Monday, May 17 through Sunday, May 23, 2021
Issue No. 381
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Invaluable teammate Draymond Green extends a helping hand.
Photo by Rich Yee.
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Tangible Wizardry and Intangible Chemistry: Steph and Draymond
by Pete Elman
In her brilliant new book, Intangibles: Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry, veteran award-winning Bay Area sportswriter Joan Ryan highlights the power of team chemistry. In a recent video Ryan said, “…the analytics allow us to arrive at a strategy for a game, but guess who has to carry out that strategy? Actual human beings…so if you just do the strategy and totally forget that other side of the equation, you are really dropping the ball.”
This week the Warriors closed out their regular season on a winning note. They defeated the two best teams in the league, Utah and Phoenix, in exciting fashion last Monday and Tuesday. They rested their stars Friday and prevailed over New Orleans, and yesterday they won their sixth straight game in dramatic fashion, beating the resurgent Memphis Grizzlies to secure the 8th seed in the west, thus setting up a play-in game with the Lakers on Wednesday. The winner will be the 7th seed and face 2nd-seeded Phoenix, and the loser will play the winner of the San Antonio-Memphis game to determine the eighth seed; the Warriors may have to beat Memphis again.
And as they have been doing for nine years, Draymond Green and Steph Curry continue to define team chemistry: three titles, countless awards and a fan base that loves them unconditionally.
Forget the stats. Draymond is arguably the most versatile defender the NBA has ever seen. Who else can cover all five positions? He said recently, “One thing I am certain of is that I can (mess) up an entire team's offense. So, when you look at the impact I have on the defensive side of the ball, it's not always going to show up in blocked shots. It's not always going to show up in steals."
Offensively? He does not need to score to be a factor. He passes as well as anyone in the league (third in assists) and has a sixth sense how to orchestrate a possession. Green is a major reason Golden State is fifth in defensive rating. But it is his leadership-- and his remarkable chemistry with Curry--that has elevated the team to great heights.
And what more can anyone say about Steph Curry? After his historic record-breaking April and uncanny, joyful leadership, can anyone honestly make an argument that he is not the most valuable player to his team in the NBA? Don’t take it from me—here’s what Draymond said: I think who he’s been on the court is a testament to who Steph Curry is. He allows these young guys to have something to follow, and the time and confidence to grow. He just puts his head down and goes to work each day. After wins, after losses, he’s in the weight room after every game. A lot of guys would complain about the lack of veterans on the team. And he hasn’t. For me, that’s been the most beautiful thing to watch. Obviously, the games, the shots, have been great. But to me, the most beautiful thing to watch has simply been his approach.
Take yesterday's exciting win. The Warriors began the final period up 17, but the Grizzlies fought back fiercely and with 5:28 remaining, actually took the lead. And then the Nullifier showed the world why he is the MVP. A nifty dish to Jordan Poole gave the Warriors the lead, and then Curry railed three consecutive 30-foot shots, the final dagger—his 46th point--followed by a shirt-up strut the length of the court. I cannot be stopped.
Oh, and by the way, Draymond’s final line? Fourteen points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. At Steve Kerr’s post-game conferences, he long ago ran out of superlatives to describe what these two have meant to his team. The notion that Draymond should not receive the Defensive Player of the Year and Steph should not receive his third MVP--simply because the team did not win 45 games--is a travesty, a ludicrous rationalization that smacks of jealousy.
Two selfless superstars who play with tangible wizardry and perfect chemistry; and in the fraught times we live in, that is a beautiful and inspiring thing to behold.
Pete Elman
Oakland, CA
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From 2000-2005 I wrote a column for the Oakland Athletics Fan Coalition (OAFC) entitled Elman Swings, a play on the fact that I'm a musician. Some of you may remember them; their mission was to keep the A's in Oakland. And guess what? They succeeded! Since then I have taught school, covered sports for the Bay Area News Group, penned a children's book with music, and am currently teaching 13 courses on popular music (and two on sports) at Bay Area colleges. I recently co-authored a book about unsung minority athletes entitled; In the Shadow of Obscurity; Toiling in a Reluctant Society, with Arif Khatib, founder of the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame
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Letters to the Editor
Baseball 2021 -- Love it or...love it more
I would like to thank the USG for everything you do for the Bay Area sports community. Since 2014 the Guide has been kind enough to publish my essays about sports. Every Monday you kick the week off with a positive, informative and entertaining look at what is happening in Bay Area sports. Keep up the good work!
Our national pastime has been going through some changes. Are those changes for the worse or for the better? In what promises to be an educational, funny and interactive class, I have put together a course for Sonoma State University entitled "Play Ball!" It will be on zoom and runs for three Fridays; May 21, May 28, and June 4, from 10-12AM.
The class will look at challenges which face the sport, such as analytics, rule changes, and the prohibitive costs to fans. We will also look at the sordid history of cheating and whether baseball should change the rules--or punishment--for betting, PEDs, or cheating during games. The Collective Bargaining Agreement, low attention span, low attendance, and the "robot" strike zone will be discussed, and I will lead you in a stimulating conversation about the state of baseball, including the state and the future of the Oakland A's.
If you are a baseball junkie or just a casual fan, this class is for you. Click this link to enroll.
Pete Elman
Oakland, CA
The Max Kellerman Award
Congrats to Max Kellerman of ESPN's First Take! You have done the impossible:
transformed Stephen A. Smith into "the pleasant, rational person" personality on the show.
S.A.S. wasn't on the show the day of your lip-curled, irrational, repeated
rants about Stephen Curry as a "choker," so you could pounce. Maybe you had
forgotten that Steph has revolutionized the game of basketball, has multiple scoring titles, MVPs and NBA trophies, (and helped orchestrate the donation of 1,000,000-plus meals during the pandemic). Or, maybe you just saw this as your chance to be Steven A. Smith for a day. Please, no, one is enough!
Robert Moselle
Counselor at Law
Executive Director, Center for Continuing Education
Monterey, CA
Warriors Fever
Hope you are all doing well. Enjoy the weather and each day at a time! Go Warriors!!! The world of sports is getting more and more exciting each day at this time of the year. Stay safe and “Carpe Diem.”
Elisabeth (Betty) C.
Livermore, CA
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Golden State Warriors 113
Memphis Grizzlies 101
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San Francisco Giants 4
Pittsburgh Pirates 1
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Oakland A's 7
Minnesota Twins 6
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A's, Giants, Warriors,
Kings & Sharks Schedules
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You’re missing out on the biggest series
of the season!
The San Francisco Giants lead the National League with the best record. Next weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Oracle Park for a three-game series. Seats in fully vaccinated sections are still available for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games. Act now to secure your seats. Get out to the ballpark to cheer on your first place
Giants to #BeatLA.
Full vaccination is defined as 14 days after receiving the final dose in the series (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson). Children older than two (2) years of age and less than 16 years of age can accompany their parent, guardian, or sponsor in a fully vaccinated section, but must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test. A negative test result must be from a PCR test taken not more than 3 days before the event or an antigen test taken not more than one (1) day before the event. Details.
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From the Playground of Sports
this week -- Andy Dolich
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Early morning action for Ono (Wahoo) out of Honokohau Harbor in Kona.
Andy was fishing with Capt. Ken Fogarty on the Makana Lani on May 12.
Andy and friends dined on the fine fish at dinner that evening
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The Oakland A’s could become the Las Vegas A’s if the Howard Terminal plan falls apart for a downtown stadium in Oakland. Las Vegas came up as one of the top cities the A’s could relocate to. The A’s have been in Oakland since 1968 |
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Oakland A’s Stadium Soap Opera – MLB to A’s “Build It or Relocate“
by Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
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Major League Baseball instructed the Oakland Athletics to explore relocation options as the team tries to secure a new waterfront park in hopes of keeping the team at Oakland, where they have played since 1968. AP reported that MLB released a statement Tuesday expressing its longtime determination that the current Coliseum site is “not a viable option for the future vision of baseball.”
A’s President Dave Kaval remains hopeful of a stadium deal but there is beginning to be a time crunch; “We’re going to immediately start working with the league on exploring other markets and working hand-in-hand with them to identify which ones make the most sense and pursuing that right away,” A’s President Dave Kaval told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “We need to keep our options open. People know, we can’t even keep the lights on here at the Coliseum.”
The goal had been to inaugurate the Howard Terminal Park in 2023 but now, even if approved by the City of Oakland City Council this summer, it would not be ready until the year 2027. So you can draw your own conclusions, but to me it seems the City of Oakland is more focused on giving their citizens a guaranteed salary than keeping the Major League franchise in their city.
Again, we see how local politics could kill another stadium proposal. A few years ago it was Fremont here in the Bay Area. For us who have lived most of our lives in the Bay Area, if the Athletics leave, we should not be that surprised. Remember how long it took for the San Francisco Giants to get their new park.
Las Vegas would make the most sense. They could play at their AAA park where the Aviators play, until they finish the construction of their new park and they will still be in the Western Division. But there are other options if they move out of Oakland. Other cities that were mentioned for an A’s relocation include Portland, North Virginia, Vancouver, Charlotte, and Montreal.
If you wonder if rebuilding at the Coliseum location was a possibility (like many have said in the past) MLB said in a statement today “it is not a viable option for the future vision of baseball.”
* * *
Join Amaury Pi-Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball with Manolo Hernandez Douen on the A’s flagship station 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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Everybody knows the NBA Finals' Most Valuable Player Award
is named for legendary Boston Celtics player, Bill Russell.
Who is the MLB World Series MVP Award named for?
Bonus Trivia Expert Points goes to those who know the year
the award was renamed to honor the player...
(See answer below...)
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San Jose Earthquakes 0
Seattle Sounders FC 1
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Neither Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill (#14) or defender Florian Jungwirth (#23) can penetrate the Seattle defense. The Seattle Sounders defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 1–0, in a MLS regular season Week 5 match at PayPal Park on May 12, 2021. Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (#8) crashes into Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei (#24). The Seattle Sounders defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 1–0, in a MLS regular season Week 5 match at PayPal Park on May 12, 2021.
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Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (#8) extends a hand to Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei (#24) after crashing into him. The Seattle Sounders defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 1–0 in a MLS regular season Week 5 match at PayPal Park on May 12, 2021 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 Alex Ho.
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Cal Bears 5
Stanford Cardinal 4
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Cal's Darren Baker slides across home plate in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Bears an exciting walk-off victory. Left fielder Steven Zobac had slapped a liner up the middle, plating two runs (including Baker) for the 5-4 victory. Cal defeated the visiting No. 12-ranked Stanford Cardinal in PAC-12 Conference action at Evans Field in Berkeley on Saturday, May 15.
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Cal sophomore first baseman Nathan Martorella had a great day at the plate. Above, Martorella stands on second base after leading off the ninth inning with a double. In the sixth inning Martorella hit a solo homer, bringing Cal to within one run of the Cardinal. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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Cal senior third basemen Quentin Selma doffs his cap at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning.
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Stanford designated hitter Vincent Martinez slides under the tag of Cal catcher Cole Elvis as the Cardinal scored three times in the second inning.
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Cal Bears drop doubleheader to
Oregon Ducks, 1-4, 4-9
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Cal catcher Makena Smith hit her team-leading eighth home run of the season for the lone Bears run in their 4-1 loss in game one of a doubleheader against the Oregon Ducks at Levine-Fricke Field in Berkeley on Friday, May 14.
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Freshman Alexis Bishop hit a 3-run home run in the third inning of game two of the doubleheader, which was won by the Ducks, 9-4.
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In the Shadow of Obscurity |
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Author Arif Khatib (above left)
As a person who has traveled the world and chronicled his journey, and recently completed his memoirs for his family, Arif Khatib set out to create a book that would combine three of his passions: sports, history and social justice, while shining a much-needed light on the contributions of forgotten and unheard-of athletes of color. The Shadow of Obscurity: Toiling in a Reluctant Society realizes his vision.
Author Pete Elman (above right)
Pete Elman is a musician, journalist, author and teacher. Originally from Washington, D.C., he grew up loving rock and roll, sports and history. His father, a Justice Department lawyer who argued cases in the Supreme Court—most notably Brown vs. Board of Education—imbued in young Peter a strong sense of social justice.
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Where The Bay Comes To Play! |
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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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Roots Fam,
There are only 5 weeks remaining until our 2021 Home Opener. Let's celebrate this historic moment together on Saturday, June 19th at Laney College Field as we give Sacramento Republic F.C. a raucous Town welcome.
We know you’re looking forward to spending time safely outdoors with friends and family that you may not have seen in awhile. This season you can enjoy the experience of a Roots Game Day with your closest companions by securing a Roots Fam Pack.
The Roots Fam Pack includes:
- FOUR (4) Tickets to a 2021 Roots home game
- FOUR (4) Beverages
- FOUR (4) Roots branded stickers.
Fam Pack w/ soft drinks - $80.00 ($20.00/ticket)
Fam Pack w/ beer - $85.00 ($21.25/ticket)
Fam Packs are available for all 2021 home games.
As we continue to monitor the situation in Alameda County, we’re preparing to welcome fans back safely while abiding by State and County guidelines. We suggest securing tickets for our early season matches now as we plan for the possibility of imposed capacity limitations.
For questions or assistance accessing your account please contact us at tickets@rootssc.com or call (510) 488-1144.
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Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff |
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The World Series Most Valuable Player Award is now tied to one of the all-time greats of the game: Willie Mays.
Major League Baseball announced on September 29th, 2017 that the award was renamed the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player in honor of the Hall of Famer. It continues to be presented by the award's longtime sponsor, Chevrolet.
Suggestions? Caught me off-base for misinformation?
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Recent Facebook Albums to Enjoy |
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For the best real estate listings homes and property on
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Consider!
Social Media Maven wanted by
The Ultimate Sports Guide!
The Ultimate Sports Guide needs people (as in more than one) familiar with basic social media technology and e-marketing. Utilize your technical skills to advance your career, add to your resume and learn from sports industry professionals. Send a note and resume to sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
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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, May 17 through
Sunday, May 23, 2021
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Monday, May 17
San Francisco Giants @ Cincinnati Reds, 3:40 p.m.
Tuesday, May 18
San Francisco Giants @ Cincinnati Reds, 3:40 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Houston Astros, 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Cincinnati Reds, 3:40 p.m.
Oakland A's vs. Houston Astros, 6:40 p.m.
Thursday, May 20
San Francisco Giants @ Cincinnati Reds, 9:35 a.m.
Oakland A's vs. Houston Astros, 12:37 p.m.
Friday, May 21
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:38 p.m.
Saturday, May 22
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4:15 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Los Angeles Angels, 1:07 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 23
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland A's @ Los Angeles Angels, 1:07 p.m.
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Enjoy the
Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant Ultimate Sports Guide website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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This is an eBook available in .epub or .mobi file formats.
Navigating a career in any business is highly complex, especially in the world of sports and entertainment. Knowing how to separate the logo on your business card from your personal identity is a valuable skill for creating your own career path. Building a career in the sports industry is easier said than done, especially since the business is extremely addictive. Cool corporate logos and titles should never control your true sense of self; your name on the card is much more important! Welcome to the world of LOL, or “Loss of Logo.”
Written for aspiring sports professionals, current sports industry professionals, and any career enthusiasts who are chasing the fancy logo and corner office, LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? offers valuable takeaways for everyone. Comprised of powerful perspectives from 38 multitalented industry professionals, this book will give you the tools to succeed in the industry, with or without your logo.
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Become A Sponsor!
Economical and rewarding.
Write: sportstoday@ultimatesportsguide.net
or call (510) 845-2035
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Agent 510.512.2145
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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 and Robert Moselle. Mr. Karst, now retired, continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.
Mr. Moselle is now lending his extensive editorial experience and marketing savvy to the publication.
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