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April 6 -- April 12, 2026
Issue No. 636
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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 0, Houston Astros 11
Golden State Warriors 113, San Antonio Spurs 127
Features & Commentary
Billy Mills, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Refections on Dusty Baker, 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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Golden State Warriors 113
San Antonio Spurs 127
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA,
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
| San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama is among the top three for MVP, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. A once-in-a-generation player, Wembanyama dominated the game by scoring 41 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Above, Draymond Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year, appears frustrated. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | |
Warriors guard Seth Curry played 10 minutes and contributed
12 points. Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
| Wembanyama’s 8-foot wingspan is a formidable challenge for all opposing shooters. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | |
Off the bench, center Omer Yurtseven scored 17 points.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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Nate Williams led all Warriors with 18 points in 46 minutes.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
| Steph Curry, not having played since January 30 against the Detroit Pistons, was spotted practicing before the game. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | | |
Athletics 0
Houston Astros 11
Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, CA
Saturday, April 4, 2026
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Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships
Men’s Gymnastics
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Saturday, April 4, 2026
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Haas Pavilion hosted the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships for Men’s Gymnastics between the top-seeded Oklahoma Sooners, Stanford Cardinal, Air Force Academy, and the Golden Bears of California. The Sooners took the team championship and Air Force's Jared Fry took home the All-Around gymnast title. Above, teams lined up for introductions on Saturday, April 4 at Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA.
Photo and caption by Ron Sellers.
| Jared Fry, from the Air Force Academy, took home the All-Around gymnastic title. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | |
Cal senior Jasper Smith-Gordon collects his thoughts before his pommel horse routine where he finished third for the Golden Bears. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net Photo
and caption by Ron Sellers.
| | Former baseball player and manager Dusty Baker, left, and former baseball player Juan Marichal speak during a remembrance ceremony for former San Francisco Giants player Orlando Cepeda before a baseball game between the Giants and the San Diego Padres in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Jeff Chiu/AP) | | | | |
Reflections on Dusty Baker
by Bruce Macgowan
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It was the summer of 1969 and a rookie outfielder named Dusty Baker was about to make his major league debut with the Atlanta Braves.
Baker and the Braves were scheduled to meet the Giants at breezy Candlestick Park in the start of a three game Series. These two clubs would end up fighting for the top spot in the NL West.
Dusty grew up in nearby Sacramento so he was eager to visit Candlestick for the first time as a player.
“But I didn’t expect to play in the first game. The night before we started the series, I snuck out of the hotel to see my girlfriend. The next day I was in the visitors’ clubhouse when Hank Aaron walked over to me.”
The Braves’ legendary player was like a big brother to Baker, giving him batting tips and telling him stories about the trials and tribulations he went through as a youngster in the 1950s and early 60s.
“Hank had to put up with a lot of crap,” Dusty related.
“But I learned a lot from Hank so when he spoke, I always listened closely. That day he walked up to me and said, ‘Hey kid’ -- that’s what they called me -- ‘you’re in there today.’ “
‘What?’ I said, because I couldn’t believe it.
‘No, you’re in the lineup.’ ”
A surge of excitement rolled through Dusty. He not only was going to start in his first big league game, but the Giants had the great Juan Marichal going that day. Marichal, the Cardinals’ intimidating Bob Gibson and the blazing lefty Sandy Koufax were considered the three best pitchers in the game during the Golden Age of the 1960s.
Dusty’s teammate and former Giants star Orlando Cepeda, another great Latin player, was a close friend of the “Dominican Dandy.”
“Marichal was a great pitcher, great control and he threw four or five pitches as well as anyone. He threw from three of four different arm angles and he had that high leg kick which made it tough to pick up pitches. Juan was like a Picasso.”
But in the fifth inning Baker managed to get a piece of the ball and hit an infield dribbler.
“I think I broke all speed records running down to first. I raced past the bag and looked for the umpire’s call. Cepeda pulled in the throw but the ump called me safe and I felt great. It was just a little infield hit but to me it was one of the big moments of my career. My first big league hit came off of Juan Marichal.”
Years later Dusty joined the Giants for the 1984 season and got to play for another legendary slugger from the 1960s, Frank Robinson. This, after several stand out years with those great Los Angeles Dodger teams which won three pennants in five years and beat the Yankees in the 1981 World Series.
And then of course came the start of an amazing career as a Manager as Baker took over in 1993 to start a 19-year stint in the Bigs. Baker’s familiar trademarks were the ever-present toothpick which he chewed on during games and the distinctive orange sweat bands he wore on his wrists.
The Giants made big news by signing superstar Barry Bonds to a six-year deal to energize the fan base. Baker also brought in his good friend Bobby Bonds to reunite with his son and coach first base. What followed was a storybook season in Baker’s rookie season as manager as the Giants set a San Francisco record of 103-59 record. They were nosed out from winning the division when Baker’s old Dodger team beat the Giants on the last day of the regular season.
Baker went on to manage for four other clubs and would come agonizingly close to winning it all before concluding his career by winning a World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2022.
Now 77-years old, Baker has come full circle, returning to San Francisco to work as an adviser along with the great Bruce Bochy. Together, the two finest managers in San Francisco Giants history will try to help president of Giants baseball, Buster Posey, return the team to prominence.
It is hard to believe it was almost 57 years ago that a fresh faced kid from Sacramento made his big league debut against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.
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Dusty Baker managed the San Francisco Giants for 10 seasons (1993–2002), compiling an 840–715 record, for a .540 winning percentage. During his tenure, Baker led the Giants to the 2002 World Series and was a three-time National League Manager
of the Year with the club.
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And then of course came the start of an amazing career as a Manager as Baker took over in 1993 to start a 19-year stint in the Bigs. Baker’s familiar trademarks were the ever-present toothpick which he chewed on during games and the distinctive orange sweat bands he wore on his wrists.
The Giants made big news by signing superstar Barry Bonds to a six-year deal to energize the fan base. Baker also brought in his good friend Bobby Bonds to reunite with his son and coach first base. What followed was a storybook season in Baker’s rookie season as manager as the Giants set a San Francisco record of 103-59 record. They were nosed out from winning the division when Baker’s old Dodger team beat the Giants on the last day of the regular season.
Baker went on to manage for four other clubs and would come agonizingly close to winning it all before concluding his career by winning a World Series ring with the Houston Astros in 2022.
Now 77-years old, Baker has come full circle, returning to San Francisco to work as an adviser along with the great Bruce Bochy. Together, the two finest managers in San Francisco Giants history will try to help president of Giants baseball, Buster Posey, return the team to prominence.
It is hard to believe it was almost 57 years ago that a fresh faced kid from Sacramento made his big league debut against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.
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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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San Francisco Giants’ Josuar Gonzalez is No. 22
on the MLB Pipeline
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Where will Giants' Top 30 prospects be to start the season?
By Jim Callis
With the Minor League season opening, here's where the Giants' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
1. Bryce Eldridge (MLB Pipeline No. 22), 1B -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
2. Josuar Gonzalez (MLB No. 41), SS -- Extended spring training
3. Luis Hernández (MLB No. 94), SS -- Extended spring training
4. Jhonny Level, SS -- San Jose (Single-A)
5. Gavin Kilen, SS/2B -- Eugene (High-A)
6. Dakota Jordan, OF -- Eugene (High-A)
7. Bo Davidson, OF -- Richmond (Double-A)
8. Jacob Bresnahan, LHP -- Eugene (High-A)
9. Trevor Cohen, OF -- Eugene (High-A)
10. Blade Tidwell, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
11. Keyner Martinez, RHP -- San Jose (Single-A)
12. Carson Whisenhunt, LHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
13. Argenis Cayama, RHP -- San Jose (Single-A)
14. Parks Harber, 3B/1B -- Richmond (Double-A) --IL (hamstring)
15. Carlos Gutierrez, OF -- Eugene (High-A)
16. Trevor McDonald, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
17. Luis De La Torre, LHP -- Eugene (High-A)
18. Jesus Rodriguez, C/3B -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
19. Lorenzo Meola, SS/2B -- San Jose (Single-A)
20. Maui Ahuna, SS -- Richmond (Double-A)
21. Daniel Susac, C -- San Francisco (MLB)
22. Alberto Laroche, RHP -- Extended spring training
23. Trent Harris, RHP -- Sacramento (Triple-A)
24. Josh Bostick, RHP -- Eugene (High-A) -- IL (ruptured Achilles tendon)
25. Jancel Villarroel, C/OF -- Eugene (High-A) -- IL (meniscus surgery)
26. Joe Whitman, LHP -- Richmond (Double-A)
27. Carlos De La Rosa, LHP -- Extended spring training
28. Yulian Barreto, 2B -- Extended spring training
29. Gerelmi Maldonado, RHP -- Eugene (High-A)
30. Lisbel Diaz, OF -- Eugene (High-A)
COMPLETE GIANTS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Team to watch
Many of the players who contributed to a California League championship at Single-A San Jose last year are reunited at
High-A Eugene.
The lineup is stacked with shortstop Gavin Kilen, the 13th overall pick in the 2025 Draft; outfielder Dakota Jordan, who came up just one hit and one RBI short of the Cal League triple crown; outfielder Trevor Cohen, whose elite bat-to-ball skills translated into a .327 average in his pro debut last summer; and outfielder Carlos Gutierrez, a career .352 hitter in the Minors.
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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers against the
San Francisco Giants, July 4, 2025
1 year after Raleigh's 60 HRs, are we about to see ANOTHER historic catching season?
By Thomas Harrigan
Spring Training stats are often meaningless. But when a hitter goes yard seven times during the spring and then swats five homers in the first six games of the regular season, it carries some extra weight.
And when such a strong start also comes on the heels of a huge second half the previous year, well, you’re looking at a hitter who could be on the verge of something special.
That’s where we find Shea Langeliers so far in 2026.
Although the Athletics are 1-5, Langeliers has been a bright spot, going 9-for-24 (.375) with five homers, eight RBIs and a 1.400 OPS.
It’s still early, but Langeliers has the look of a hitter primed for a major breakout. Watching a catcher mash like this also naturally brings to mind what we saw from Cal Raleigh just last year.
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With Americans consuming more than 70 hotdogs each annually, the new trend of introducing more tantalizing choices at sports stadia is a welcome change. Not unexpectedly, Oracle Park has deservedly established itself as the premier purveyor of alternatives to the almighty weenie. For example, above is the Crazy Crab'z Sandwich, a true fan favorite for lucky ballpark visitors.
-- Steve Chain / Innovative Food Fanatic
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Celebrini has 4 points for Sharks in comeback win against Ducks
Wennberg scores winner for San Jose with
31 seconds remaining
By Craig Merz
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
March 28, 2026
SAN JOSE -- Macklin Celebrini had four points and Alexander Wennberg scored the game-winning goal with 31 seconds left in the third period as the San Jose Sharks rallied to beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 at SAP Center on Wednesday.
Celebrini, who had two goals and two assists, tied the game 3-3 at 18:21 of the third period. Celebrini took a pass at the top of the left face-off circle, and his wrist shot past a Wennberg screen beat Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal over the glove.
“(Wennberg) took the whole thing away, like the goalie couldn't see anything, and I had the whole side of the net," Celebrini said. "That's not going in if he's not in front."
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Columbia Bank Named Founding Partner of the Oakland Ballers
Becomes Official Banking Partner in Long-Term, Community-Focused Partnership
The Oakland Ballers today announced a multi-year partnership with Columbia Bank, naming one of the West’s leading financial institutions as the club’s front-of-jersey patch brand, as well as the founding partner and the official bank of the Oakland Ballers.
Timed with the Ballers’ historic Battle of the Bay 2.1 exhibition game, the announcement follows the first on-field appearance of the Columbia Bank jersey patch, marking the beginning of a partnership designed to extend well beyond the ballpark.
This partnership centers on a unified mission: backing local champions wherever they show up, from the field at Raimondi Park to the small businesses, neighborhoods, and community spaces that define the city.
“This partnership represents what we believe sports should be,” said Paul Freedman, Co-Founder and CEO of the Oakland Ballers. “It’s not about logos or signage. It’s about showing up for a city, investing in its people, and building something meaningful alongside the community. Columbia Bank understood that from day one.”
“We are excited to partner with the Oakland Ballers, not only to cheer them on during the season but to also help the players, fans and local businesses achieve their financial goals,” said Brad Aris, SVP, Bay Area Market Director of Columbia Bank. “Both our organizations are passionate about supporting the Oakland community, so working alongside the Ballers as the team’s bank and founding partner is a great opportunity to be a part of something special. Together, we are committed to ensuring everyone has access to the financial resources, tools and the support they need to achieve their dreams.”
The Ballers and Columbia Bank will bring the partnership to life through three core initiatives focused on creating lasting impact across Oakland.
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MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 3, San Diego FC 0
Quakes move to 5-1-0 for first time in club history with unprecedented fifth clean sheet in six games; San Jose also first team to beat SDFC in MLS play this season; Black and Blue go on the road next Saturday vs. Sporting Kansas City
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes defeated San Diego FC 3-0 on Saturday night in front of a PayPal Park crowd of 17,410 to improve to 5-1-0 for the first time in club history to pull within one point of the top spot in the Western Conference table.
Goalkeeper Daniel and the Earthquakes’ defense remained suffocating, recording their fifth shutout in six games to extend the ongoing club record, but this time the attack also came alive as San Jose submitted a complete performance on both sides of the ball.
Niko Tsakiris opened the scoring for San Jose in the 13th minute when Preston Judd intercepted a wayward pass and fed the attacking midfielder, who dribbled to his left and blasted the ball toward the near post and into the back of the net to make it 1-0. In minute 28, SDFC defender Manu Duah fouled Judd in the box and was sent off after a video review. Six minutes later, Tsakiris subsequently converted the subsequent penalty kick for the brace and a 2-0 Earthquakes lead, making him the second youngest player to score a brace in San Jose history behind Landon Donovan. The Quakes then tripled the advantage in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, when Beau Leroux motored down the left sideline and found a streaking Judd who promptly finished the goal to make it 3-0 at the break. After intermission, the game settled but San Jose continued to apply pressure before the final whistle to earn their unprecedented fifth clean sheet.
The Black and Blue now go on the road next Saturday, April 11, to face Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff from Sporting Park is set for 5:30 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).
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Match Recap: Bay FC Fall 2-0 in Sunday Matinee vs. Washington Spirit
San Jose, Calif. (April, 5 2026) – Bay FC fell 2-0 Sunday afternoon to the Washington Spirit at PayPal Park. After a deadlock through the first half, the visitors would net the opening goal on a tough-luck own goal for Bay FC, before doubling their advantage with four minutes remaining in the match.
Washington nearly opened the scoring 12 minutes in. After forward Rosmounde Kouassi broke through on the right flank and drove inside before serving a low cross that trickled through traffic in the box. Forward Leicy Santos got on the end of it on the back post, but saw her effort go wide.
Stellar defensive work and a pair of strong saves by goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz sent the two sides to halftime in a stalemate. Washington forward Trinity Rodman and midfielder Hal Hershfelt each steered attempts on frame just before the half hour mark as the visitors pinned Bay FC back in its own half. Silkowitz stood tall to deny both opportunities, going into the break with three saves and finishing the match with a career-high nine stops.
An injury stoppage halted play just before the end of the first half, as Washington defenders Tara Rudd and Lucia Di Guglielmo collided jumping to clear a long ball played forward by Bay FC. Di Guglielmo exited the match, while Rudd returned shortly after play restarted.
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Golden State Valkyries
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Ballhalla awaits! The Valkyries return to the violet hardwood for Year Two with a preseason match-up against the Seattle Storm on Saturday, April 25 at 5:30PM at Chase Center.
After an unforgettable inaugural season, we can’t wait to welcome fans back for another year of elite basketball, unforgettable moments, and the electric energy that makes Ballhalla one of the loudest homes in the league. Preseason is your first chance to see the team back on the floor, build momentum for the season ahead, and be part of what’s next.
Single-game preseason tickets will be going on sale soon! Stay tuned for on-sale details and be ready to lock in your seats as we kick off Year Two together.
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The Pride of the Yankees
On July 14, 1942,
The Pride of the Yankees: The Life of Lou Gehrig,
a movie about Lou 'Iron Horse' Gehrig was released.
Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig died of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), now known as Lou Gehrig's disease, on
June 2, 1941. Gary Cooper played Lou Gehrig.
Who played Babe Ruth in the movie?
Answer below...
| San Francisco 49ers Autographs | | |
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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INDIAN LEGEND RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN SIGNS FOR SAN
FRANCISCO UNICORNS
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- Veteran off-spinner becomes first-ever Indian international to play in Major League Cricket
- World Cup winner and top-five wicket-taker in IPL history brings world-class bowling and leadership capabilities to the Bay Area franchise
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MARCH 28, 2026) — The San Francisco Unicorns have secured a landmark signing for the 2026 Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC) season, adding Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin to its roster.
The deal marks a historic moment for the franchise and for the sport in the United States, with Ashwin becoming the first-ever Indian-capped player to compete in the league, and one of the most prominent Indian players to take part in an international T20 tournament outside of the Indian Premier League.
Ashwin joins the Unicorns with a unique cricketing resume, having won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, and has earned over 100 caps in both Test and ODI cricket, with 65 appearances in T20 internationals.
He remains one of the top five wicket-takers in IPL history, having represented his home franchise, the Chennai Super Kings. He also had stints with Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and the Delhi Capitals.
Signed for his world-class spin bowling and strong tactical acumen, Ashwin brings the Unicorns a significant leadership asset on and off the pitch, as well as being a household name set to thrill Major League Cricket and resonate strongly with the Bay Area’s large South Asian community, further strengthening the franchise’s connection to one of cricket’s most passionate fan bases.
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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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Billy Mills -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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1964 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills was attending a sports collector show when I approached his table. I didn’t know who he was at the time but he was very friendly and took the time to tell me who he was and what he did. He was a US Marine officer when he competed in the 1964 Olympics and won a gold medal in the 10,000 meter run event.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 178: The Guarantee Problem Few Are
Talking About
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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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There's a structural issue embedded in how certain brand deals are being routed to college athletes right now, and I think it's about to become a serious problem for everyone involved, including brands.
Here's what it looks like. A major brand wants to run NIL campaigns with athletes at a specific school. Rather than contracting directly with those athletes, it partners with a third-party marketing intermediary. That intermediary then contracts individually with athletes. The brand stays one step removed. It's clean, efficient, and scalable ... in theory.
In practice, this structure creates problems on two distinct fronts, and neither one is getting enough attention.
The NIL Go Question
The College Sports Commission has made clear that warehousing (routing compensation through institutional entities to avoid disclosure obligations) violates its rules. But what about deals that flow through private third-party intermediaries? The athlete is still receiving NIL compensation. The compensation is still tied to a brand partnership that presumably has some relationship to school affiliation. Whether these structures trigger disclosure obligations through NIL Go remains an open question.
Schools may benefit from that ambiguity. If a brand goes through a third party, does anything have to be disclosed at all? Do the parties even know what's being paid? It's convenient. Maybe too convenient. The CSC has been holding off on clearing deals because of warehousing reasons. So, it's catching on.
The Guarantee Problem
This is where I'm spending a lot of my time right now and where I'm drawing a hard line.
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
| | The countdown is ON! We’re throwing it back at the IMSA Monterey SportsCar Championship, where one of the most diverse grids in motorsports comes to life. From global powerhouses like Porsche, BMW and Cadillac to performance icons like Corvette Racing and Acura, IMSA brings together a wide range of manufacturers, technologies, and racing philosophies on one track. It’s a rare chance to see prototypes and GT cars from across the globe competing head-to-head at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, a true showcase of innovation, heritage, and world-class competition. | | |
Patriots Jet Team Returns to Sonoma Raceway for 19th Year, Set to Soar Above NASCAR on June 28
SONOMA, Calif. – Fans attending NASCAR weekend at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, June 28 will once again turn their eyes skyward as the Patriots Jet Team returns for a thrilling pre-race aerial demonstration.
A staple of race day entertainment, 2026 marks the 19th consecutive year the Patriots Jet Team has performed above Sonoma Raceway, continuing a long-standing tradition that has become a fan-favorite part of the event.
Known as North America’s largest civilian-owned jet aerobatic team, the Northern California-based Patriots Jet Team delivers a high-energy spectacle featuring precision flying, dramatic formations and high-speed maneuvers. Pilots fly L-39 Albatros jets in tightly choreographed routines that include loops, rolls and crowd-favorite low passes, all executed with military-style precision.
The air show will once again serve as a centerpiece of the pre-race festivities leading into the NASCAR Cup Series race, adding an extra layer of excitement to one of the most anticipated sporting events in the region. The performance has become synonymous with Sonoma Raceway’s race day experience, blending motorsports intensity with a patriotic, adrenaline-filled display in the skies above wine country.
“The Patriots Jet Team has become an iconic part of our NASCAR weekend,” said Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn. “For nearly two decades, they’ve delivered an unforgettable experience for our fans and helped create an electric atmosphere before the green flag.”
The NASCAR Cup Series race caps a full weekend of on-track action and fan entertainment, making Sonoma Raceway one of the premier stops on the NASCAR calendar. The addition of the Patriots Jet Team continues to enhance the race-day spectacle for attendees of all ages.
Tickets, camping, premium packages, and upgrades are available now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223].
| | Hardly Trival Answer by T. Buff | | |
Babe Ruth Played Himself!
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, above, pose in their
Bustin Babes and Larrupin Lou's uniforms
from their 1927 barnstorming tour.
The teams, which consisted mostly of local amateurs
and minor leaguers, played 21 games across the country immediately after the Yankees swept the Pirates in the World Series. https://bit.ly/3Op8W0j
https://bit.ly/3O38GDR will take you to an image
of Babe Ruth with Gary Cooper as
Lou Gehrig in the movie.
The movie received 11 Oscar nominations. https://bit.ly/472L3Eg will take
you to the wiki entry about the movie.
Go Red Sox
Go Celtics
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Cal Posts Season-Best Score
At MPSF Championship
Jasper Smith-Gordon, Theodor Roald Gadderud
Combine For 3 Medals
BERKELEY – The California men's gymnastics team closed out its 2026 home slate with a third-place finish at the MSPF Championship on Saturday evening, meeting top-ranked Oklahoma, Stanford and Air Force in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Haas Pavilion. The Sooners repeated as conference champions with a score of 332.100, followed by the Cardinal (327.200), the Golden Bears (317.750) and the Falcons (303.800) with Cal's score acting as a two-point season best.
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Photo: Kylie Maratea
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Cardinal Comeback Evens Series
Stanford trailed 4-1 headed to the bottom of the eighth inning, but rallied for four runs on three hits to earn a 5-4 victory over Clemson
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford trailed 4-1 headed to the bottom of the eighth inning, but rallied for four runs on three hits in the eighth to come back and earn a 5-4 victory over visiting Clemson on Saturday afternoon from Sunken Diamond.
The win evened a three-game series being played between the two teams, and moved Stanford to 14-14 on the season, including 4-7 in the ACC. Clemson dropped to 20-12 overall, including 3-8 in the ACC.
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Spartans Fall in Series Decider Against Washington State
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Jake McCoy went 2-for-4 with a two run home run and a double to lead the San José State baseball team (13-18, 4-5 MW) in a 6-3 loss to Washington State (14-16, 7-5 MW) Saturday afternoon from Excite Ballpark in the final game of a three game series.
The Spartans came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning. After Alex Fernandes and Peyton Rowles sparked the offense with back-to-back singles, McCoy delivered a two-run home run to left field, giving SJSU an immediate 2-0 lead.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
WT&F | Saint Mary’s Splits Squad, Delivers Strong Performance at Mike Fanelli
and Brutus Hamilton
BERKELEY & SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Saint Mary's women's track and field program took on two invitationals this weekend, with distance runners competing at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, hosted by San Francisco State, and the sprinters and throwers competing at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, hosted by Cal.
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Nystrom Notches Four Hits as Dons Fall to Lions in Series Finale
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of San Francisco baseball team (16-13, 7-2) dropped a hard-fought 10-7 West Coast Conference decision at LMU (10-24, 2-7) in the series finale Saturday evening at Page Stadium.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
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Trailing 3-0 at the top of the fourth inning, San Francisco plated a pair of runs to trim its deficit to 3-2. TJ Rogers put the Dons on the board with a solo home run, and Jayden Garrison added a sacrifice fly during the frame.
photo by Christina Leung
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Men's Tennis Rolls to
13th Straight Victory
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – No. 41 Santa Clara men's tennis cruised to their 13th straight victory shutting out Saint Mary's 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Degheri Tennis Center. The Broncos remained undefeated in West Coast Conference play at 3-0 by taking the doubles point and the first three singles matches against the Gaels.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
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Valentin Faure won both his doubles and singles matches for Santa Clara (17-2, 4-0 WCC). He teamed up with Ferran Redza on court three to blank Pierre Lieutaud and Bastien Maxant 6-0 for the first doubles win for SCU. No. 49 Luca Bluett and John Kim took care of Finn Dyer and Thibaud Maxant 6-4 on court one to give SCU an 1-0 advantage.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Tigers Conclude Weekend with
Loss at San Diego
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The men's tennis program suffered a 4-0 setback against San Diego on Saturday afternoon, concluding the first half of a four-match road stand.
The Tigers (7-14, 1-4 WCC) found themselves down early after losses on doubles courts one and two that gave San Diego (16-4, 4-0 WCC) an early lead it would not relinquish.
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Beach Volleyball Finishes Cal Classic With Another Win Over
San Jose State
BERKELEY, Calif. — UC Davis beach volleyball wrapped up the Cal Classic on Saturday, Apr. 4 with their second straight win over San Jose State.
Score (Game One): UC Davis 3, San Jose State 2
Records: UC Davis 10-15, San Jose State 7-11
Score (Game Two): UC Davis 0, California 5
Records: UC Davis 10-16, California 18-7
Location: Berkeley, Calif. (Clark Kerr Sand Courts)
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| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Pioneers Post Strong Showing at
SF State and Stanford Meets
SAN FRANCISCO/STANFORD – The Cal State East Bay men's track and field team split competition between meets in San Francisco and Stanford, turning in notable performances on the track and in the field, including a top-three finish in the distance medley relay.
East Bay's distance medley relay group of Dylan Baptista, Eion Daley, Phillip Logan, and Matthew Morgon highlighted the weekend with a third-place finish, crossing the line in 10:28.69. Another Pioneer relay squad featuring Joaquin McGee, Nicolas Bawardi, Jose Garcia Chavez, and John Funderburg also competed, placing eighth in 11:02.40.
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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 6, through
Sunday, April 12, 2026
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Monday, April 6
San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 6:45 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7
San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics @ New York Yankees, 4:05 p.m.
Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8
San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 12:45 p.m.
Athletics @ New York Yankees, 4:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 9
Athletics @ New York Yankees, 10:35 p.m.
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Anaheim Ducks, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 10
San Francisco Giants @ Baltimore Orioles, 4:15 p.m.
Athletics @ New York Mets, 4:10 p.m.
Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
San Francisco Giants @ Baltimore Orioles, 4:15 p.m.
Athletics @ New York Mets, 4:10 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks, 7 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ Sporting Kansas City, 5:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC @ Tampa Bay Rowdies, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12
San Francisco Giants @ Baltimore Orioles, 10:35 a.m.
Athletics @ New York Mets, 10:40 a.m.
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers, 5:30 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers, 5:30 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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