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March 23 -- March 29, 2026
Issue No. 634
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Dave Newhouse
Tributes
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Losing Literary Giants
The literary community lost two stalwarts recently. Dave Newhouse and Carl Steward will be remembered by me and thousands of others for their extraordinary talent in writing, interviewing, and reporting.
Newhouse and Steward contributed largely to my career in sports and other endeavors. Carl was my "go-to" person in the press rooms of various teams. He showed me the ropes and took my hand, making me feel welcome and I loved sitting beside him at Cal games.
Dave was a one-of-a- kind reporter. He sought the truth in every interview I witnessed. It was my pleasure to honor Dave with my outstanding media award at one of our Hall of Fame's ceremonies. He became emotional, and his adorable and supportive wife, Patsy, was able to console him. I told him he was so worthy of the award, and it was my pleasure and duty to bestow the honor upon him. He never stopped thanking me.
Rest in Peace, two giants in the industry!
Arif Khatib
Founder and President
Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame
Publisher & Film Maker
Oakland, CA
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Fondly Remembered
Dave Newhouse was a gentleman and CLASS (spelled in capital letters) Act and a dedicated Oaklander. My wife, Loraine, and I were fortunate to be neighbors of Dave and wife Patsy and we shared a breakfast three weeks ago at the Egg Shop in Montclair.
I got to know Dave more than 60 years ago when my brother Ron and I were aspiring young tennis players traveling the country playing in national junior tournaments. Before I started my first trip, Dave called and said that he'd like to print the results in the Oakland Tribune and suggested I call collect. That led through the juniors and playing at UCLA on two NCAA Championship tennis teams. He was the best ambassador to the Trib and Oakland with his writings. We ALL will miss him and are better off from knowing him.
Steven Cornell
Oakland, CA
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Editor's note:
To enjoy our special edition featuring Dave Newhouse, click Sports Today, Issue 633. For an assortment of Dave's thoughtful, thought-provoking and playful weekly columns, visit https://ultimatesportsguide.net/contributors-articles/dave-newhouse/
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Bracket Bonanza!
Get On Your
Pony And Ride!
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The 2026 NCAA Division 1 Men's BB "Sweet Sixteen"
RECAP of early rounds (my selections in bold)
The East: #1 Duke must have a light bulb specalist as they suddenly awakened vs. both Siena and TCU to advance. The Cobwebs will have to be removed for Duke to beat Pitino and St. John's.
The West: #4 Arkansas Razorbacks' games have gone down to the wire, but consider these as Continuing Education for Acuff and Co. which will be useful when they face #1 seed Arizona.
The Midwest: #2 Iowa State: The Kentucky Wildcats' 82-63 loss to Iowa State was Kentucky's largest defeat in an NCAA tournament game since 1972. BRAVO! The Cyclones should get back their best player and continue their run.
The South: Alas, #1 Florida, lost in the final seconds to #9 Iowa, so a new NCAA Champion wil be crowned.
Per Sports Today Rule 2, (A) (2), Coach Sampson and #2 Houston will replace Florida as my Final 4 Selection.
RECAP: Final 4 Selections: (East) #1 DUKE, (South), (Midwest) #2 IOWA STATE, (West) #4 ARKANSAS, (South) #2 HOUSTON.
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Note to Readers:
Most photos in each issue are linked to Facebook albums produced
by our talented photographers. To enjoy additional photos, simply click on a photograph or on the link provided at the end of each report. New albums, contributor essays and Sports Today issues are continually posted to: www.ultimatesportsguide.net
We have updated our Facebook Albums link. Check here to see if your favorite team was covered and enjoy the photo coverage from our exceptional photographers:
https://conta.cc/49DptcC
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Horse-drawn carriages served as the outfield wall for the
1905 World Series at the Polo Grounds where the New York Giants and Philadelphia Athletics (now the A’s) were playing.
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Contents
Games
Bay FC 1, Angel City FC 3
Cal Bears (MBkB) 91, UIC Flames 73
Cal Bears (MBkB) 75, Saint Joseph's Hawks 76
Cal Bears (WBkB) 72, Santa Clara Broncos 68
San Francisco Giants 1, Sacramento River Cats 2
Features & Commentary
49ers Cheerleaders, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Players Win Games...Managers Lose Them, by Pete Elman
Organizations
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A's
Bay Area Falcons
Bay FC
Cal Bears
Cal State University East Bay
Golden State Valkyries
Golden State Warriors
Oakland Ballers
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul SC
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco Giants
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San Francisco Nighthawks
San Francisco Unicorns
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
SF City
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
UC Davis Aggies
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna
Seca
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San Francisco Giants 1
Sacramento River Cats 2
Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, CA
Sunday, March 22, 2026
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Sacramento River Cats designated hitter Nate Furman hits a solo home run in the eighth inning to break open a 1-1 game as the River Cats defeated the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, in an exhibition game at Sutter Health Park on Sunday, March 22nd.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Giants shortstop Maui Ahuna tallied the lone run for the Giants with an RBI single in the eighth inning. Caption and
photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Recently demoted first baseman Bryce Eldridge hits a solo home run in the fourth to open the scoring. Caption and
photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Sacramento River Cats mascot Dinger walks on the field with a saxophone after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park. To view a photo album, visit our
Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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2026 Fortinet Founders Cup
Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, Menlo Park, CA
March 19-22, 2026
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World no. 8 ranked Hyo Joo Kim registered a wire-to-wire win at the 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup at the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park. Her 16 under par for the tournament was hard fought as she won by only one stroke after 72 rounds of golf. With the victory, she takes home a $450,000 cash prize.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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Kim’s final stroke on the 18th hole to seal the victory.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
| Kim was given the champagne shower victory by friends and supporters. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | World no. 2 ranked Nelly Korda made it a nail biter to the end as she was only one stroke behind Kim. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | World no. 1 ranked Jeeno Thitikul on the first tee of the final round at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. Eight of the top 10 female golfers competed. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | |
National Invitational Tournament
Cal Bears 75
Saint Joseph's Hawks 76
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Sunday, March 22, 2026
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The second round NIT game between the Hawks of Saint Joseph’s University and our California Golden Bears was a game of streaks. The Hawks jumped out to an early eight point lead before Cal got on the scoreboard. Cal fired back with three-point shots to close and then take the lead by halftime. Early in the second half Cal extended their lead to 16, then in the last 10 minutes the Hawks logged a run of 29 points to Cal’s six to take the lead and win by one point. Final score: Saint Joseph's 76, Cal 75.
Photo and caption by Ron Sellers.
| Above, Cal's Chris Bell (22) drives the baseline to slam down two points late in the game, on his way to scoring 23 and leading the Golden Bears. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | Going in strong, Cal's Justin Pippin (#10) attempts a layup in the closing minutes. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | |
Putting up a last-second shot, Cal's Dai Dai Ames (#7) has his shot blocked, closing the season on the Golden Bears.
Photo and caption by Ron Sellers.
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National Invitational Tournament
Cal Bears 91
UIC Flames 73
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
| | Three days after being left out of the NCAA Tournament, the California Golden Bears were invited as the #2 seed to host the first round NIT game against the UIC Flames from Chicago. The Flames came out strong and built a lead but the Golden Bears hit a series of three-point shots before halftime for the lead. Throughout the remainder of the game, it was a back-and-forth contest but the Bears would capitalize on a late Flames cold shooting spell for the win. Above, Haas Pavilion got a quick makeover with tournament branding in preparation of the first round game as the University of California Golden Bears played host in the first round of the NIT tournament against the University of Illinois Chicago Flames at Haas Pavilion on March 18, 2026 in Berkeley, CA. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | With force, Cal center Milos Ilic (#8) takes the ball to the basket early in the first half. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | |
Pulling up from three-point country, Cal guard DeJuan Campbell (#1) hits a heavily contested shot. Photo and
caption by Ron Sellers.
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Cal sophomore walk-on BJ Fisher (#26) makes the most of his one minute of game time to drive against the opposing center and score his first points of the season. Photo and
caption by Ron Sellers.
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Launching another three-pointer, Cal's Chris Bell (#22) would finish with 31 points and lead all scorers by hitting seven of eight from behind the arc. With the win, Cal moved on to face the Saint Joseph's Hawks at Haas Pavilion on Sunday, March 22.
Photo and caption by Ron Sellers.
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Players Win Games...
Managers Lose Them
by Pete Elman
When my son was 10 he had a coach, Dale, a real character, a baseball lifer who played briefly in the Dodgers organization and lived to teach kids baseball. His license plate said, “I Can Do.”
I remember one of Dale’s aphorisms that has stuck with me to this day, 25 years later. He and I were talking about coaching little league, and how some managers wanted to win so much that they hurt their own team. The conversation moved to managing at the higher level, and how even the best ones can over-manage and
cost their team the game. These were Dale’s words:
Players win games…managers lose them.
Dale passed away 22 years ago. Tuesday night, while watching the thrilling end of the championship game of the World Baseball Classic, his voice was in my ear.
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Mark DeRosa was an outstanding New Jersey quarterback who refused better Division One offers so he could also play baseball and get an Ivy League education at Penn. He had a fine 15-year career with eight different teams, and eventually got into coaching. In 2023 he was named Team USA manager for the
WBC Classic.
That year he suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to a Japan squad led by Shohei Ohtani, who famously struck out Mike Trout to end the tournament. Tuesday night's final in Miami would be DeRosa’s chance at redemption.
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USA's Aaron Judge struck out three times in four plate
appearances against Venezuela
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In the eighth inning, the USA was down 2-0, with only two hits, when Bryce Harper blasted a homer to tie it up. The USA now had the momentum going into the ninth. But destiny—or karma—intervened. History repeated itself that night in Miami.
The prevailing wisdom is that in a tie game going into the top of the ninth you bring in your closer, especially in a championship game, and in the case of the hungry visiting Venezuela squad, a game more important than the World Series. This was clearly a save situation. And you have the best closer in the game.
Now I’m admittedly biased because I’m still an A’s fan and Mason Miller may be the best pitcher the team ever let go. The young man is unhittable, possessing the best fastball in all of baseball—and possibly the nastiest slider. He had struck out 10 of the 13 batters he faced in the tournament, was rested and had told DeRosa pregame he was ready to go. But he never got his chance.
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Mark DeRosa is a good guy. The first thing he did postgame was congratulate the Venezuelan team and it's manager, his friend Omar Lopez. But he was then asked twice why he didn’t bring in Miller, and twice he would not take responsibility for the managerial mistake that may have cost his team the title, using as an excuse an agreement with the San Diego Padres that Miller would only come in the game in a save situation. And so it was left to Garrett Whitlock, a fine reliever but no Mason Miller, who gave up the game-winning double to Eugenio Suarez.
Venezuela is an embattled nation whose reckless, corrupt president was snatched in the middle of the night by another reckless corrupt president, to steal their oil.
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Behind Eugenio Suárez's RBI double in the ninth inning,
Venezuela claimed its first World Baseball Classic title
with a 3-2 victory over the United States
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And so a baseball-crazed country of 32 million took down a star-studded USA team in dramatic fashion. Donald Trump’s tasteless postgame pronouncement that Venezuela could be the 51st state would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic
But there is a silver lining in this cloud. There were thousands of loud, raucous, passionate patriotic Venezuelans at the ballpark in Miami who willed their team to victory. Venezuela deserved to win; their positive energy was something to behold. They wanted it more—and needed it more.
And here it is, nearly a week later, and I can’t stop thinking why my favorite player was not given a chance to shut down the visitors in the ninth. I guess the old coach was right.
Players win games…managers lose them.
Pete Elman
Rockridge
March 23, 2026
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Pete Elman is the author of an outstanding new book, Insights and Outakes, a collection of sports essays covering Bay Area teams and sports personalities. For more information, see below.
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Bay FC 1
Angel City FC 3
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Saturday, March 21, 2026
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Bay FC forward Cristiana Girelli #10 (L) and midfielder Taylor Huff #7 (R) celebrate Huff’s goal in the 55th minute.
Caption and photo by Alex Ho.
| Bay FC defender Sydney Collins #16 and Angel City FC midfielder Nealy Martin #14 battle for the ball. Caption and photo by Alex Ho. | |
Angel City FC midfielder Nealy Martin #14 brings down Bay FC midfielder Taylor Huff #7 with a foul. Caption and
photo by Alex Ho.
| Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz #29 grabs the ball in the first half. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Caption and photo by Alex Ho. | |
Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament
Cal Bears 72
Santa Clara Broncos 68
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Thursday, March 19, 2026
| Cal Bears center Sakima Walker scored 19 points with six rebounds and three blocks as the Bears defeated the Santa Clara Broncos, 72-68, in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament on Thursday, March 19th at Haas Pavilion. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | Junior Lulu Twidale led all scores with 27 points while adding 11 rebounds as the Bears advanced to the second round to face the Kansas State Wildcats. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | |
Santa Clara forward Ava Schmidt finished with 18 points and four blocks as the Broncos finished the season with a 24-10 record.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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California Golden Bears guard Lulu Twidale (10) secures a rebound against Santa Clara Broncos forward Tyler Gildersleeve-Stiles (right) during the first quarter at Haas Pavilion. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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THRIVE CITY ANNOUNCES 2026 SPRING PROGRAMMING
Events Include Taste of Thrive City, Easter Egg Hunt, Golden State 5k, Live Music Performances, And More
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SAN FRANCISCO — Thrive City has announced its 2026 spring programming schedule, which features nearly 70 free family-friendly events from March through May. Highlights include the annual Sana G Easter Egg Hunt, Taste of Thrive City, Spring Golf Day, fitness classes, and more. Guests are encouraged to RSVP for upcoming events at ThriveCity.com.
Additional Warriors Women's Empowerment Month activiations include:
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March 30: Generation Thrive Chop N’ Chat – Generation Thrive will host Chop N’ Chat led by Celebrity Chef Nikki Shaw on Monday, March 30, where she will demonstrate how to cook healthy meals for Bay Area educators and community practitioners to replicate at home. Following the demonstration, local cafe owner Kashish Juneja of Kash Cafe will lead a speaking engagement touching on matcha’s connection to wellness and women’s entrepreneurship.
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March 31: Generation Thrive Salsa Class – Generation Thrive will host a Salsa dance class led by a local women-owned dance company for Bay Area educators and community practitioners to foster an evening of joy, confidence, and community
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Our Mission:
Weavery's mission is to provide data and ai strategy advice, training, and innovative solutions to high impact humanitarian organizations. Weavery leverages artificial intelligence to enhance operations and amplify impact to serve a world in need.
| | San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Ryan Borucki | |
Giants shore up lefty relief depth by agreeing to deal with Borucki
Maria Guardado
@mi_guardado
:232:08
This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe
to get it regularly in your inbox.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants shored up their left-handed relief depth by agreeing to a one-year Major League deal with Ryan Borucki on Saturday.
Borucki, who turns 32 on March 31, joined the White Sox on a Minor League contract over the offseason and worked six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in six Cactus League outings this spring. He was released after being informed he would not crack Chicago’s Opening Day roster on Friday, though he quickly found a new opportunity with San Francisco.
The Giants were in need of more lefty relief options due to the injuries to Sam Hentges and Reiver Sanmartin. Hentges never appeared in a Cactus League game after struggling to build back up from his left shoulder surgery in September 2024, and Sanmartin is expected to miss up to three months after suffering a right hip flexor strain while pitching for Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic.
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Athletics outfielder Zack Gelof against the San Francisco Giants, July 4, 2025. Photo by Darren Yamashita
Gelof optioned to Triple-A to continue outfield transition
Hernaiz, McNeil both getting OF reps to give
A's more defensive versatility
This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ Athletics Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe
to get it regularly in your inbox.
MESA, Ariz. -- The early looks at Zack Gelof as an outfielder looked promising this spring, and he will continue his development at the new position in the Minors to begin the regular season.
Gelof was one of two players optioned by the Athletics to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, trimming the club’s Spring Training roster to 32 players in camp. He appeared in six games this spring, including two as an outfielder -- right and center field -- and hit .278 (5-for-18) with a double.
Part of Gelof getting sent down was a shortage of time left to get ready. Finishing up his rehab from a dislocated left shoulder early in camp, Gelof did not debut in a game this spring until March 9.
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With Americans consuming more than 70 hotdogs each annually, the new trend of introducing more tantalizing choices at sports stadia is a welcome change. Not unexpectedly, Oracle Park has deservedly established itself as the premier purveyor of alternatives to the almighty weenie. For example, above is the Crazy Crab'z Sandwich, a true fan favorite for lucky ballpark visitors.
-- Steve Chain / Innovative Food Fanatic
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Flyers get past Sharks for 7th
straight road win
Dvorak breaks tie on power play early in 3rd period; San Jose loses 4th in row
By Max Miller
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
March 21, 2026
SAN JOSE -- Christian Dvorak scored the go-ahead goal and had an assist for the Philadelphia Flyers, who won their seventh straight road game by defeating the San Jose Sharks 4-1 at SAP Center on Saturday.
Dvorak gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead on the power play at 1:47 of the third period. Travis Konecny found Dvorak in the right face-off circle with a pass from the left wing, and his wrist shot beat Alex Nedeljkovic to the blocker side.
"We had good looks. That's what matters,” Dvorak said. “Can't get frustrated and got to stick with it. (Konecny) made a nice play and luckily I put it in."
Owen Tippett, Travis Sanheim, and Noah Cates also scored for the Flyers (34-23-12), who have won three in a row and are 5-0-1 in their past six. Dan Vladar made 24 saves.
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Battle of the Bay 2.1: San Jose Giants to Host Oakland Ballers
After making history last season, the Ballers and Giants will meet again in a Champion vs. Champion rematch
San Jose, CA – On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the San Jose Giants and the Oakland Ballers will face off for the second consecutive year, building on the success of last season’s historic matchup. Dubbed “Battle of the Bay 2.1,” the two organizations, each fresh off their respective 2025 Championship seasons, will meet for an exhibition game at San Jose’s Excite Ballpark as part of the Giants’ Minor League Spring Training schedule. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM.
Tickets for the game are now on sale at sjgiants.com with the game set to air on CBS Bay Area.
“Congratulations to the Oakland Ballers on their first championship last year,” said San Jose Giants President Ben Taylor. “Our organization is familiar with that winning feeling as, after beginning the year with a Battle of the Bay 2.0 victory, the team secured its historic 13th League Championship. In San Jose, winning isn't a singular achievement, it is a Giant culture. We look forward to again providing fans, and the Ballers, the chance to experience it as we begin the 2026 baseball season."
Taking place at the ballpark formerly known as Municipal Stadium, which first opened in 1942, this matchup marks just the second time an affiliated Minor League franchise, the San Jose Giants, will take on an MLB Partner League team, the Oakland Ballers. The inaugural Battle of the Bay 2.0 last year was the first such meeting in baseball history.
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MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 1, Vancouver
Whitecaps FC 0
Quakes win in BC Place for first time since 2023 to move to 4-1-0; San Jose also first team to take points from Whitecaps FC this season; Black and Blue return home to host San Diego FC on Saturday, April 4
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The San Jose Earthquakes defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-0 on Saturday night in front of 21,261 fans at BC Place to move to 4-1-0.
The Earthquakes opened the scoring on the last play of first-half stoppage time, when Beau Leroux stole the ball from Vancouver’s Cheikh Sabaly after a shallow clearance and unleashed a blast from well behind the edge of the box that beat goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka to give San Jose a 1-0 lead.
After intermission, both teams’ German stars—San Jose’s Timo Werner and Vancouver’s Thomas Müller—entered the match. But goalkeeper Daniel and the Quakes’ back line stole the show, ultimately turning away multiple barrages from the hosts to preserve the clean sheet and become the first team to take points from Vancouver this season.
The Black and Blue return home Saturday, April 4, to face San Diego FC in a match presented by Ford. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally via Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
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Roots Earn a Point in 2-2 Draw at Phoenix Rising FC
Roots were just minutes away from their first 3-0-0 start in club history, but two late goals from Phoenix Rising FC leveled the match leading to a 2-2 draw in Arizona on Saturday night.
The fixture started with both sides trading chances working up the pitch, but failing to develop any real scoring chances on either side through the first 20 minutes of play.
Oakland nearly took the lead in the 19th minute with a great run into the box from Peter Wilson paired with a deep cross from the left side from Wolfgang Prentice, but the ensuing shot went just wide to the right. This opportunity was immediately followed by another great chance from Bobosi Byaruhanga, shifting the tide of momentum in favor of Oakland.
About halfway through the first frame, Roots started to dominate the pitch in earnest, spending plenty of time in the attacking third and creating scoring chances in quick succession.
In the 43rd minute, Oakland finally capitalized on their sustained pressure when Prentice finished a shot from in close after receiving a cross from Byaruhanga who drove furiously through the box before delivering service just before reaching the end line to make it 1-0 Roots.
Roots doubled their lead just moments later in added time of the first half, and Wolfy was involved yet again, earning his third goal contribution of the year after sending a perfect cross into the box from the left side to find a leaping Julian Bravo who finished a bouncing header to make it 2-0.
The pitch continued to appear tilted in Oakland’s favor for a majority of the second half, but a desperation push from Phoenix starting around the 80th minute began to give Roots’ backline some trouble.
Rising’s Diego Gómez reduced Oakland’s lead to one in the 85th minute after a Phoenix counter attack led to some open space in their attacking third, giving Gómez plenty of room to deliver a strike from near the top of the box and make it 1-2 Roots.
Phoenix’s late push only intensified after this, and Rising were able to find a leveling goal from Gunnar Studenthofft well into added time of the second half.
Despite a number of chances from Rising even after bringing the match back to 2-2, Oakland was able to stave off total heartbreak by reaching the final whistle with the game still tied and a point in their pocket to remain undefeated in 2026.
Roots will look to regroup and adjust their focus to the future, preparing to host Orange County SC for their next match when the club returns to the Oakland Coliseum next Saturday, March 28th at 5 PM PT.
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Get ready for our Spring Series matchup—a friendly against Ottawa Rapid FC on Friday, April 17th. It’s the perfect way to kick off spring with a can’t-miss matchday!
Be there as Ottawa Rapid FC travels to the Bay Area for a friendly during their sophomore season in the Northern Super League season, marking the club’s first-ever visit to PayPal Park. Enjoy the excitement with family and friends as Bay FC goes
head-to-head in an action-packed match.
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Golden State Valkyries
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Ballhalla awaits! The Valkyries return to the violet hardwood for Year Two with a preseason match-up against the Seattle Storm on Saturday, April 25 at 5:30PM at Chase Center.
After an unforgettable inaugural season, we can’t wait to welcome fans back for another year of elite basketball, unforgettable moments, and the electric energy that makes Ballhalla one of the loudest homes in the league. Preseason is your first chance to see the team back on the floor, build momentum for the season ahead, and be part of what’s next.
Single-game preseason tickets will be going on sale soon! Stay tuned for on-sale details and be ready to lock in your seats as we kick off Year Two together.
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| | San Francisco 49ers Autographs | | |
RISE --
The Bread Project Gala & Auction
will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at the
Hillside Club in Berkeley from 6 to 9 p.m. The Bread Project helps Bay Area residents overcome barriers to employment and secure living-wage jobs in the food industry by providing practical skills, hands-on
training and job placement support.
To attend the Gala, visit: https://conta.cc/412daBo
To donate a valuable auction item and receive two
Gala tickets, plus donation recognition,
email: lynn@breadproject.org
The San Francisco 49ers footballs below are part of
the Gala auction and include the following signatures. Estimated total value of $300.
To bid absentee on the footballs,
email jkaplan@att.net
with the maximum amount of your bid.
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Above Left
#33 Roger Craig RB 1983-90
#86 Charle Young TE 1980-82
#58 Keena Turner LB 1980-90
#21 Eric Wright DB 1981-1990
#27 R.C. Owens OE/RB 1957-61
#13 Steve Bono QB 1989, 91-93
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Above Right
#59 Willie Harper LB 1973-77, 1979-83
#22 Dwight Hicks DB 1979-85
#81 Lee Johnson WR 1969-70
#77 Bubba Paris OT 1983-90
#57 Dan Bunz LB 1978-84
#63 Monte Clark OT/DT 1959-61
#81 Russ Francis TE 1982-87
#30 Bill Ring RB 1981-86
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MLC 2026 FIXTURES ANNOUNCED AS OAKLAND COLISEUM CONFIRMED AS PLAYOFF AND CHAMPIONSHIP HOST
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- San Francisco Unicorns Set for Home Championship Opportunity in Front of Bay Area Fans
- Unicorns’ MLC 2026 Campaign Begins with California Derby Against LA Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Stadium, near Dallas, TX
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Tickets are available now at tickets.majorleaguecricket.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MARCH 20, 2026) — The San Francisco Unicorns schedule for 2026 Cognizant Major League Cricket has officially been announced, with the Bay Area set to host the league’s playoffs and Championship game at the Oakland Coliseum.
In a milestone moment for cricket in Northern California, the fourth season of MLC will see its entire postseason hosted in the Bay Area. The Oakland Coliseum will also host regular-season matches, alongside Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, near Dallas, TX, and a new venue in Fairplex, in Pomona, CA.
Grand Prairie Stadium, near Dallas, will host the Unicorns’ first match, a California derby against the LA Knight Riders, on Friday, June 19, 2026, followed by a game against Texas Super Kings in a double-header on Saturday, June 20, 2026, before league play shifts to Oakland.
The San Francisco Unicorns will then face the Texas Super Kings once more, followed by matches against the Seattle Orcas and Washington Freedom.
The next fixtures will take place at Fairplex, where the Unicorns will face Washington Freedom and MI New York. Fairplex is also set to host cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The final group games will be back in Texas, with the Unicorns facing off against MI New York, LA Knight Riders, and Seattle Orcas.
Following the success of the inaugural matches in Oakland in 2025, the playoff matches will commence on July 15 in the Bay, with the Championship match scheduled for 5pm ET on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing world-class cricket back to the Bay,” said Unicorns CEO David White. “Hosting the postseason and the Championship game in Oakland is a huge moment for our fans, and for the continued growth of cricket in the Bay Area.
“We’re ready to battle for our first Championship on home soil under new head coach, Cameron White, with a roster packed full of elite cricketing talent.”
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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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49ers Cheerleaders -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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I attended the 49er fan fest in 1996. I was able to meet and get autographs from many of the current players and from the Gold Rush cheerleaders. I remember there was a long table with all the ladies seated and I went all the way down the line. At the end, I walked away with this photo. It’s been in my collection for
thirty years. I wonder where they are now.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 176: Nebraska May Be The State That Brings Down The College Sports Commission -- Part II
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
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Last week, I wrote about why Nebraska, and specifically its state NIL statute, §48-3603, could be the mechanism that unravels the College Sports Commission. The arbitration involving 18 Huskers football players and more than $1 million in rejected Playfly deals could be the first meaningful stress test of the House v. NCAA's settlement's enforcement architecture. This week, Sportico published two pieces, one from Michael McCann and one from Daniel Libit , that add significant context to what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential legal proceedings in college sports history. Neither piece got the attention it deserved outside of the usual corners of sports law Twitter. Let's try to fix that.
McCann's piece is the clearest public explanation I've seen of what the arbitration process actually involves, and more importantly, what it doesn't. A lot of people in this space have been conflating arbitration with litigation. Arbitration is private. It produces no published opinion. It does not set a binding precedent under stare decisis. And critically, the Federal Arbitration Act instructs courts to give substantial deference to arbitration awards, meaning that if the Nebraska players lose, reversing the outcome in court is a steep climb, although it isn't impossible, and I have successfully vacated arbitration awards in the past. The arbitrator's decision doesn't need to be right. It just needs to not be fraudulent, and it needs to show that the arbitrator considered the relevant evidence and applied basic legal principles. It also can't be produced based on any arbitrator bias. That is typically a very low bar to clear.
McCann notes that the process should wrap up in approximately 6 weeks. Attorneys for both sides will present arguments and offer evidence in a private venue. Whatever comes out of that room could be the final word.
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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Porsche Track Experience at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca opens to its first customers, launching a second U.S. location
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Expansion marks a major milestone as the program enters its 26th year.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) has officially opened its new Porsche Track Experience (PTX) at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The first customers took to the track on March 12.
The launch marks a major milestone for Porsche’s U.S. driver development programs, expanding PTX to a second U.S. location as it enters its 26th year of operation domestically and 52nd year internationally. more…
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Patriots Jet Team Returns to Sonoma Raceway for 19th Year, Set to Soar Above NASCAR on June 28
SONOMA, Calif. (March 19, 2026) – Fans attending NASCAR weekend at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, June 28 will once again turn their eyes skyward as the Patriots Jet Team returns for a thrilling pre-race aerial demonstration.
A staple of race day entertainment, 2026 marks the 19th consecutive year the Patriots Jet Team has performed above Sonoma Raceway, continuing a long-standing tradition that has become a fan-favorite part of the event.
Known as North America’s largest civilian-owned jet aerobatic team, the Northern California-based Patriots Jet Team delivers a high-energy spectacle featuring precision flying, dramatic formations and high-speed maneuvers. Pilots fly L-39 Albatros jets in tightly choreographed routines that include loops, rolls and crowd-favorite low passes, all executed with military-style precision.
The air show will once again serve as a centerpiece of the pre-race festivities leading into the NASCAR Cup Series race, adding an extra layer of excitement to one of the most anticipated sporting events in the region. The performance has become synonymous with Sonoma Raceway’s race day experience, blending motorsports intensity with a patriotic, adrenaline-filled display in the skies above wine country.
“The Patriots Jet Team has become an iconic part of our NASCAR weekend,” said Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn. “For nearly two decades, they’ve delivered an unforgettable experience for our fans and helped create an electric atmosphere before the green flag.”
The NASCAR Cup Series race caps a full weekend of on-track action and fan entertainment, making Sonoma Raceway one of the premier stops on the NASCAR calendar. The addition of the Patriots Jet Team continues to enhance the race-day spectacle for attendees of all ages.
Tickets, camping, premium packages, and upgrades are available now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223].
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Cal Takes 4th At NCAA Championship
Bears Get Highest Finish In 5 Years
ATLANTA – It was a week to remember for the upward-trending Golden Bears, who finished the 2026 NCAA Championships in fourth place Saturday at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
It came down to the final race of the season, and when the lights were at their brightest, the underclassmen-led California women's swimming & diving team rose to the occasion and earned its highest finish since it headed home with fourth-place hardware in 2021.
The fourth and final day of the meet began with the Golden Bears getting five finals qualifiers in the morning prelims, their most this week, to give them their best shot of climbing the final team standings. Cal ended Thursday in sixth place with 199 points trailing both Tennessee (240.5) and Michigan (228).
continued...
Photo: Jack Spitser
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Stanford Takes Second at NCAA Championships
The Cardinal won three national titles and overcame a 30-point deficit in the final night of competition
ATLANTA - No. 2 Stanford women’s swimming & diving saved its best for last, winning three national titles and overcoming a 30-point deficit in the team standings to finish as national runners-up for the second consecutive season.
The NCAA team silver under Paul A. Violich Director of Women’s Swimming Chris Lindauer gives the program its best finish in a head coach’s debut season since 1989, when Richard Quick won the national championship in his first year on The Farm.
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Klein’s Walk-Off Lifts Spartans Past Aztecs in 10-Inning Battle
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Rohne Klein walked it off with an RBI single in the 10th in his lone at bat to lead the San José State baseball team (10-12, 2-1 MW) in a 9-8 victory over San Diego State (12-12, 2-1 MW) Saturday night from Excite Ballpark.
San Jose State wasted no time setting the tone offensively.
After San Diego State jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the first, the Spartans answered immediately with three of their own, highlighted by RBI hits from Jake McCoy and JC Osorio-Agard along with a sacrifice fly from Alan Ramirez. They continued to apply pressure in the second and third innings, building a 6–3 lead behind RBIs from Osorio-Agard, Matteo Mendoza and Peyton Rowles.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
BVB | Gaels Sweep Pacific, Fall in Narrow 3-2 Decision to No. 18 Washington in Home Openers
MORAGA, Calif. — After playing their first 18 matches of the season away from Moraga, the Saint Mary's beach volleyball team finally got the chance to play in front of a home crowd at Shaw and Knudsen Courts, defeating Pacific 5-0 in their home opener, before falling to 18th ranked Washington 3-2. The Gaels did fall just one game short of their best start over the first 20 games in program history, but still sit at a stellar 15-5 record now beyond the halfway point of their season.
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Photo: Saint Mary's Athletics: Tod Fiener
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Women's Basketball Falls to Montana State in WNIT
Second Round
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (19-15) concluded the 2025-26 season in the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), falling to Montana State (26-7) 69-53 Sunday afternoon at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
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San Francisco came out firing at the start of the first quarter, building an 11-4 advantage, capped by a Candy Edokpaigbe fast break driving layup at the 1:52 mark.
- Montana State answered late and scored the final five points of the opening period, trimming the green and gold's lead to 11-9.
- The Dons failed to maintain their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 31-24.
- The Bobcats continued to lead following the break and scored 16 straight points to push the margin to 23, 47-24, at 5:10. The deficit grew near the end of the quarter as the Dons trailed 58-34 heading into the final quarter of play.
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Montana State kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 61-34 advantage before San Francisco went on a 7-0 scoring run, finished by a Meghan McIntyre layup, shrinking the deficit to 61-41 with 6:52 to go in the contest.
- Another scoring run helped San Francisco get to within 12, 64-52, with 2:40 to go, as Edokpaigbe scored three of the six points during the run.
- Despite facing a late push, the Bobcats fended off the Dons and held on for the 69-53 victory.
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Photo: Christina Leung
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Broncos Fall in Overtime Heartbreaker to Kentucky
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – March is madness, indeed. Santa Clara men's basketball looked to have their first win in the NCAA Tournament in 30 years all but locked up after Allen Graves' 3-point bucket in the final two seconds of regulation, but an improbable half-court shot from Kentucky's Otega Oweh tied the game at the buzzer to force overtime. The Broncos were unable to contain the Wildcats in the extra period and fell 89-84 in a March Madness instant classic.
Graves finished with 17 points while senior Elijah Mahi logged 20 points in his final game in a Bronco uniform. The game featured 20 lead changes and 12 ties.
Santa Clara concludes the season with a 26-9 record, tied for the second-most wins in program history.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Men’s Tennis Wins Conference Opener, Splits Weekend
Links
STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific rebounded from a 4-0 Friday loss to Dartmouth to defeat Portland 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, getting off to a 1-0 start in the WCC at the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center.
GAME 2
The Tigers (7-9) win happened in rapid succession as graduate Terence Das, junior Christof Schaertlin Coffey and freshman Hasith Gummuluru all pulled out their matches within minutes of each other.
Das' win was the only one of the three to happen in straight sets but needed to grind out a 9-7 tiebreaker in set two for that win. The graduate is remerging as one of Pacific's more consistent performers, bringing his record to 5-6 this season and has won two straight decisions.
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Track and Field Dominates Aggie Open at Home with 23 Event Titles
DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis track and field opened its outdoor campaign this weekend, securing 23 event victories to highlight the two-day Aggie Open at home. Bolstered by 13 wins from the women's squad and 10 from the men's, the Aggies finished with a total of 164 points to lead the field in their first appearance of the spring season.
HOW IT HAPPENED (MEN):
The men's squad recorded 10 event titles on the day, led by Jacob Beals who secured four total victories. Beals recorded a double in the sprints, taking first in the 100m (10.73) and 200m (22.08) while contributing to both first-place relay squads. Luke Wales also earned a win in the 400m dash, finishing in 49.15.
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| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Pioneers Take Opener, Drop Nightcap in Road Split
CARSON, Calif. — Cal State East Bay split Saturday's doubleheader at Cal State Dominguez Hills, earning an 8-3 win in the opener before falling 6-5 in the nightcap at Toro Field.
In game one, the Pioneers set the tone early and maintained control throughout behind a balanced offensive effort.
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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, March 23, through
Sunday, March 29, 2026
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Monday, March 23
Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks, 6:30 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Sultanes de Monterrey, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox, 11:05 a.m.
Tuesday, March 24
Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets, 4 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Sultanes de Monterrey, 6:45 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Nashville Predators, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25
San Francisco Giants vs. New York Yankees, 5:05 p.m., Opening Night
Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 26
Sacramento Kings @ Orlando Magic, 4 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m.
Friday, March 27
San Francisco Giants vs. New York Yankees, 1:35 p.m. Opening Day
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards, 7 p.m.
Athletics @ Toronto Blue Jays, 4:07 p.m.
Saturday, March 28
San Francisco Giants vs. New York Yankees, 4:15 p.m.
Athletics @ Toronto Blue Jays. 12:07 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Columbus Blue Jackets, 2 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Atlanta Hawks, 4:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC vs. Orange County SC, 5 p.m.
Bay FC @ North Carolina Courage, 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 29
Golden State Warriors @ Denver Nuggets, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Brooklyn Nets, 3 p.m.
Athletics @ Toronto Blue Jays, 10:37 a.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Associate Publisher: Ann Cooke
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Sales: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Lydia Chain, Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young
Software Engineer / Sports Today Editor: Medhavee Upadhyaya
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee, Kenny Karst (retired)
Advisor: Arif Khatib
Artist: Carl Macki
Website: www.UltimateSportsGuide.net
Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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FIELD OF PLAY
For the past 60 years, Michael Zagaris has taken his camera behind the scenes of the NFL, capturing the moments that define America’s game.
To order: https://www.zagarisbook.com/
| | LOL, Loss of Logo: What’s Your Next Move? was written for sports professionals by Andy Dolich and Jack Hirschman and offers valuable takeaways for everyone chasing the fancy logo and corner office. | | The Emerald Mile: The epic and award-winning story of the fastest ride in history through the heart of the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko. A thrilling true tale during the legendary flood of 1983. | | More than a cookbook, this culinary delight was written to preserve a great chef's traditional family recipes and stories of her childhood for her far-flung grandchildren. Author Leonie Samuel-Hool recounts stories of a vanished society and legends of the gods and goddesses that protect and sometimes make mischief in Indonesian homes, fields and foods. The recipes are explicitly presented. | | The absolute greatest Yankees were the 1949-1953 pinstripers, winners of an unprecedented five consecutive World Series. "The Yankee Way," Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa writes in the book's foreword, is "full of Yankee winning keys, star-studded competition, and insights about one of baseball's historically fascinating periods." By Charlie Silvera with Dave Newhouse (Author). | | To Order: $10 hardcover, $7 paperback, plus $4.95 shipping. Send check/M.O. to Christopher Weills, P.O. Box 4515, Berkeley, CA 94704 | | | |
The Ultimate Sports Guide is very appreciative to the ongoing contributions made by former staff photographer Kenny Karst and Robert Moselle. Mr. Karst, now retired, continues to contribute helpful ideas and his archives.
Mr. Moselle, Esq., is now lending his extensive editorial experience and marketing savvy to the publication.
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