Monday, Jan. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021
Issue No. 365
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Road to Super Bowl LV
AFC & NFC Conference Championships
Sunday, January 24, 2021
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Super Bowl LV
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
3:30 p.m., CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City is an early 3.5 point favorite
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Tom Brady, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by Kenny Karst
It wasn’t pretty. Just ask San Mateo native Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr., who threw three interceptions on Sunday en route to his third consecutive playoff road victory and a berth in Super Bowl LV. At the tender age of 43, Brady, the twenty-year NFL veteran quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who is also a graduate of Junipero Serra High School, defeated the host Green Bay Packers, 31-26, in the NFC Championship and will now play in his record-setting 10th Super Bowl game against the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Brady threw 36 passes and completed 20 for 280 yards and three touchdowns, but credit the Tampa Bay defense as well for their five sacks of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the critical stop of the Packers offense on a potential game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter. Brady, a University of Michigan graduate, will represent the first NFL team to play in the Super Bowl in their home stadium when the Bucs take the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, February 7. Among his endless list of career achievements, Brady is a six-time Super Bowl champion and has played in the Pro Bowl fourteen times. He is considered by many sports career professionals and reporters to be the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL.
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Going in a New Direction
Former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is shown above embracing San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice on the sidelines at their game on October 7, 2019 versus the Cleveland Browns. Last week Saleh signed a five-year contract to become the head coach of the New York Jets, after four seasons with the 49ers. The Niners will receive two third-round compensatory draft picks as part of the NFL's new hiring initiatives to incentivize an expansion of the candidate pool as Saleh will be the first Muslim coach in NFL history. His coaching career started as a defensive assistant for the Michigan State Spartans in 2002. Photo by Ed Jay.
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Warriors & Kings Schedules |
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Cal Bears 57
UCLA Bruins 61
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After getting into early foul trouble, junior forward Andre Kelly (#22) finished with six points and three rebounds as the Golden Bears (7-9, 2-7 Pac-12), fell to the No. 24 ranked UCLA Bruins (12-2, 8-0 Pac-12), 61– 57 in Pac-12 play at Haas Pavilion on Thursday evening, January 21.
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Cal senior forward Grant Anticevich (#15) took aim at another two points, on his way to becoming the game's high scorer with 21 points. Anticevich was the only Golden Bear to reach double figures, shooting 8-for-11 from the floor and making all five of his 3-point attempts to tie the Cal record for most 3-pointers without a miss. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.
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Sophomore guard Jarred Hyder (#3), inserted into the role of point guard while the injured Matt Bradley recovers, is pictured above making an aggressive drive into the lane. Hyder ended the night with nine points.
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Another game, another dunk. Cal's Lars Thiemann (#21) throws down a slam early in the second half. To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
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Santa Clara Broncos 54
USF Dons 67
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San Francisco Dons guard Amalie Langer was perfect from the field, scoring 21 points on 8-for-8 shooting as the Dons defeated the Santa Clara Broncos,
67-54, at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Clara on Saturday, January 23.
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Dons freshman Ioanna Krimili hit five 3-pointers, finishing with 17 points.
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Ten different Broncos scored in the game, with freshman guard Ashley Hiraki reaching double-digits with 10 points. To view a game photo album, visit our Facebook Page and be sure to LIKE us of visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff |
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Sad... Another baseball great passed this week, Hank Aaron.
Aaron was one of my boyhood heroes. His passing is triggering me to ask an Aaron question rather than another question about Brady and company... It really is a tough question. What famous hitter broke his ankle in spring training of 1954 that gave Aaron a spot in the (Milwaukee) Braves lineup? I would not have guessed in a million years...
(See answer below...)
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Former Anaheim Angel Vladimir Guerrero, who signed with the Angels in 2004 and went into the Hall of Fame in 2018, was one of the big-named Hispanics in Major League Baseball, joining the largest minority group in MLB |
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Baseball’s Largest Minority Keeps Growing
By Amaury Pi-González
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The most recent percentage of Hispanic/Latino players in Major League Baseball is 32 percent, with African-Americans at 7.7 percent. (African-Americans in 1981 were 18.7 percent and are the biggest drop in baseball demographics over the last 40 years.) Other demographics: Asian/other 2.9 percent, with 57.7 percent being the white majority.
It is now impossible for teams to ignore the Hispanic market. The fact remains that Hispanics are one huge consumer block. According to the Selig Center for Economic Growth study (no relation to Bud Selig, the ex-baseball commissioner) at the University of Georgia, Hispanic consumers in the U.S. control a total of $ 1.5 trillion in buying power, which is up 212% this decade.
Baseball is a natural sport for Hispanics. Many Latin American countries, for over a century and some (in the Caribbean) for over a century and a half, have been playing baseball. Baseball is a summer game and most countries in Latin America are tropical countries, perfect for playing the greatest game on earth, 365 days a year.
Players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, México, Colombia, Panamá, Belize, Brazil, Curacao, Aruba, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica and other countries have played and are playing in major league baseball. There were no Minor Leagues in 2020, where usually the percentage of Hispanic players is even higher than in MLB.
Arturo (Artie) Moreno, the owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, is the one Hispanic owner currently in MLB. Moreno’s first big move, right after he bought the Angels in 2004 from the Disney Corporation, was to sign Dominican Republic superstar Vladimir Guerrero, who retired in 2018. Guerrero was the first Latino player in the Hall of Fame for the Angels and went into Cooperstown wearing an Angel’s uniform. Arte understood the huge Hispanic Los Angeles market which was one of the reasons he fought in the courts and won to change the name of his team from Anaheim Angels to Los Angeles Angels.
Although they are only 26 miles of distance apart via Interstate I-5, from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to Angels Stadium in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Hispanic media market is the largest in the United States. The Bay Area is among the top ten in the country.
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Cuban-born José Canseco, of the Oakland A's, was first player ever to hit 40 or more home runs and steal 40 or more bases -- in 1988 -- when he won the
MVP of the American League
When Rob Manfred became the tenth baseball commissioner in 2015 he not only spoke about his plans to “faster play” among his changes, Manfred also said that with digital media and the Hispanic market, they can grow baseball.
There still talk about expanding to 32 teams and various locations have been on the table. Manfred has said that while U.S. locations are being considered, places like México City are frequently in the conversation and with over 21 million people, it is one of the largest cities in the world.
2020 changed a lot of things; Obviously the pandemic was the biggest story and while baseball can plan for expansion, sometimes things change and you cannot accomplish those plans. Ex-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson once said “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
With no fans in the stands teams lost hundreds of millions of dollars during last year’s short season and revenues took it in the mouth. MLB expansion last happened in 1998 when the Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks were born to what it is today a 30-team league.
Expansion might not be in the front burner as baseball tries to regroup during this pandemic as we began 2021. But it is still an interesting topic and I do not think it is likely to happen until the stadium situations in Oakland and Tampa are resolved and only God knows how long that will take.
The Hispanic market will continue to grow all across the country, regardless of expansion or no expansion, in major league baseball. The U.S. Census was delayed by the Corona virus during the fall of 2020. That is the reason the final statistics were not made public. A pandemic also changes a census because (among other logistics) many people need to be reached at home; in other words, census workers have to knock on doors and that was not considered safe at this time.
The growth of the Hispanic population in the country is important as well for all other professional leagues, like the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLS. However, because of its history-longevity and tradition, MLB seems to be the one league more intertwined with this growing demographic.
Spring Training opens in less than a month and we will see what happens in 2021. MLB wants a full spring training and a 162- game schedule. Will they play all games, some games, with all fans (probably some fans) and who knows what else will develop? There were really no experts last year when it came to Covid 19. Even experts said one thing and then a month later said the complete opposite. Baseball could have shortened the games and the schedule but this virus still very much the real wild-card.
Stay well and stay tuned
* * *
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio lead play-by-play voice for the Oakland A’s heard on KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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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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"It's an ocean planet. As the oceans go, so goes the planet."
-- Bill Carvalho, Wild Planet founder and president
Wild Planet Foods has been honored with TWO awards by Whole Foods Market -- Global Supplier of the Year AND Environmental Stewardship! The annual awards recognize suppliers who embody Whole Foods Market's mission and values through a proven commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, organic integrity, innovation, and partnership.
More Awards and Counting!
Prevention -- 100 Cleanest Packaged Food Awards
Men's Health -- 125 Best Foods for Men
Prevention -- Eat Clean Best Packaged Foods
Every Day with Rachael Ray -- Brand New Buy
Better Homes and Gardens -- Catch of the Day
Clean Eating -- Clean Choice Awards
Natural Health -- 3rd Annual Good Food Awards
Runner's World -- Good Catch
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Marcinkowski, Yueill called to USMNT ahead of Friendly with T&T on Jan. 31
USMNT's first match of 2021 kicks off at 4pm PT on FS1/UniMas/TUDN
SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and midfielder Jackson Yueill are among 25 players selected to represent the United States Men's National Team in a friendly vs. Trinidad and Tobago on January 31 in Orlando, Fla. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. PT on FS1, UniMás and TUDN.
The group was selected from an initial list of 12 senior MNT players and 26 U-23 players that began training on Jan. 9 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Both Marcinkowski and Yueill were with the U-23s along with 17-year-old Quakes forward Cade Cowell, who will return to San Jose.
Marcinkowski, 23, (above, left) has competed extensively at the youth national team level and has also received three prior senior national team call-ups (May 2019, January 2020, December 2020). He has appeared in all eight training camps for the U-23s this cycle, including the team's joint camp with the USMNT in 2019. Marcinkowski also competed at the 2017 Concacaf U-20 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. During the 2020 MLS season, Marcinkowski made 11 starts, recorded four shutouts and earned
a 6-3-2 record.
Yueill, 23, has made eight prior appearances for the senior national team as well as two appearances for the U-23s. Yueill started in three of the four matches that led to the USA finishing first in Concacaf Nations League Group A in 2019. Yueill was also part of the U-23 team that traveled to Mexico for the Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship last March before the tournament was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Named the Quakes' Young Player of the Year in both 2019 and 2020, Yueill has missed just four total regular season matches over the last two seasons and played a team-high 1,861 minutes in 2020.
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Above, several participants in Sonoma Raceway’s virtual John’s March which raises more than $9,000
Ten year total surpasses $154,000 raised for Gastric Cancer
The virtual fundraiser generated more than $9,000 for No Stomach for Cancer bringing the event’s 10-year total to more than $154,000 raised for gastric cancer research and awareness.
John’s March is the only major fundraiser for No Stomach For Cancer on the west coast and is typically a fun-filled walk/run around the raceway’s 12-turn road course. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions and precautions, the raceway and No Stomach For Cancer created a virtual option for 2021 that allowed supporters to participate from any location. The event was founded and named in honor of longtime raceway spokesperson John Cardinale, who passed away in 2013 after a two-year battle with stomach cancer.
"The humbling commitment and support of Sonoma Raceway and the Annual John’s March fundraiser is not something we take for granted. There are people everywhere whose dedication has contributed to life-changing programs for stomach cancer patients around the world,” said Jon Florin, Executive Director of No Stomach for Cancer. “There are no words to describe the gratitude we have for the fans and staff of Sonoma Raceway for continuing this tradition during the most challenging time in our recent history. Thank you to everyone who supported our cause and honored John Cardinale’s legacy at a time of great uncertainty.”
Participants and donors raised awareness and increased their impact by registering and creating a team page at www.crowdrise.com/johns-march and posted pictures of themselves completing their virtual John’s March, as well as images of loved ones affected by gastric cancer, on the John’s March Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/1SElETj0N.
No Stomach For Cancer is a non-profit organization that works to increase awareness and education about stomach cancer, provide a support network for affected families, and support research efforts for screening, early detection, treatment, and prevention. Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer type worldwide, with more than 1.03 million new cases each year, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.
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Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff |
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Bobby Thomson is the answer.
Bobby is best known for his home run as a New York Giant off Ralph Branca during the three-game playoff against the Brooklyn Dodgers that gave the Giants the pennant in 1953. The home run was called, "The Shot Heard Round the World", and is arguably the most famous home run of all-time... I got the answer right when asked. The question and answer come from a 10 question multiple-choice quiz found at this link, http://bit.ly/3c5DSkt. It was fun for me to find out some history about Hank via a series of trivia questions. I got 4 out of 10 right. Let me know how you do! RIP Hammerin' Hank.
Suggestions? Caught me off base for misinformation?
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For the best real estate listings homes and property on
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In the last seasons of the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Ultimate Sports Guide photographer Ed Jay collected images and stories of some of the Raiders most passionate and beloved fans. To view and read their stories, click on this link and revisit your all-time favorites. Above, Wayne Mabry, aka the Violator.
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The 2019 Fall/Winter edition of the Ultimate Sports Guide, a San Francisco Bay Area sports reference publication published twice a year for avid Bay Area and Northern California sports fans, is in the house. The Ultimate Sports Guide is distributed free of charge or may be ordered via subscription. Each seasonal edition provides professional and collegiate team coverage through commentary, photo essays and player profiles. To order, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net or send $5 to: Ultimate Sports Guide,
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Back Issues
not to be missed!
Offering superb photography and
entertaining chronicles
* Click here for 2019 editions.
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, January 25 through
Sunday, January 31, 2021
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Monday, January 25
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Memphis Grizzlies, 5 p.m.
USF Dons (WBB) vs. Pepperdine, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, January 26
Saint Mary's Gaels (WBB) @ San Diego, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, January 27
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Orlando Magic, 4 p.m.
Stanford Cardinal (WBB) @ Washington State, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 28
Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns, 6 p.m.
Cal Bears (MBB) @ Arizona State, 8 p.m.
Stanford Cardinal (MBB) @ Arizona, 8 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans (MBB) vs. Air Force, 6:30 p.m.
Saint Mary's Gaels (MBB) vs. Portland, 8 p.m.
Saint Mary's Gaels (WBB) vs. Portland, 1 p.m.
USF Dons (WBB) @ Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans (WBB) @ Air Force, canceled
Friday, January 29
Sacramento Kings @ Toronto Raptors, 4:30 p.m.
Cal Bears (WBB) vs. Washington Huskies, postponed
Stanford Cardinal (WBB) @ Washington, 12 p.m.
Saturday, January 30
Golden State Warriors vs. Detroit Pistons, 5:30 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Miami Heat, 5 p.m.
Cal Bears (MBB) @ Arizona, 2 p.m.
Stanford Cardinal (MBB) @ Arizona State, 7 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans (MBB) vs. Air Force, 3 p.m.
Saint Mary's Gaels (MBB) @ Pacific Tigers, 4 p.m.
USF Dons (MBB) @ BYU, 3 p.m.
Saint Mary's Gaels (WBB) v. Gonzaga, 1 p.m.
USF Dons (WBB) @ Pepperdine, TBD
San Jose State Spartans (WBB) @ Air Force, canceled
Sunday, January 31
Cal Bears (WBB) vs. Washington State Cougars, postponed
Stanford Cardinal (WBB) @ Washington, 1 p.m.
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Enjoy the
Under the ultra-skilled leadership of Cal graduate Ricky Liu, a team of talented Cal students assembled the elegant Ultimate Sports Guide website for your readers. Ricky's team included Natalie Leung, Yafei Liang and Kasey Woo. Visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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The vast majority of student-athletes dreaming of athletic stardom won't make it to the pros. Yet, the discipline and skills they've developed while balancing a sport and academics make them ideally suited for satisfying careers elsewhere. In 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won't Go Pro, the authors draw on personal experience, interviews, expert opinion, and industry data to provide a game plan for student-athletes through key transitions at each stage of their careers, from high school through college and beyond. Modeled on Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this book provides a much-needed strategy for achieving career success. Readable and concise, it will be a valuable tool for students, parents, and sports administrators. To order, click here.
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5980 Stoneridge Drive, Ste. 122
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2723
CalBRE License #:01770629
Agent 510.512.2145
Office 925.847.8900
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Many people -- maybe even you -- have been getting out on their bikes more during Shelter-in-Place. "Check for Bikes" clings and bumper stickers are great ways to keep bicyclists safer out there on the road by promoting awareness by drivers to share the road. Keep safe out there and keep your neighbors safe by using or passing along vinyl clings for inside a car window or windshield and
4" circular bumper stickers. We have Youth and Spanish versions, too!
with questions or to order.
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Ultimate Sports Guide
P.O. Box 4515
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-845-2035
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The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst, now retired. Mr. Karst continues to contribute through helpful ideas and his archives.
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