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February 3 -- February 9, 2025
Issue No. 575
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GOLF POTPOURRI
The Pebble Beach
Pro-Am
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I was in Carmel on Wednesday to meet two friends from San Francisco at our favorite restaurant, Grasing's, in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea (Highly Recommended!). We all agreed, the usual Pebble Beach PGA Golf Tournament Pizazz was not in the air. The faces on tourists and regulars alike reflected: "Where's Bill Murray? Where are the Celebs?" The answer? Some yoyo PGA Executives had decided - "NO CELEBS FOR YOU!" Just amateurs paired with the pros, "and NO humor or levity!"
On Friday, I checked with Grasing's for their assessment of the situation, and it was not exactly upbeat about how this change affected the general vibe or the usual large sized crowds in town. Mixed with charisma-challenged pros and Snooze-Patrol leader Jim Nantz on television, it was double bogeys all weekend.
The decision-makers need to give us what has worked for golf fans for years -- the CELEBRITY PRO-AM!
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertamoselle
Marketing Director, Sports Today
Lucky Day!
Before the creation of Levi Stadium in 2014, fans, vendors and patrons were free to wander the area outside of Candlestick Park in advance of San Francisco 49ers games. On one such early afternoon, my colleague and I were busy sharing current issues of the Ultimate Sports Guide to whomever showed interest.
While promoting our iconic magazine we were approached by a gentleman eager to share his photographic skills for the opportunity to be seen by a greater audience. Little did we know that meeting Rich Yee would be a gift of huge value for today, 11 years later, Mr. Yee has captured sports action with an eye unparalleled in the industry. Adding to Rich’s photographic credits is his extensive collection of autographs from famous individuals, not just sports stars!
We are grateful to Rich for the connection made that day and for his continued contributions to the success of the Ultimate Sports Guide and Sports Today.
Ann Cooke
Sports Today
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Contents
Games
Cal Bears (WBkB) 84, Pittsburgh Panthers 53
Cal Bears (WBkB) 52, North Carolina Tar Heels 65
Golden State Warriors 114, Utah Jazz 103
Saint Mary's Gaels (MBkB) 62, Gonzaga Bulldogs 58
Features & Commentary
49ers, Domino Lit Up That Super Bowl, by Dave Newhouse
Doak Walker, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Last Week Started Off Badly, by Howard Pearlstein
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Rickey Henderson Celebration of Life, by Darren Yamashita
TGL -- Are You Serious?, by Robert Moselle
Organizations
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A's
Bay Area Falcons
Bay Area Panthers
Bay FC
Cal Bears
Cal State University East Bay
Golden State Warriors
Oakland Ballers
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul SC
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Nighthawks
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
SF City
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
UC Davis Aggies
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna
Seca
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Rickey Henderson
Celebration of Life
Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
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Bash Brother Jose Canseco paying homage to the "Man of Steal" at the Celebration of Life event at the Oakland Arena.
Photo by Andy Dolich
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One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Fats Domino sold more than 100 million records. Shy and modest, Fats made a significant contribution to the rock and roll genre. Elvis Presley declared Domino a "huge influence on me when I started out" and when they first met in 1959, described him as
"the real king of rock 'n' roll."
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49ers, Domino
Lit Up That
Super Bowl
by Dave Newhouse
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Another NFL season, another Super Bowl. Only this one has historic significance as the Kansas City Chiefs seek a record third consecutive Super Bowl victory — a Threepeat — against the Philadelphia Eagles.
I’ve seen my share of Super Bowls, but with Sunday’s game in New Orleans, it makes me think of a special moment there when I got to interview one of my heroes.
Not Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Bart Starr or Roger Staubach, though I've interviewed these four pro football legends. No, I mean someone who was equally impactful.
Fats Domino.
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If you're blanking on that name, then you’re likely unaware of a major conversion turning point in American music, back in the 1950s.
Early that decade, such sappy songs as “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?’’ ranked high on the charts. Then came that momentous conversion, when rock and roll merged with rhythm and blues, changing the whole pop music scene.
We had Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bill Haley and the Comets competing with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and, yes, Fats Domino for the country’s music ear.
But, to me, the beat of that decade came with Fats sitting and singing at the piano, pounding away on such hits as “Blueberry Hill”, “Ain’t That A Shame”, “Blue Monday”, and “I’m Walking To New Orleans”, his hometown by the way. He might not have been the most famous rhythm and blues artist — Chuck Berry was huge! — but Fats was the most productive in terms of volume.
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He certainly had my attention, for I had “BERYHIL” as a license plate on my BLUE automobile, hoping that observers would put the two together. I did receive honks of recognition.
Well, this particular Super Bowl occurred Jan. 29, 1990, San Francisco facing Denver. Fats performed three hours before kickoff in the New Orleans Convention Center, preceded by The Jordanaires, Elvis’ first backup group, and Dion (of the Belmonts) DiMucci.
Somewhere along the way, I had made contact with Bob Jordan, a music promoter who lived in New Orleans, and knew Fats, and had agreed with my request to meet Fats in person. I hadn’t ever been introduced to Vernon, but he told me he looked like Phil Silvers of the old “Sergeant Bilko” television show — bald head and wearing glasses.
Vernon even got my wife and I into this private concert by meeting us at the door. The Jordanaires opened the show before Dion got things swinging by singing his hits “Runaround Sue” and “I’m A Wanderer”. Then came the main attraction, The Fat Man, and he didn’t disappoint, banging out a number of his hits.
I’ve always felt that Fats captured the rhythm of the ‘50s better than other artists, partly because he could really pound the piano, but his uplifting lyrics also made you smile. ‘Hello, Josephine, How Do You Do….” you get the picture.
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Before Fats launched into his 33-minute set of 19 songs, shortening a bunch of them, Vernon instructed me to take the escalator up to a dressing room, where Fats would be waiting for me. Arriving, I met an unnamed musician whom Fats obviously was helping out financially. The musician was in charge of Fats’ jewelry attache case, containing the many rings he wore at the keyboard.
“Let me have a little scotch,” Fats ordered the other man.
Fats then told me to ask questions while he was getting ready. I began with his health.
“I got my checkup,” he said. “I’m doing fine.”
What inspires him musically, since he hadn’t showed signs at 62 of slowing down.
“I love to play more than anything in the world,” he said with a smile. "The older you get, you can still produce good. I try to make each set better than the last one."
But even as an inaugural member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he lacked the same panache as Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Did that bother him?
“I’m selling records,” he responded. "I’m satisfied the way it went down.”
One-hundred million records sold, and his fans still loved him.
“They must do,” he said. ”I sure love them.”
And that’s when Fats was called down to the stage where that love manifested itself with each of his treasured songs. Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr., young or old, could still hold a crowd.
The 49ers won that Super Bowl handily, 55-10. But I wouldn’t be flying home until Tuesday, which meant I had to write my Tuesday column for the Oakland Tribune on Monday. Searching for an appropriate column lead, it came to me suddenly:
“The Super Bowl doesn’t start until the fat man sings."
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Dave Newhouse's journalism career spans more than half a century, including 45 years at the Oakland Tribune before his retirement in November 2011. Newhouse is the author of 19 books. His most recent book, Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and from Triumph Books. Dave grew up in Menlo Park, graduated from San Jose State, and has radio and television experience, in addition to his work as an award-winning sportswriter and columnist. For earlier articles by Dave published in Sports Today, click HERE.
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Golden State Warriors 114
Utah Jazz 103
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
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Warriors Brandin Podziemski netted 20 points in 32 minutes on the floor as the Golden State Warrior upended the visiting Utah Jazz on Tuesday, January 28 at Chase Center. Photo by Rich Yee.
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The Warriors were without key players Stephen Curry (bilateral knee tendinitis) and Draymond Green. Photo by Rich Yee.
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Warriors Kyle Anderson controlled his own loose ball.
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Saint Mary's Gaels 62
Gonzaga Bulldogs 58
University Credit Union Pavilion, Moraga, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
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Saint Mary's Gaels guard Mikey Lewis scored 16 points off of the bench to lead the Gaels to a 62-58 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs, at UCU Pavilion on Saturday, February 1st.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Center Harry Wessels made two free throws with 50 seconds left to take the lead, then blocked this shot by Gonzaga forward Graham Ike to preserve the lead with 29 seconds to go.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Cal Bears 84
Pittsburgh Panthers 53
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Sunday, February 2, 2025
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Cal Bears guard Lulu Twidale had a team-high 17 points as the 19th-ranked Bears bounced back from their first home loss of the season with an 84-53 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday, February 2nd, at Haas Pavilion. Caption and
photo by Darren Yamashita.
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TGL presented by SoFi is an innovative golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR fusing advanced tech and live action
in prime time
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TGL --
Are You Serious?
by Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
No matter how many times sports media tells us how wonderful the new TGL ("Tomorrow's Golf League") is, I call it a pathetic attempt at monetization of Tiger Woods and a way to keep him relevant for hard-core fans, since he can no longer play competitively in 18-hole, outdoor tournaments.
TGL is a golf league created by TMRW Sports, a venture formed by sports executive Mike McCarley and professional golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in partnership with the PGA Tour. Numerous professional athletes are initial investors, and the "course" is the SoFi Center, an indoor venue in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
To me, my first impression was that it was a bunch of suburbanites in an over-sized garage playing computerized golf, with greens which could be mechanically undulated, synthetic grass for fairways, and lots of make believe competitive small talk. The only real golf was Tiger's penalty for a shot-clock violation on his putt, and his usual pout as he walked off "the green."
I needed a dose of authenticity, so I flipped over to some other ESPN action: "The Bull Shooter Invitational Shootout" (pro darts), "The Wiffle Ball Championship" and "Turf Wars, the Adult Kickball Championship." Keepin' it real.
Back to TGL, according to McIlroy the biggest issue with TGL is the bunkers. “So in the arena, as the night goes on and say the humidity drops in there, they have to water the sand quite a lot to keep the moisture in it to keep it — so, like, they only get to water it before the game is played, but once we get in there, it starts to dry up,” McIlroy said Tuesday during his pre-tournament interview for the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. “So, the bunker shot I hit last night, yeah, it felt like my club was going through flour instead of going through sand." Flour Power? Watch it, Rory! Those millionaire athlete investors might get upset.
In other PGA "advancements," the tour is mulling its first big move to improve pace of play by allowing players to use distance-measuring devices during competition. When combined with the snub of fans who stand outdoors at Pebble Beach and other tournaments and continuous changes in technology (equipment, balls, binoculars), and despite the media's intense promotion, TGL will do more damage to the PGA than LIV. Why present four-day,
four-round tournaments played outdoors, on real grass, with real bunkers, water hazards, wind, rain, intense competition and
spectators, when it's so much easier to produce a faux-event in a television studio without all that "other stuff"?
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com
Marketing Director, Sports Today
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Warriors Announce 2024 Black History Month Celebrations
Activations Scheduled Throughout February To Highlight, Honor And Celebrate Black History With Excellence
SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors have announced celebrations for Black History Month, which includes a variety of activations aimed at honoring the contributions of Black history and uplifting Black voices.
Upcoming Warriors Black History Month activations include:
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February 3: Black History Month Game – The Warriors will tip off Black History Month with a celebration to honor Black history and elevate Black voices as they take on the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. The night will feature player content, a Divine Nine performance presented by HBCU Night, and a full building Black History Month t-shirt giveaway created in collaboration with FISLL.
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February 5: Skills Matter – Twenty students ages 14-18 from The Mentoring Center will participate in a mental health development course at Preservation Park in Oakland from 4 to 6 p.m. The session is aimed at addressing the mental health stigmas that exist in Black communities and equipping the participants with the tools to seek help when needed. In collaboration with Golden State Entertainment (GSE), Bay Area artist Rexx Life Raj will also join the conversation to share his story and advice on overcoming mental health challenges.
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February 25: African American Heritage Night – On Tuesday, February 25, the Warriors will host African American Heritage Night, a celebration of cultural heritage with a spotlight on the contributions of Black communities. The game will feature a resource fair with local Black businesses, celebratory performances by the Warriors Dance Team, and recognition of Fredrika Newton, activist and head of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, as Impact Warrior.
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February 27: Laurel Elementary School Read-In – Volunteers will spend the day at Laurel Elementary School reading literary works from Black authors to emphasize the importance of literacy within the Black community.
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www.warriors.com
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Cal Bears 52
North Carolina Tar Heels 65
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Thursday, January 30, 2025
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Cal Bears guard Ioanna Krimili scored 20 points as the 19th-ranked Bears lost their first home game of the season, 65-52, to the 15th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels at Haas Pavilion on Thursday, January 30th. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | |
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Graduate student Michelle Onyiah scored 10 points in the first period, finishing with 14 points before exiting the game in the fourth quarter due to a leg cramp. Caption and photo
by Darren Yamashita.
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If you enjoy our free publication, a
contribution to help defray costs
would be appreciated.
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Thanks to the following generous donors! | |
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A. Nonymous
Elisabeth (Betty) C.
Steve Chain
Harvey Cohen
Richard Cross -- Founder / San Francisco Nighthawks
Andy Dolich
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Robert Flammia
Bill & Nona Hool
Sheila Jordan
Arif Khatib
Mitchell Kim
David Larson
Ann McNaughton
Timothy Maroney
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Dave Newhouse
Timothy Palacios
James Reynolds
Ross & Vicki Robinson
Chloe Satterlee
Selina Satterlee
Robert Scheer
Narda Zacchino
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Attend the Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour 2025, presented by Experience Scottsdale -- next stop is Oracle Park on Saturday, March 8
The Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour 2025, presented by Experience Scottsdale, is a free tour that includes a series of stops across Northern California. Current and former Giants players, coaches, broadcasters and Lou Seal will caravan to meet fans in their local communities to sign autographs, participate in Q&A sessions, distribute merchandise and more.
Attend in San Francisco next Saturday. Admission is free, claim your tickets now.
The tour will conclude with an Open House at Oracle Park on Saturday, March 8, providing fans with access to exclusive ballpark locations, including the clubhouse, broadcast booth and dugout. Meet-and-greets and autograph opportunities with Giants alumni and Lou Seal will be available - in addition to photo opportunities with the World Series trophies. Plus, enjoy the Giants Spring Training game in Scottsdale via broadcast on the scoreboard during the event.
Full details on locations, dates, timing and players and coaches scheduled to attend are available at sfgiants.com/fanfest.
Free tickets are required for all FanFest Tour stops
and the Open House.
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www.sfgiants.com
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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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Wanna be a Baller?
Here’s your chance. Signs up are officially open for the 2025 Oakland Ballers Open Tryouts. Last year, 110 players attended the workout and 3 of them were signed for Spring Training by the B’s, including Kelsie Whitmore, who became the first-ever woman to start in a Pioneer League game.
Aspiring players will have an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a Ballers’ coaching staff and leadership team that helped 4 players get signed to MLB organizations in their inaugural season.
The tryouts are scheduled to take place on Saturday March 8th, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM PST at historic Raimondi Park. Prospective players eager to seize this golden opportunity can secure their spot by signing up online here.
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www.oaklandballers.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1.29.2025
Oakland, CA - Oakland Roots SC announce the signing of forward Peter Wilson ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. Wilson was born in Liberia and has represented his country at the senior national level 16 times, scoring twice.
“Peter is a very prolific striker,” said Oakland Roots Head Coach Gavin Glinton. “He has represented his country and shown he knows how to score across different levels and on multiple different continents. He is a tireless worker and makes life difficult for opposition defenders.”
Wilson most recently played for Jerv in Norway, following a stint with Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus. He was also part of the Moldovan league-winning team with FC Sheriff Tiraspol in 2021.
Welcome to Oakland, Peter.
Full 2025 Schedule
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Earthquakes Hire Luchi Gonzalez as Academy Director
Former Quakes head coach, player returns to San Jose with proven track record in youth development; During previous Academy Director role at FC Dallas, 18 youth players eventually earned USMNT senior caps
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has hired Luchi Gonzalez as Academy Director. Gonzalez will oversee all aspects of the Quakes Academy, which currently features teams from the Under-14 through Under-18 levels in MLS NEXT, Major League Soccer’s platform for youth player development in North America.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Luchi back to the club,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “He has a proven track record as an Academy Director with the number of U.S. Men’s National Team players developed under his watch. He has great organizational skills and prides himself on his ability to develop the staff around him, and has the ability to connect with players and families. I’m eager to see him apply his expertise in this space and take the Quakes Academy from an already exceptional level to an elite one.”
Gonzalez, 44, joined the FC Dallas Academy to coach the U-16 and U-18 levels (2012-15) before rising to prominence as Academy Director (2016-18), where he oversaw the most successful youth program in the United States. During that span, the club won four U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championships (U-16 and U-18 twice each), the 2016 Dallas Cup U-19 Super Group and made two appearances in the Generation adidas Cup finals.
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www.sjearthquakes.com
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WELCOME TO BAY FC,
KELLI HUBLY!
Bay FC is proud to welcome Kelli Hubly to the club. Hubly is a two-time NWSL champion defender and played collegiately at Kentucky and DePaul University.
“She has the championship mentality that we are looking for and we feel she will fit right into this environment and help make our club better.” said head coach Albertin Montoya.
READ ANNOUNCEMENT>>
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THE BAY FOR LA ONLINE AUCTION
The 6 Bay Area professional teams and the Bay Area Host Committee have come together for an online auction and fundraiser.
From exclusive memorabilia to unique experiences, the items up for auction offer something truly special. The funds will go directly to helping provide relief to those affected by the devastating wildfires.
BID NOW>>
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Last Week Started Off Badly
by Howard Pearlstein
Old men are like old cars -- some problems show up here and there. Oil leaks, shock absorbers not working. Me? My knee wobbly, toes painful. Not complaining. I never complain about that if for no other reason than because in the 1960s, it changed my name from Private to Mister.
Just setting the scene, that I really needed something good and the evening news wasn’t helping. You don’t have to be old to know how you feel when your foot or your knee or both suddenly wonk out and you walk around the house as if you’re 93 years old, shuffling, wondering if it’s time to sell the house and go live in one of those old people’s places, some petri dish for STD’s.
So I was down for the night. Checked the DVR settings and saw it recorded the Dubs playing OKC. Oh great. I mean they actually beat the Jazz the night before, which I’d missed, and had no idea if the Jazz were any good. My general attitude that “there ain’t no Jazz in Utah” has more to do with the music traditionally played in drinking establishments. But it was a win. OKC was first in the west at 34 and 8, while the Dubs cheered wins that put them at 500.
I watched with a sort of existential optimism, hoping for the probably impossible, willing to accept whatever.
It started out with the Thunder taking the lead, but something was different.
Draymond and JK were still out, but Podz was back and the starting five were moving fast, in synch, smooth as a dance – “swing your partner, take your shot, make that three and smile a lot” -- everyone into everyone else, points and assists and rebounds and even steals raining like manna, and wow.
OK, Gilgeous-Alexander was incredible. There was no stopping him. He was moving in and out, sliding like a snake through defenses, scoring from mid or long, every layup successful. Made me think maybe that’s what it was like to play against Steph not so long ago, and maybe who and what JK was becoming with a couple more years and a lot of minutes. There was no stopping him, but the Dubs held the rest of the Thunder to just a tad more than his 52 points.
And – mirable dictu! The Dubs held on and won – 116 to 109 -- beat the best in the West, right up there as close to the Ideal as if they were best friends, side-by-side on courtside seats.
They fell down against the Suns on Friday, having done the equivalent of “All in” in the game currently called “Poker.” Frankly, in the first half of the Thunder game, Steph looked as if he would/should have been held out if this game weren’t so important. Because it was, and they established their excellence in it, still there but not always found.
Meanwhile, I would like to raise the issue of that stupid court-long outline of what might be the Golden Gate Bridge and asking them to PLEASE get rid of it. Aside from being graceless and ugly, it adds a fair amount of peripheral vision confusion.
Neurologically, it’s just optical static. More lines on the floor make the important ones less prominent.
I don’t know if that dimwitted addition has anything to do with the increase in out-of-bound turnover steps, but it sure isn’t helping, and it even makes it harder to follow the game while watching it on tv.
Just some kind of “WE ARE SAN FRANCISCO” PR overkill.
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Howard Pearlstein has been a few places and done a few things.
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Doak Walker -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee | |
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I met Doak Walker (37) at a sports collector show many years ago as I was attracted to the many vintage photos on his table.
I chatted and found out that he played college football for SMU, won the Heisman Trophy in 1948, played for the Detroit Lions from 1950-1955 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. The Doak Walker Award, named after him, is given annually to the top college running back.
Rich Yee, Sports Today Photographer
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 117: Time For State Legislatures To Get Back On The NIL Bandwagon | |
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
The State of Connecticut is considering a bill that would allow athletes enrolled at institutions of higher education in the state to earn compensation through an endorsement contract or a revenue-sharing agreement directly with such institution, or an entity acting on behalf of such institution, provided the institution adopts one or more policies allowing endorsement contracts or revenue-sharing agreements with athletes and the athletes comply with such policy or policies.
Every state that currently has its legislature in session should consider similar legislation.
As I wrote in Vol. 115, Judge Wilken could reject the House v. NCAA settlement on or around April 7, 2025 (when she has scheduled a hearing on final approval of the settlement) or kick the can and choose not to rule. Either decision would subject many athletes' revenue-sharing agreements to be voided.
However, I am negotiating a clause into many revenue-sharing agreements that essentially states that the agreement is still valid and binding on the parties if the state in which the institution is based modifies its laws to allow for such direct payments from schools to players. In such a circumstance, it should not matter whether Judge Wilken gives her final blessing to the House settlement or whether it is appealed; the schools should be required to make such payments (assuming the contracts do not also require modifications to NCAA rules).
States and lawyers can take proactive measures on behalf of their athlete clients to ensure the smoothest process in the future, which is important when the landscape is as uncertain as this NIL space.
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Dan Gurney’s 1961 Chevrolet Impala Debuts as Pace Car for Dan Gurney
Saloon Car Trophy Race at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Few would call American racing hero Dan Gurney subtle when he entered a slightly modified stock 1961 Chevy Impala to race against smaller displacement cars at the British Saloon Car Championship at Silverstone. Now, 63 years later and under the rightful ownership of his son Justin Gurney, this original Impala will be driven by Justin as the pace car for the aptly named Dan Gurney Saloon Car Trophy race at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Aug. 13-16 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
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www.weathertechraceway.com
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Get Ready to Hit The Gas: Sonoma Raceway’s 2025 Drag Racing Schedule is Here!
SONOMA, Calif. (January 29, 2025) – Buckle up, drag racing fans! Sonoma Raceway is ready to bring the heat with another year of full-throttle action for the 2025 Sonoma Drags season.
Kicking off in March, the 37th season of Sonoma Drags returns with seven drag racing events on Wednesday nights, held most months through October. These nights are the perfect opportunity for drivers to put the pedal to the metal on Sonoma Raceway’s legendary quarter-mile drag strip. Open to any street-legal vehicle that passes a basic safety inspection, the track welcomes everything from high-performance muscle cars to the family minivan. There’s no judgement here – just pure, unfiltered fun and speed.
The ever-popular Top The Cops® program also returns in 2025, giving high school students the chance to drag race local law enforcement, competing in full uniform in their official vehicles, on the same drag strip as the top professional racing series for a unique and friendly showdown. It’s all about fostering respect, safety, and a shared love of speed – on the track, not the streets.
Of course, the crown jewel of the drag racing season is the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event with more than 22,000 horsepower set to rattle the wine country grapevines on July 25-27. The fastest drivers in the world will descend on Sonoma Raceway for three full days of record-breaking runs and head-to-head battles.
For fans of grassroots competition, the schedule also features three Bracket Drags events throughout the year, where drivers test their skill, consistency and nerve in high-stakes, point-based matchups.
Whether you’re behind the wheel or cheering from the stands, Sonoma Drags is your ticket to an adrenaline-filled mid-week escape. Racing starts at just $60 for advanced registration or purchase at the gate, $20 to race with a high school ID, $20 for spectators at the gate, and kids 12 and under are free, making it the perfect family outing.
For more information, the full schedule or to register in advance, visit SonomaRaceway.com or call (800) 870-RACE [7223].
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www.sonomaraceway.com
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If you enjoy our free publication, a
contribution to help defray costs
would be appreciated.
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Team photo of Chicken Pax at Beach Worlds Masters Ultimate in Portimao, Portugal. October 2024. | |
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Team photo of Relics at Worlds Masters in Irvine, CA.
November 2024
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Team photo of Analisa’s team, Cali Roll, at an invitational tournament in Santa Barbara, CA. January 2025 | |
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Ioanna Krimili nailed four 3-pointers to become Cal's all-time
single-season leader.
No. 15 North Carolina Outlasts
No. 19 Cal
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Reniya Kelly scored 16 points and No. 15 North Carolina pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat No. 19 California 65-52 on Thursday, spoiling a banner night for the Golden Bears' Ioanna Krimili. It marked Cal's first home loss of the season.
Kelly scored eight in the final period to help the Tar Heels (19-4, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) outscore the Golden Bears (18-4, 6-3) by 11.
Krimili hit four 3-pointers to set a school record for a single season with her 66th. It was also the 403rd of her career - making her the 17th woman to top 400 in NCAA history.
North Carolina took a 47-45 lead into the fourth quarter, but Kelly and Maria Gakdeng both scored four in a 13-4 run to begin the period.
Alyssa Ustby finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. Gakdeng totaled nine points and 13 rebounds. Lanie Grant scored 10 off the bench.
Krimili scored 20 to lead Cal, which is still off to its best start in 12 seasons. The Bears were coming off their first regular-season sweep of Stanford since the 1985-86 season. Ugonne Onyiah scored 14 on 6-for-7 shooting.
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Photo: Matthew Smith / KLC fotos
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Stanford in the NFL
Championship Round
Three Cardinal advance to Super Bowl
JUSTIN REID'S Kansas City Chiefs are in position to make history as the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Reid, the Chiefs’ starting strong safety, has been a fixture in the team’s championship run, which continues with Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on
February 9.
Reid is among three Stanford alums on Super Bowl rosters, along with Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee and defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV.
Justin Reid played a key role on the crucial play in Kansas City’s 32-29 victory over visiting Buffalo on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. The Bills were seeking to tie or go ahead in the waning minutes while facing a fourth-and-5 on their own 47 when quarterback Josh Allen went back to pass and faced a heavy rush from a blitzing Reid and others. Allen’s rushed deep throw went through the arms of a diving Dalton Kincaid, turning the ball over with 1:54 left and the Chiefs ran out the clock.
Reid had five tackles, including four solo, and a tackle for loss in the game. Reid dropped receiver Khalil Shakir for a three-yard loss in the second quarter after a short pass from Allen. Reid was in on 72 of Kansas City’s 73 defensive snaps, and four on special teams.
Reid is among 25 players on the roster who have been part of the Chiefs' past two Super Bowl victories.
In the NFC Championship Game, Washington starting tight end Zach Ertz had a game-high 11 receptions on 16 targets for a game-high 104 yards in the Commanders’ 55-23 loss at Philadelphia.
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Sjostrand Sets School Record on First Day of Stan Scott Invite
LUBBOCK, Texas – Emilia Sjostrand finished first in the Women's Long Jump, setting a new SJSU record, while Katharina Graman, and Simone Johnson both finished in the top five while leading San José State Track & Field on the first day of competition at the Stan Scott Invitational and Multis hosted by Texas Tech on Friday, Jan. 31, from Sports Performance Center.
- Sjostrand competing in the Women’s Long Jump took first place with a personal best mark of 6.59m (21-7 ½).
- Sjostrand broke her own SJSU All-Time indoor record for Women’s Long Jump which was previously 6.50m (21' 4”) set at last year’s Mountain West Championships.
- Sjostrand’s mark is currently good for fifth in the nation on the Div. 1 indoor qualifying list.
- Graman competing in the Women’s Long Jump finished in third place with a mark of 6.01m (19-8 ¾).
- Johnson competing in the Women’s Long Jump would finish in fifth place with a 5.96m (19-6 ¾).
- SJSU’s Women’s Long Jump squad currently ranks sixth in the national event squad rankings.
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Sky Hagan competing in the Women’s 60m Hurdles Final finished in second place with a time of 8.16 seconds.
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Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
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Ashton Hardaway: 9 pts (SMC Career-High), 3-5 from three
(SMC Career-High)
MBB | Gaels Use 30-0 Run to Best Broncos in Santa Clara, 67-54
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The nation's leading road win streak has moved to 15, as the Saint Mary's Gaels (19-3, 9-0 WCC) bested the Santa Clara Broncos (14-9, 6-4 WCC) 67-54 in Santa Clara this evening. The Gaels trailed by two with 3:14 in the first half before going on a 30-0 run spanning nearly 13 minutes to pull away, and while the Broncos found their stride late, it was too little, too late, as Saint Mary's ultimately earned the double-digit victory. Now at 9-0 in the conference, the Gaels continue to hold a two game stranglehold on first place in the WCC at the halfway mark of conference play.
Saint Mary's defense shined in the first half, limiting the Broncos to just 10 points over the first 13 minutes of play, establishing a double digit 20-10 lead. Santa Clara, however, came storming back, stringing together solid interior scoring possessions to go on a 14-2 run to take a two point lead. The Gaels were able to curtail that Bronco momentum heading into the break, scoring the final two buckets of the half to take a two point lead into the break. Ashton Hardaway buried a couple of threes in the first half to lead the way, while Paulius Murauskas and Harry Wessels combined for nine points and 10 boards in the opening stanza.
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SMC Athletics/ Emily Smith
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Dons Succumb Late to Lions at Home
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (10-11, 7-5 WCC) dropped a West Coast Conference decision to LMU (9-11 3-9 WCC), falling 73-68 Thursday evening at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
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Holding LMU to without a field goal through the first three minutes of the opening quarter, San Francisco jumped ahead, 6-1, following two free throws from Emma Trawally Porta at 7:42.
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After Naudia Evans knocked down a mid-range jumper, trimming the Lions' deficit to 6-3, Freja Werth kickstarted an 8-2 scoring run with a three-pointer as the Dons pushed their lead to nine, 14-5, at the 5:08 mark.
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The Dons continued to build their margin during the remainder of the first quarter, reaching double-digits at 3:17, 18-7, after Cami Fulcher knocked down two free throws.
- Finishing the quarter strong, San Francisco scored five of the final seven points as Mia Vuksic connected on a three-pointer with 27 seconds left to give the Dons a 23-12 advantage.
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The momentum continued to be in the Dons' favor at the start of the second quarter, as a 6-0 run from Werth and Emma Trawally Porta gave the green and gold a 29-12 lead at 6:05.
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Christina Leung
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Jalen Williams Named 2025
NBA All-Star
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Oklahoma City Thunder starting guard/forward and former Santa Clara Bronco Jalen Williams has officially been named a 2025 NBA All-Star, earning the honor for the first time. The NBA made the announcement on Thursday.
Williams, who was selected 12th overall by the Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft, is the third former Bronco to be named an NBA All-Star, joining eight-time selection Steve Nash and two-time honoree Ken Sears.
In his third season in the league, Williams has been nothing short of outstanding for OKC, starting 45 games and averaging 21.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals while helping guide the Thunder to first place in the Western Conference with a 37-9 record. "J-Dub" is one of just six players that is averaging at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season.
Williams was a three-year star and two-time All-WCC selection for the Broncos from 2020-22. His junior season (2021-22) saw the Denver, Colo. native average 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists en route to earning First Team All-WCC and Second Team NABC All-District honors while shooting up teams' draft boards.
"I am so thrilled that Jalen has deservingly been named an NBA All-Star," Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek said. "He is an incredible talent and going back to his days at Santa Clara, he has just gotten better and better each season. He is a big reason for OKC's tremendous success this year and absolutely deserves this honor. I am extremely proud of him and cannot wait to watch him compete at Chase Center."
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Getty Images
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University of Pacific Tigers | |
Pacific Completes Season Sweep over Washington State with Win on Final Possession
STOCKTON, Calif. – A go-ahead bucket by sophomore Jazz Gardner with five seconds left and a last-second stop defensively propelled the Pacific men's basketball program to a 70-68 victory over Washington State on Thursday at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
The game was tied 68-68 with 34 seconds left when Pacific (7-17, 2-8 WCC) took the shot clock down as far as it could before junior Lamar Washington found Gardner for an open lay-up. After running the floor and having the ball knocked out of bounds, WSU (15-8, 5-5 WCC) had a chance with 0.5 seconds left to inbound the ball underneath its basket and score, but the Tigers did not allow a shot attempt as the buzzer sounded.
It was Pacific's second victory over the Cougars this season after going on the road and pulling out a 95-94 overtime victory on Jan. 9 on a three-point buzzer beater by Washington. The two games were decided by a total of three points.
The Cougars and the Tigers went back-and-forth for most of the night as the game features 11 ties and 10 lead changes. Neither team lead for more than 18 minutes.
Gardner's game-winning basket capped a big night as he was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field for 14 points. It was his second-highest scoring total of his career and his seven made field goals were a career-high.
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Moneymaker Scores 9.9 On Floor To Lead Aggies At BYU Tri Meet
Score: UC Davis 194.100 (3rd); Southern Utah 195.825 (1st); BYU 195.600 (2nd)
Location: Provo, Utah (J. Willard Marriott Center)
The short story: Junior Amelia Moneymaker scored a 9.900 on floor, the first Aggie to break 9.9 this season, as UC Davis gymnastics battled back to post its second-best score of the season at the BYU tri-meet.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Moneymaker's 9.9 tied her for first on floor, and it helped boost her all-around score to 38.375 (fourth overall)
- It's the fifth time in Moneymaker's career that she has broken 9.9 on floor
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Senior Keanna Abraham impressed on beam, finishing fourth with a 9.800 and on floor with a top five performance of 9.800
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For the second time this season, senior Ava Scafani scored 9.850 on beam, just missing a first-place finish by 0.25
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Senior Megan Ray posted a top three performance on floor, tying a season high with an 9.850 and her 9.800 on vault placed her tied for second overall
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Sophomore Ayumi Oshiro scored a season-high on bars, posting a mark of 9.800 to finish tied for fifth
- As a team, the Aggies posted a season-high 49.025 on floor
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Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Pioneers Win Both Friday Games to Open 2025 Season at Concordia Kickoff Classic
IRVINE, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay softball team kicked off its 2025 season with a bang, securing two impressive victories on the opening day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic. The Pioneers showcased their teamwork, toppling No. 2 Western Washington, 7-1 in the season opener before shutting out Vanguard 2-0 in the afternoon at Great Park.
Cal State East Bay 7, No. 2 WWU 1
In the first game against the highly-touted Vikings, Cal State East Bay wasted no time asserting its dominance. The Pioneers' offense ignited in the bottom of the first inning when Jeslyn Cuellar drove in Ashlee Toy with an RBI single for the season's first run. The momentum continued as Ysabella Cortez delivered a clutch two-run single with the bases loaded, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Pioneers' bats remained hot in the second inning, with Alexa Zumstein crushing a two-run double to push the advantage to 5-0. East Bay added two more insurance runs in the fifth, capitalizing on a Vikings error that allowed Izzy Reyes to score, followed by an RBI single from Toy to bring home Cortez for a 7-0 lead.
Although WWU broke the shutout in the top of the seventh, the Pioneers finished the opener with a 7-1 win.
In the circle, Marissa Quintero was nothing short of spectacular, holding the potent Western Washington offense hitless through four innings. Quintero's complete game performance, allowing just one run while striking out eight, set the tone for the Pioneers' pitching staff.
continued...
Photo: Justine Willard/KLC fotos
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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, February 3, through
Sunday, February 9, 2025
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Monday, February 3
Golden State Warriors vs. Orlando Magic, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, February 4
San Jose Sharks vs. Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 5
Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz, 6 p.m.
Sacramento Kings vs. Orlando Magic, 5 p.m.
Thursday, February 6
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers, 6 p.m
San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 7
Saturday, February 8
Golden State Warriors @ Chicago Bulls, 5 p.m.
Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Dallas Stars, 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 9
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 3:30 p.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Director of Sales: Ann Cooke; Representative: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Dave Newhouse, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, James Molgaard,
Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee, Kenny Karst (retired).
Artist: Carl Macki
Social Media & Production: Jenny Kim
Webmaster/Sports Today Editor: Medhavee Upadhyaya
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/
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LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? was written for sports professionals by Andy Dolich and Jack Hirschman and offers valuable takeaways for everyone chasing the fancy logo and corner office. | |
The Emerald Mile: The epic and award-winning story of the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko. A thrilling true tale during the legendary flood of 1983. | |
More than a cookbook, this culinary delight was written to preserve a great chef's traditional family recipes and stories of her childhood for her far-flung grandchildren. Author Leonie Samuel-Hool recounts stories of a vanished society and legends of the gods and goddesses that protect and sometimes make mischief in Indonesian homes, fields and foods. The recipes are explicitly presented. | |
The absolute greatest Yankees were the 1949-1953 pinstripers, winners of an unprecedented five consecutive World Series. "The Yankee Way," Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa writes in the book's foreword, is "full of Yankee winning keys, star-studded competition, and insights about one of baseball's historically fascinating periods." By Charlie Silvera with Dave Newhouse (Author). | |
To Order: $15 hardcover, $10 paperback, plus $4.95 shipping. Send check/M.O. to Christopher Weills, P.O. Box 4515, Berkeley, CA 94704 | | |
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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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