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July 27 -- August 2, 2026
Issue No. 652
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Tracy Austin -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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I was in Los Angeles and met tennis player Tracy Austin at a sports store just after she retired in 1994. I was very much into tennis at the time and thrilled to meet her. She still remains the youngest U.S. Open women’s singles champion at 16 and the youngest player inducted into the International
Tennis Hall of Fame at 29.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Winston Churchill
November 30, 1874 -- January 24, 1965
| | Note: 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 | | |
Contents
Games
Oakland Roots SC 1, Sacramento Republic FC 3
San Jose Earthquakes 1, LA Galaxy 1
San Jose Earthquakes 0, Orlando City SC 4
San Francisco Giants 3, Los Angeles Angels 4
Features & Commentary
Hardly Trivial by T. Buff
Jeff Kent, a Star and Curmudgeon, by Bruce Macgowan
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heiter, Esq.
Open To Interpretation, by Carl Macki
Out With Crackerjacks!, by Steve Chain
Tracy Austin, from the Autograph Collction of Rich Yee
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San Francisco Giants 3
Los Angeles Angels 4
Oracle Stadium, San Francisco, CA
Sunday July 26, 2026
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The main scoreboard broadcasts San Francisco Giants former second baseman Jeff Kent being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as pitcher Keaton Winn (foreground left) watches
from the field before the game.
| San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez drives in two runs with a double in the ninth inning but the Giants fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, June 26th at Oracle Park. | Starting pitcher Carson Whisenhunt struck out seven over five innings, but suffered his first loss of the season. | Catcher Drew Cavanaugh went 2-for-2 and scored a run. | |
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello talks to media members before the game against the Los Angeles Angels
at Oracle Park.
| San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park. | |
A boat in McCovey Cove flies San Francisco Giants flags as participants in the San Francisco Marathon jog past the stadium before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park.
To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Darren Yamashita
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San Jose Earthquakes 1
LA Galaxy 1
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
Saturday, July 25, 2026
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Left centre back Reid Roberts #18 of the San Jose Earthquakes taps the ball past goalkeeper James Marcinkowski #12 of the LA Galaxy to tie the game in the 62nd minute. The San Jose Earthquakes tied LA Galaxy 1–1 in a MLS Matchday 18 game at Stanford Stadium, Stanford University on Saturday, July 25, 2026 in
Stanford, California
| Midfielder Beau Leroux #34 celebrates alongside centre back Reid Roberts #18 of the San Jose Earthquakes. Roberts’ goal in the 62nd minute equalized the match. | Goalkeeper James Marcinkowski #12 of the LA Galaxy punches away the ball in the first half. | |
Central attacking midfielder Paul Marie #3 of the San Jose Earthquakes crashes into half-left midfielder Edwin Cerrillo #6
of the LA Galaxy at the edge of the box.
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Sky divers entertain the fans prior to the match. To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Alex Ho.
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Oakland Roots SC 1
Sacramento Republic FC 3
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Saturday, July 25, 2026
| Oakland Roots FC midfielder Florian Valot scores the team's lone goal as the Roots fell 3-1 to in-state rival Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, July 25th at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. | Oakland Roots FC midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga (6) shoots against the Sacramento Republic FC during the first half. | Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh made six saves on the night. | |
Oakland Roots FC and Sacramento Republic FC players
play during the second half.
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Last week the Roots announced that they will not be playing in the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for the 2027 season.
To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Darren Yamashita
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San Jose Earthquakes 0
Orlando City SC 4
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
| Right centre back Daniel Munie #5 and midfielder Timo Werner #11 of the San Jose Earthquakes react to a missed opportunity in the first half. Orlando City SC defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 4–0, in a MLS Matchday 17 game at PayPal Park on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 in San Jose, California. | Right attacking midfielder Ousseni Bouda #7 of the San Jose Earthquakes takes a tumble in the first half after colliding with right back Griffin Dorsey #24 of the Orlando City SC. | |
Centre forward Preston Judd #19 and midfielder Beau Leroux #34 of the San Jose Earthquakes leap for a header
in the first half.
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Left attacking midfielder Timo Werner #11 of the San Jose Earthquakes pleads his case to referee Elijio Arreguin after receiving a yellow card in the first minute of stoppage
time at the end of the first half.
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Jack Skahan #16 of the San Jose Earthquakes flicks the ball towards the goal in the second half. To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Alex Ho.
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Jeff Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 as a San Francisco Giant and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen. From 1997 to 2005, he drove in
90 or more runs in a season
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Jeff Kent, a Star and
Curmudgeon
by Bruce Macgowan
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Editor's note:
The following article appeared in Sports Today,
Issue #350, on October 2, 2020. Bruce's recent articles can be found at www.ultimatesportsguide.net under 'Contributors'
Reporters who cover baseball closely will always consider Jeff Kent one of the game’s great second baseman. He played for only six seasons with the San Francisco Giants, but in those half dozen years the Giants went to World Series, won three NL West titles and contended until the final days of the season in the other three years. Kent played a huge role for the Giants during his time with the club.
Kent was probably one of the most serious athletes I’ve ever met. In some respects, he reminded me of the Giants' Will Clark. Clark was very bright and passionate, but he could be a bit prickly at times.
I mention that quality because you had to expect Kent to get a little snippy with reporters from time to time. Like Clark, Kent used a distinctive look on his face to intimidate or dismiss reporters who asked questions he thought were leading or stupid. It was a sneer but also an expression of a guy who smelled something really bad.
However, and when he wanted to, Kent could be interesting, engaging and articulate. He was usually available to talk after games but before games? It was never a good idea to ask him for an interview.
I learned my lesson the hard way in his second or third year. The Giants were still playing at Candlestick and Kent knew me from my frequent visits to his locker, with other reporters after games. We also had him on for several interviews on the Giants radio station, KNBR, so he knew I was a ‘friendly’ reporter.
On this day I walked into a near-empty Giants clubhouse a few hours before the game and Kent was one of the few players who hadn’t yet left for batting practice. I had just spent a half an hour in the visitors’ clubhouse getting some pre game feature interviews for my show later that morning and I was also hoping to get a Giants player.
Kent was standing in full uniform, with his back to me, fiddling with his bats when I asked him: “Hey Jeff, you got a few minutes? I was hoping we could talk a little baseball for my pregame show.”
Kent looked at me with that classic “Get away from me now!” kind of face and flatly told me, “I don’t do interviews before the game, sir!”
I kind of laughed, which was a mistake, but then I told him, “Hey, you know me Jeff. You don’t have to call me 'sir.'”
He then gave me a sarcastic grin and replied, “Well, what do you want me to call you, shit-head, ass-hole, or fuck-face?”
I was kind of stunned but let out a chuckle and replied, “No, actually 'sir' sounds good to me!”
“I thought so,” he grinned. “Now would you mind getting out of the way? I gotta go do some hittin’ in the cage,” and he quickly walked away.
| Kent and Bonds were not always on the same page but shared a mutual love for each of their families | |
Kent did not have the greatest relationship with his teammates. It wasn’t that they disliked the guy, he just never seemed interested in developing any friendships. I particularly noticed this when I went on frequent road trips on the team plane or rode team buses to the hotels, the airport, or the ballparks. Kent usually sat in the back of the bus by himself. He usually wore sunglasses and seemed totally disengaged from the rest of the world.
But as I said, Kent could be engaging and even friendly if the mood struck him. Back in 2001 I was covering the All-Star game in Seattle and after the home run hitting contest the day before the game, I wandered over to the baseball village outside of Safeco Field to check out the diversions which MLB had set up for fans.
As I was walking in I heard a voice behind me with that distinctive Texas twang. (Kent was NOT from Texas but he lived there and like to tell people that was where he was from.)
“What is this place anyway?” he asked me. After I told him, he replied: “Well, let’s take a look around.”
For the next 20 minutes we walked about, checking out the different exhibits and he chatted informally about his family.
Kent’s father was a stern highway patrol officer who unfortunately would rarely make time to come to Kent’s high school games.
“I would come home sometimes really excited, because I had gotten three hits in four-at-bats and I’d tell him about it. But he would then say, ‘Well, what happened in that fourth at bat?’ ”
It’s well known that Kent and Barry Bonds did NOT like each other. They got into a few scraps, once even in front of TV cameras which were trained on the Giants’ dugout during a game in San Diego.
But Kent later grew to respect Bonds. On a long preseason trip to play some exhibition games in Japan, the two men got to talking about their families and their dads. Bonds also had a difficult time with his father, Bobby, the great Giants slugger of the 1970s, so he could relate to Kent’s stories about his own stern father. Both men also really loved spending time with their kids.
I remember a line that both sometimes used as they would be leaving the park after games. “Sorry guys, I got my kids waiting outside.”
It was good to see that like Bonds, Jeff Kent once in awhile would flash his ‘soft side.’
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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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Open To Interpretation!
by Carl Macki
If "football" means a round ball, no hands, and ninety
minutes of beautiful chaos to you, Welcome! The U.S. is a country that borrowed your sport's name and slapped it on something completely different: a leather brick, shoulder pads, and a stoppage every few seconds.
Confusing? Absolutely. Charming? Also Yes!
And just to keep things interesting, basketball's been quietly taking over the world too, so now you've got three sports fighting for the word "football" and your attention.
Consider this your friendly guide to sorting them out — because a sport that bans hands, one that's basically all hands, and one that's somewhere in between, all deserve a fair shake.
Here are a few funny things about the three sports.
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* Soccer: The game where a 5'7", 160-pound guy gets bumped and reacts like he's been hit by a freight train.
* Football: The game where a 300-pound guy gets hit by a freight train and asks, "Is that all you've got?"
* Soccer: Players run 7–9 miles in a match.
* Football: Players run 7–9 yards and call a timeout.
* Soccer: 0–0 is called a tactical masterpiece.
* Basketball: 0–0 lasts about 12 seconds.
* Soccer: "We're tied 1–1!"
* Basketball: "That's a nice first minute."
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* Soccer: Fans celebrate a goal for five minutes
because they might only see one.
* Basketball: Fans celebrate for five seconds because
another basket is already coming.
* American football: Chess played by tanks.
* Soccer: Chess played by marathon runners.
* Basketball: Speed chess played by caffeinated squirrels.
* Soccer: Players wear shin guards.
* Football: Players wear enough padding to
survive re-entry from space.
* Basketball: A two-minute warning every two minutes.
* Soccer: Referees carry yellow and red cards.
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Carl Macki is a writer, graphic artist, promoter, and self-taught “vibe coder” based in southern Marin County. With a background in liberal arts and multimedia, he works quietly at the intersection of inspiration, design, community, and emerging culture. He has helped organize and support projects like poetry readings in Petaluma, Marin County’s 100 Thousand Poets for Change, and CTRC, a
computer hardware recycling nonprofit.
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Today Jeff Kent officially earned his place among baseball's elite with his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger and the 2000 National League MVP, Kent redefined offensive excellence at second base. Congratulations to Jeff Kent on this honor.
Join us at Oracle Park for the Jeff Kent Hall of Fame Celebration Saturday, August 29. Kent’s number 21 will be retired prior to Game 2 of a split doubleheader. The first 21,000 fans will receive a Jeff Kent Hall of Fame Replica Ring, presented by Farmers Insurance.
| | San Francisco Giants Bryce Eldridge versus the Los Angeles Angels, July 26, 2026. Photo by Darren Yamashita | |
Eldridge is in Hall of Fame company. What does he need to do
to stay there?
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By Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru
This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat newsletter. Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru filled in on this edition.
To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe
to get it regularly in your inbox.
However active the approaching Trade Deadline actually is, the Giants are currently operating under the assumption that they'll be losing a lot of talent in the next two weeks. But they won't be losing all of their talent. Their most critical piece may in fact be one who isn't going anywhere.
Bryce Eldridge is almost guaranteed to be in San Francisco's lineup on Aug. 3. Not out of necessity in the wake of a blockbuster but because he's more than earned his spot there.
Trades and Transactions presented by CohnReznick
• 2026 Trade Deadline: Aug. 3, 6 p.m. ET
• Latest trade buzz and rumors
• Tracking every trade
That wasn't a given, either. As of March, there remained some concerns about his viability as a big league hitter. His transition to first base hadn't gone quite as smoothly as the Giants might have hoped it would. There are many hypothetical versions of the 2026 season in which Eldridge doesn't really factor at all. Instead, the Giants needed him a little over a month into the regular season, and coming into Tuesday's action, he led the team with a 140 OPS+.
continued...
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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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18-year-old Breyson Guedez received a
$1.5 million signing bonus
| | This 2025 int'l signee is zooming up A's prospect rankings | | |
By Jesse Borek
The Athletics loved the upside of Breyson Guedez as the 2025 international signing period opened and they backed up that belief by handing him a $1.5 million signing bonus, the third-highest in their class.
But there was also a bit of risk associated -- as a teenage standout in his native Venezuela, Guedez swung at almost everything. It allowed him to hone his elite bat-to-ball skills but it led to murmurs about whether or not he’d be able to lay off wild pro hurlers (particularly those at the lower levels) and get to enough extra-base power.
Sometimes, you just trust the knack for finding the barrel.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
Guedez has done plenty of that in his stateside debut this year for Single-A Stockton, having impressed so mightily during his 53-game run in the Dominican Summer League last year (.359 average, 46 RBIs) that he skipped the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League entirely. With MLB Pipeline refreshing its Top 30 Prospects list prior to the Trade Deadline, the 18-year-old has shot up the rankings, landing at No. 8 overall.
continued....
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Allgeyer, Bufford launch Ballers to fourth straight win
Allgeyer ties game in ninth, Bufford wins it
in knockout round
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July 25, 2026
By Gareth Kwok
OAKLAND, CA – Behind a game-tying two-run homer from
Jake Allgeyer in the ninth and a walk-off homer from Cam Bufford in the knockout round, the Oakland Ballers (4-7, 26-33) defeated the Boise Hawks (6-5, 29-30) in dramatic fashion by a final score of 8-8 on Saturday night from Raimondi Park.
After Thursday's win required three knockout rounds in the home run derby tiebreaker, only one was necessary for Saturday as Bufford hit one homer to defeat Boise's Wyatt Grant, who hit zero.
A six-run second inning helped the Ballers jump out to a 6-1 lead. Jeter Ybarra hammered his league-leading 23rd homer with a solo shot to left-center. After Tristan Moore scored on a wild pitch, Brendan O'Sullivan hit a two-out, two-run homer to left center before Allgeyer launched the first of his two homers with a two-run shot down the left field line to give Oakland its biggest lead of the day.
Starting right-hander Charlie Hurley overcame a leadoff homer and a two-run third inning by Boise to deal 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts in a no-decision.
In their Raimondi Park debuts, Tyler Bates dealt 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out one and Christian Diaz escaped a first-and-second, no-out jam with a popout and a double play to hold Oakland's three-run lead after the eighth.
With Oakland ahead by three entering the ninth, Boise scored five runs on five hits to take its first lead of the game. Ethan Underwood hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Langston Burkett to put the Hawks up one. Avery Neaves added a run with an RBI single, doubling Boise's lead and stunning the Raimondi crowd.
Ybarra ended the ninth with an over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory and a strong throw to the plate to nab Ryan Recio trying to score to keep it a two-run deficit heading to the bottom of the ninth.
Boise closer Zan Rose collected the first two outs of the frame but walked Jaden Collura to prolong the game. Down to his final strike, Allgeyer blasted an inside fastball into the right-field bullpen for a game-tying two-run homer, sending the game into a knockout round home run derby tiebreaker for the second time in three days. It's the first multi-homer game of Allgeyer's professional career.
In the knockout round, Grant failed to homer in five swings, setting the stage for Bufford. It took him less than 30 seconds to hit the one necessary homer deep to left which sealed Oakland's fourth consecutive win.
The Ballers conclude their three-game home series against the Boise Hawks on Sunday, July 26. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m from Raimondi Park. Fans can tune in beginning at 12:50 p.m on the Oakland Ballers YouTube Channel and HomeTeam Network.
# # #
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A Classic!
Chef Myke's Musings are Priceless...
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Buffalo Bills' Table-Smashing
The Buffalo Bills’ table-smashing culture is a legendary fan tradition that takes place in the tailgating before the game and recent viral videos feature a massive 20-foot broken folding table monument circulating online regarding
this strange behavior.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AZIg3r0gcY8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9SXV8wlvI4
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Number 17 (Josh Allen)
If you manage to survive this sophomore tradition,
you can enjoy the custom sandwiches that have been created
to honor the team’s most notable players. There is the number 17 named for Josh Allen: Shaved flank steak, onion rings, arugula, jalapeno relish, and onion aioli on a ciabatta roll,
served in a special box.
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Or The Dawkside (Dion Dawkins): Marinated jerk chicken with mango pineapple salsa and cilantro aioli on a pretzel roll. Or if that’s not satisfying there is the Pork Knox (Dawson Knox): Pulled pork topped with in-house beer cheese, pickled jalapenos, and crispy onions on an Amoroso roll.
Appetite stimulating tale smashing where tailgating fans jump on to tables to destroy them before entering the stadium.
-- Steve Chain / Innovative Food Fanatic
| 49ers Announce 2026 Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellows | |
Jul 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan today
announced the team's 2026 Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellows – Matt Bechtel, Kyan Brumfield, Malik McMorris, Joseph Stone III and Teivis Tuioti.
- Matt Bechtel: OL
- Kyan Brumfield: WR
- Malik McMorris: LB
- Joseph Stone III: S&C
- Teivis Tuioti: DL
Bechtel, who will work with the 49ers offensive line, serves as an offensive consultant at San Marcos (CA) High School. Bechtel has nearly 30 years of coaching experience at the high school and junior college levels. Prior to his time at San Marcos, Bechtel served as head coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Damien (CA) High School (2019-24). Before his time at Damien, Bechtel was head coach at South Hills (CA) High School (2015-19), where he led the Huskies to a CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship and a perfect 10-0 regular season in 2018. Previously, Bechtel served as head coach and offensive coordinator at Chino Hills (CA) High School (2012-15), head coach at Colony (CA) High School (2010-12) and offensive coordinator at Los Osos (CA) High School (2003-10). As a player, Bechtel was a quarterback at the University of San Diego (1992-96), where he received his bachelor of arts before obtaining his master's in education from Chapman University (1997-99).
Brumfield will work with the 49ers wide receivers. He is currently in his second season as special teams coordinator at Utah Tech University. Prior to his experience at Utah Tech, Brumfield served as a running backs quality control coach at Georgia Tech (2024) and a defensive graduate assistant at Brigham Young University (2023). He played defensive back at Florida International (2022), Nebraska (2021), Texas Tech (2020) and Colgate (2017-19). Brumfield earned his bachelor's degree in educational studies from Colgate in 2020 and his master's in applied science from Nebraska in 2021. His father, Ricky Brumfield, currently serves as the special teams coordinator/cornerbacks coach at Oregon State University and has more than two decades of coaching experience at the collegiate and NFL levels.
McMorris, who will work with the 49ers linebackers, serves as special teams coordinator/tight ends coach at Diablo Valley College and co-head coach of the Diablo Valley College women's flag football team. Before his time at Diablo Valley, McMorris was a quality control graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley (2023-25), where he earned his master's degree in education. Previously, McMorris served as a defensive administrative assistant for the University of Utah football team (2021-23). McMorris was a member of both the football and track & field teams at Berkeley (2015-19), where he received his bachelor's degree in American studies. He was a fullback on the Golden Bears football team and competed in the shot put and the discus throw in track & field.
continued...
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Warriors Forward Yaxel Lendeborg Named 2026 NBA Summer
League MVP
Lendeborg Also Named To NBA All-Summer League First Team
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Golden State Warriors rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named the 2026 NBA Summer League Most Valuable Player, it was announced by the NBA. Lendeborg was also named to the 2026 All-Summer League First Team. The 6’9” forward becomes the first Warrior to be named Summer League MVP and the second to earn NBA All-Summer League First Team honors since the tournament’s inception in 2013 (Kent Bazemore – 2013).
The Warriors 11th overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, Lendeborg averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 28.3 minutes per game over the span of six contests at NBA Summer League, where the Warriors earned a mark of 5-1. Lendeborg (Michigan) became just the second player to win an NCAA National Championship and an NBA Summer League title in the same calendar year, joining Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (2021, Baylor, Sacramento Kings). The Michigan alum also earned Summer League Championship Game MVP honors, after posting a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Warriors’ 94-90 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Golden State, which won the inaugural NBA Summer League championship in 2013, became just the third franchise to win multiple NBA Summer League titles, joining the Sacramento Kings (2014, 2021) and Portland Trail Blazers (2018, 2022).
Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies), Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks), Meleek Thomas (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls) joined Lendeborg on the 2026 NBA All-Summer League First Team.
continued...
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Sharks add Trouba, Nurse to fortify defense, seek offense from Marchment
Stenberg could land significant role to support Celebrini, Smith up front
| |
By Adam Kimelman
@NHLAdamK NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
July 21, 2026
After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2026-27 regular season, which starts Sept. 29. Today, the San Jose Sharks:
2025-26 season: 39-35-8, fifth in Pacific Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key arrivals
Jacob Trouba, D: The 32-year-old signed a four-year contract July 1 and could skate on the right side of the Sharks' top defense pair this season. He scored 10 goals in 81 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season, the most he has had in a season since scoring 11 with the New York Rangers in 2021-22, and had 35 points. He also scored one goal in 12 playoff games. ... Darnell Nurse, D: The 31-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1 for defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and defenseman prospect Zachary Sharp. Nurse had 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 82 regular-season games, led the Oilers with 167 blocked shots and was first among Edmonton defensemen with 137 hits. He could play the left side on San Jose's second defense pair. ... Mason Marchment, F: The 31-year-old signed a five-year contract July 1 and should provide a secondary scoring option. He had 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 68 games with the Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets last season, after scoring 22 goals each of the previous two seasons with the Dallas Stars. ... Ivar Stenberg, F: Selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 2. The 18-year-old could have a chance to play left wing on the top line alongside Macklin Celebrini. Stenberg had 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League, the fifth-most points ever by an 18-year-old SHL player. He also had eight points (four goals, four assists) for Sweden at the 2026 IIHF World Championship and was voted one of his team's three best players. ... Michael Kesselring, D: The 26-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 17 along with a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (No. 26) for a 2026 first-round pick (No. 20) and signed a three-year contract June 29 rather than become a free agent. Injuries limited him to 34 games last season but in 2024-25 with the Utah Hockey Club, he had 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 82 games. ... Eric Comrie, G: The 31-year-old signed a two-year contract July 1 and will compete with Alex Nedeljkovic for ice time behind starter Yaroslav Askarov. He was 12-11-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in 25 games (24 starts) for the Winnipeg Jets last season.
continued...
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Centre forward Ousseni Bouda #7 of the San Jose Earthquakes is tripped up in the box. The San José Earthquakes tied LA Galaxy,
1–1, in a MLS Matchday 18 game at Stanford Stadium, Stanford University, on Saturday, July 25, 2026 in Stanford, California.
Photo and caption by Alex Ho.
| |
MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 1 LA Galaxy 1
Reid Roberts’ second-half goal allows Quakes to keep pace on points with first-place Vancouver; San Jose to send Daniel Munie to MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday before road match vs. FC Cincinnati next Saturday night
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes drew with the LA Galaxy 1-1 on Saturday night in the 105th California Clasico presented by El Camino Health in front of 43,026 fans at Stanford Stadium—the seventh-most attended game in Major League Soccer this season.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 13th minute off a counterattack when Marco Reus played Joseph Paintsil with a through ball and the Ghanaian forward slotted it home to make it 1-0. In minute 36, Jack Skahan had an opportunity to equalize when he beat his man just outside the six-yard box but he pushed the ball wide right.
San Jose equalized after intermission when in the 63rd minute, a Timo Werner free kick from the left wing bounced off Galaxy center back Justin Haak and off the crossbar. Benji Kikanović collected a shallow clearance and drilled a shot that ricocheted off defenders. Daniel Munie pushed the ball toward the far post and an opportunistic Reid Roberts converted the tap-in to make it 1-1. The Quakes had a chance for all three points in stoppage time when JT Marcinkowski fouled Ousseni Bouda in front of net and San Jose was awarded a penalty kick. However, the Galaxy goalkeeper saved Werner’s ensuing attempt from the spot and the two rivals shared the points.
Due to Vancouver’s scoreless draw with Minnesota earlier in the day, San Jose remains tied on points for first place in the Western Conference.
Next on the docket is the 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime, which will feature Munie and the MLS All-Stars against Mexico’s LIGA MX All-Stars on Wednesday, July 29, in Charlotte. Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium is slated for 5 p.m. PT as the match will be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish). Shortly after the MLS All-Star Game, the “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s California Clasico match will air that same night on KTVU Plus at
8 p.m. PT.
The Black and Blue will then continue MLS regular-season play on the road vs. FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Aug. 1. Kickoff from TQL Stadium is slated for 4:30 p.m. PT with the match to be broadcast 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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A Oakland Roots FC fan waves a flag before the game against the Sacramento Republic FC at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Photo by Darren Yamashita | |
Roots Fall 1-3 at Home to Rivals Sacramento Republic FC
WATCH!
Despite a competitive first half in what was the final edition of the NorCal rivalry matchup between Sacramento Republic FC and Oakland Roots to be held at the iconic Oakland Coliseum, Roots faltered in the second half, eventually falling 1-3 to Republic on Saturday night.
The match began with little fanfare as both sides engaged in a fierce midfield battle that limited attacking opportunities at either end.
Sacramento broke the defensive deadlock in the 19th minute of the match when a pinpoint cross from Jack Gurr into the center of the Oakland box found Jose Rodriguez Jr. on a run, splitting two defenders and depositing the service to make it 0-1.
But Oakland wasted no time in leveling the contest as a quick counter following a Republic turnover landed the ball at the feet of Florian Valot outside the box. Valot took a powerful strike from 20 yards out which found the top right twine to bring the score back to 1-1 in the 21st minute.
Following Roots’ leveler, Oakland stepped on the gas, looking hungry to find the back of the net a second time, putting together some extended pressure in the attacking third.
Despite this pressure, Sacramento began to fight their way back into the match, taking control of momentum as the first half wound to a close.
Sacramento brought this momentum into the opening portion of the second frame, but both sides began tilting the field in their favor in alternating moments as the match opened up offensively.
In the 75th minute following these back and forth shifts in momentum, Sacramento regained the lead when a corner kick service landed in a crowded Oakland box, and a through ball found Kyle Edwards with a wide open look, tapping it home to make it 1-2 Republic.
Oakland fought for an equalizer as the clock ticked towards the final whistle, but it was Edwards again who would seal it in added time for Republic when he corralled a lob pass just at the top of the box and fired a quick shot off the touch into the low left corner to make it 1-3 Sacramento.
Roots will now regroup and look forward to their next league fixture on Saturday, August 1st when Oakland plays host to visiting Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at the Oakland Coliseum at 7 PM PT.
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Match Recap: Bay FC Suffer Heartbreaker in Houston, Falls 1-0
at 2026 Halfway Point
HOUSTON (July 24, 2026) – Bay FC fell 1-0 Friday night in a heartbreaking defeat to the Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium.
90 minutes of scoreless football was dictated by defense until an unlucky deflection saw the winner cross the line for the hosts in second half stoppage time, ending Bay FC’s unbeaten streak at three matches. The match puts Bay FC at the halfway point of its 2026 season schedule, with 15 matches played and 15 to go.
“Obviously really disappointed and really frustrated with the result tonight,” said head coach Emma Coates. “Felt like the goal kind of came against the run of play, and that we conceded so late hurts, but we dust ourselves off and have another game to prepare for mid week.”
Early pressure from Houston pinned Bay FC back in its own box to open the contest. But a compact defensive shape kept opportunities from reaching goal. Bay FC broke the Dash press and nearly netted the game’s opening score moments later as midfielder Kennedy Fuller came inches from her second score with Bay FC. A quick-arriving combination in the middle of the pitch put the ball at her feet with space, but a shot from distance rattled the left post.
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SPECIAL LINKS TO BACK ISSUES
Years of Back Issues, Facebook Albums,
Autographs and Haikus
Immediately below is a link to over 350 issues of
Sports Today! which bring to life memories of Bay Area sporting events and the stories behind them. Reclaim memories of titles won and lost and championships reclaimed and slipped away.
Sports Today Links
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff | |
WOW!
Only three weeks before the preseason for
real football begins. We'll call this a preseason NFL trivia question to begin getting your mind into football!
What were the New York Jets called before
being called the Jets?
answer below...
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 194: The Argument Everyone Opposing The Protect College Sports
Act Is Making
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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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Senator Tommy Tuberville urged GOP senators this week to oppose the Protect College Sports Act, S. 4668, and instead support his own bill, the Student Athlete Act, S. 4177. Tuberville's alternative is narrow by design and focuses on limiting athletes to five consecutive years of eligibility, one penalty-free transfer, elimination of discretionary waivers, and restored enforcement authority for the NCAA. His memo frames S. 4668 as a bill that “fails to establish firm transfer and eligibility rules and instead creates a broad federal system governing nearly every aspect of college athletics,” and one that promises stability but would in practice “expand exceptions, invite litigation, increase uncertainty, and deepen federal involvement in college athletics.”
A sitting Republican senator circulating an internal whip memo against the bill his own conference's leadership has spent months negotiating is, to me, confirmation that the Protect College Sports Act, in its current form, is not close to the 60 votes required to pass the Senate, let alone the 75 that Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell would need to bring House GOP leadership from power-conference states along with them. The bill remains the Hail Mary that its sponsors keep throwing because the clock is running out. With few legislative weeks left before the midterms consume the calendar, Cruz said (as Semafor reported) that he does not “think we have another year to waste,” and that he wants a bill on President Trump's desk before the season starts. And then, yesterday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he does not expect the bill will go to a full Senate vote before recess.
I am going to try to avoid rehashing what I have already discussed in this newsletter when it comes to the Protect College Sports Act. Instead, what I think is worth examining is that the SEC and Big Ten, Sen. Tuberville, 5-time Olympian Katie Uhlaender, and the labor advocates working the Hill against the bill are all making a version of the identical argument. None of them is overtly objecting to federal involvement in college sports as a category. Instead, each is objecting to the same specific choice of handing the NCAA and the College Sports Commission (CSC) sweeping legal immunity without building in the accountability that immunity is supposed to be traded for. Bravo!
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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Four-Wheel and Two-Wheel Champions
Reunite at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
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The Cars are the Stars, but the
Drivers Tell the Stories
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MONTEREY, Calif., July 24, 2026 — The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is widely recognized for attracting some of the finest historic cars in the world. Adding to the prestige this year is the largest number of professional and former professional drivers, and former World Champion MotoGP riders who will be racing or participating in exhibition laps.
“There are currently more than two dozen confirmed drivers who will be racing or guiding exhibition cars through their paces and meeting guests this year, and more are contacting us every day,” says Mel Harder, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “It is shaping up to be the largest gathering of former professional drivers and championship riders to participate in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.”
The IROC (International Race of Champions) Unser Family Cup group alone welcomes seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson, who will be challenged by Zak Brown, Kurt Busch, Bruce Canepa, Dario Franchitti, Bobby Labonte, Patrick Long, Scott Pruett, Danny Sullivan, and Tomy Drissi, who returns to defend his 2025 win. Al Unser Jr. also returns to represent the Unser family, which is one of America’s most famous racing names. While they are competing on track, their off-track activities include a variety of appearances and an autograph session.
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Sears Point Challenge at
Sonoma Raceway 2026
This is our signature event, with over 250 entries, spectators, car club displays, vintage aircraft flyovers and more. This is a full three-day event, with practice and some qualifying on the optional Friday session. Since the first Charity Challenge in 2004 our charity rides program has raised over $1M for Sonoma Children's Charities. Racers can offer to give rides to spectators and fans of vintage racing while helping raise funds for local children’s charities. A highlight of the weekend is our Saturday night social where we come together and celebrate the shared passion of racing. In addition to our standard race groups, we will also have the Hoosier 2.5 B/C sedan challenge and Club Wheelhouse Classic Cup group as guests.
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TEST YOUR BEST AT THE 2026 ROLEX
BIG BOAT SERIES
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After a long summer of tuning up the boat, solidifying the team and locking in race maneuvers, sailors are now preparing to test their best at Rolex Big Boat Series on September 16-20, 2026.
“All the competitors in the Express 37 fleet, they bring their best—the best crew, the best sails, everything’s the best and everyone has their A game, and that’s really exciting for us,” says Michael Laport, owner and skipper of Express 37 Golden Moon.
A relatively new owner in a relatively old fleet—Express 37s have been lining up at this event for over 30 years—this year will be Laport’s third Rolex Big Boat Series at the helm. He just missed the podium last year, so sustaining an excellent performance over four days of racing is what he, co-owner Mike Spitz, and their team have been focused on in the lead-up to the race.
“Big Boat is the place that it all comes together and we can test our mettle against people who’ve been sailing Express 37s and sailing the Bay longer than we have, and we see that as a good measure of our competitiveness.”
If you race an Express 37, or any of the other boats eligible to enter, it’s not too late to turn your tiller toward San Francisco Bay and register for the 2026 Rolex Big Boat Series on September
16-20.
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| | Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff | | |
New York Titans
Franchise Origin: Founded in 1960 as an original
member of the American Football League (AFL).
Named the Titans of New York by first owner
Harry Wismer to sound bigger and stronger
than the NFL's New York Giants.
Name Change: Purchased out of money trouble
in 1963 by a new group led by Sonny Werblin,
and renamed the New York Jets in 1963.
Jets rhymed with Mets and fit a modern image
near local airports. The New York Jets have appeared
in the Super Bowl once, with Joe Namath defeating
the Baltimore Colts in a shocking upset.
Wikipedia
Go Red Sox!
Go Celtics!
| | Jaan Kononov Joins Cal Women’s Tennis | | |
In the first addition to the Cal coaching staff under Maggie Kane, The Stacy Savides Director of Women's Tennis announced Thursday the hiring of Jaan Kononov as an assistant coach. Kononov was an assistant coach at Michigan the past two seasons after stints at Pepperdine, Minnesota and Grand Canyon.
continued...
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Reveno ’89 Accepts Head Coaching Position at Brown
Reveno has spent the last two seasons as Stanford’s James C. Gaither Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach and
General Manager
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Earning the opportunity to lead his own program for the second time, Brown Athletics has announced the hiring of Eric Reveno ’89 as its new head basketball coach. Reveno finished his second season under Kyle Smith, Stanford’s Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball, in 2025-26, as the James C. Gaither Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach and General Manager.
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Calzadiaz, Fernandes, Albanese
Sign MLB Deals
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Three former Spartans, Tyler Albanese, Alex Fernandes and Kyle Calzadiaz have signed as undrafted free agents in the MLB. Albanese signed with the Cleveland Guardians, Fernandes signed with the Athletics and Calzadiaz signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
continued...
| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
WSOC | First Week in the Books; Gaels Return to Campus Ahead of 2026 Season
MORAGA, Calf. - After a 12-win campaign in 2025, the Saint Mary's women's soccer team returned to campus for its first week of training ahead of the 2026 season. The Gaels put together a historic season a year ago which included a program record seven West Coast Conference victories and a second place finish for their best WCC finish in over two decades.
continued...
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Cross Country Announces
2026 Schedule
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco men's and women's cross country programs and Head Coach Jordan Carpenter have announced the schedule for the upcoming 2026 season.
"We're excited about the opportunities this schedule provides," Carpenter said. "It challenges our team against some of the best programs in the country, prepares us for championship racing, and gives our student-athletes the chance to compete at a high level throughout the season. We will head into the season with high expectations while returning a number of key contributors from a year ago. We are excited to see the continued growth of both programs."
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Volleyball Earns 7th Straight AVCA Team Academic Award
The Santa Clara University women's volleyball team collected its seventh consecutive AVCA Team Academic Award Thursday.
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Santa Clara University women's volleyball program earned its seventh consecutive Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association Thursday, capping a successful 2025-26 year both on the court and in the classroom.
continued...
| | University of Pacific Tigers | | Tennis Programs Excel Off the Court in Yearly ITA Academic Recognitions | | |
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific men's and women's tennis programs each had their best academic year in at least two decades as recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) when both teams had a plethora of student-athletes named scholar athletes and were subsequently named ITA All-Academic Teams by the association during their 2026 award announcements on Monday.
continued...
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Mountain West Announces 2027 Credit Union 1 Men's & Women's Basketball Championships Brackets
LAS VEGAS - The Mountain West announced the 2027 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Basketball Championships presented by Palms Casino Resort brackets on Thursday, featuring all 10 men's and women's teams competing at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas from Sunday, March 7, to Saturday, March 13.
continued...
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Cal State University East
Bay Pioneers
| |
Mika Sayfurahman and Oscar Blomqvist Earn CCAA Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award
HAYWARD, Calif. — Cal State East Bay student-athletes Mika Sayfurahman of the women's soccer team and Oscar Blomqvist of the men's golf team have been selected as the university's recipients of the 2025-26 Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) announced.
The Dr. Hal Charnofsky Memorial Award is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from each of the CCAA's 12 member institutions who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics and service to their campus community.
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."
Center for Continuing Education, Monterey, CA is a State Bar of California MCLE approved Provider, #8450
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
| | |
Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, July 27, through
Sunday, August 2, 2026
| | |
Monday, July 27
San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox, 6:40 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28
San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers @ Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29
San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 12:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers @ Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, 7:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City, SC, 7:30 pm.
Golden State Valkyries @ Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.
Bay FC vs. Gotham FC, 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 30
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m.
Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers @ Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, July 31
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Red Pocket Mobiles, 6:35 p.m.
Saturday, August 1
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 5:40 p.m.
Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Red Pocket Mobiles, 4:35 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Cincinnati, 4:30 p.m.
Bay FC vs. Seattle Reign FC, 5:45 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 2
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Red Pocket Mobiles, 1:05 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo, 5:30 p.m.
| | |
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. Dave Newhouse (dec.)
Software Engineer / Sports Today! Editor: Medhavee Upadhyaya
Technology Advisors: Silas Everett, Gaurav Chaulagain
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
| | |
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. | | |
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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