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June 5 - June 11, 2023
Issue No. 488
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An Uncertain Future
by Bruce Macgowan
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My friend Marty Lurie, who hosts a baseball show similar to the one I did for many years on KNBR, always likes to refer to the baseball season as a “mosaic.”
“You don’t really know how it’s all going to turn out until all the pieces are in place,” he has frequently said on the air.
Trying to figure out what the next four months hold for the San Francisco Giants is difficult. Chances are they will probably end up in the middle of the pack in the National League and make a run at a wild card. But to expect anything more than say, 85 wins, may be asking too much.
After winning 11 of 15 games recently to finally move over the .500 mark, the Giants bats went pretty quiet over the last five games of a recent homestand. San Francisco lost four of the last five games at home before hitting the road to play the lowly Rockies in Denver.
The frustrating thing for the Giants is that there are too many question marks. In a recent ugly loss to the surprising and talented young Baltimore Orioles, Giants fielders made several critical mistakes and pitcher Anthony DeSchlafani became unnerved. Normally reliable, he ended up walking four batters and hitting another in a disastrous third inning on the way to a 8-3 loss on Sunday. DeSclafani is unfortunately one of those guys who had a tendency to sometimes make things worse when he doesn’t get the support he needs.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Giants rotation is looking for more consistency. Logan Webb has looked good but is not getting much help from the hitters. Alex Cobb has been terrific but now the other Alex, lefthander Alex Wood, is hurt. The Giants bullpen is much better than it was a year ago as newcomer Sean Manaea and veteran John Brebbia can chew up innings while young fire balling closer Camilo Doval is usually ‘nails’ when trying to shut the door and preserve a close win.
Unfortunately, most of the eight everyday positions remain question marks because of inexperience and injuries.
After having a sensational month of May, slugging outfielder Michael Conforto has been nursing a sore ankle and only batted once during a recent homestand, Mitch Haniger, the other veteran free agent acquisition, missed spring training and is finally getting into a groove.
Meanwhile, the most talented young player on the club, second baseman, Thairo Estrada, has had a sprained wrist and has missed several weeks.
In their place the Giants have depended on rookies such as Brett Wisely, inexperienced outfielder Blake Sabol, and backup catcher Patrick Bailey. They haven’t played that badly, but who knows how good they’ll be in the long run. Middle infielder Casey Schmitt has provided a jolt on the field and excitement in the clubhouse with his youthful energy and is hitting well over .300, but opposing pitchers will soon “have a book” on him and he’ll have to make the requisite adjustments at the plate.
The good news? The Giants have found a third baseman in J.D. Davis, who was only a part-time player with the New York Mets. Davis is on pace to hit about 25 homers and drive in about 75 runs. If they need to use him more, super utilityman Wilmer Flores, maybe the most popular player with the fans, can pinch hit and play virtually anywhere in the infield. And first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. has been adequate defensively at first and has shown power at the plate. Wade Jr. is also healthy after spending most of the 2022 campaign dealing with a lingering injury.
But it’s hard to get a fix on how good a manager Gabe Kapler is going to be. Kapler has a larger contingent of coaches than just about any other manager in the game, but he is also wedded, as is gm Farhan Zaidi, to analytics, which has become all the rage in baseball.
In fairness to Kapler, he took over for the most successful manager in the Giants west coast history but it has been an unusual four years. In 2020, Kap” presided over perhaps the strangest season in baseball history, as the pandemic shortened the campaign while teams played almost exclusively in front of hundreds of cardboard cutouts of fans. Then the next season, a mostly anonymous cast featuring retreads and journeymen such as Donovan Solano, Darin Ruf and Kevin Gausman came out of nowhere to win a record number of games in the regular season.
So what’s Marty Lurie’s “mosaic” of the 2023 season going to look like? No one knows for sure. Stay tuned!
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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 Magowan published in
Sports Today, click HERE.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Director of Sales: Ann Cooke
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Josh Nickel, 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, Arnie Passman, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff,
Shelia Young
Social Media: Jenny Kim
Website: www.UltimateSportsGuide.net
Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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Letters to the Editor
Congrats Mister 100! LaMonte Wade Jr.'s Splash Hit Home Run on 6/2/23
LaMonte Wade Jr. recorded the 100th Splash Hit home run in Oracle Park history Friday night, June 2nd, as he smoked a line drive pitch from Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer in the bottom of the first inning into McCovey Cove. The homer gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead, but the Orioles recovered and won the game, 3-2.
Late Night LaMonte has been ferocious with the bat lately and has earned his place in San Francisco Giants storied history!
100 splash hits have been hit into the Bay by 28 Giants players since the park opened (all splash hits are in the regular season); 35 of those were by Barry Bonds. Seven other Giants have reached the Cove more than twice: Brandon Belt, ten; Pablo Sandoval (The Panda), eight; Denard Span, five; Mike Yastrzemski, five; LaMonte Wade Jr., five; Brandon Crawford, four; and Joc Pederson, three (as a G-Man).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fxEdb0NbDU (YouTube: 52 seconds)
Robert A. Moselle
https://www.cce-mcle.com/aboutus
Zhang Time!
This was the top sports event of the day for me: Rose Zhang's LPGA playoff win to start her career. (She finished her Final exams at Stanford only two weeks ago). The last woman to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the
Eastern Open in 1951!
Zhang captured the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second hole in a playoff against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday. Both players hit the fairway on No. 18 on the second playoff hole, but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet.
Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with a two-putt par to win.
She held her face in disbelief after the final putt fell and was then mobbed and presented with bouquets of roses.
Plenty of suspense, clutch golf and some history made. A jolly good show.
Kristen LaRue
San Francisco, CA
UH-OH!
Just came across this Washington Post article five minutes ago – “Phoenix area can’t meet groundwater demands over next century, threatening growth.”
Phoenix is halting construction in mass because their water supply is alarmingly low. Las Vegas should be making similar announcements. It’s a regional catastrophe. The isolation and know-nothingness of your Northern Californians is chilling. A’s in Las Vegas is a non-starter. You heard it here and in the Post.
You’ll be hearing from Nevadans soon. I was surprised that this world climate event has received so little attention. Hear Ye, Hear Ye: The Colorado River is in existential straits. It no longer reaches its natural outlet in the northern Sea of Cortez but expires in a dried out marsh some miles north in Baja California. Have your populations not noticed the water levels of Lake Mead and Lake Powell? These areas did not receive a drop of your atmospheric water bombs.
MLB Commissioner Manfred can put a stop to John Fisher’s plans with a one-paragraph edict. Then again, the truth is that Manfred is just a hedge fund director for the 30 billionaire owners.
Patric Mayers, Esq.
Rancho Mirage, CA
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Contents
Columns
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Games
Bay Area Panthers 69, Duke City Gladiators 52
Oakland Roots SC 1 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks 0
Oakland Soul SC 3, Cal Storm 2
San Francisco Giants 3, Baltimore Orioles 8
San Jose Earthquakes 0, Colorado Rapids 0
Features & Commentary
And Sometimes It’s A Rare Luxury We Have...by Howard Pearlstein
Billy Ball Baseball, Third in a Series, by Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
Consider A Donation
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, by Ed Jay
Jeff Gordon -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Up For Debate -- My Top 50 NBA Players!, by Dave Newhouse
Warriors Announce Activations for Pride Month, Presented by Accenture
Organizations
Cal Bears
Golden Gate Fields
Oakland A's
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco Giants
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
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Up For
Debate --
My Top 50
NBA Players!
by Dave Newhouse
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A migraine-inducing endeavor would be selecting the 50 greatest NBA players. Even more mind-blowing would be convincing naysayers to agree with these choices, which in this particular instance are mine only.
Adding to the difficulty, divide the 50 into 10 five-player teams, strictly by position. I can hear the, “Have you lost your mind?” chants starting right now.
Preparing for this challenging task, I researched the complete list of NBA Hall of Famers, plus NBA all-league selections dating back to the 1940s, to ensure that I didn’t overlook somebody’s greatness.
Even with that extensive research, I still expect dissenters, including those holding their noses. If necessary, I’ll discuss my choices in a further column. That said, here is the improbable, bordering on the impossible, top NBA 50.
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First Team
F-Larry Bird, LeBron James
C-Bill Russell
G-Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry
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Second Team
F-Elgin Baylor, Rick Barry
C-Wilt Chamberlain
G-Jerry West, Oscar Robertson
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Third Team
F-Charles Barkley, Kevin Durant
C-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
G-Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant
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Fourth Team
F-Julius Erving, Karl Malone
C-Nicola Jokic
G-Bob Cousy, Allen Iverson
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Fifth Team
F-Bob Pettit, Chris Mullin
C-Moses Malone
G-George Gervin, Jason Kidd
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Sixth Team
F- Dolph Schayes, Scottie Pippen
C-George Mikan
G-Dave Bing, John Stockton
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Seventh Team
F-Kevin McHale, Dominique Wilkins
C-Shaquille O’Neal
G-Ray Allen, Steve Nash
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Eighth Team
F-James Worthy, John Havlicek
C-Hakeem Olajuwon
G-Bill Sharman, Mitch Richmond
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Ninth Team
F-Dirk Nowitski, Bernard King
C-Nate Thurmond
G-Reggie Miller, Pete Maravich
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Tenth Team
F-George Yardley, Paul Arizin
C-Bob Lanier
G-Tim Hardaway, Gary Payton
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With apologies to Jim Pollard, Connie Hawkins, Tom Heinsohn, Chet Walker, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Giannis Antetokoumpo, James Hardin, David Robinson, Dave Cowens, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Damian Lillard, Isaih Thomas, Tiny Archibald, Lenny Wilkins, Robert Parish, Paul Westphal, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Klay Thompson and other great players who didn’t make this particular cut, but might make yours, no slight intended.
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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. Newhouse is the author of 19 books. 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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San Francisco Giants 3
Baltimore Orioles 8
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA. Sunday, June 4
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Former Oakland A’s manager Billy Martin and book inset for Billy Ball,
written by Dale Tafoya.
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Billy Ball Baseball
(Third in a Series)
by Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
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Somehow the 1980 Billy Ball Era is forgotten by baseball, unless you are a real A’s fan in the East Bay. The colorful Billy Martin only managed the Oakland As for three seasons, but it left a remarkable place in the history of the Athletics franchise. Billy Martin was born in Berkeley, was an original resident of Alameda County and once was a passionate and feisty player who later became a manager in the major leagues.
Billy Martin always loved Latino players. When I asked him during an interview, he told me that, “Latinos play with a lot of passion for the game, a passion that I had when I played.” During those years the A’s did not win a World Series or produce a real winner, but there is no doubt Billy, a real character, left his fingerprints on the history of this franchise.
Billy Martin was the second baseman for the New York Yankees during the early 1950s Yankee dynasty, winning titles in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1956. He played on great winning teams. As a manager, he hated to lose, and he demanded the most from his players.
As a player Billy was unique, and even more eccentric as a manager. He managed the Twins, Tigers, Rangers, Athletics and Yankees. A 16-year managerial career was successful with a record of 1,253 games wins and 1,013 losses.
More than once when his team was in a real bad slump he would pick out his lineup out of hat. Billy Martin was always getting into trouble -- at a bar after a game, or by kicking dirt on umpires. I used to call him “Una bola de Fuego” translated as A Ball of Fire.
During spring training in 1980 my broadcast partner Julio González and yours truly went to the then famous Pink Pony in Scottsdale. Julio and I invited Tony Armas, the A’s Venezuelan-born right fielder, a very nice, mild manner guy.
As we approached, just a few steps inside, Armas told us, “No, no aqui, vamos a otro lado,” and translated as: “No, not here, let’s go someplace else.” Tony noticed that at a table was Billy and his coaches, Clete Boyer, Lee Walls and pitching coach Art Fowler. He didn’t want to go and eat there. Why? He explained to us later, Billy could “start” something, and he didn’t want any part of it.
You might call it respect or afraid of your manager, or both. Whatever, Billy brought that type of heat with his presence. He was like a Frank Sinatra type of guy, who could get mad and spark something.
The Haas family bought the A’s that year and one of the best moves they made was to bring aboard marketing guru Andy Dolich, who used Billy Martin’s personality to the advantage of the team with a Billy Ball campaign which ultimately won Mr. Dolich a CLIO advertising award.
A CLIO is an annual award in advertising which recognizes innovation and excellence, aka an Oscar in acting. Because of Billy Martin’s managing style, Andy Dolich recognized that was an asset to the organization and launched the Billy Ball baseball campaign.
Billy Martin would later retire with the Yankees, whom he managed three more times, as owner George Steinbrenner (another character) fired him three times. Billy Martin died in an automobile accident in upstate New York on Christmas night in 1989. Although he managed the Oakland Athletics for just three years, to me Billy Martin is an unforgettable man of baseball -- talented, explosive and always entertaining.
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Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburgh and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon | |
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The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon returns to San Francisco on June 11. Ranked the best triathlon in the world, the race begins with a
1.5-mile swim from the shadows of Alcatraz Island to the Marina Green. The following bike route is an undulating 18-mile ride followed by an 8-mile run to Baker Beach Battery featuring the tortuous sand ladder steps. The race ends at Marina Green with enthusiastic crowds packing each end of the finish chute. Activities will greet fans and racers after the race.
Top, left -- At 7:15 am triathletes began the swim portion in the cold San Francisco Bay. Top, right -- Kelsey Myers in the bike leg of the triathlon will eventually finish in 3:15:20. Bottom, left -- Eric Lagerstrom wins the overall race and male category in 2:10:36. Bottom, right -- Jackie Hering wins in the female category in 2:15:2.
Photos by Ed Jay.
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Warriors Announce Activations for Pride Month, Presented by Accenture
Activations Highlighted By Renovation Project At
Larkin Street Youth Services
SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors today announced the organization’s planned activations for Pride Month, presented by Accenture, which will include a renovation project at Larkin Street Youth Services, a Pride Comedy Night at Thrive City, volunteer opportunities for front office staff, and more. Additionally, to mark the start of Pride Month, Chase Center’s exterior façade will light in rainbow tonight to reflect and celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Thrive City will host Pride Comedy Night, presented by Accenture, on Thursday, June 22, from 6–9 p.m. The free comedy showcase, which will be held in collaboration with HellaFunny, will feature host Sister Roma and comedians Irene Tu, Sureni Weerasekera, and Scott Capuro. To learn more or to register for the event, please visit ThriveCity.com.
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
NBA.com
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Camilo Doval Named National Reliever
of the Month
It’s official. Camilo Doval has earned his second Reliever of the Month Award. Having previously won in September 2021, he is one of two Giants relievers to win the award since its inception in 2005, joining Jake McGee (July 2021).
In May, the 25-year-old right-hander appeared in 14 games for the Giants, compiling a 1.32 ERA across 13.2 innings pitched and converting each of his 11 save opportunities, which paced the Majors during the month of May. His 11 saves tied for the third-most by a Giants pitcher in a single month – the most since Brian Wilson who also had 11 in September/October 2010. Only Robb Nen had more saves in a single month in franchise history, compiling 14 saves in July 2000 and 13 saves in June 2001.
The Yamasa, Dominican Republic native enters play today with a NL-leading 14 saves on the season, tied for second in the Majors with Baltimore’s Félix Bautista behind only Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase (17).
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The Oakland A's Community Fund is now accepting applications for our 2023 Grant Program. Bay Area organizations have the opportunity to apply for up to $10,000 to support the impactful work you are doing in our community. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2023.
Our newly renamed Kyle Ellington Social Justice Grant disseminates funds once a year to organizations that are committed to uplifting the Bay Area through systemic change, advocacy, policy reform, and innovative direct service programs for underserved communities.
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Kyle started with us in February 2021 and was our first Director of Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging. Among his many accomplishments, he spearheaded the development of | |
the Diversity Taskforce, Diversity Council, a number of the A's employee resource groups, led the A's speaker series, and provided training on topics ranging from male allyship in the workplace to creating an equitable organizational culture. Ellington also organized the A's mentorship program with Laney College. Kyle passed away on Jan. 21, 2023.We are committed to the health and vitality of the local community, educational initiatives and programs, and youth sports support. We enrich the East Bay through sport and civic service. Learn more about our work here. | |
Author Dave Newhouse (left) and his wife, Patsy, appeared at the Book Tree in Montclair for a recent book signing of his new book, Goodbye, Oakland. Both were greeted by a welcoming reader (right), the first of many to receive an autographed copy. | |
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For great advertising rates call: APG Sports,
P.O. Box 3164, Fremont, CA 94539. Dir tel: 510-579-0682
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Bay Area Panthers 6
Duke City Gladiators 52
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The Indoor Football League returned to San Jose on Saturday night, June 3, when the Bay Area Panthers (6-3) hosted the Duke City Gladiators (4-5) at SAP Center. A healthy crowd filed in for the 6:05 pm start when the cheerleaders and players entered under pyrotechnic illumination and reverberation. As the [literal] smoke cleared the Panthers roared to an early lead after a Gladiators FG try went wide. Despite a back-and-forth high-scoring affair, the Panthers defense was pivotal, notching a goal line stand on fourth and short early on in the game, and sealing the lead with an interception off a D-line tip late to clinch it. Final score: 69-52. Enthusiastic fans were rewarded after the game with autographs, handshakes, and fist bumps from Panthers players in a show of fan appreciation! Above, Pyrotechnics welcomed the fans, cheerleaders, and players in SAP Arena as the game kicked off. Caption and photo by Josh Nickel. | |
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff | |
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Basketball Is On My Mind
We will soon know who the NBA Finals MVP is for the 2022-2023 season. One thing we know is it will
NOT be a rookie.
Who is the one and only Rookie to ever win the
NBA Finals MVP?
Answer below...
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And Sometimes It’s A Rare Luxury
We Have...
by Howard Pearlstein
When we can watch the NBA finals and enjoy the beauty of the game itself, played by great players, and not give a damn who wins.
Denver and Miami?
Great.
I don’t actually care about either team. Not like one of our traditional nemeses is playing. Like when I used to try to read traditional English murder mysteries, all Lord This and Vicar Hyphen-That and Lady Something, and I’d toss the paperback on the floor, and my wife would give me a questioning smile and I would answer saying: “Well, one of them did it.”
As I said, I don’t even care about either city for that matter. I have been to both, know some very nice people there, some lowlife bastards too. One of them will win it while our own team – the Dubs – is already doing physical therapy to remedy the wounds of the slings and arrows of an overlong season.
BUT – speaking of lowlife bastards – there’s John Fissure.
Etymologically, names are the result of their sound, not their spelling. And I prefer the homonym for the ragged hole in the ground usually caused by ignorant greed depleting the ground water. Nasty and dangerous, and we don’t know how deep it goes, maybe even has sulfurous hell vapors coming up from it.
So.
Mr. John ”Hole in the Ground” Fissure is the inheritor of the fortune his parents made as founders of The Gap, Inc. (With their theme song: Fall into the Gap! Wow.) He got ownership of the team when his pal, the MLB Commish pushed away the Lacob, et al, bids to buy the team and instead awarded ownership to him and Lewis Wolff, who later sold his share to Mr. Fissure.
Personally, when in my Cassandra Mode, I think the move to Las Vegas won’t happen. Because, for almost every reason one can connect to such a move, it’s just WRONG. Playing a Boys of Summer game, when the days hit 120 in the shade? Just wrong, especially when a power failure equals heart failures from heat stroke. Wrong.
And wrong for the A’s, for their tradition.
I grew up in Philly, and the one thing the A’s were famous for was the love of the game. Mr. Cornelius McGillicuddy, aka Connie Mack, was, according to my father, “A gold-plated sonofabitch. But…”
BUT -- with the saving grace that he believed in baseball, loved the game, considered it an uniquely American example of decency and fair play. And for that reason, decided the children of Philadelphia should be able to come and see the games. So he kept the price of admission next to nothing for kids under 12. And, I was told, used his wealth and influence to keep the price of a trolley ride to the stadium at a nickel, until they left for Kansas City in 1954.
But that was Connie Mack.
As for Mr. Fissure, well, the usual expression of contempt for someone’s farewell is: “And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of town.”
But mine is different:
“Please, let that door -- the door full of your greed, your disrespect for the fans and the people of Oakland, your contempt for the game of baseball, your disregard for simple decency, and all the rest of your petty monstrosities, let it all hit you HARD in the ass on your way back to hell. And the same for the horse you rode in on.”
And we can just imagine if Joe Lacob, et al, owned the A’s?
As the late Judy Tenuta used to say: “It could happen!”
* * *
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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Jeff Gordon -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee | |
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Since this is NASCAR Week in the Bay Area, what better autograph to share than my favorite NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon. I’ve had many opportunities to meet Jeff Gordon and get his autograph at the races. For this photo, I waited outside of Jeff’s trailer, along with dozens of other fans, and he eventually came out and met with his fans. He posed for photos, signed autographs and chatted. Race car drivers in general are known to be very fanfriendly and easy to collect autographs from.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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San Jose Earthquakes 0
Colorado Rapids 0
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City,
Colorado Saturday, June 3
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Quakes goalkeeper Daniel made five saves and blocked a
penalty kick attempt on Saturday
MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 0,
Colorado Rapids 0
Quakes earn four points and shutouts across two road matches, host Philadelphia next Saturday
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The San Jose Earthquakes and the Colorado Rapids played to a scoreless draw on Saturday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. The Quakes closed their road week earning four of six possible points without conceding a single goal in the two road games.
The Quakes had some close scoring opportunities, including a long range shot from Benji Kikanović that bounced off Marko Ilić’s left post, as well as headers by Jeremy Ebobisse and Carlos Akapo. Colorado was shown a red card in the 59th minute before earning a penalty kick opportunity 11 minutes later that was successfully blocked by Quakes goalkeeper Daniel.
Ultimately, neither team was able to find the back of the net.
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
www.sjearthquakes.com
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Oakland Roots SC 1
Colorado Springs Switchbacks 0
Weidner Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Friday, June 2
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Oakland Roots Win 1-0 In Colorado
Oakland Roots won their fourth match in five games thanks to Johnny Rodriguez's fifth goal of the season.
Colorado Springs got off to a quick start, forcing a save out of Oakland's Paul Blanchette within the first minute of the game. Colorado Springs controlled the early portions of the opening before Johnny Rodriguez struck for Oakland Roots on their first chance of the game in the 12th minute. The strike came from long range, giving Johnny Rodriguez his fifth goal of the year and providing his side with a 1-0 lead. Daniel Gomez was substituted off due to injury shortly after, prompting an early change for Oakland as Joseph Nane came on. The half ended with Oakland leading by one goal.
continued...
For a full report, click HERE.
www.oaklandrootssc.com
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Oakland Soul SC 3
Cal Storm 2
Merritt College, Oakland, Sunday, June 4
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Warm weather and clear skies helped the still undefeated Oakland Soul battle the Cal Storm to a 3-2 win. To even the score at 1-1 in the 14th minute, Kaytlin Brinkman (#19) hammered a strike which cut through the defense, as the Oakland Soul hosted Cal Storm, USLW, at Merritt College in Oakland. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
At the start of the second half Jaida Nyby (#14) collided with the Storm goaltender but the ball had the momentum to continue dribbling into the net for a score. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers. | |
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In the 50th minute Jaida Nyby (#14) drives a pass to Nayeli Diaz (#13) who is cutting to the middle of the field for the uncontested shot, giving the Soul a
3-1 lead. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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Champions Again!
Cal Wins IRA National Title For Second Consecutive Year
WEST WINDSOR, N.J., – The No. 1 California Golden Bears repeated as Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national champions, as the varsity eight won its grand final at Mercer Lake on Sunday morning. The title marks the 19th for the program, second for Cal head coach Scott Frandsen (2022, '23), and is the 103rd all-time national championship for Cal Athletics. In addition, the Bears swept trophies in all four events for the first time in program history on their way to winning the James Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy - given to the overall team points winner - for the first time since 2016. Cal finished with 288 points, a perfect Ten Eyck score.
It also marked the first time Cal has won consecutive national titles since winning four in a row from 1999-02.
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For a full report, click HERE.
www.calbears.com
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Another Podium Finish
Stanford took second overall in the ICSA Open Team Race on Monday
KINGS POINT, N.Y. - Stanford secured its best-ever finish in the ICSA Open Team Race on Monday, taking second overall. The Cardinal now has finished either first or second in all three of the spring championships.
Stanford's previous best result of third place in the ICSA Open Team Race most recently occurred in 2019, with the team also earning third in 2014 and 2015.
The Cardinal jumped out to an early lead after the round of 16, sailing to a perfect 15-0 record and holding first place heading into the final day of sailing. In the round of eight, Stanford sailed to a 3-4 record, and an overall score of 18-4, good for second place.
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By Stanford Athletics. For a full report, click HERE.
www.gostanford.com
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National CBS Game Among Nationally Televised Games for SJSU in 2023
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San José State football will have at least eight nationally televised games including on CBS in the 2023 season, announced by the Mountain West on Wednesday.
The Spartans play on CBS at home against Oregon State Presented by Webcor on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 12:30 p.m. to open the Spartan Athletics Center. It will be the first time the Spartans have played a regular season game on CBS since their 35-31 win over Stanford on Sept. 18, 1982 and their first Sunday game since Nov. 8, 2009 against Nevada.
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For a full report, click HERE.
#AllSpartans
www.sjsuspartans.com
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Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
Emily Field to Compete in 2023 Youth Skyrunning World Championships
L'AQUILA, Italy – Although the track season has come to a close for the 2023 season, the hard work never stops. Many athletes are already hard at work training for the cross-country season in the fall, with many racing in events throughout the summer.
For Saint Mary's junior Emily Field, her racing takes her beyond the US, as she'll head to Italy in August for the 2023 Youth Skyrunning World Championships.
Field will run two races over the course of three days, with the first being the Gran Sasso vertical kilometer race on August 4 and the second the Gran Sasso SkyRace on August 6.
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For a full report, click HERE.
#GaelsRise
www.smcgaels.com
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Anderson Named To PING All-Region Team
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Golf Coaches Association of America recently announced the NCAA Division I PING All-Region honorees this past weekend.
For San Francisco, Matthew Anderson was named to the Division I West Region Team for 2022-23. With this honor, Anderson also becomes the first Don to earn this award since Tim Widing in 2019-20.
Enjoying his most successful season as a Don, Anderson led the charge for USF this year as the Canadian tallied six top ten finishes individually, including one in each of his past five tournaments. Notably, Anderson fired his career-low of 64 (-08) in the first round of the El Macero Classic in Davis on Friday, Apr. 14.
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For a full report, click HERE.
www.usfdons.com
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Trierweiler Named D1Softball Second-Team
All-American
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The accolades continue to pour in for Santa Clara softball player Ashley Trierweiler who was named second-team All-American by D1Softball on Tuesday, becoming the first Bronco player ever to be named All-American by the publication.
The recognition follows a first-team All-West Coast Conference and a NFCA Division I first-team All-Pacific Region selection since the season ended earlier in the month.
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For a full report, click HERE.
www.santaclarabroncos.com
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University of Pacific Tigers | |
Softball Honored with Eight WCC All-Academia Selections
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific softball team earned West Coast Conference All-Academic honors as Rian Dirmeyer, Carly Lucchetti, and Vanessa Strong received First Team selections. Amiyah Aponte, Avery Croxall, Kyla Eck, Reagan Hamilton, and Delaney Scully rounded out the team as Honorable Mentions.
At the conclusion of each athletic season, the league selects an all-academic squad for each WCC-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average while being a significant contributor to their team.
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For a full report, click HERE.
www.pacifictigers.com
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Proficiency with Squarespace? | | |
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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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Third Annual “Rainey’s Ride To The Races” Set For MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest
At Laguna Seca
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is excited to announce that the “Rainey’s Ride To The Races” will again be held in conjunction with the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with this year’s ride boasting even more legends than in years past.
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Click HERE.
www.weathertechraceway.com
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WWE Superstar Braun Strowman to Pilot Pace Car at Toyota/Save Mart 350
The former strongman gets behind the wheel for Sonoma’s NASCAR race
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SONOMA, Calif. (May 24, 2023) – WWE Superstar and former strongman Adam Scherr, aka Braun Strowman, will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the upcoming Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race on June 11. Known not only for his strength but also his larger-than-life persona, Strowman will bring his charisma, athleticism and showmanship to a new arena as he enters the high-octane world of NASCAR.
Strowman, known for being one of the most formidable competitors to enter a WWE ring, dominated the sport for over eight years. He won his first world title at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 and often went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the WWE Universe.
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Click HERE.
www.sonomaraceway.com
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Race Recap: 2023 EZ Regatta
The 2023 Elvstrom Zellerbach Regatta at StFYC delivered classic City Front conditions on Saturday with overcast skies and plenty of wind, moderated somewhat in the first two races by a weakening flood and turning to ebb by the last race of the day.
Sunday started off differently and the RC initially set up on the Alcatraz course and tried to run a race in a light-ish (well, light for SF) breeze and a building flood. While a few boats did manage to get around the weather mark, it was pretty clear it was not going to be possible to have a fair race, so the RC abandoned and picked up and moved back to the City Front. There, they were able to get in three races in a nice breeze, again, with weakening flood and beginning ebb.
All in all, sailors got plenty of hiking and capsize practice this weekend!
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For a full report, click HERE..
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Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff | |
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Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. did it in 1980!
You can thank the writer's strike for this question.
All late night shows are repeats.
This link, https://bit.ly/42h5tpm, will take you to a fun interview with Magic on the Jimmy Kimmel Show this past week. Magic tells the story toward the end of the interview, which is fun to watch...
No Celtics, no Warriors.
https://bit.ly/43JphD1 will take you to a piece about possible headlines for the Nuggets vs Heat series that is enough for me to give the series a little bit of attention. The Nuggets have no championship rings. The Heat could be the first 8th seed to take the whole thing...
Go Red Sox!
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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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“A must read…an in-depth look into stories that come from all avenues of professional sports."
-- Andy Dolich, prominent sports executive with fifty years experience with the NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL
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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
faces once again.
https://www.thechieftain.com/
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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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San Francisco Giants 3, Baltimore Orioles 8, June 4, 2023.
Photos by Darren Yamashita.
Oakland Soul SC 4, Académica SC 0, May 28, 2023.
Photos by Ron Sellers..
Oakland A’s 1, Houston Astros 10, May 28, 2023.
Photos by Darren Yamashita..
Oakland Roots SC 2, San Diego Loyal SC 0, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Photos by Ron Sellers.
San Jose Earthquakes 1, FC Dallas 1, May 27, 2023.
Photos by Alex Ho.
BASHOF Induction Dinner, May 25, 2023.
Photos by Ed Jay
Oakland A’s 0, Texas Rangers 5, Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Photos by Darren Yamashita.
Oakland Spiders 25, Salt Lake Shred 27, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Photos by Ron Sellers.
San Francisco Giants 3, Milwaukee Brewers 7, Sunday, May 7, 2023.
Photos by Rich Yee.
Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown LPGA. May 7, 2023.
Photos by Ed Jay.
San Jose State Spartans Spring Game, Saturday, May 6, 2023.
Photos by Josh Nickel.
San Jose Earthquakes 2, LAFC 1, Saturday, May 6, 2023.
Photos by Alex Ho.
Oakland Soul Media Day. Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Photos by Ron Sellers.
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, June 5, through
Sunday, June 11, 2023
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Monday, June 5
Oakland A's @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 4:05 p.m.
Tuesday, June 6
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 4:05 p.m.
Wednesday, June 7
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 9:35 a.m.
Thursday, June 8
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 12:10 p.m.
Oakland Soul SC @ Cal Storm, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 9
San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:15 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Milwaukee Brewers, 5:10 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs, 4:35 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Milwaukee Brewers, 1:10 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC @ Phoenix Rising, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 11
San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Milwaukee Brewers, 11:10 a.m.
Bay Area Panthers @ Arizona Rattlers, 3:05 p.m.
Oakland Soul SC @ San Francisco Glens, 3:30 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. | |
The Emerald Mile: The epic and award-winning story of the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko. A thrilling true tale during the legendary flood of 1983. | |
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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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!
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