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April 20 -- April 26, 2026
Issue No. 638
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Willie McCovey – All-Time San Francisco Giant Favorite
by Bruce Macgowan
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“I had a lot of success at Candlestick Park. I got to play at the right time,” from the Hall of Fame Giants great Willie McCovey during an interview with me on KNBR in 2000.
During much of the Golden decade of the 1960s, McCovey was the perfect complement to the greatest all-around player in the history of a game. And some forget that unlike Willie Mays, McCovey started and finished his career in San Francisco. Because of that, (“Stretch” -- he stood 6’4”) was perhaps the most beloved Giant among Northern California baseball fans.
In 1969 when he won the National League MVP award, McCovey was the most feared slugger in baseball. Big Mac smashed 45 homers, knocked in 126 runs and batted .320 but it wasn’t quite enough as the Giants finished in second place for the fifth year in
a row.
Like Mays, McCovey hit most of his long balls at Candlestick Park. Yet the infamous Candlestick winds which blew in from left field and pushed back a lot of homers, also caused problems in right field. McCovey was a “dead pull hitter” who hit most of his laser shot homers to right, but even though the wind didn’t sweep in as it did in left leftfield, there was occasionally a nasty cross wind.
McCovey never complained when he was playing but the soft-spoken Alabama native could have hit few more.
“I did have some taken away from me because the balls were blown foul…Now I look at the big brick right field wall at the new park (Oracle Park) and I would have loved to have hit it here.”
McCovey also suffered playing at Candlestick because in 1970, the grass was ripped up and replaced with Astroturf which in its early days was as hard as concrete. That exacerbated the big guy’s knee problems, which became more chronic after he retired at the age of 42. Willie had a stunning 15 knee surgeries including several replacements. During the last twenty years of his life, he was either on crutches or in a wheelchair.
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Willie McCovey played for the San Francisco Giants for 19 years.
At the time of his retirement in 1980, McCovey ranked second only to Babe Ruth in career home runs among
left-handed batters and seventh overall
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The Giants gave Big Mac his own box at their waterfront ballpark and San Jose sportswriter Mark Purdy’s suggestion that the body of water beyond the right field arcade should be called ‘McCovey Cove’ was made official by the Giants’ front office before the first game was played there in 2000.
While I was still working in local radio, I used to drop by his booth before and during games and sit and chat with Willie. Like all native Bay Area fans who grew up watching him play, he always had a special place in my heart. As a matter of fact, in the first Major League game my Dad took me to at old Seals Stadium in 1959 -- Wille’s rookie season -- the-then 21-year-old McCovey blasted one out of the yard.
“But most of my twenty-two years in the big leagues was at Candlestick Park. It was a pitchers’ ballpark unless we had one of those rare hot days. As a hitter, you made adjustments all the time, not only at Candlestick but at all the ballparks around the National League.”
It didn’t seem to matter where McCovey was playing, however, he hit home runs at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, at old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and smashed them over the ivy at Chicago' s Wrigley Field.
It was an appropriate honor starting in the early 1980s that the Giants have awarded a player each year with the “Willie Mac Award.” Giant players, coaches, trainers and fans give it to the player they feel is the most inspirational.
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The Willie McCovey statue is located at McCovey Point in
China Basin Park which is across from McCovey Cove
| Stretch died in the fall of 2018, one week after the World Series. He was 80. Next time you go to a Giants game, be sure to visit the new park across from McCovey Cove. There you will see a larger-than-life statue of the big man, finishing off that unique signature swing which terrorized many opposing pitchers. | |
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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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Note to Readers:
Most photos in each issue are linked to Facebook albums produced
by our talented photographers. To enjoy additional photos, simply click on a photograph or on the link provided at the end of each report. New albums, contributor essays and Sports Today issues are continually posted to: www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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Contents
Games
Athletics 4, Chicago White Sox 7
Saint Mary's Gaels (Rugby) 48, Arizona Wildcats 19
Features & Commentary
Bring Your Own Big Wheel, by Rich Yee
Floyd Patterson, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Major League Table Tennis, by Ed Jay
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Willie McCovey -- All-Time San Francisco Giant Favorite, by Bruce Macgowan
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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Athletics 4
Chicago White Sox 7
Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, CA
Sunday, April 19, 2026
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Saint Mary's Gaels 48
Arizona Wildcats 19
Saint Mary's Stadium, Moraga, CA
Saturday, April 18, 2026
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Saint Mary's Gaels flanker Atelea Tengei powers through a tackle attempt by Arizona Wildcats scrumhalf Connor McIsaac to score a try as the Gaels defeated the Wildcats, 48-19, in the quarterfinals of the D1A collegiate rugby playoffs at Saint Mary's Stadium on Saturday, April 18th. The fourth-ranked Gaels travel to Berkeley next week to take on #1 Cal in the semifinals.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Scrumhalf Oliver Cline used his legs to score a try as well as tallying five successful conversions and a penalty kick.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
| Saint Mary's Gaels scrum-half Oliver Cline (left) reacts after scoring a try against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half at Saint Mary's Stadium. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | |
Right wing Iosefa Toiaivao goes airborne to score a try late in
the second half. To view a photo album, visit our
Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Major League Table Tennis Championship
Fremont, CA
Saturday/Sunday, April 18 & 19, 2026
| | The Portland Paddlers are the 2026 Major League Table Tennis Champions with their victory over the Carolina Gold Rush in front of a sell out crowd in Fremont, CA. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | | Ed Wang of the Carolina Gold Rush battles Jens Lundqvist in one of the singles games at the Major League Table Tennis Championship held in Fremont, CA. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | |
Kotomi Omoda of the Paddlers defeats Chen Sun of the Gold Rush in the singles game at the MLTT Championship game.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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Edward Ly of the Gold Rush competes against Nikhil Kumar of the Paddlers at the MLTT Championship match in Fremont, CA.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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A special guest in attendance was Fan Zhendong, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist in the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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| | San Francisco Giants pitcher Jose Butto | |
Buttó undergoes second arm surgery, could miss rest of 2026
By Maria Guardado
WASHINGTON -- The Giants knew they’d be without José Buttó for a while after the 28-year-old reliever was forced to undergo surgery to remove a blood clot in his throwing arm on April 3.
But Buttó’s absence is now expected to stretch even longer.
Buttó had a second surgery on Friday to repair an axillary artery in his upper right arm, which has a recovery period of five to six months. That could jeopardize his availability for the rest of the 2026 campaign, though manager Tony Vitello wasn’t ready to rule Buttó out for the season just yet.
“It was a little bit more intrusive than the first go-around,” Vitello said Saturday. “We’re looking forward to him fully getting on the mend. Now we for sure know what the runway looks like. It'll be a little bit of a grind for him to get back, but that alleviates an arm issue, but also something that potentially could lead into a health issue. It’s good that he's gotten that fully taken care of.”
continued...
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Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, April 4, 2026.
Photo by Darren Yamashita
Kurtz was in line to be the hero ... but the wind had other plans
By Scott Howard-Cooper
WEST SACRAMENTO -- Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers hit a fly ball into right field in the top of the seventh inning Thursday afternoon that probably would have been a routine out on another day, but on this one -- with the flags whipping from the first pitch to the final out -- kept going … and going … and going until it landed as an unlikely home run.
Plus, there was the sun during the cloudless matinee at Sutter Health Park that caused fielders to misplay balls and shield their eyes. The wind and the brightness made for, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said, “probably one of the more difficult games that I’ve been a part of in terms of the elements.”
Difficult because of their own poor execution as well. The Athletics lost to the Rangers, 9-6, because of a rough top of the ninth that had nothing to do with Mother Nature, just the home team’s inability to hold a 6-5 lead.
“I think we’ll be OK,” Jacob Lopez said after starting for the Athletics and pitching five innings. “This team has a lot of heart, as you’ve seen based on the times when myself or the rest of the staff, they give up some runs and the offense picks up right away. But it’s a long season and we’ve got a good team.”
continued....
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The Bat Flip burger at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA, is priced at approximately $44 to $45. This massive 2-pound burger features seven inches of toasted brioche stacked with two pounds of seasoned hand-formed beef patties, braised short rib, crispy pork belly, melted cheese, crunchy onions, green leaf lettuce, sliced red tomatoes and a fried egg. Located at the 1871 Grill
in Section 113, meant for sharing.
-- Steve Chain / Innovative Food Fanatic
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San Francisco Sabercats
The San Francisco Sabercats, a youth hockey team of 13–14-year-old players, won the state championship for the first time. And team member Sasha Krepkiy was beyond thrilled to be a part of the winning 2026 CAHA State Championship team!
To help Sasha celebrate, his father took him to the
San Jose Sharks game on Saturday, April 11.
A special thanks to the San Jose Sharks for handing Sasha a big surprise when Sharkie walked up and presented Sasha
with special keepsakes!
Caption provided by Diane Rames --
(Gwilliam Ivary, Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer, APC)
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April 2, 2026
Meet the Blazers
It All Started As An April Fools Day Joke
So the other day, we created an April Fools joke announcing our Oakland Blazers alternative identity that was entirely too dope. Soon, the people demanded we actually do it. And we said if the post got over 420 comments, we'd actually do it. And it did.
So we are.
Then we issued this statement:
We owe you an apology.
Yesterday, we made an April Fool’s joke. We announced the Oakland Blazers. And now… we’ve got a problem.
Because you weren’t supposed to love it this much.
You weren’t supposed to ask for merch. You definitely weren’t supposed to demand we make it real.
But Oakland did what Oakland does. You took a joke… and turned it into something bigger. So yeah. That’s on us. We’re sorry for ruining April Fool’s Day by accidentally creating something too good to be fake.
Because now… The Oakland Blazers definitely needs to happen. And this is no longer a joke. You demanded it. And we intend to deliver.
Again, sorry that we ruined April Fool’s Day. Even though no one likes April Fool’s Day anyways.
And sorry for coming up with the most incredible alternate jersey concept ever. Sorry for the fact that you’ll definitely want to spend your hard-earned money on the Blazers hats and jerseys.
And sorry that Opening Day is on May 19th and even if we start production on these hats and uniforms, they might not be ready in time. But we’re trying!
Who are we kidding... We knew this would happen.
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MATCH RECAP: Earthquakes 4, LAFC 1
Quakes move to 7-1-0 for first time in club history and climb back even on points with first-place Vancouver in the West on strength of Ousseni Bouda brace, Timo Werner goal and assist; San Jose earns first win at LAFC since 2020 and opens 4-0-0 on road for first time in club history; Black and Blue return home Wednesday to host Austin FC
LOS ANGELES — The San Jose Earthquakes thrashed Los Angeles Football Club 4-1 in front of 22,114 fans at BMO Stadium on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire to move to 7-1-0 for the first time in club history and climb back into a tie on points with first-place Vancouver in the Western Conference table.
After a scoreless first half where the Quakes equaled LAFC in possession (50%-50%) while outshooting the hosts and their vaunted attack (8-3), San Jose continued to apply pressure and were rewarded in the 53rd minute. Beau Leroux pushed the ball out in transition to Timo Werner on the left wing, whose low cross found Ousseni Bouda on the right wing for the one-timer and a 1-0 lead—the first goal conceded by LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris all season after 593 scoreless minutes. Just three minutes later, the Quakes struck again. Leroux found a streaking Werner and San Jose’s Designated Player did the rest, slaloming through three defenders and slotting it past Lloris for his first MLS goal to make it 2-0. San Jose wasn’t finished with the onslaught. In minute 59, Preston Judd blasted a shot from the edge of the box that hit the post. Bouda collected the ball on the right wing and his cross was deflected to Jamar Ricketts on the left wing. Ricketts then redirected it toward net and LAFC defender Ryan Porteous’ attempt at a clearance ended up beating Lloris for the third time to make it 3-0 San Jose within the hour mark.
LAFC would pull one back in minute 73 off an own goal. However, the Quakes refused to wilt on the road, and in the 80th minute, Niko Tsakiris rushed forward and flicked a no-look pass to Bouda on the right wing, who again blasted a shot for the near post and beat Lloris for the second time to extend the lead back to 4-1 and put the match away. With the win, San Jose rose to 4-0-0 on the road for the first time in club history.
The Black and Blue return home Wednesday, April 22, to host Austin FC in MLS play. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally via Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
continued...
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Roots Earn a Point in Gritty 1-1 Draw at Home Versus FC Tulsa
Oakland started hot and clawed to the finish line in a gritty 1-1 draw at home versus visiting FC Tulsa on Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum.
Roots began the match with one of the best plays of their young season with a referee restart near the Oakland penalty area led to a nearly full field hail Mary lob from Michael Edwards to the other end which found a sprinting Wolfgang Prentice along in the back. Prentice beat the keeper to the ball and put a chip header on it that fluttered into the net for his team-leading fourth goal of the season to make it 1-0 Oakland in the 4th minute.
Following the goal, Roots continued to dominate the pitch, finding creative ways to attack the Tulsa back line and putting together scoring chances in frequent succession.
The pitch began to tilt back to Tulsa's favor after injury substitutions left Roots without two of their starting defenders, and an added time red card shown to Neveal Hackshaw following a tackle attempt to stop a breakaway reduced them to 10 men for the rest of the match.
Dropping back into a defensive position to begin the second half, Roots were able to thwart many of Tulsa's advances despite two Tulsa shots pinging the frame of the goal less than ten minutes into the second half.
Tulsa finally capitalized on their steady second half pressure up a man in the 70th minute when a cross from the right side into the box from Owen Damm found Bailey Sparks who headed it home to level the match at 1-1.
Oakland refused to break however, continuing to play relentless defense and leaning on goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel who made save after save worthy of a highlight reel in order to ensure Roots would leave the pitch up a point despite being down a man on the pitch for the majority of the night.
Roots will be back at home in just four days time as the club faces a quick turnaround, readying to host Las Vegas Lights FC at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday night at 7 PM PT.
continued...
| An ideal location for Oakland Roots fans to gather and watch the action is The Tree House in the Oakland Coliseum. The 10,000-square foot area features reclaimed wood, a renovated bar and numerous seating options. Photo by Ann Cooke. | An Oakland Roots giveaway at Saturday night's match vs. FC Tulsa. | | |
Match Recap: Bay FC Earns 1-0 win in International Friendly Against Ottawa Rapid FC
SAN JOSE, Calif. (April 17, 2026) – Bay FC bested the Northern Super League side Ottawa Rapid FC in friendly action Friday night, a 1-0 result favoring the hosts at PayPal Park. After a deadlock through the opening hour, midfielder Caroline Conti converted the winner from the penalty spot after forward Karlie Lema drew a foul in the penalty area. Bay FC earns its first win in friendly action in club history with the result and will resume league play next week at Gotham FC.
“Really good opportunity and experiences for us tonight,” said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates. “You know, obviously pleased to get the win, get minutes and opportunities to those that haven’t had as many in the first block of the season, and great to get some of the youth players involved as well, and get them sort of fully embedded with us.”
Bay FC put pressure on early, with seven total shots in the first half. Midfielder Jamie Shepherd nearly put her club ahead 11 minutes in, heading a cross from the right flank towards goal. The effort looked headed into the back of the net but was saved by a diving effort from Ottawa’s goalkeeper. Lema got on the end of service into the box in the 23rd minute but couldn’t steer the ball on frame.
continued...
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Valkyries Re-Sign
Tiffany ‘Tip’ Hayes
The Golden State Valkyries announced Saturday that they have re-signed guard Tiffany ‘Tip’ Hayes to a single year contract.
The 2024 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, Hayes appeared in 26 games for Golden State last season, ranking third on the team with 11.7 points per game while tying her career high with 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. The guard had 17 double-digit scoring performances including back-to-back 20-point games in 2025. Hayes is currently 31st on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list with 4,926 career points and is 59 points away from surpassing Hall of Famer Maya Moore for 30th all-time.
"Tip helped lay the foundation on and off the court for this team, and that's not something you take for granted,” said Valkyries General Manager, Ohemaa Nyanin. “She's an experienced leader and veteran player who showed up for the Bay. Being able to welcome Tip back to her second home is truly special.”
A 13-year veteran, Hayes, 36, joined the Valkyries after one season with Las Vegas where she was named the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year. In 2023, she became the seventh-fastest player to achieve 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 750 assists, 300 steals, and 350 three-point field goals, reaching the milestone in just 307 games. Hayes was named All-WNBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team in 2018 and a WNBA All-Star selection in 2017. Hayes was drafted 14th overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft by Atlanta out of the University of Connecticut where she was a two-time NCAA Champion. Off the court, Hayes was named the Valkyries first ever recipient of the 2025 Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award for her work within the Bay Area community.
Golden State tips off the regular season on Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. against Seattle. The Valkyries host Phoenix in the team’s home opener on Sunday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m., presented by Chase Freedom. Single-game tickets are available at valkyries.com.
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| | The 24th annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW) race took place on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, on Vermont Street at 20th Street in Potrero Hill, in San Francisco. The free event featured children’s and adult races with participants racing plastic tricycles down the curvy street in costume. Sports Today photographer Rich Yee has been recording the playful antics for years and to enjoy his current album, click here. Photo above by Rich Yee. | One of many photos which capture the fun and zaniness of the Bring Your Own Big Wheel adventure each Spring. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Photo by Rich Yee. | |
From My Spiffy Deck of
100 Sports Trivia Comes...
"What MLB player 'went crazy' when it
was ruled he had too much pine tar on his bat?"
Hint: The call resulted in a home run between
the Yankees and Royals being
called back in 1983.
Only 98 more questions to go...
Answer below...
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San Francisco
49ers Autographs
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RISE --
The Bread Project Gala & Auction
will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at the
Hillside Club in Berkeley from 6 to 9 p.m. The Bread Project helps Bay Area residents overcome barriers to employment and secure living-wage jobs in the food industry by providing practical skills, hands-on
training and job placement support.
To attend the Gala, visit: https://conta.cc/412daBo
To donate a valuable auction item and receive two
Gala tickets, plus donation recognition,
email: lynn@breadproject.org
The San Francisco 49ers footballs below are part of
the Gala auction and include the following signatures. Estimated total value of $300.
To bid absentee on the footballs,
email jkaplan@att.net
with the maximum amount of your bid.
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Above Left
#33 Roger Craig RB 1983-90
#86 Charle Young TE 1980-82
#58 Keena Turner LB 1980-90
#21 Eric Wright DB 1981-1990
#27 R.C. Owens OE/RB 1957-61
#13 Steve Bono QB 1989, 91-93
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Above Right
#59 Willie Harper LB 1973-77, 1979-83
#22 Dwight Hicks DB 1979-85
#81 Lee Johnson WR 1969-70
#77 Bubba Paris OT 1983-90
#57 Dan Bunz LB 1978-84
#63 Monte Clark OT/DT 1959-61
#81 Russ Francis TE 1982-87
#30 Bill Ring RB 1981-86
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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.
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"Join us for Great Food, Great Beer and a Great Time."
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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Floyd Patterson -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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I attended a Los Angeles sports convention with my uncle in the mid-1980s. Among the many athletes present was retired boxer Floyd Patterson. He had a few different photos for sale at his table but I liked this one for some reason. He took the time to chat with the fans in line to meet him. He wrote a very nice note
on my photo before signing it.
Patterson won a gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and had a 55-8-1 record before retiring in 1972. He fought Muhammad
Ali twice and lost both matches.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 180: Revenue-Sharing Agreements, The Transfer Portal, And The Athletes Left Without A Paycheck
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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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Beginning July 1, 2025, Division I schools became authorized to share up to $20.5 million annually in athletic revenue directly with their athletes. What few fully reckoned with, at least not in the public conversation surrounding the settlement's approval, is what happens when an athlete transfers and the contractual obligations he signed at his old school continue to shape his financial reality at his new one.
When schools began drafting revenue-sharing agreements in the summer of 2025, agents and industry observers raised immediate alarms about the aggressiveness of certain institutional contract terms. For instance, a school was called out in an article written by Chris Hummer. Agents who reviewed drafts from some programs reported provisions that gave schools broad unilateral authority, with arbitration positioned as the only available remedy for an athlete seeking to challenge the school's decisions. What received less attention was the downstream consequences of the clause that survive termination for athletes who transfer.
Consider the following example. An athlete signs a revenue-sharing agreement at School A that contains an arbitration provision governing any disputes arising under the agreement. The athlete then enters the transfer portal and enrolls at School B. School B wants to pay the athlete under its own revenue-sharing program, but School B has concerns about doing so while the prior agreement is still operative, and School A has not formally released any claims it might assert. School A, for its part, may have no particular desire to enforce the agreement, and may have no legal basis to do so, but has also not affirmatively signed anything releasing the athlete from its terms. The result is the athlete is at School B, contributing to that program, and his new school is sitting on compensation it is prepared to pay him because no one has formally cleared the contractual air. The athlete, meanwhile, earns nothing.
This situation is a direct consequence of how these agreements are being drafted. Revenue-sharing contracts are tied to the school, and they generally end when a player transfers, but the obligations within those agreements, including arbitration provisions and dispute resolution procedures, do not always terminate cleanly at the moment of transfer. Where a contract contains broad language with clauses specifically intended to survive termination, a new school's compliance department may take a conservative position and decline to authorize payment until the prior contractual landscape is resolved. That conservatism is legally defensible from the new school's perspective, but it leaves the athlete in an impossible position.
Many have been focused on the schools-as-plaintiffs dynamic and understandably so. The University of Georgia Athletic Association is seeking liquidated damages from a defensive end who transferred to Missouri after signing a NIL agreement, and Duke and Cincinnati both filed lawsuits demanding damages from quarterbacks Darian Mensah and Brendan Sorsby, respectively, who entered the transfer portal before the end of their revenue-sharing contracts. Those cases involve schools using their contracts offensively. What is not being discussed as much is the passive enforcement problem, where a school does not sue right away, but where the existence of its contractual language is enough to chill payment at the receiving institution.
So, what should athletes and their representatives take from this?
continued...
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Monterey Jet Center Announce Strategic Partnership to Elevate Luxury Race Weekend Experience
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Monterey, CA (April 15, 2026) WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (WRLS) today announced a new strategic partnership with Monterey Fuel Company (MFC), operator of the award-winning Monterey Jet Center (MJC) to enhance the end-to-end experience for teams, sponsors, VIPs, and race fans traveling to Monterey for premier motorsports events.
As the region’s leading private aviation gateway, Monterey Jet Center serves a highly aligned audience of affluent travelers, corporate leaders, motorsports enthusiasts, and racing teams, making this partnership a natural extension of the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca experience beyond the track.
Located just 7 miles (approximately 15 minutes) from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey Jet Center provides seamless access to the circuit, allowing guests to transition effortlessly from runway to the raceway. “This partnership allows us to elevate the guest journey from the moment visitors arrive in Monterey,” said Mel Harder, President and GM of WRLS. “By aligning with Monterey Jet Center, we’re extending the Laguna Seca experience beyond the gates of the raceway and delivering a premium, seamless experience for our valued guests.”
Through this collaboration, Monterey Jet Center will provide tailored services and exclusive benefits for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca attendees, ensuring a first-class arrival experience that matches the prestige of the events hosted at the iconic circuit.
“We are proud to partner with WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, an iconic destination that shares our commitment to excellence and world-class experiences,” said Matthew Wright, VP and GM Monterey Fuel Company and Monterey Jet Center. “Together, we’re creating a seamless connection between private aviation and motorsports, ensuring that every guest arrives in Monterey with the same level of precision, service, and excitement that defines race weekend.”
The partnership underscores a shared vision to deliver world-class hospitality, strengthen brand visibility, and create integrated luxury touchpoints throughout Monterey’s marquee race weekends, including the IMSA Monterey Sports Car Championship, The ROLEX Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Championship Week featuring the NTT INDYCAR Series finale Labor Day weekend.
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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. (April 15, 2026) – 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 | | |
George Brett!
The Pine Tar Incident, also known as the Pine Tar Game, occurred on July 24, 1983, between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees.
It involved George Brett hitting a home run which
was later nullified due to excessive pine tar on his bat, leading to a controversial ruling and a protest by the Royals which ultimately upheld Brett's home run.
~ wikipedia See the event on Youtube!
Information about the pine tar rule in baseball
can be found here.
This link will take you to the MLB Hall of Fame
image of Brett with the bat in question.
Go Red Sox
Go Celtics
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Cal Falls In Finale 8-5
Louisville Avoids Sweep
BERKELEY — The California baseball team dropped the final game of its series with Louisville on Sunday as the Cardinals avoided the sweep with a 8-5 win to snap the Golden Bears' five-game conference win streak.
For the first time this weekend the Cal (20-18, 6-12) jumped out to an early lead with a four-hit, four-run first inning. The first six batters reached and the Bears batted around to chase the Louisville starter. Shortstop Jett Kenady collected an RBI double and both Daniel Murillo and Carl Schmidt added RBI singles.
From there the Cal offense went quiet getting just one hit through the next five innings while Louisville (22-18, 7-11) chipped away with two runs in the third, fifth, and seventh innings to take a 6-4 lead.
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Photo: Daniel Moebus-Bowles / Cal Athletics
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50 Straight Years Of NCAA Champions
Stanford has won at least one NCAA team title
each year since 1976-77
STANFORD, Calif. - The latest chapter was written on April 18, 2026, at 8:36 p.m. inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. And, as history has shown, it most likely won’t be the last.
Thanks to Stanford’s wire-to-wire victory at the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championship on Saturday night, the Cardinal extended one of the most recognizable streaks in the history of collegiate athletics.
Stanford has now captured at least one NCAA team championship for 50 consecutive years, a jaw-dropping streak that dates back to the 1976-77 campaign. The Cardinal has won 126 of its 138 overall NCAA team titles during the 50-year streak.
Never an off-year. Never a near-miss. Never a doubt.
Instead, at least one NCAA trophy has found its way back to The Farm every season for five decades, beginning on Nov. 28, 1976, when the men’s water polo program defeated UCLA 13-12 before a packed NCAA final at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach, California.
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Zermeno Hits Grand Slam In Series Finale Against Utah State
LOGAN, Utah - Reina Zermeno hits a grand slam to put the San José State softball team (13-29, 5-14 MW) on top in the sixth inning before falling 7-6 in the series finale against Utah State (19-27, 7-12 MW) Sunday morning at the LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field.
The Aggies put runs on the board first by putting up two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
In the top of the third inning, Carly Cummings first hit a single to center field to get on. Followed by back-to-back walks from Zermeno and Leata Sherlin.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
MTEN | Gaels Sweep Zags to Clinch Spot in WCC Tournament
MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's men's tennis team had one objective Sunday morning; win and get in. A match victory over Gonzaga would punch its ticket into the 2026 West Coast Conference Tournament as the six-seed and extend their season. Head coach Dan Cardiff and his squad would do just that, sweeping Gonzaga 4-0 to win their second WCC match of the season and send the Gaels into the postseason.
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Photo: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
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Pilots Shut Out Dons in Series Finale
PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of San Francisco baseball team (19-18, 10-5) dropped an 11-0 West Coast Conference decision at Portland (22-15, 8-7) in seven innings Sunday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- San Francisco managed one chance with a runner on third in the shutout, going a total of one-for-five with runners in scoring position. The Dons last produced a runner on third base in the seventh, but failed to add a tally to the scoreboard.
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Photo: Christina Leung
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Pacific Delivers Setback to Baseball
in Series Finale
STOCKTON, Calif. — Luke Devine logged his second consecutive multi-hit game Sunday for the Santa Clara University baseball team and three other Broncos had base hits, but host Pacific scored early and rode the arm of Garret Plata to complete a three-game West Coast Conference sweep with a 7-1 victory at Klein Family Field.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Plata’s Six Shutout Innings Cruise Pacific to Sweep of Santa Clara
STOCKTON, Calif. – Redshirt junior Garret Plata marveled on the mound, securing a series sweep for the Pacific baseball program with a 7-1 victory over Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon from Klein Family Field.
The sure-handed southpaw threw six shutout frames to guide the Tigers (15-23, 7-8 WCC) in collecting their first West Coast Conference series sweep of the 2026 campaign in pristine fashion over the Broncos (14-24, 3-12 WCC). It marks the first time the Tigers have swept a WCC opponent under head coach Reed Peters and the first time since 2022 against Saint Mary's.
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Women’s Golf Set For Big West Championships
MAUI, Hawai'i – UC Davis women's golf, following a top finish at the highly competitive Chevron Silverado Showdown, now sets its sight on the Big West Championships with three rounds set to run from April 19-21 across the pond in Maui.
HOW TO FOLLOW/TEE TIMES
Big West Championships | Maui, Hawai'i (Kaanapali Golf Course)
Apr. 19-21 – | Live Stats | @ucdaviswgolf
Tee Times – Round One (Apr. 19) 1:30 p.m.; Round Two (Apr. 20) TBA; Round Three (Apr. 21): TBA
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| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Five-Run Fourth Lifts Pioneers Past San Marcos in Series Finale
HAYWARD, Calif. — Cal State East Bay closed its series against Cal State San Marcos with a 5-3 win Sunday at Pioneer Field.
The breakthrough came all at once.
After falling behind 1-0, East Bay flipped the game in the fourth with a five-run inning that created all the offense it would need. Dylan Unangst drove in two with a double to center, Micah Cervantes followed with an RBI groundout, and Cristian Angulo lined a two-run single to left as the Pioneers turned a deficit into a 5-1 lead.
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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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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, April 20, through
Sunday, April 26, 2026
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Monday, April 20
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners, 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday, April 22
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners, 1:10 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Austin FC, 7:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 23
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 12:45 p.m
Friday, April 24
San Francisco Giants vs. Miami Marlins, 7:15 p.m.
Athletics @ Texas Rangers, 5:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 25
San Francisco Giants vs. Miami Marlins, 1:05 p.m.
Athletics @ Texas Rangers, 4:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ St. Louis City SC, 5:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC @ Monterey Bay FC, 7 p.m.
Bay FC @ Gotham FC, 10 a.m.
Sunday, April 26
San Francisco Giants vs. Miami Marlins, 1:05 p.m.
Athletics @ Texas Rangers, 11:35 a.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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