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August 24 -- August 30, 2026
Issue No. 656
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Rickey Henderson -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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I attended an Oakland A’s Fan Fest to build my autograph collection and went home with several. Among the attendees was Ricky Henderson. I waited in his line with this 8x10 photo I purchased at a local sports card shop. I was able to shake his hand before he signed my photo.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Nadia Comaneci
November 12, 1961 --
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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
Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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San Francisco 49ers destroy Los Angeles Chargers,
41 - 17, Thursday, August 20, 2026
Are the Niners that good or are the Chargers already on the "Road to Nowhere?" Both are true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHlHW9N7lbg (15:02)
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com/aboutus
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San Francisco Giants 7
Colorado Rockies 13
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Sunday, August 16, 2026
| Prior to the Hello Kitty Funko Pop! giveaway game on Sunday, August 13, considered one of the most popular special giveaways of the season, Hello Kitty took the mound to work on her three-finger fast ball. | |
Giants third baseman Buddy Kennedy singled on a line drive
to left field in the second inning. (Kennedy finished
1 for 3 on the afternoon.)
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During a Giants pitching change, San Francisco Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge lent support to catcher
Drew Cavanaugh.
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The defensive play of the game was provided by Colorado Rockies' right fielder Zac Veen who hauled in a long drive by Jung Hoo Lee in the third inning.
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DJ Umami kept the crowd energized before the game
with homage to Hello Kitty.
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leanna Cruz, professionally known as DJ Umami, is a Filipina- American deejay who has held residencies playing for the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors. She is a founding member of The Peaches Crew, an all female-identified group of deejays from the San Francisco Bay Area. As deejaying is dominated by men, DJ Umami is noted not only as an accomplished woman in the field but also as a cultural influencer in the Bay Area. (Credit: Wikipedia)
To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Rich Yee.
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by Andy Dolich
Over the past few days while channel surfing in the sports TV
atmosphere, I was astounded by the number of new Leagues and Championships that I had never heard of. Have You?
Animal Racing Leagues & Events
GBCR -- Great Bahamian Crab Racing
NTL -- National Thoroughbred League
LDRL -- Lucky Dog Racing League
WDSC -- World Dog Surfing Championships
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WDSC -- World Dog Surfing Championships
Photo by Rich Yee. For a photo album, click above or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net
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Stick & Ball Sports
NBHL -- National Ball Hockey League
BBPL -- Banana Ball Professional League
MLC -- Major League Cricket
TGL -- TMRW Golf League
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MLC -- Major League Cricket
LA Knight Rider captain Jason Holder lifts the Cognizant MLC Trophy as Champions LA Knight Riders celebrate during the championship match of the Cognizant Major League Cricket season 4 between LA Knight Rider and Washington Freedom held at the Oakland Coliseum. Photo credit:
Major League Cricket
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Ladies Only
AUSL -- Athletes Unlimited Softball League
PSL -- Professional Softball League
PWHL -- Professional Women’s Hockey League
WPBL -- Women’s Professional Baseball League
PFFL -- Pro Flag Football League
PFL -- Professional Fighters League
LOVB -- League One Volleyball
WNFC -- Women’s National Football Conference
WER -- Women’s Elite Rugby
WLL -- Women’s Lacrosse League
UBB -- Unrivaled Basketball
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LOVB -- League One Volleyball
The league is owned by League One Volleyball (LOVB), a volleyball body founded in 2020 and held its first season in 2025.
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ESPN Ocho Loco
This year The Ocho is set to introduce a dizzying deluge of never-before-seen competitions from creative showdowns to pure athletic absurdity. Highlights include:
- Combat Archery All Stars
- ISSA Housekeeping Games
- Broom Hockey Championship
- Paddle Smash World Championship
- Fire Department Racing
- Death Diving League
- Bronco Off Course, Desert Scramble
- Optima Moto Rodeo
- Blaster Tag Invitational
- Brewskee-Ball: Legends of the Lane
- Meadowlands Racetrack Wiener Dog Derby
- United Grid League – New York Wolves vs Tampa Bay Brigade
- The Goodyear Blimp Tri in the Sky
- Red Bull Soapbox Race Denver
- Bare Knuckle Fighting Ice Wars
- Pro Circuit Heads-Up Invitational
- NHRL Robot Fighting
- Grass Drag Racing
- FlingGolf LFC 5
- Bike Polo championships
- Broom hockey championship
- PaddleSmash championship
- National Beach Tennis Invitational
- Big League Wiffleball World Series
- Turf Wars Kickball All-Stars
- Roofball U.S. Open
- Housekeeping Games* American Popdarts League Championship
- Pop -a-Shot National Championship
- Slippery Stairs Primetime Chaos Tour
- World Juggling Federation Championships
- World Series of Armwrestling
- National Bubble Gum Blowing Championship
- Major League Table TenniS
- USA Jigsaw Nationals
- BullShooter Invitational (electronic darts)
- U.S. Ultimate (Disc) Championships
- World Axe and Knife Catching Bare Handed Championship- (Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.)
- Blimp racing:
- Nok Hockey Championship
- World Championships of Foosball
- American Cornhole League World Championships
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As Tom Hanks famously said in A League of Their Own when he saw this list: “Are You Crying? Are You Crying? There’s No Crying in Baseball!.
There’s only sobbing when you try and make sense of this madness!"
These maniacs are truly in A League of their Own!
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# # #
Andy Dolich operates Dolich & Associates, a sports consultancy, in Los Altos. A local resident, Dolich has more than 50 years of experience as an executive in professional sports, working with the Oakland A's, San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, and hockey and soccer teams. Dolich is also the co-author of Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and from Triumph Books. For earlier articles by Andy Dolich published in Sports Today! click HERE.
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San Jose Earthquakes 1
Minnesota United FC 5
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Saturday, August 22, 2026
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The San Jose Earthquakes quickly got on the board with a converted penalty kick by forward Timo Werner in the fourth minute, but Minnesota United FC scored five straight goals to defeat the Quakes, 5-1, at PayPal Park on Saturday,
August 22nd.
| Newly-signed goalkeeper Angus Gunn reacts after allowing a goal in the first half. The Quakes are winless (1 draw, 5 losses) since signing Scotland's World Cup goalkeeper. | Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (left) follows through on a shot against Minnesota United FC defender Morris Duggan (right) during the first half at PayPal Park. | San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris (right) is fouled by Minnesota United FC defender Anthony Markanich (13) during the first half at PayPal Park. | Earthquakes midfielder Ian Harkes (left) and defender Vitor Costa (top right) check on the condition of forward Timo Werner (bottom right) during the second half against Minnesota United FC at PayPal Park. | San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (7) shoots against Minnesota United FC defender Morris Duggan (right) during the second half at PayPal Park. | San Jose Earthquakes fans wave flags during the second half against Minnesota United FC at PayPal Park. | |
A baby walking onto the pitch while the game was being played was a welcome distraction for Quakes fans from the disappointing result. To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Darren Yamashita.
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For journeyman Giants reliever, his best pitching coach might just
be his wife
By Maria Guardado
Giants left-hander Matt Gage is the epitome of a journeyman.
The 33-year-old reliever was selected by the Giants in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., but he never reached the Majors in his first stint with the club. He climbed as high as Triple-A Sacramento before he was released in July 2018, setting him on a winding path that would take him through six other big league organizations -- the Mets, D-backs, Blue Jays, Astros, Dodgers and Tigers -- two independent leagues and stops in Mexico.
Gage’s long trek eventually led him back to the Giants, who re-signed him to a Minor League deal last July. He ended up making his long-awaited San Francisco debut on July 18, 2025 -- 11 years after he was first drafted by the club.
There were plenty of moments along the way when Gage thought about quitting. But he kept going, in part because of the constant support and encouragement he received from his wife, Paige, a former standout softball player at Siena who helped him make a mechanical change that ultimately revived his career.
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
| | For Shea Langeliers, card-collecting has become a fulfilling hobby. (Seen above on May 20, 2026 versus the New York Yankees. Photo by Darren Yamashita.) | |
2 suitcases full of trading cards?! Langeliers rips packs like he rips HRs
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by Martín Gallegos
This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WEST SACRAMENTO – Looking for ways to fight boredom this offseason back home in Texas, Shea Langeliers innocently ordered a pack of Marvel collectible trading cards.
Langeliers is a big Marvel fan, so he figured it would be fun to see if he could pull a card or two of his favorite superheroes. Less than a year later, that card-collecting has turned into a full-blown hobby.
Just how vast is that collection now?
“Two suitcases full,” Langeliers said with a laugh. “So, a decent amount.”
Langeliers is one of many ballplayers who have become avid card collectors in recent years. Marvel trading cards were just the gateway. Soon after, the Athletics’ All-Star catcher began dabbling in other types of cards.
“Then I started getting into sports,” Langeliers said. “Football first. Then I started baseball, and eventually I started collecting my own cards.”
Langeliers has a personal collection of his own cards. As far as baseball cards, there are several he has pulled that he takes great pride in. His most prized find so far is a rare card of Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes.
“My best card, I’ve got a Topps 2024 Dynasty Paul Skenes rookie card out of 10 signed,” Langeliers said. “It’s, like, a relic card, too. It’s awesome.”
For those unfamiliar with card collector lingo, “out of 10” means there are only 10 total copies of that exact card that exist around the world.
continued....
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Ballers Fam,
2027 season tickets are officially on sale.
Lock in your seat at Raimondi Park for the entire season, with more flexibility when life gets in the way.
Your seat stays yours. Your tickets stay flexible.
Can’t make a game? Give us 72-hour notice and bank your ticket for later. Then use those banked tickets to bring friends and family to another game.
Same seat. More flexibility. More ways to experience Ballers baseball.
| |
Raimondi Park is home. Lock in your spot for 2027.
Let’s Go Oakland!
-- Ballers
| |
A Classic -- Enjoy!
Chef Myke's Musings are Priceless...
| |
Chef Myke with an avid fan. (Enjoy the video above.)
Photo by Ann Cooke.
| |
Big Red Sandwich
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City offers a Super Bowl level of food varieties commensurate with its fame at winning football games, newly added additions to the Arrowhead Stadium menu include:
Big Red Sandwich: Sliced prime black Angus brisket and
coffee-brined pulled pork on a toasted brioche bun
with pickles and BBQ sauce
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Bacon Cheeseburger Fries
Bacon Cheeseburger Fries: Crinkle-cut fries topped with
ground beef, chopped pickles, bacon, diced tomatoes, white cheese sauce and drizzles of fry sauce.
-- Steve Chain / Innovative Food Fanatic
|
What the 49ers and Chargers Had to Say After Preseason Week 2
| |
Brooke Evans -- Digital Editor
The San Francisco 49ers continued their 2026 preseason slate with a 41-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Here's what both teams had to say following the contest:
Niners Liners
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on wide receiver Jacob Cowing's 83-yard punt return touchdown:
"I thought it was huge... He's always shown us his talent since he's been here and he's been able to string together a couple of healthy weeks. That's a huge play in the game."
Shanahan on running back Kaelon Black's performance:
"I was really happy with him. Seeing him for his first practice on Tuesday versus the Chargers, you could see it a little bit and thought nothing changed today. He ran real physical. We'd love to keep him in there a little bit longer, but with being his second day back, we were smart with him."
Shanahan on running back Sincere McCormick's scoring run:
"I thought his run was great. It was blocked well, but then he's the one who finished it. We had an explosive run like that to distance the pile. I was happy with all the guys."
Shanahan on the 49ers quarterbacks' outings:
"We moved the ball decent. We would've liked to go down and score (with QB Brock Purdy in)... We ended up having 12 plays. He (Purdy) converted three third downs, which was big. We took him out after that. QB Mac Jones came in. We didn't really want him to go into the third (quarter). Missed a couple throws, also had a touchdown — that was a pretty good throw... But then QB Adrian Martinez came in. I know he had those two picks, second one I thought was unfortunate. He was trying to make a play down the sidelines, but just got beat to it."
Shanahan on wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling blocking development:
"I think he's getting better at it. He's got the mentality to do it, he's smart enough to do it, he's committed to doing it, he's got the size to do it. But now it's about different situations, it's not just about blocking ownership. It's how do you handle defensive ends at times, linebackers. I don't know how he did today in that aspect, he's been getting better in practice. But, I fully expect him to be good this season."
Shanahan on cornerback Jack Jones making plays:
"I think it's a step forward, we're trying to do that in practice each week. He had a couple big plays in practice on Tuesday, and we pretty much shut them down today, so pretty proud of those guys. Jack made some huge plays (today) and in practice too, making a bunch of plays on in-breaking routes and not getting beat deep."
Shanahan on Jones' pass breakup in the end zone:
"Jack made a great play on the ball. It seemed like every time they went to Jack, he knocked the ball down. He just continued to do what he'd been doing throughout the game."
Shanahan on the competition at left guard:
"It's going to go down to the wire. It seemed like both of those guys did good today. Hopefully we have some good news with (OL Austen Pleasants' injury). I know he got good reps today at tackle and at guard, but the other guys got to play a lot, too, which will be good for those guys."
Shanahan on whether the left guard competition could continue into the regular season:
"Possibly. The guys who are battling haven't had a consistent three weeks to do it, with OL Carver Willis coming back after missing those first two weeks. OL Robert Jones is out. So, all those guys are in the battle, including OL Connor Colby. He's been getting a lot of reps there too. All those guys are in the battle, we've got to pick one for Week 1, so hopefully one of them will separate themselves and make (the decision) easier on us. Week 1 is just Week 1, the (competition) never stops."
Shanahan on whether Cowing has established himself as the primary punt returner:
"Not yet, but I like that he's making it (the decision) a little easier."
continued...
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Insights on Warriors
2026-27 Schedule
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The Warriors will begin the 2026-27 regular season in Los Angeles with a matchup against the Lakers on Oct. 21 before their home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on Oct. 23. The Dubs will conclude the regular season hosting the Utah Jazz on April 11.
Read below for more insights and notes for the Warriors' upcoming schedule.
-
The Warriors have recorded a franchise-record 606 consecutive home sellouts, in both the regular season and playoffs (with an allowed full-capacity crowd of 18,064)… The current streak ranks second among active streaks, trailing only Miami (683) and sixth all-time, trailing the Chicago Bulls’ fifth-longest streak by four (610).
-
Golden State will compete in Group West C in the Emirates NBA Cup, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs. In Group Play, the Warriors will host the Lakers on October 30, visit San Antonio on November 13, play Sacramento on November 25 and conclude Group Play at Portland on November 27. Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds will be on December 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11 and teams that did not qualify for that round will play regular season games on December 6, 7 and 10.
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The Warriors will host the Denver Nuggets on Christmas Day, Golden State's 14th-consecutive appearance on the holiday (second-longest active streak behind the Lakers’ 28) and 16th Christmas game in the last 17 years… The Warriors are making their 36th all-time appearance on Christmas (16-19 record) and will meet the Nuggets on the holiday for the second time (2023 at Denver).
continued...
Photo: (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Sharks to host 2026 Rookie Faceoff at Tech CU Arena and Sharks Ice
at San Jose
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August 17, 2026
The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) announced today that the organization will host the 2026 Rookie Faceoff at Tech CU Arena and Sharks Ice at San Jose. This is the second time the franchise will host the tournament, the first of which occurred in 2022 when the Sharks debuted Tech CU, the home of the San Jose Barracuda. Last season, the Sharks participated in the Golden State Faceoff in Anaheim against the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.
The 2026 Rookie Faceoff will take place from Sept. 12-15 and feature top prospects from the Sharks, Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Sept. 12 and 13 will feature all six teams in action across three games, and on Sept. 15, only Utah and Los Angeles will play in a third game.
The full game schedule for the 2026 Rookie Faceoff is as follows, all times Pacific. Rink locations for the games are still to be determined.
Saturday, September 12
Colorado vs. Anaheim – 1 p.m.
Utah vs. Vegas – 3 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. San Jose – 5 p.m.
Sunday, September 13
Vegas vs Colorado – 1 p.m.
Anaheim vs. Los Angeles – 3 p.m.
San Jose vs. Utah – 5 p.m.
Monday, September 14
No games scheduled
Tuesday, September 15
Utah vs. Los Angeles – 1 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now here. Other details surrounding the tournament, including streaming information, and team rosters will be announced at a later date.
continued...
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Game Preview: Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx - 8/24/26
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 10:15 PM
Kalyb Champion
The Valkyries have lost their first nine matchups against the Lynx and look to end the streak when they have their 10th head-to-head meeting in Minnesota on Monday. The Lynx will enter Monday’s game on a six-game winning streak and owning the WNBA’s best record. The Valkyries head to Minnesota having lost consecutive games for the first time since around the All-Star break, when they were defeated by the Washington Mystics right before the break on July 20 and by the Phoenix Mercury in the first game back on July 29.
Valkyries at Lynx
Monday, Aug. 24 | Tipoff: 5 p.m.
WATCH: USA, KPIX (Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento)
LISTEN: The Audacy App
continued...
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San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd (19) and Minnesota United FC defender Michael Boxall (15) battle for the ball during the second half at PayPal Park. Photo by Darren Yamashita.
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MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 1,
Minnesota United FC 5
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes fell 5-1 to Minnesota United FC on Saturday night at PayPal Park in Major League Soccer regular-season play.
The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Timo Werner’s blast from the center edge of the 18-yard box resulted in a Jefferson Diaz handball and penalty kick awarded to San Jose. Werner subsequently converted from the spot to make it 1-0 for the Black and Blue. MNUFC equalized six minutes later in their attacking end when Anthony Markanich took the ball on the left edge of the box and fed Joaquín Pereyra, who turned and fired a low rabona for the far post that San Jose goalkeeper Angus Gunn got a piece of but could not keep from rolling into the net. The visitors pulled ahead in minute 40 when Kyle Duncan charged down the right half-space in transition and passed it to the top of the box for Kelvin Yeboah, who successfully belted a shot from long range to make it 2-1. Minnesota added another goal in minute 44 when Pereyra and Owen Gene played a one-two and the latter pushed a through ball into the box for a streaking Yeboah, who chipped it over Gunn for a 3-1 advantage to close the half.
After intermission, the Quakes pushed forward to get back in the game. In minute 49, Reid Roberts played Ousseni Bouda in the box but his left-footed shot for the far post was parried away by a diving Drake Callender. However, in the 65th minute, a turnover in the Quakes’ own end led to MNUFC’s Marcus Caldeira collecting the ball and slotting it home to make it 4-1. The Loons tacked on one more goal in the 86th minute when a Pereyra corner kick found Mauricio Gonzalez, whose leaping header resulted in the final 5-1 margin.
continued...
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Roots Back to Winning Ways
in 1-0 Road Victory Over
San Antonio FC
WATCH!
Oakland got back in the win column on Saturday night in Texas, dominating most of the match and being rewarded in the final moments in a 1-0 victory over San Antonio FC.
Roots began the match looking to set the tempo early, playing a high press that effectively led to a number of San Antonio turnovers in the early phase of play.
When Roots had possession they looked to push the ball aggressively into the final third of the pitch and attack the box with urgency.
This early aggression nearly cost Roots however as a quick counterattack near the 7th minute found some open space in behind the Oakland defense requiring a duo of stellar saves from Kendall McIntosh to keep the match level.
San Antonio began to ratchet up their own intensity about halfway into the first frame, finding some touches of their own in the attacking third and challenging Roots’ backline with consistency for the first time in the contest.
Both teams continued to scrap for the remainder of the first half with Oakland earning the bulk of the scoring opportunities, but neither could find the back of the net as the opening frame ended with the scoreboard still showing zeros.
After controlling the pitch for the vast majority of the match, Oakland finally broke through in the dying embers of regulation time after a late foul gave Roots a man advantage when Lucio Berrón picked up his second yellow card and a subsequent red card.
Just moments later, Oakland was awarded a penalty kick after Peter Wilson was fouled from behind by the San Antonio keeper. Wilson made him pay by depositing his 11th goal of the 2026 campaign to deliver his side a 1-0 lead at the death that earned Oakland all three points in the match.
The victory snaps an eight game winless streak for Oakland and makes it two straight victories versus San Antonio FC.
Roots will look to build a winning streak back at home at the Oakland Coliseum in their next match, next Saturday, August 29th when Oakland plays host to visiting Orange County SC at 5 PM PT.
continued..
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Match Recap:
Bay FC 1, Houston Dash 0
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Aug. 23, 2026) – Bay FC bested the Houston Dash 1-0 in a thriller Sunday at PayPal Park. After 89 minutes deadlocked, forward Cristiana Girelli netted the winner for Bay FC off a free kick that took a rebound off the post, snapping Bay FC’s winless streak and earning the club’s sixth clean sheet on the year. Girelli’s score was the first NWSL goal for the legendary Italian striker and the latest score by Bay FC since 2024.
“I think we needed today, if I’m honest, three points on the board, clean sheet,” said head coach Emma Coates.” I think the latest goal we’ve scored this season. Sometimes attacks win games, sometimes defense and goalkeepers win games. And I just want to shout out Silky today. I thought she was, I thought she was world class for us.”
A back and forth first half saw both clubs earn opportunities, although neither would convert prior to the halftime whistle. Bay FC nearly broke through just 12 minutes into the match, when forward Karlie Lema pounced on a missed touch by a Houston defender and got into a one-on-one faceoff with Houston’s goalkeeper, but saw her close-range effort saved. The club threatened again moments later, but forward Alex Pfeiffer couldn’t corral her first touch on a strong entry pass by Lema atop the penalty box.
continued...
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Immediately below is a link to over 655 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.
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|
Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 198: What Should Be Done About NIL Agents And Why The Solution Isn't Washington D.C. Intervening With A Fee Cap
| | |
by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
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The Athletic ran a piece this week by Adam Kilgore and Zak Keefer that I have been waiting for someone to write for a while. It follows Jacob Piasecki and Francesco Tricomi of A&P Sports Agency, an Austin outfit that started in 2021 with, in Piasecki's words, "no f---ing dollar signs" and now allegedly negotiates north of $30 million a year in player contracts. The piece is worth your time in full, but the sentence that stuck with me came from Piasecki describing the entire enterprise, both college football and the representation business that has grown up around it, as "discretionary." There is no real rulebook, he said, so everybody operates at their own discretion.
That's true, and that's the "problem" in the space if you believe there is one, though maybe not in the way most people reading it will assume.
I have spent most of the last 5 years drafting, revising, and negotiating representation agreements, marketing deals, and revenue share contracts for players, and I talk to agents on both sides of the deals every week. Some are excellent while some have no business calling themselves agents at all. The Athletic piece captures the resentment that career NFL and NBA agents feel toward the twenty-somethings who have shown up since 2021 and started closing eight-figure portal negotiations, and I understand where that resentment comes from. But there's a distinction between NIL agents who are business savvy and undercutting the old guard on price and approach, and those calling themselves agents who are unqualified, unregistered, and actively hurting the players who trust them. Only the second one is actually a problem that needs solving.
Let's start with the fee question, because it is the one Congress keeps fixating on. The Protect College Sports Act, which, at least prior to the Senate taking a recess, has SEC and Big Ten backing and which I have spent a fair amount of time on this year, would cap agent fees at 5% across the board. I understand, in certain situations, why people get upset with agents charging more than that. For instance, Boston College's Bill O'Brien gave the example in the article of a player paying an agent 10-15% on a hundred-thousand-dollar deal that the agent did essentially nothing to secure, and I have seen versions of that story myself. It happens, no doubt. But a blanket federal cap treats every agent engagement as the same transaction, and that is certainly not the case. Negotiating a revenue share number with a general manager who already wants the player is genuinely different work than sourcing, pitching, and closing an actual marketing deal with a brand that has no obligation to sign anyone. Real marketing deals are hard to find, harder to close, and more often than not net the agent very little in absolute dollars even at a healthy percentage. 15-20% on a marketing deal is not gouging and it's closer to fair value for work that frequently does not pay off at all. Collapse that into a 5% ceiling alongside straightforward portal negotiations, and you have not protected the player. What you've done is made it uneconomical for a good agent to bother chasing marketing opportunities in the first place. That is a net loss for the athlete.
continued...
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
| | |
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrates a Spectacular Week of Racing History at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
| | Phenomenal crowds, legendary racers and cars, the inaugural Bonhams auction and first-ever Hypercar Parade highlight an unforgettable Monterey Car Week(Wayne Rainey). Photo by Marc Miramontez | |
MONTEREY, Calif., August 19, 2026 — The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion delivered an unforgettable celebration of motorsports history at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, bringing phenomenal crowds, fiercely competitive racing and an extraordinary collection of legendary cars and drivers together for four action-packed days during Monterey Car Week.
From priceless machines representing generations of international motorsports to celebrated champions returning to competition, the Reunion once again demonstrated why it remains one of the world’s premier historic racing events. This year’s celebration of Japanese Icons of Motorsport brought an added dimension to the event, showcasing the innovation, performance and lasting influence of Japanese manufacturers and racers on the global motorsports stage.
The paddock and grandstands were filled throughout the event as fans enjoyed the rare opportunity to see hundreds of historically significant race cars not simply displayed, but driven at speed around the iconic 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit.
Competition remained at the heart of the Reunion, with drivers battling throughout the weekend across an exceptional variety of racing eras and disciplines. From early sports and touring cars to Trans-Am, Can-Am, IMSA GTP and FIA Group C machinery, each race offered fans a window into a different chapter of motorsports history.
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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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Cal Contingent Set For
Senior Worlds
Current, Former Bears To Represent Multiple Nations
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California women's rowing will be well represented by both current and former Golden Bears at the 2026 World Rowing Championships. World champions will be crowned at the historic Bosbaan rowing course in Amsterdam from August 24-30.
Rising junior Olivia Roth will compete for Switzerland in the women's pair. This will be Roth's second-consecutive appearance at senior worlds after competing in the Swiss quadruple sculls entry. Roth has made an impression in her first two seasons in Berkeley, most recently helping Cal's varsity eight win bronze at the 2026 ACC Championships and finish second in the petite final at the NCAA Championship. Other highlights from the season for the V8+ included a pair of race wins over No. 5 Washington at the Big Ten Invitational and victories over No. 12 Rutgers, No. 17 Michigan and No. 20 UCLA at the same event. Roth was awarded CRCA Second Team All-America and All-ACC Second Team honors.
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2026 Fall Camp: Week 4 Recap
Stanford closes out its 2026 fall camp
STANFORD, Calif. — Preparation for the 2026 Stanford football season is over. The Cardinal finished its training camp on Saturday, with the final of 20 training camp practices wrapping up inside Stanford Stadium.
“Finish” was the theme all week from Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football Tavita Pritchard. That was on display all week, including the last camp practice. Both sides of the ball brought that finish to the final practice. The offense found multiple ways to move the football. The defense created a big turnover and made stops. Special teams looked sharp.
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Spartans Fall to UC Santa Barbara in Season Opener
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Ronin Axelson made five saves in goal to lead the San José State men’s soccer team (0-1-0, 0-0-0 MW) in a 3-0 loss to UC Santa Barbara (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Big West) Friday night at Meredith Field at Harder Stadium in the Spartans’ season opener.
San José State held the Gauchos scoreless through the opening half hour before the Gauchos broke through in the 32nd minute. In the 43rd minute, Cameron Cook was shown a red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, leaving the Spartans to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men. UCSB capitalized just over a minute later, scoring off a corner kick with 1:09 remaining in the half, sending SJSU into the break trailing 2-0.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
VB | Gaels Round Out 2026 Roster with Additions of Kiana Johnson, Mikayla Haner and Caitlin Prior
MORAGA, Calif. — With Saint Mary's Volleyball just a week out from playing their season opening match, the Gaels' roster is in full form for the 2026 campaign. Joining the group to finalize that roster are incoming true freshmen Kiana Johnson, Mikayla Haner and Caitlin Prior to shape out a group of 18 Gaels ready to make some noise in the 2026 season.
Kiana Johnson is a 5-6 defensive specialist out of Portland, Oregon. Prepping at Oregon high school volleyball powerhouse Jesuit, Johnson helped her squad to three state titles. As a sophomore and junior at Jesuit, Johnson was a key defensive specialist, finishing second on the team in digs in both of those seasons, and earning second team All-Metro league honors as a junior. In her senior season with the Crusaders, Johnson earned the starting libero role, and led her squad with 259 digs (3.5 digs/set) to go along with 72 assists and 20 aces, earning 6A first team All-State honors. Johnson finished out her prep career with 510 digs (2.3 digs/set) and 105 aces.
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Women's Golf Releases
2026-27 Schedule
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Head Coach Sara Doell and the University of San Francisco women's golf team have officially announced the schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
"Our team has a fantastic opportunity to excel in the competitive schedule we have created," Doell said. This year is special because we have a young yet very talented team that I know will represent the Dons well as we strive to reach our athletic and academic goals."
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photo by Christina Leung
| | Women's Soccer Ties Pitt 1-1 | | |
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara women's soccer played to a 1-1 draw with the Pitt on Sunday at Stevens Stadium.
The Broncos (1-0-3) recorded 15 shots, four of which were on target, and drew eight corners.
Santa Clara started the first half with a strong offensive push, registering multiple shots on goal, including attempts by Kennedy Schoennauer and Adee Goulden. Despite these efforts, the Panthers (2-1-1) defense, anchored by goalie Elli Johnson, held firm. Ally Harrison made key saves for the Broncos, notably stopping a bottom-center shot by Adi Bianchin in the 14th minute. The half concluded scoreless at 0-0.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | | Borisz Kasa-Gal Headlines Twice Defending Champs Men’s Water Polo on Preseason Team | | |
STOCKTON, Calif. – Reigning West Coast Conference All-Freshman and Second Team All-WCC selection Borisz Kasa-Gal was picked a member of the conference's preseason team when the preseason awards were released Friday morning as the twice defending regular season champions were predicted fourth in the poll.
The rising sophomore was second on the team last season scoring 57 goals, leading all returning Tigers from a season ago. Kasa-Gal burst onto the scene with 17 goals in his first three collegiate games, highlighted by a career high seven goals against Long Island in his second appearance. The Budapest native was a near constant in the Pacific attack last season, netting at least one goal in 21 of 23 matches. Dating back to the 2021 season, Kasa-Gal's 57 goals are the fourth most single season in program history and the second most by a freshman in that span.
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POSITION PREVIEW: DEFENSIVE LEADERS RETURN FOR UC DAVIS
DAVIS, Calif. — Following a 2025 season that included another deep FCS postseason run, the UC Davis defense enters 2026 with established leaders returning throughout the unit.
The Aggies bring back multiple All-America and All-Big Sky honorees, including the program's career tackles leader, while several experienced players are positioned to take on expanded roles this fall.
DEFENSIVE LINE: The Aggies return significant experience along the defensive front, including starters Rayne Mayo Jr. and Trent Carrade.
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Cal State University East
Bay Pioneers
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Jessica Clinton Named Cal State East Bay Women's Soccer Head Coach
HAYWARD, Calif. — August 19th, 2026 — Cal State East Bay Director of Athletics Allison Kern has announced the appointment of Jessica Clinton as the new head coach of the Pioneers women's soccer program.
Clinton becomes the sixth head coach in program history and brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience, player development expertise, and a proven record of building competitive programs to the position.
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Watch any program on CCE's YouTube channel, or, for attorneys, earn MCLE credits online, economically, with "The Best in Topics and Talent."
Center for Continuing Education, Monterey, CA is a State Bar of California MCLE approved Provider, #8450
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, August 24, through
Sunday, August 30, 2026
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Monday, August 24
San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins, 6:40 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries @ Minnesota Lynx, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25
San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Missoula PaddleHeads, 6:35 p.m.
Wednesday, August 26
San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds, 12:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins, 6:05 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Missoula PaddleHeads, 6:35 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries @ Connecticut Sun, 4 p.m.
Thursday, August 27
San Francisco 49ers @ Las Vegas Raiders, 5 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:45 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Missoula PaddleHeads, 6:35 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries @ New York Liberty, 5 p.m.
Friday, August 28
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:15 p.m.
Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Long Beach Coast, 6:35 p.m.
Saturday, August 29
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:05 p.m.
Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Long Beach Coast, 4:35 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC vs. Orange County SC, 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 30
Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
Oakland Ballers vs. Long Beach Coast, 1:05 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries @ Portland Fire, 4 p.m.
Bay FC @ Washington Spirit, 9:30 a.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Associate Publisher: Ann Cooke
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Sales: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Lydia Chain, Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young. Dave Newhouse (dec.)
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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. | | |
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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