s Beach Volleyball player Kerri Walsh at a Bay Area sports card shop. I was first in line to meet Kerri and she was extremely warm and friendly. As she was signing my volleyball I asked if she could include the years she won Gold. She wrote “Gold 2004, 2008 & 2012 Hopeful." Kerri and teammate Misty May went on to win Olympic Gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012, including a Bronze in 2016. Kerri is a Santa Clara native now living in Saratoga.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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The Dubs, the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, and Chesty Puller
by Howard Pearlstein
First of all, it’s not war, even though people like to say it is. It’s sports, and after it’s over, win or lose, players from opposing teams high-five and hug players they know.
War is something else, and to be less graphic and more poetic, when combat was hundreds of men going at it with axes and hammers and swords, the saying was: “When the battle’s over, it’s the ravens’ turn.”
But analogies can be useful in seeing the larger context, and the possibility of the Dubs making the playoffs on the way to another championship is again in doubt.
I’m thinking the example of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in Northeast Korea in December of 1950 can be useful.
Briefly, Army and Marines had pretty much destroyed the North Korean forces on their way to trying to unify South and North Korea.
But, well…then Chairman Mao sent 120,000 Chinese troops with orders to destroy the UN Forces.
Our guys were not trained for the waves of screaming trumpet-blaring thousands coming for huge face-to-face battles or the intense cold ranging from -25 to -36 degrees below Fahrenheit zero.
And the American forces, saddled with a chain of command dysfunction from a never-ending feud between the Army and Marine generals under the incompetent command of the clueless Dugout Doug Macarthur.
The solution? Chesty Puller, the Marine colonel whose career consisted of being sent into command lost causes and impossible odds -- Nicaragua, Guadalcanal, Cape Britain, Peleliu -- battles won, four Navy Crosses awarded. And then Korea and the Chosin Reservoir.
By the time he got there, the Chinese had surrounded them with seven divisions -- 80,000+ PVA soldiers to the Marines’ one division of around 10,000.
And Chesty Puller, when told they were surrounded and asked what he was going to do said: "We've been looking for the enemy for several days now. We've finally found them. We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem of finding these people and killing them."
It took 17 days to break out and fight their way to open an escape route to the port at Hungnam with 1,000+ Marines dead from combat and 7,000+ dead from the cold. The Chinese? Seven divisions destroyed and 60,000 dead.
And Chesty Puller got his unprecedented fifth Navy Cross.
The point is, when you win the championship, you’re surrounded. Every team wants to take you down. It’s not a matter of beating this team or that – it’s beating each one each time you meet.
And instead of Chesty Puller, we have Draymond and the Splash Brothers and the best bench in the NBA. And instead of bitter cold, there’s injuries, hostile fans at road games, and new guys busting it to speed up their learning curves. And winning it all means three extra weeks of best-of-seven games -- the toughest games of the season and three weeks lost from off-season recovery and rehab.
But it’s not the end of the world for them. It’s not war.
This is just a way of saying when you’re at .500 with only a couple dozen games to go, it’s bad, really bad, but to quote the late Judy Tenuta: “It could happen.”
It may not be probable, but win or lose, it’s not impossible. So – for anyone who tries to Nostradamn them saying no way they can win out, there’s only one answer and it only takes one finger to say it.
It ain’t over till the point guard shimmies.
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Howard Pearlstein has been a few places and done a few things.
An old friend once said, "Howard, you live your life like you're trying to fill in a dust jacket blurb." Well, then all I have to do is write a book that will get published.
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Bears Sweep Through Mary Nutter
Collegiate Classic
Haylei Archer Records Complete Game Shutout As Cal
Wins Ninth Straight Game
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The California softball team got a complete game shutout from Haylei Archer and what turned out to be a game-winning home run off the bat of D'Asha Saiki on the way to a 3-0 win over Texas Tech to close out the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Sunday at the Big League Dreams complex.
The Bears (14-2) swept the weekend at the tournament and pushed their win streak to nine overall with the win over the Red Raiders
(12-5).
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
www.calbears.com
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Card Drops Top-10 Battle
Cardinal is the No. 1 seed in next week's Pac-12 Tournament
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah will enter the Pac-12 Tournament as a champion.
Gianna Kneepkens scored a season-high 28 points to lead the No. 8 Utes to an 84-78 victory over No. 3 Stanford on Saturday. Utah earned a share of their first regular-season Pac-12 Conference title with the win.
continued...
By Stanford Athletics. For a full report, click HERE
www.gostanford.com
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Spartans Sweep Doubleheader Saturday
with Run Rules in Both
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Ahmiya Noriega walked off with an inside the park grand slam against Saint Mary's and a two RBI triple against Sacramento State to cause run rules in both and lead San José State (6-7) in a 15-7 win in five innings over Saint Mary's (4-9) and a 10-2 win in five innings over Sacramento State (6-7) on Saturday afternoon from Spartan Softball Stadium in the second day of the SVC Classic I to extend the Spartans win streak to five games.
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
#AllSpartans
www.sjsuspartans.com
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Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
Gaels Bounce Back to Beat Eastern Washington
CHENEY, Wash. – Saint Mary's Women's Tennis were back in action against Eastern Washington Sunday afternoon, as they looked to bounce back from their loss to Washington State yesterday.
The Gaels did just that, winning every match against the Eagles, claiming a decisive 7-0 victory.
STRONG START
Saint Mary's once again got the hot start in doubles, as the Gaels won all of their matches against the Eagles
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
#GaelsRise
www.smcgaels.com
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Dons Awarded Sixth Seed for WCC Tournament
SAN MATEO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference officially released the seeding and tournament bracket for the upcoming 2023 Univeristy Credit Union West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
For San Francisco, the Dons have earned the No. 6 seed this season. With BYU, Pacific and USF finishing conference play with a 7-9 record, the conference released an official ruling on how the tiebreakers were decided:
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
www.usfdons.com
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Broncos Wrap Up Regular Season With
Seventh-Straight Win
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Santa Clara men's basketball couldn't have scripted a better time to get hot. The Broncos closed out their regular season on Saturday evening with an 81-63 thumping over San Diego to pick up their seventh-straight victory, and will carry that streak into next week's WCC Tournament in Las Vegas.
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
www.santaclarabroncos.com
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University of Pacific Tigers | |
Pacific Women's Basketball Finishes Regular Season with Win over Saint Mary's
MORAGA, Calif. – The Pacific women's basketball team (13-16, 8-10) wrapped up the regular season with a dominating 68-53 win over Saint Mary's (12-17, 6-11).
Senior Sam Ashby led the way, scoring 20 points and grabbing three steals. Sophomore Anaya James added 19 points off the bench, going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line and dishing out three assists. Juniors Liz Smith and Cecilia Holmberg each had seven rebounds and Smith played a team-high 39 minutes.
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
www.pacifictigers.com
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Watch any program on CCE's YouTube channel, or, for attorneys, earn MCLE credits online, economically, with "The Best in Topics and Talent."
Center for Continuing Education, Monterey, CA is a State Bar of California MCLE approved Provider, #8450
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
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Cristian Espinoza, who tallied an assist on Ebobisse’s goal, has now passed Richard Mulrooney for the third-most assists in club history and is now five away from tying assist-leader Shea Salinas (50).
MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 1,
Atlanta United FC 2
San Jose turns to home opener vs. Vancouver on March 4
ATLANTA, Ga. – The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Atlanta United FC 2-1 in their 2023 MLS season opener on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. San Jose scored early through Jeremy Ebobisse and held a 1-0 lead into the second-half stoppage time, but Atlanta scored two late goals to prevail.
The Earthquakes will now return to San Jose to prepare for their home opener against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 4, presented by Coca-Cola. Kickoff from PayPal Park is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed globally on MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), as well as on local radio via 810 AM The Spread (English) and 1370 KZSF (Spanish). The Quakes will host a 20-year celebration for the 2003 MLS Cup championship squad, and 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2003 replica jersey.
continued...
Click HERE.
www.sjearthquakes.com
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Can Am returns, as shown in 2016 with Richard Griot in his 1967 McLaren M6A leading Lawrence Stroll in his 1970 Ferrari 512M out of Turn 3. Photo by: TM Hill
Selecting the Best of the Best Begins
for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
MONTEREY, Calif., February 15, 2023—The vetting and entry selection process into the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Aug. 16-19 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, begins this week to determine the field of historic race cars that will complete the 14 race groups. Rekindling memories, sights and sounds of the past, the cars are selected based on their authenticity, provenance and mechanical- and period-correctness.
continued...
Click HERE.
www.weathertechraceway.com
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Air Show Will Again Thrill Fans Prior to
Toyota/Save Mart 350 Green Flag
Northern California jet team is part of a packed
NASCAR race weekend schedule
SONOMA, Calif. (February 21, 2023) – Fans at Sonoma Raceway’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 in June will momentarily shift their focus from track to sky for a dramatic air show as part of the pre-race festivities. As part of an action-packed weekend schedule, the Patriots Jet Team will thrill race fans with 25-minutes of choreographed aerobatics during the fanfare prior to the green flag.
continued...
Click HERE.
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Oakland Roots Sports Club Sign Trinidad and Tobago Defender Neveal Hackshaw
Oakland, CA - Oakland Roots SC have added another USL veteran defender of seven seasons, Neveal Hackshaw, ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season. Hackshaw most recently featured for Indy Eleven for four seasons following three seasons with Charleston Battery having earned more than 150 appearances in the league to date.
“Neveal is a veteran of this league, and someone who truly understands what the USL and CONCACAF is all about,” said Roots Director of Player Personnel Nana Attakora. “Adding another great person and very experienced player to our squad is going to only help grow our culture and maturity on the field in 2023.”
Hacksaw has featured for Trinidad and Tobago, his home country, on 28 occasions with the first appearance dating back to 2015. The 27-year-old was born in La Horquetta in Trinidad and Tobago and scored twice for his national team in 2022 in back-to-back games in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Welcome to Oakland, Neveal.
continued...
Click Here..
www.oaklandrootssc.com
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Bonus for Sports Today Readers!
From Pete Elman's compelling new book,
Insights and Outtakes
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Colin Kaepernick in Atlanta, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 | |
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Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
(a parable) February 18, 2019
Where: The Pearly Gates
When: The not-too-distant future
The Occasion: A pre-screening
The Characters:
SAINT PETER
ANGEL, his assistant
COLIN
DONALD
* * *
SAINT PETER
(matter-of-factly) Okay, Angel, who do we have next?
ANGEL
Two candidates, sir. One is a young man, tall, very fit, with a soft smile and a lot of hair. The other, well, I can't tell his age, but he's wearing a suit with a long red tie, and his hair is very strange, almost orange. And they are both wearing baseball caps, sir.
SAINT PETER
Baseball caps? Very well, send in the first...
ANGEL
This way, young man.
SAINT PETER
And what is your name, son?
COLIN
Colin, sir.
SAINT PETER
(takes a few moments to peruse a written file) Hmm--it says here that you have been quite the controversial figure in your public life. To what do you attribute this notoriety?
COLIN
Well, sir, perhaps it's my chosen profession...and my beliefs.
SAINT PETER
That would be football? Aah, I have heard about this game...an exciting, popular, and very violent sport, yes?
COLIN
(looking down, apologetically) Yes sir, it is a violent sport--but I do love playing it, although I haven't been doing much of that lately...
SAINT PETER
I see. But I read here that, at the peak of what appears to be a successful career, you chose to speak out against violence. Can you explain?
COLIN
(takes a deep breath) I will try, sir. As a child my parents instilled in me values that have guided me all my life. The violence I continue to speak out against is not the kind you find on the football field, but rather in society itself.
PETER
And what might those values be, young man?
COLIN
Tolerance, compassion, patriotism-- and love, sir.
SAINT PETER
(reads further down the report) Then why did so many people react with scorn, insults and intimidation? And this is troubling--you were actually blackballed from playing the sport you loved?
COLIN
Yes, sir, I can explain (points to the letters "BLM" on his cap and explains what they stand for). I have tried to speak for those less fortunate than myself, to advocate for fairness, justice and equal rights for all. I'd like to make the world a better place, sir.
PETER
How noble! But what about patriotism? I seem to remember back in '75--1775, that is--that old Tory Samuel Johnson said that it is "the last refuge of scoundrels." How do you define patriotism?
COLIN
What Johnson was calling attention to, sir, is that scoundrels, when challenged, will often use false patriotism in order to shut up their opponents. For me, patriotism means freedom--of speech, of religion, the press--what's in the first amendment to the Constitution. I believe that's what makes America great.
SAINT PETER
(smiling, looks at Angel, keys jangling)
I've heard enough. Angel, please stamp the pre-approval form APPROVED. I look forward to seeing you again, son, but not for a while, I hope. Keep up the good work, and I hope you get a chance to play the game you love again.
COLIN
Thank you so much, sir. I've been ready, I stay ready, and I continue to be ready.**
SAINT PETER
Excellent. And this next candi- (he hears yelling and swearing) What in God's name is this commotion? SILENCE!
DONALD
(furiously searching his pockets, screaming) I'm not supposed to be here! I'm exempt! Executive privilege! Where's my cellphone, goddammit?! There's no TV here? How in the hell can I watch "Fox and Friends?!" This is an outrage!
SAINT PETER
You will NOT take the Lord's name in vain up here, sir. But I do find it interesting you should mention my cousin Lucifer's neck of the woods...whatever. Angel, may I see the file?
ANGEL
(With a look of embarrassment, gestures to a big table straining under the weight of ten large volumes)
SAINT PETER
Wait--that's all for him?
ANGEL
Uh, yes sir, he has an extensive file, much of it, I dare say, seems to reference, I don't know any other way to say it...bad behavior.
PETER
We get all kinds up here. (gestures towards Donald and points to the table) How do you explain this, sir?
DONALD
I don't have to answer these questions! Send your damn subpoena to my lawyers! (ranting now) No collusion! No obstruction! No quid pro quo! Read the transcript! Look at my hat, for Chrissake!
SAINT PETER
I warned you about blasphemous language, sir. (looks at the man's red baseball cap) Okay, I'm looking. I see four letters; M-A-G-A. Can you please explain what these stand for? Might they also symbolize virtues like those the previous young man espoused?
DONALD
(his face getting redder, his voice louder) Virtues?! Are you kidding me? Fire the sons-of-bitches! How dare they take a knee? Send them back to their shithole countries!
SAINT PETER
Excuse me? Whatever. Let's get on with this, I don't have all day. Now it says here, sir, that you've committed some pretty serious offenses; against the law, your country, and all of humanity, for that matter. Wow--this is quite an impressive list: collusion with a foreign power, endorsing white supremacists, breaking campaign finance laws, repeated obstruction of justice, witness tampering, perjury, fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion, bribery (voice gets louder here) sexual assault, kidnapping children, treason and even war crimes. Wait, there is more? Causing hundreds of thousands of needless deaths by lying about a pandemic, and fomenting an insurrection against the United States? I know my cousin would be thrilled to have you. How do you explain this, sir?
DONALD
(sweating profusely now) Fake news! Witch hunt! A scam! Deep state! Hillary's e-mails! Hearsay! No linkage! Hunter Biden!
ANGEL
This fellow seems a bit unhinged, sir.
DONALD
Where's my Roy Cohn?!!
SAINT PETER
I believe you're referring to your friend Mr. Stone, sir--actually he has a date with prison, so that might be a bit tricky. Oh, and next time we meet, I suggest you dress for a warm-weather climate.
Angel, please stamp his form...NOT APPROVED.
Next candidate...
* * *
** these words, directed to NFL owners, were spoken by Colin Kaepernick after his November 16, 2018 workout in Atlanta.
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"Good things come to those who wait"
The Guinness is pouring well and honestly we can't drink it all by ourselves so join us. Open Monday through Thursday at 4pm. Friday through Sunday at 12pm. Happy Hour 4pm to 6pm. Look forward to seeing all your smiling
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Editor's Note
Have a favorite Sports Moment you would like to share?
With perhaps a photo or two? Send a brief description along with any photos and we'll make room. Why not bring those memories to life?
Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
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Where The Bay Comes To Play! | |
Recent Facebook Albums to Enjoy | |
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Stanford Cardinal (MBkB) 81, Washington Huskies 69, February 26, 2023. Photos by Darren Yamashita.
Cal Bears (MBkB) 57, Washington State Cougars 63, February 25, 2023. Photos by Ron Sellers.
Stanford Cardinal (WGYM) vs. Oregon State Beavers, February 24, 2023. Photos by Rich Yee.
Cal Bears (MBkB) 56, Washington Huskies 65, February 23, 2023. Photos by Ron Sellers.
Cal Bears (WBkB) 81, No. 25 USC Trojans 78 (Overtime), February 19, 2023. Photos by Darren Yamashita.
Cal Bears (WGYM) vs. UCLA Bruins, February 18, 2023.
Photos by Ron Sellers.
UCLA Bruins (WGYM) vs. Cal Bears, February 18, 2023.
Photos by Ron Sellers.
Saint Mary’s Gaels (MBkB) 71, BYU Cougars 65, February 18, 2023.
Photos by Darren Yamashita.
Cal Bears (WBkB) 54, UCLA Bruins 67, February 17, 2023.
Photos by Darren Yamashita.
USF Dons (MBkB) 76, Pacific Tigers 68, February 16, 2023.
Photos by Ron Sellers.
Pacific Tigers (MBkB) 68, USF Dons 76, February 16, 2023.
Photos by Ron Sellers.
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, February 27, through
Sunday, March 5, 2023
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Monday, February 27
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Angels, 12:05 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Colorado Rockies, 12:05 p.m.
Tuesday, February 28
Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 12:05 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Los Angeles Angels, 12:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 12:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Cincinnati Reds, 12:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 2
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Cleveland Guardians, 12:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Chicago Cubs, 12:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 3
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants/SS @ Texas Rangers, 12:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants/SS vs. Colorado Rockies, 12:10 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Kansas City Royals, 12:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 4
San Jose Sharks vs. Washington Capitals, 3 p.m.
San Francisco Giants/SS vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 12:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants /SS @ Milwaukee Brewers, 12:10 p.m.
Oakland A's/SS vs. Cleveland Guardians, 12:05 p.m.
Oakland A's/SS vs. Cincinnati Reds, 12:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 5
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 12:30 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Kansas City Royals, 12:05 p.m.
Oakland A's/SS @ San Diego Padres, 12:10 p.m.
Oakland A's/SS vs. Cincinnati Reds, 1:05 p.m.
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Enjoy the
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For the past 60 years, Michael Zagaris has taken his camera behind the scenes of the NFL, capturing the moments that define America’s game.
To order: https://www.zagarisbook.com/
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LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? was written for sports professionals by Andy Dolich and Jack Hirschman and offers valuable takeaways for everyone chasing the fancy logo and corner office. | |
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More than a cookbook, this culinary delight was written to preserve a great chef's traditional family recipes and stories of her childhood for her far-flung grandchildren. Author Leonie Samuel-Hool recounts stories of a vanished society and legends of the gods and goddesses that protect and sometimes make mischief in Indonesian homes, fields and foods. The recipes are explicitly presented. | |
The absolute greatest Yankees were the 1949-1953 pinstripers, winners of an unprecedented five consecutive World Series. "The Yankee Way," Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa writes in the book's foreword, is "full of Yankee winning keys, star-studded competition, and insights about one of baseball's historically fascinating periods." By Charlie Silvera with Dave Newhouse (Author). | |
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