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April 27 -- May 4, 2026
Issue No. 639
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Babe Ruth -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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I met Babe Ruth in a dream. We took this photo.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Readers -- Treat Yourself!
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Contents
Games
Cal Bears (Rugby) 59, Saint Mary's Gaels 19
San Francisco Giants 6, Miami Marlins 3
San Jose Earthquakes 5, Austin FC 1
Features & Commentary
Babe Ruth, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Organizations
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A's
Bay Area Falcons
Bay FC
Cal Bears
Cal State University East Bay
Golden State Valkyries
Golden State Warriors
Oakland Ballers
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul SC
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco Giants
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San Francisco Nighthawks
San Francisco Unicorns
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
SF City
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
UC Davis Aggies
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna
Seca
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San Francisco Giants 6
Miami Marlins 3
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Sunday, April 26, 2026
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San Jose Earthquakes 5
Austin FC 1
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Thursday, April 23, 2026
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Right back Jack Jasinski (#17) of the San Jose Earthquakes -- obscured by Austin FC (#20) and (#15) -- scores in the 58th minute to level the match. The San José Earthquakes defeated Austin FC,
5–1, in a MLS Matchday 9 game at PayPal Park on Thursday, April 23, 2026 in San Jose, CA. Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
| Right defensive midfielder Beau Leroux (#34) of the San Jose Earthquakes slides between Mikkel Desler (#3) and Besard Sabovic (#14) of Austin FC. Caption and photo by Alex Ho. | |
Right back Jack Jasinski (#17) of the San Jose Earthquakes battles left midfielder Joseph Rosales (#30) of Austin FC in the first half.
Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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Right back Paul Marie (#3) of the San Jose Earthquakes laments a missed opportunity in the second half. Caption and
photo by Alex Ho.
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The Ultra supporters cheer a Quakes goal. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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Cal Bears 59
Saint Mary's Gaels 19
Witter Rugby Field, Berkeley, CA
Saturday, April 25, 2026
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California defeated Saint Mary's 59–19 on Saturday in a National Semifinal match at Witter Rugby Field. The Bears advance to the National Championship match next Saturday
against Navy in Indianapolis.
Talae Tuimaunei (2), Nate Comiskey (3), Solomon Williams, Cormac Saint, and Michál de Beer all scored tries and Filip Edstrom kicked 5 conversions during the contest. The Bears were awarded an early penalty try in the fifth minute, and Benny Hatch of the Gaels evened the score in the ninth minute.
The Bears took a 31–7 lead into half-time.
The two teams previously met on March 28 in Moraga where the Bears won 66–35. California is on a four-game win streak against Saint Mary's over the past two seasons, including
two national semifinal matches.
This post-season, the Bears were seeded first in the west and have defeated their opponents by a combined score of 243–36. California met Navy at the beginning of March when
the Bears edged out a 52–45 victory.
Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
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Former San Francisco Giant Brandon Belt.
2014 World Series Champion Reunion, August 10, 2024.
Photo by Darren Yamashita
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9 for No. 9: Remembering
Belt's top moments
By Maria Guardado
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Baby Giraffe. The self-proclaimed team captain. The man at the center of the Belt Wars.
Brandon Belt carried many titles over his 12-year run with the Giants, but each represented just a small piece of the massive (size-15?) imprint he left on the organization.
Three years after playing his final big league season, the two-time World Series champion and 2016 All-Star will return to San Francisco to be honored as part of Brandon Belt Celebration Day at Oracle Park on Saturday.
“He's just an important player in the history of the Giants franchise and was a part of a lot of really memorable and impactful moments,” said president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who played with Belt for a decade in San Francisco. “I think we have a fan base that appreciates those types of players that not only had great careers but were in the middle of plays and memories that most of them will remember for the rest of their lives. It'll be a great day for them to reminisce and celebrate a guy that was a great Giant.”
In honor of No. 9, here’s a look back at the top nine moments of Belt’s career:
continued...
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Athletics Carlos Cortes, April 4, 2026, versus the Houston Astros. Photo by Darren Yamashita
A's create franchise history with 3 loud first-inning blasts
By Drew Davison
ARLINGTON -- “Awesome.”
That’s the word A’s starter Luis Severino used to describe seeing his teammates find their power stroke in a historic way Friday, belting three homers in the top of the first inning for the first time in franchise history en route to an 8-1 victory over the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
“It was awesome to go out there with a 3-0 lead. Confidence goes through the roof,” said Severino, who went on to deliver his best start of the season, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings.
Nick Kurtz started the barrage against Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi, sending a first-pitch fastball a Statcast-projected 417 feet into the right-field seats. Kurtz’s exit velocity was 115.9 mph, tied for the A’s hardest-hit homer since Statcast tracking began in 2015.
“You usually get a heater [first pitch], so I was looking for it,” said Kurtz, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year who has four homers in his last six games. “He threw it to a place where I could hit it.”
Two batters later, Carlos Cortes turned on a 2-0 splitter that sailed over the right-center-field fence. Tyler Soderstrom followed Cortes by launching a first-pitch fastball into the right-field seats.
The three home runs came in the game’s first seven pitches and combined to travel a projected 1,222 feet. It made history for the A’s, who entered having played 9,757 road games without hitting three or more home runs in the opening frame.
continued....
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The Houston Astros are featuring a new “brisket donut” at Daikin Park for the 2026 season. It consists of chopped brisket shaped into a ring, deep-fried, topped with BBQ sauce, and served with a side of mac and cheese. It is featured among new,
innovative menu items at the stadium.
-- Steve Chain / Innovative Food Fanatic
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Celebrini doused with water by Sharks bench after breaking points record, hears from Thornton
Teammates go crazy for young forward
setting new franchise mark
By Dan O'Leary
@DanOLeary25 NHL.com Staff Writer
Well, Sharks do belong in water.
The San Jose Sharks celebrated Macklin Celebrini's franchise record 115th point of the season by promptly squirting their water bottles all over him as he came to the bench for post-goal glove pounds on Thursday.
Celebrini completed his incredible rookie season by breaking Hockey Hall of Fame forward Joe Thornton's single-season points record of 114. A goal in the third period - his third point of the night - during the Sharks 6-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets gave him 115 points this season.
When he skated to the bench, Celebrini was just bombarded by teammates with water bottles, much to the delight of the 19-year-old forward.
And don't worry, Sharks goalie Alex Nedjedlvic who wasn't on the bench because he was in the game also made sure he got Celebrini with his own water bottle.
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You know that feeling when Thursday hits and the week finally starts to loosen its grip? The group chat comes alive, someone floats a plan, and suddenly the night has a little more possibility in it. That's the energy we're building on.
| | Thirsty Thursdays at Raimondi Park are made for exactly that moment, a place to land after work, find your people, and ease into the night with a cold one in hand and Ballers baseball under the lights. Introducing 510 Happy Hour, which starts when gates open: $5 beers, $10 wine and $10 cocktails until the game starts. Then after first pitch, listen up for the brand new Fieldwork Beer Batter Bell forged right here in West Oakland at The Crucible. | | | |
When the bell tolls, if the next batter strikes out, Fieldwork beers will be $5 until the end of the inning. So roll in straight from work or make a whole night of it. Either way, you're not overthinking this one. Thirsty Thursdays are going to be the ultimate jumping off point for your Summer weekends.
Merch Drops You Have B There to Get
And every Thursday this season, we're dropping limited edition merch. New. Exclusive. We're keeping the details close to the chest for now, but trust us, you're going to want to show up early. Many of our merch drops – especially hats – sell out before first pitch.
Thirsty Thursdays Lineup
sponsored by Fieldworks
May 21, 2026 | Too $hort Night
Oakland Ballers vs. Missoula PaddleHeads
Get Tickets
May 28, 2026 | Ballers Save the Earth (No Big Deal)
Oakland Ballers vs. Long Beach Coast
Get Tickets
June 18, 2026 | Lil Ballers (Little League Day)
Oakland Ballers vs. Long Beach Coast
Get Tickets
July 9, 2026 | Disc A Round & Find Out
Oakland Ballers vs. Modesto Roadsters
Get Tickets
August 6, 2026 | Ship Happens (Maritime Night)
Oakland Ballers vs. RedPocket Mobiles
Get Tickets
August 13, 2026 | "Prost!" to Oaktober Fest
Oakland Ballers vs. Modesto Roadsters
Get Tickets
August 27, 2026 | Too $hort Takeover
Oakland Ballers vs. Missoula PaddleHeads
Get Tickets
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MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 3, St. Louis CITY SC 2
Quakes roar back from second-half deficit behind Timo Werner brace to improve to 9-1-0 for first time in club history and extend win streak to six to retain sole possession of first place in the Western Conference; San Jose ties MLS record with fifth road win to open season while defeating St. Louis for first time in seven tries overall; Black and Blue now return home Tuesday night for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16
vs. Minnesota United FC
ST. LOUIS — The San Jose Earthquakes came back from a second-half deficit behind a Timo Werner brace to defeat St. Louis CITY SC 3-2 at Energizer Park on Saturday night to improve to 9-1-0 in Major League Soccer regular-season play for the first time in club history and retain sole possession of first place in the Western Conference table with their club-record tying sixth consecutive victory.
The Earthquakes struck first early in the eighth minute. In transition, Timo Werner collected a pass on the left wing and pushed it forward to Nick Fernandez, who drove into the box and set up Preston Judd for his team-leading sixth league goal to make it 1-0. The quick strike woke up the St. Louis attack, but Quakes goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. made two acrobatic saves in minutes 11 and 12 to deny the hosts before being subbed off for Daniel due to injury later in the half.
After intermission, St. Louis answered with a pair of goals to take the lead. In the 52nd minute, Chris Durkin dribbled down the right wing and found Marcel Hartel at the top of the box. He then flicked the ball ahead to Sergio Cordova, who finished the play to knot the game 1-1. Then just one minute later, Simon Becher intercepted a wayward ball in the attacking third on the left wing and found Hartel down the middle for the strike to make it 2-1 for CITY SC.
But in minute 67, Conrad Wallem’s heavy challenge on Niko Tsakiris in the box resulted in a penalty kick awarded to San Jose. Two minutes later, Werner converted from the spot to tie it 2-2. San Jose completed the comeback in minute 83 when Ousseni Bouda scooted down the right wing and his cross across net was volleyed home by Werner for his second goal of the night and fourth in three games to put the Earthquakes ahead to stay, 3-2. The defense tightened up the rest of the way until the final whistle and San Jose escaped Energizer Park with their first win over St. Louis CITY SC in seven total tries.
With their sixth consecutive league triumph, the Quakes matched the club-record win streak set in 2005 when the club won their first Supporters’ Shield, while also becoming the first MLS team in the post-shootout era (since 2000) to win nine of their first 10 games to begin a season.
Earthquakes fans can watch the "Quakes Replay” of tonight’s thriller on KTVU Plus on Wednesday, April 29, at 8 p.m. PT. They can also watch the game highlights on the newest episode of “Quakes Exclusive,” the club’s new half-hour prime-time magazine show, on KTVU FOX 2 on Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. PT. All episodes of “Quakes Exclusive” are available on demand on the FOX Local app.
The Black and Blue now return home to host Minnesota United FC on Tuesday, April 28, for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, in a match presented by Donor Network West. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 7 p.m. PT and will be streamed on Paramount+ as well as broadcast on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
San Jose resumes MLS play Saturday, May 2, on the road against Toronto FC. Kickoff from BMO Field will be 10 a.m. PT and will air globally on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
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Roots Earn a Point in Prinx Tires USL Cup, But Fall to Monterey Bay FC After Penalties
Oakland got off to a hot start in their 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup debut, but Monterey Bay FC stormed back on Saturday night in Seaside, eventually claiming a 3-4 victory over Roots in penalties after the match ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
The match started out with all the physicality you would expect from a rivalry match, but perhaps more than you would expect in a game that had no bearing on the league table
Both sides were out to make a statement, and Roots wrote the first sentence of that statement in the 15th minute after a stellar long ball from Neveal Hackshaw found Jackson Kiil streaking up the left side. Kiil fought through a foul and went one-on-one with a defender to break into the Monterey Bay box before shooting across the frame and scoring Roots’ first goal of the tournament just inside the right post to make it 1-0 Oakland.
Following the goal, Monterey Bay began to grow into the match, switching to an aggressive high-press that Roots had trouble dealing with in the wet conditions.
Despite both clubs earning a few clear scoring chances, the first half ended with Oakland still holding their one goal advantage.
But Monterey Bay came out of the halftime locker room still looking determined to find an equalizer.
They found one in the 63rd minute when a through ball up the middle arrived at the feet of Paul Gindiri at full pace through the back line. Gindiri put a pinpoint shot into the bottom right corner on the short side of Kendall McIntosh to tie it up at 1-1.
Monterey Bay continued to control the momentum of the match, but the steadfast Roots defense refused to allow a regulation winner despite a fierce battle for the remainder of the match.
As per the tournament rules, the match went straight to penalties following the final whistle, and despite Kendall McIntosh denying the first Monterey Bay attempt, continuing what was surely one of the most highlight-rich performances of his career, Roots eventually fell 3-4 in PKs to Monterey Bay.
Oakland earned a point in the Group 1 table with the result, and will look for their first win of the mid-season tournament when they host Sacramento Republic FC at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday, May 16th.
In the meantime, Roots will return to league play for their next match on Saturday, May 2nd as the club heads to Virginia for a matinee road fixture versus Loudoun United at 2 PM PT.
continued...
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Match Recap: Bay FC Falls 3-0 on the Road to Gotham FC
HARRISON, N.J. (April 25, 2026) — Bay FC fell 3-0 Saturday to Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium as NWSL play returned from the April international break. A trio of goals for the hosts put Bay FC at a first half deficit, and the scoreline would hold until the final whistle. Despite the defeat, forward Racheal Kundananji made her return from injury in the match as a second half substitute, and 12 saves by goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz set a new club record for saves in a single match.
“This team doesn’t lack heart, it doesn’t lack passion. I think there’s a little bit around confidence and speed of play that was set in the first half,” said head coach Emma Coates. “It’s not all doom and gloom, it’s a moment in the season, it’s not a defining moment. It’s just a bad day in the office. We just have to go back and reflect, and we can't dwell on it. At the end of the day we have another game next week.”
On a rainy day in New Jersey, Bay FC weathered pressure from its hosts in the early goings. A pair of big plays by Silkowitz kept the match scoreless at the 11-minute mark, as a diving effort sent away a header on frame. The Iowa State product then rose above a crowd in the box to punch away a cross into the mixer, dispelling another threat on the ensuing turn.
continued...
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Game Recap:
Valkyries 78, Storm 76
April 26, 2026 -- The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Seattle Storm, 78-76, in their preseason opener. The Valkyries improve to 1-0 in the preseason as the Storm fall to 0-1.
continued...
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I Was Going To Use My Trusty
One Hundred Trivia Questions Deck
But...
I found another resource with more challenging questions. Which MLB team was the first to win
back-to-back World Series titles?
Hint: It was a National League team.
Answer below...
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RISE --
The Bread Project Gala & Auction
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The Bread Project is a Berkeley-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals facing barriers to employment by providing free culinary job training, career support, and pathways to living wage jobs and lasting employment. Since 2000, The Bread Project has helped thousands of Bay Area residents build sustainable careers. Major sponsors include Kaiser
Permanente, Alameda Alliance for Health, and
Western Alliance Bank, among many others.
A gala and very successful auction was held April 23 and included
an auction item of two autographed San Francisco 49ers
footballs pictured below. The winning bid of $125 was a steal!
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SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS CONFIRMED FOR 2026 EXXONMOBIL GUYANA GLOBAL SUPER LEAGUE
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA and GEORGETOWN, GUYANA (APRIL 17, 2026) — The ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) is pleased to confirm the participation of the San Francisco Unicorns in the upcoming tournament, set to take place from July 23 to August 1 in Guyana.
The inclusion of the Unicorns, one of Major League Cricket’s leading franchises, underscores the tournament’s commitment to bringing together top teams from across the global cricket landscape. Their participation highlights the continued growth of franchise cricket in the United States and its increasing connection with established cricketing regions.
GSL Chairman, Sir Clive Lloyd, welcomed the team to the competition: “We are delighted to have the San Francisco Unicorns join the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League. Their inclusion reflects the growing global footprint of the game and the strength of franchise cricket in the United States. We look forward to seeing them compete and contribute to what promises to be an outstanding tournament.”
The San Francisco Unicorns launched in 2023 as one of six founding members of Major League Cricket, a ground-breaking T20 competition bringing some of world cricket’s biggest names to the USA and the Unicorns’ home stadium, the iconic Oakland Coliseum. Cricket Victoria, the governing body for the sport in the Australian state of Victoria, serves as the Unicorns’ high-performance partner.
The Unicorns, who have reached the Major League Cricket playoffs in the past two seasons, will look to build on their strong domestic record as they take on some of the world’s leading franchise sides.
Unicorns CEO David White expressed the Californian team’s excitement at participating in GSL: “We’re thrilled to be part of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, and to become the first Major League Cricket side to play on the global stage.
continued...
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We are located one block from the Moscone Convention Center, only a short walk from many of downtown San Francisco's familiar hotels, attractions, and diverse businesses. Open Monday through Thursday 4pm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12pm. Come by and raise a glass with us. Sláinte!
www.thechieftain.com
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 181: Who Pays The Agent, And Who Pays The Price?
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
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The College Sports Commission's April 7 memo to Division I athletic directors reminded schools that third parties cannot make payments on behalf of athletes to cover agent fees or buyouts from contracts with previous schools, and confirmed it had received reports of both practices occurring. "This conduct is not permitted and, if discovered, may result in discipline for both the institution and the student-athlete," the memo stated. The CSC also indicated it would soon require schools to provide additional information related to agent fee arrangements.
This is a practice that has become genuinely common. Schools competing for transfers and signees have, with varying degrees of directness, coordinated arrangements through which third parties, whether collectives, affiliated entities, or boosters operating at arm's length, absorb the cost of an athlete's agent representation. Agent fees come out of an athlete's earnings, and when an institution or its supporters effectively underwrite those fees off-book, the athlete's net compensation rises without the payment appearing on the institution's ledger as a benefit subject to the $20.5 million cap.
Alternatively, for non-revenue sharing deals, the money paid to agents by third parties seemingly would not be reported to the CSC's NIL Go platform, increasing the likelihood that any reported deal (minus agent fees that would have been paid) is approved. Essentially, the theory is to recruit the same athlete, pay them the same headline number, but have someone else cover the tax. That is the game being played, and the CSC has now said it knows the game is being played.
What the CSC has not explained with any particularity is how it intends to enforce its position, or on what legal foundation athlete discipline rests when the athlete never signed the relevant contract to begin with.
The Privity Problem
With these deals, the athlete is not identified as a party to that agreement. The athlete receives the benefit, insofar as their representation costs are satisfied, but their name does not appear on the operative document.
For the discipline of an athlete to be legally defensible, the CSC needs to identify an obligation that the athlete breached. The most obvious would be the reporting obligation under the House v. NCAA settlement framework. Under the rules adopted by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, all third-party NIL deals worth $600 or more must be reported to NIL Go within five days of execution, with this reporting obligation binding on both enrolled athletes and incoming transfers. The theory, then, would be that the third-party fee payment arrangement constitutes a reportable agreement involving the athlete's NIL, and the athlete's failure to report it is the violation.
But a contract to which the athlete is not a party is not the athlete's contract. There is no privity. The athlete did not execute the document, seemingly did not receive a copy of it, and, depending on how the arrangement was structured, may not have known its precise terms. The question of what the athlete was obligated to disclose requires identifying what the athlete actually knew and agreed to. If the athlete was told only that their representation costs were being covered, with no specific contract presented to them or signed by them, it becomes extraordinarily difficult to argue that the athlete was party to a reportable agreement. Sure, the athlete may be an intended third-party beneficiary of the agreement, but the reporting rules contemplate deals that "involve" the athlete's NIL rights in a meaningful sense. Paying someone else's fee on an athlete's behalf, without the athlete's contractual participation, does not fit comfortably within that framing.
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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Ford Racing Raptor Named Official Truck of WeatherTech® Raceway Laguna Seca
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Monterey, CA (April 24, 2026) - WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is proud to announce that Ford Motor Company, through its Ford Racing division, has named the Ford Raptor as the Official Truck of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, strengthening the connection between one of motorsport’s most iconic venues and one of the most recognized performance truck lineups in the industry.
This partnership brings a powerful on-site presence to race weekends, highlighted by a fleet of Ford’s most capable and performance-driven vehicles, including the Ford F-150 Raptor, Ford Ranger Raptor, and Ford Bronco Raptor. These vehicles will be prominently featured across the raceway, showcasing Ford’s engineering and off-road heritage to fans and participants alike.
“This partnership with Ford Racing brings together two brands that embody performance, durability, and heritage,” said Mel Harder, President and General Manager, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “From the Corkscrew to the paddock, Ford’s presence will be felt throughout the facility, delivering meaningful and memorable experiences for our fans.”
As part of the agreement, Ford Racing will deliver premium fan engagement and hospitality experiences during major events, including the upcoming, season-opening StubHub Monterey Sports Car Championship, May 1-3, 2026.
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Sonoma Raceway Announces Multi-Year Extension With Pit Boss® Grills & FoodMaxx For NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race Co-Entitlement
SONOMA, Calif. – Sonoma Raceway officials today announced a two-year extension of the co-entitlement sponsorship partnership with Pit Boss® Grills and FoodMaxx for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The continued partnership between Pit Boss® — a leader in outdoor cooking and premium grills — and FoodMaxx — the value-focused grocery brand from The Save Mart Companies — ensures that the race at Sonoma Raceway’s 1.99-mile road course will again carry the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx entitlement, further enhancing the fan experience and brand visibility throughout NASCAR’s return to Northern California.
The multi-year extension reinforces both brands’ commitment to Sonoma Raceway and the passionate NASCAR fan base, providing ongoing activation opportunities on-site and in-market during each race weekend.
In 2026, the event will take on even greater significance as the nation celebrates America’s 250th anniversary. In recognition of this historic milestone, the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 entitlement logo has been refreshed with patriotic red, white and blue accents, symbolizing the pride, heritage and unity that define both the sport of NASCAR and the spirit of the United States. The updated mark will be prominently featured across race branding, merchandise and promotional materials throughout the season, adding a celebratory and distinctly American flair to the race weekend.
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| | Hardly Trival Answer by T. Buff | | |
Chicago Cubs!
From the 'Every back-to-back World Series champ'
page on the MLB site comes this partial answer:
1907-08 Cubs
1907: Cubs defeat Tigers, 4-0-1
1908: Cubs defeat Tigers, 4-1
After this pair of championships, the Cubs would not win another World Series for 108 years. But the 1907 and '08 Cubs twice bested Tigers teams led by the legendary
Ty Cobb to bring home the franchise's first
titles and become MLB's first repeat
World Series champs.
The page has lots of great notes about back-to-back winners. Fourteen teams have done it and the New York Yankees have the record of five in a row
during their heyday.
Go Red Sox
Go Celtics
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Cal Falls 10-9 In NCAA Final To USC
Bears Were In The Title Match For The Second Time In Three Years.
LA JOLLA – The California women's water polo team put forth a ferocious effort in the NCAA title match but could not close the gap in the final stretch to take a 10-9 loss to USC at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla. It was the Golden Bears' second trip to the national championship game in three years, and Cal kept it close throughout the second half before time ran out. The Bears wrap a tremendous season that saw them take down top-seeded reigning champion Stanford in the NCAA semifinals and finish with a 16-8 overall record.
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Sasaki Walk-Off Slam Sweeps
No. 8 Florida State
Rintaro Sasaki delivered a walk-off grand slam to earn
a series sweep for Stanford
STANFORD, Calif. – Sophomore Rintaro Sasaki delivered a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning as Stanford (21-19, 10-11 ACC) earned a series sweep over No. 8 Florida State (29-14, 12-9 ACC) by way of a 7-4 victory on Sunday from Sunken Diamond.
The walk-off win was the second in as many games for the Cardinal after Eric Jeon broke a 7-7 tie and handed Stanford the 8-7 victory with a single in the bottom of the 11th on Saturday afternoon.
continued...
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Smith Deals Seven Solid Innings, but Spartans Fall Late at Air Force
USAFA, Colo. – Dylan Smith pitched a season-high seven innings, striking out six and allowing just four runs to lead the San José State baseball team (17-24, 5-10 MW) in an 11-5 loss to Air Force (21-20, 12-6 MW) Sunday afternoon from Erdle Field in the final game of a three game series.
The Spartans were held quiet through the first five innings before breaking through with a four-run sixth. Rohne Klein ignited the rally with a single, and after JC Osorio-Agard doubled to put two in scoring position, Brent Cota drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. The big blow came moments later when Alex Fernandes laced a bases-clearing double to left-center, giving San José State a 4–3 lead. SJSU added another run in the seventh on a wild pitch, extending the advantage to 5–3.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
ROW | Gaels Enjoy Success in Split Squad Weekend at Santa Clara
and UC San Diego
LOS GATOS & CHULA VISTA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's rowing team split their squad, bringing its 1V8+, 2V8+, 1V4+ and 2V4+ boats to the Triton Invitational, hosted by UC San Diego, while having its 3V8+ boat compete against Santa Clara and SeattleU on the Broncos home water in Los Gatos.
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Photo: Saint Mary's Athletics
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Transfer Guard Ines Babaya Joins Women's Basketball Program
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team and Head Coach Molly Goodenbour have announced the addition of transfer guard Ines Babaya for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
"Ines is a very athletic wing from France," Goodenbour said. "She has high-level JUCO experience playing for one of the premier community college programs in the country. She is an outstanding defender, works very hard on both ends of the court, and is not afraid to do the dirty work that helps win games."
continued...
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Broncos Card Sunday's Second-Lowest Round at WCC Championship
FAIRFIELD, Calif. - Santa Clara women's golf turned in the second-lowest round on Sunday on the second day of action at the 2026 WCC Championship, carding 7-over 295 to climb closer to second place with just 18 holes remaining. The Broncos are 16-over 592 in total and just strokes behind No. 48 Oregon State (590) for second place. Three individuals sit inside the top 10 of the individual standings, including Alexa Pineda who shot 1-under 71 on Sunday to climb into a tie for fifth place.
ROUND HIGHLIGHTS:
- Pineda was 1-over the minimum on the front nine before going on a tear on the back half. She birdied five consecutive holes on Nos. 13-17 before closing with a bogey on the 18th.
continued...
| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Pacific Captures Third Straight Conference Series with 8-2
Win over Dons
SAN FRANCISCO – The Pacific baseball program won its third consecutive West Coast Conference series, topping San Francisco in an 8-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
Redshirt junior Garret Plata poised the Tigers (17-24, 9-9 WCC) with his fourth quality start in a row of WCC play, blanking the Dons (20-21, 11-7 WCC) through six frames while the offense continued its home run havoc in the Bay Area.
continued...
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Aggies Blank Long Beach State 3-0
to Take Series Finale
Score: UC Davis 3, Long Beach State 0
Location: Davis, Calif. (Dobbins Stadium)
Records: UC Davis 19-23 (9-15 Big West), Long Beach State 14-29 (8-16 Big West)
THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis took the series finale from Long Beach State 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Dobbins Stadium behind a combined four-pitcher shutout and a three-run seventh inning.
continued...
| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
East Bay Falls in Pair at CSUSB
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Cal State East Bay dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Cal State San Bernardino, falling 14-6 in the opener before a 12-7 decision in game two at Fiscalini Field.
Game one turned quickly in the first inning.
East Bay pushed across a run to open the game, but San Bernardino answered with five in the bottom half and held control the rest of the way. The Coyotes added two more in the fifth and pulled away late.
continued...
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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."
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, April 27, through
Sunday, May 3, 2026
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Monday, April 27
Tuesday, April 28
San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3:40 p.m.
Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals, 6:40 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29
San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3:40 p.m.
Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals, 6:40 p.m.
Thursday, April 30
San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies, 10:05 a.m.
Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals, 12:05 p.m.
Friday, May 1
San Francisco Giants @ Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10 p.m.
Athletics vs. Cleveland Guardians, 6:40 p.m.
Saturday, May 2
San Francisco Giants @ Tampa Bay Rays, 3:10 p.m.
Athletics vs. Cleveland Guardians, 1:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ St. Louis City SC, 5:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC @ Loudoun United FC, 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 3
San Francisco Giants @ Tampa Bay Rays, 10:40 a.m.
Athletics vs. Cleveland Guardians, 1:05 p.m.
Bay FC @ San Diego Wave FC, 4 p.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Associate Publisher: Ann Cooke
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Sales: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Lydia Chain, Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young
Software Engineer / Sports Today! Editor: Medhavee Upadhyaya
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee, Kenny Karst (retired)
Advisor: Arif Khatib
Artist: Carl Macki
Website: www.UltimateSportsGuide.net
Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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FIELD OF PLAY
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/
| | 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). | | To Order: $10 hardcover, $7 paperback, plus $4.95 shipping. Send check/M.O. to Christopher Weills, P.O. Box 4515, Berkeley, CA 94704 | | | |
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 helpful ideas and his archives.
Mr. Moselle, Esq., is now lending his extensive editorial experience and marketing savvy to the publication.
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