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February 2 -- February 8, 2026
Issue No. 627
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Which 49er May Help the Patriots Win the
Super Bowl?
| | | New England Quarterback Drake Maye | | |
49er fans may recall a certain QB who played very well for San Francisco: an elusive runner who could pass effectively, but ultimately watched Brock Purdy take the reins. Who is this helmeted man, now a backup QB for the New England Patriots? It is Joshua Dobbs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Dobbs
With reports of issues with Drake Maye, if called in to action Dobbs has the skill set to befuddle the Seahawks. In 2024, with Purdy sidelined and the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention, Dobbs started the season finale against the Cardinals and threw for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions and rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown in the 47–24 road loss. In 2025, Dobbs signed a two-year, $8 million contract with New England, his ninth NFL team, to serve as the backup behind Drake Maye. That's a lot of dough for someone they never expected to play. He just "Maye" get his chance.
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NFL Hall of Fame Gate: The REAL Story!
Television sports talk personalities played Defense Attorneys all week as they raged over the failure of NFL Hall of Fame voters to admit Bill Belichick to the NFL's Hall of Fame in the first-round. Their rage and fury was intense and unanimous as they tried to minimize two of the NFL's most scandalous episodes: Spygate and Deflategate, both which occurred while Belichick was coach of the New England Patriots. The reasons for the first-vote denial were not spelled out by the NFL, pursuant to their rules, but sports talk folks all agreed the scandals were major factors.
Spygate: Read Wikipedia, below, for the full, repulsive story: In a nutshell, it was discovered that the New England Patriots were videotaping opposing coaches' signals during games under head coach Bill Belichick.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spygate_(NFL)
Deflategate Gate: Once more, read for the full, repulsive story in Wikipedia: (alleged: Patriots QB Tom Brady ordered deliberate deflation of footballs which were used in the Patriots' victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Championship Game):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deflategate#:~:text=The Deflategate scandal was a,that New England Patriots quarterback
But only here at Sports Today do we have the REAL REASON Belichick's induction was denied!
--- SCROLL BELOW TO FIND OUT! ---
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Applause!
Loved Andy Dolich's article on Greenland. He should write for SNL! (To enjoy, click Sports Today -- #626)
Steven Cornell
Oakland, CA
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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
In this issue we have updated our Facebook Albums link. Check here to see if your favorite team was covered and enjoy the exceptional photo coverage from our exceptional photographers:
https://conta.cc/49DptcC
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Contents
Games
Cal Bears (WBkB) 80, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 69
Stanford Open, 326.450 for First Place
Features & Commentary
Brodie Gave Franchise Its First Success, by Dave Newhouse
Jordan Bell, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Ohio University's Sports Management Program at 60, by Andy Dolich
Recognizing Alex Pretti, by Howard Pearlstein
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
| | Founded in 1804, Ohio University was the first university established in the former Northwest Territory and enrolls about 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students in Athens, Ohio | | | |
Ohio University's Sports Management Program at 60
by Andy Dolich
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It is a unique coincidence that Ohio University's Sports Management Program is celebrating their 60th anniversary as the first graduate program in America along with the 60th Super Bowl.
Walter O’Malley was a man of many talents. He was a baseball business pioneer, as owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He envisioned the expansion of major league baseball to the West Coast when the farthest west team was the St. Louis Cardinals.
He convinced the New York Giants to go West with him in 1958 and built one of baseball’s finest ballparks in Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers and success have gone ball in glove for decades.
O’Malley also played a pivotal role in the creation of the country’s first Sports Administration Program at Ohio University.
In the early 1950s O’Malley approached Dr. Clifford Brownell at Columbia University about creating a graduate program that would teach students about contract negotiation, facilities management, promotion, ticket sales and broadcasting, which could create more efficient and professionally run sports organizations like his Brooklyn Dodgers.
With the Dodgers moving West, the program never materialized at Columbia. Dr. James Mason, who received his doctoral degree at Columbia, moved on to Athens, Ohio. He took O’Malley’s revolutionary concept and brought it to life, founding the first Sports Administration Program in America at Ohio University in 1966. Over the next six decades, the program has produced 2,200 business professionals that worked/work in the world of sports.
The recollection below is from a 1988 Ohio University graduate and a perfect example of the program's impact.
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Elliott Hill, Ohio University, class of 1988.
Nike, President and CEO
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I knew I wanted to work in the world of sports but I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. I went to work for the Dallas Cowboys. Billy Hicks, an OU graduate who was working for the Cowboys, informed me about the program and helped me focus on applying.
I wrote a paper on Nike in my sports marketing class. I listened to Tim Joyce, an OU alum and Nike sales leader talk on campus. I met with him after the class and pestered him for three months. He hired me on June 1, 1988.
I would not be where I am today without the Ohio University network opening doors and identifying opportunities in my career journey.
-- Elliott Hill
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Jess Smith, Ohio University, class of 2015.
President of the Golden State Valkyries
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Ohio University served as the foundational bedrock for my professional identity, offering a rare blend of academic rigor and a safe-to-fail environment where I could authentically refine my leadership style. Within the red-brick halls of Athens, I was empowered to experiment with different management approaches, learning how to lead with both empathy and strategic effectiveness before stepping onto the global stage. This development was fueled by the university’s unmatched network, which felt less like a directory and more like a lifelong kinship of mentors and peers.
Perhaps most impactful is the Ohio University Sports Business community; it is a powerhouse that transcends geographic borders, connecting me to a global brotherhood and sisterhood of industry leaders. Whether in locker rooms, front offices, or international agencies, the "Bobcat" name acts as a universal key, proving that while my journey began in a small Ohio town, the community I built there spans the entire globe.
-- Jess Smith
| Andy Dolich, Ohio University, Class of 1971 | |
Having worked in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, I was reminded every day in every way that without teamwork, leadership and trust the loftiest goals of any organization often fail.
The women and men of the Ohio University Program have dealt with all manner of local, regional, national and global sports challenges and opportunities over the past 60 years with professionalism, grit, agility, creativity and class.
Sport provides one of the last Town Squares of civility and unity in a divided world. It can serve as a positive force of nature in our daily lives. Those of us from Ohio University are proud to play a role.
-- Andy Dolich
| | | | Andy Dolich operates Dolich & Associates, a sports consultancy, in Los Altos. A local resident, Dolich has more than 50 years of experience as an executive in professional sports, working with the Oakland A's, San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, and hockey and soccer teams. Dolich is also the co-author of Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and from Triumph Books. For earlier articles by Andy Dolich published in Sports Today! click HERE. | | |
Cal Bears 80
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 69
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Thursday, January 29, 2026
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John Brodie was a Stanford All-American, an NFL All-Pro,
and league MVP during a 17-year career in San Francisco
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Brodie Gave
Franchise Its
First Success
by Dave Newhouse
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The date was Dec. 27, 1970. The site was a roofless stadium in Minneapolis. The weather was eight degrees, but minus-five with the windchill factor. The oddsmakers favored the hometown Vikings, seeking a repeat Super Bowl appearance.
Their opponent was the San Francisco 49ers, who hadn’t yet won an NFL postseason game, but now must do so in Yukon-esque wintry dog-sled race conditions.
Then a strange sight occurred, the 49ers quarterback running onto the field wearing a short sleeve jersey cut off at the elbows. John Brodie was sending a message: We’re here to win, not to get a suntan.
Linebacker Skip Vanderbundt hasn’t ever forgotten Brodie’s bravado that day.
“One of the greatest competitors I’ve ever seen,” he said of Brodie.
“He had no fear of failure. He was kind of a God to me, sitting up on a pedestal. I always had no fear as long as we had John.”
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Brodie and teammate Dave Wilcox celebrate the 49ers’ first division title in 1970 after defeating the Raiders, 38-7,
in Oakland, where Brodie grew up
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Brodie threw one touchdown pass that day and sneaked into the end zone for another, providing just enough cushion for a 17-14 Niners victory. I remember it well, catching the flu in the press box.
The 49ers’ moment of glory was fleeting, losing to Dallas the next Sunday and also the following two years in the playoffs. But Cowboys coach Tom Landry said of Brodie: “I marvel at the way he has mastered the art of quarterback.”
Brodie died of a lingering stroke condition on Jan. 23 in Solana Beach, CA. He was 90, having battled the stroke, which impacted his physicality and speech, for a quarter century. Typically Brodie, never giving up.
Fullback Ken Willard relished being Brodie’s teammate, though focusing on receptions before rushes in their relationship.
“He threw the type of pass, a soft ball, that’s easy to catch, throwing it where it saved the receiver from getting hurt,” said Willard. “He had all the attributes a quarterback should have. Against the Rams, he’d get in the huddle and say, ‘Come on, fellas, let’s have some fun.’ He was so solid, always in command.”
He even carried himself that way as a stroke victim.
“The past 25 years since his stroke have been amazing with his determination and constant work to get better,” his wife, Sue, said for this publication. “Quite an adventure, and he never let it interfere with his love for life and his friends and family.
“We met in a class at Stanford. I was 17, he was 18. We have been married almost 69 years. I guess I should write a book.”
It would be some read. Sue built a highly respected real estate business in Palm Springs. And there were so many components to John’s life, including his five children with Sue.
However, John is the only pro football player to win a major tournament on the pro golf tour. He was a natural athlete.
| | Brodie, while in high school at Oakland Tech, won a city basketball championship while building the foundation of his football legacy | | |
He grew up in Oakland, where he was a city champion as a boy on the tennis courts. An all-around athlete at Oakland Technical High School, he even guarded the taller Bill Russell in basketball games against McClymonds High. “He couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn back then,“ a laughing Brodie said of the still-developing Russell.
Brodie was an All-American quarterback at Stanford, while also a member of the golf team. The 49ers made him the third overall pick of the 1957 NFL draft. But the franchise was quarterback crazy back then, drafting the likes of Earl Morrall, Brodie, George Mira, Steve Spurrier, Billy Kilmer, etc., because management felt that quarterbacks sold tickets. Thus the team’s defense suffered, especially during the 1960s, a disastrous decade.
So Brodie’s winning three NFL passing titles went for naught until the 1970s, when the team finally came together and Brodie was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1970. Somehow he lasted 17 seasons with the 49ers, a franchise record, though he almost was a Houston Oiler.
| | Brodie excelled at football and golf at Stanford before becoming the first, and only, NFL player to ever win a major golf tournament. | | |
Before the National Football League and American Football League merged in 1970, there was a raid on NFL players from the upstart AFL. The Oilers pursued Brodie, writing the terms of an agreement, between $650,000 and one million dollars, on a cocktail napkin. That night in his hotel room, Brodie needed to blow his nose, and used that very same cocktail napkin before flushing it down the toilet. True story, which the Oilers never learned about, and the statute of limitations is no longer applicable.
After the merger, the 49ers paid Brodie $900,000, another big payday in an era of generally limited wealth for players.
Brodie shared some of his financial fortune with the Church of Scientology, which he later disavowed.
The only thing missing from his gridiron life was inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which favors Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks. And Brodie never played in a Super Bowl, though he was the equal of some quarterback inductees in Canton, Ohio.
“If ever an individual deserved to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it’s John,” said Willard. “He deserves it as much as anyone who’s been inducted. What could be more fitting for his family."
Even if that happens after he has passed on, it’s never too late.
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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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Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Open
Burnham Pavilion, Stanford, CA
Saturday, January 24, 2026
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San Francisco Giants Harrison Bader
Bader heads to Giants on
2-year deal
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.
The Giants’ outfield defense ranked among the worst in the Majors in 2025, but the unit received a significant boost now that a Gold Glove-winning center fielder is in the fold.
Outfielder Harrison Bader signed a two-year contract, which was announced on Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced, but it's reportedly for $20.5 million.
Jung Hoo Lee has served as the Giants’ starting center fielder since signing a six-year, $113 million deal in December 2023, but he’s likely to shift to a corner spot to accommodate Bader, who has accumulated 76 outs above average since 2018, easily the most among all outfielders. With Kevin Kiermaier retired, Toronto’s Daulton Varsho (55 OAA) is the closest outfielder to Bader over that span.
continued...
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Athletics Leo De Vries
Top prospect De Vries headlines
A's crop of non-roster invites
to spring camp
The Athletics have announced 31 non-roster invitees to Spring Training for the 2026 season. The list includes 18 players that were in the A’s organization at the end of the 2025 campaign and 13 free agents that signed minor league deals following the season.
Heading the group of non-roster invitees are the three Athletics in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospect List released last week: infielder Leo De Vries (No. 4), left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold (No. 41) and left-handed pitcher Gage Jump (No. 57). De Vries was acquired from San Diego in the Mason Miller deal at the 2025 Trade Deadline and made his Double-A debut at Midland last year at the age of 19. He batted a combined .255 with 28 doubles, eight triples, 15 home runs, 74 RBI, 11 stolen bases and an .806 OPS in 118 games with Midland in addition to the Padres and A’s Single-A affiliates at Fort Wayne and Lansing.
Arnold was the A’s first round selection and 11th pick overall in the 2025 Draft. He did not pitch professionally last year after going 21-10 with a save and a 3.61 ERA in 58 games, including 41 starts, in three seasons with Florida State. Jump was drafted in 2024 and was named A’s Organizational Pitcher of the Year after compiling a 9-7 record, 3.28 ERA and .598 opponents OPS in 26 games, including 24 starts, with Lansing and Midland.
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Ballers Fam and Community,
We want to invite you to be part of something meaningful.
This February, we are coming together in West Oakland to move with purpose, honor history, and care for one another. The first annual Freedom Run and Community Wellness Festival is a moment to show up for our health, our neighbors, and our shared future.
FREEDOM RUN + COMMUNITY WELLNESS FESTIVAL
Raimondi Park, West Oakland
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Freedom Run 5K
9:00AM to 10:00AM
Run or walk. All fitness levels welcome.
Community Wellness Festival
10:00AM to 3:00PM
Free. All ages. Open to everyone.
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Organized in partnership with the Oakland Ballers and the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network, the Freedom Run is a 5K run and walk through West Oakland that highlights historic Black Panther Party landmarks. This is more than a race. It is a symbolic journey that represents the ongoing fight for freedom, justice, and health equity.
Run registration is offered on a sliding scale with tiered contributions so everyone can participate. Every registration directly supports the modern survival programs of the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network and helps make this event possible.
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San Jose Earthquakes Sign UEFA Champions League Winner Timo Werner as Designated Player
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes announced today they have acquired Timo Werner from German Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig on a permanent transfer and signed him to a Designated Player contract through June 2028. The German international comes to Major League Soccer as the biggest signing in Earthquakes history following a distinguished European career that includes a UEFA Champions League title and a parade of trophies at virtually every level. Werner, who will occupy an International Roster Slot, will officially join the Earthquakes pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
San Jose acquired the forward’s Discovery Priority from Red Bull New York in exchange for $50,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money (GAM).
“We're excited about signing Timo Werner,” said Earthquakes Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena. “I think he'll be an excellent acquisition for our team, and we’re really looking forward to him coming to San Jose. To have a player of Timo’s caliber coming in is simply outstanding for the club and the community. I believe he'll offer us quality on the field, experience and leadership.”
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Oakland Fútbol is for EVERYONE,
and EVERYONE is welcome in Oakland.
IT'S ALMOST TIME! The 2026 Oakland Roots season drops soon with a jam-packed schedule of themes and celebrations, including:
‘Oakland Roots Home Opener’
(Fireworks + Special Performances)
7 PM PT, Saturday, 3/14 vs. New Mexico United
‘AAPI Heritage’ Night
7 PM PT, Saturday, 5/9 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC
‘KPOP’ Night
7 PM PT, Saturday 7/25 vs. Sacramento Republic FC
‘Conoce Tus Raices’ Night
7 PM PT, Saturday 9/26 vs. Phoenix Rising FC
The best way to experience it all? A Roots Season Ticket Membership at the Oakland Coliseum. Enjoy professional soccer, community, and culture all season long with our flexible ticket exchange, exclusive Member events, and so much more!
Check out the theme nights schedule and times below for more information.
| | | | |
COUNTDOWN TO SINGLE MATCH TICKETS
Your Insider pre-sale for single match tickets starts in 4 days! Stay tuned for your
exclusive code
| | |
GET SINGLE MATCH
GROUP TICKETS
Take your matchday to the next level with exclusive group experience -- get closer to the action, snap a group photo, and create memories that last
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The Valkyries 2026 season schedule, presented by Kaiser Permanente, is officially here. What began as a statement year is evolving into something even bigger. From electric matchups to can't-miss home dates, this season builds on last year’s success while opening the door to what’s next.
New season. New opportunities. Same relentless energy.
Be sure to keep an eye out for mini-plans and
single-game ticket announcements!
| | |
Keep an eye out for upcoming mini-plans and single-game tickets. Want a more personalized experience? Email us at ticketing@valkyries.com to connect with a dedicated account representative.
continued...
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"Join us for Great Food, Great Beer and a Great Time."
We are located one block from the Moscone Convention Center, only a short walk from many of downtown San Francisco's familiar hotels, attractions, and diverse businesses. Open Monday through Thursday 4pm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12pm. Come by and raise a glass with us. Sláinte!
www.thechieftain.com
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Recognizing Alex Pretti
by Howard Pearlstein
One of the reasons we watch sports on TV is that sports are among the few things TV offers us in which the story we see is not scripted and the outcome is not predetermined by a writer, producer, sponsors, et al. It’s something actually happening out there in the real world.
And sometimes there are other events which show us the real world without much packaging.
This is about seeing the photos of Alex Pretti, a ICU nurse who died in the conflict that has been ongoing in Minneapolis, and why they touched me so deeply.
I’d seen that face before, maybe a dozen times in my life. Sometimes on a man or a woman, white or black or brown, each time in or after a moment of crisis.
I saw that smile looking up from a gurney on my way into the emergency room after being delivered to Alta Bates or Sutter Hospital by ambulance. I saw that face walking in or being wheelchaired in from the waiting room. I saw that face recently on several nurses while in a post-hospitalization Skilled Nursing Facility, the most memorable was repeatedly on the face of a tall black woman from West Africa who’d smile and slip me a
thumbs up every time she saw me. I remember seeing that face when I was 14 on my way into University Hospital in Philly for an emergency appendectomy.
It was the face of a nurse we all have seen, a person saw who understood you were in crisis, confused, perhaps in pain, not knowing quite where you were, neither here nor there but in transit.
There are a lot of things a nurse does for a patient, from administering drugs to cleaning up piss from a fall on an unwise attempt to walk to the toilet.
But there is one thing some, many, if not most of them do, what I think of as the Angelic Function – what with doctors is sometimes called “Bedside manner.”
A nurse who leans in to tell you: “It’s ok. You’re here. We’ve got you. Don’t worry -- we’re gonna take care of you. Don’t
worry.”
How much more so, Alex Pretti, as a nurse in a VA hospital with patients who already know how easy it was to get lost the organizational anonymity of military service.
And there he was, being a social activist, taking video of the chaos and violence going on in his community. But then, when a woman was pushed, fell into a snowbank, he immediately went back
into his nurse identity, turned away from what he was doing to lean over, reach for her, and – I imagine – saying “Don’t worry. I’ve got you…” before being pulled away.
So yeah, I feel bad about everyone injured or killed in the insanity that follows any clash of points of view, but I admit, recognizing that silly angelic smile I’d seen so many times, telling me so many times not to worry, it was going to be ok, that one reached out
beyond the screen to touch who I am and made me cry.
* * *
Howard Pearlstein is a curmudgeon wannabe, but as the prototypical American curmudgeon himself (H.L. Mencken) allowed in his old age: “When the arteries get hard, the heart gets soft.” Becoming a soft-hearted curmudgeon is his ideal.
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Jordan Bell -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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Former Golden State Warriors Jordan Bell used to endorse a Body Armor sports drink when I was a photographer for the company. We met at one of his public appearances and did a quick
photo shoot with the drinks.
After the shoot, he signed this mini basketball for me.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 169: Deion Sanders' Fines Highlight the NCAA's Employment Problem
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
| | |
When Colorado Football and Deion Sanders announced a fine schedule for player misconduct, which includes that being late to practice costs $500, missing a film session runs $2,000, and social misconduct can hit $5,000, the immediate reaction focused on accountability and discipline. After all, the Buffaloes finished 3-9 in 2025, and Sanders needed to establish standards. But by treating college athletes like NFL players subject to workplace fines, Sanders may have just handed employment advocates their most compelling piece of evidence yet.
Michael McCann breaks down the legal implications this week. The NFL has a collectively bargained fine schedule in its collective bargaining agreement. Players and the NFLPA negotiate these workplace terms, such as monetary penalties for being overweight, failing to report injuries, and losing playbooks. It's lawful because it's the product of collective bargaining between employees and management, protected by the non-statutory labor exemption from antitrust scrutiny.
Sanders doesn't have that luxury. He's not operating under a CBA. There's no union representing his players. And critically, college athletes aren't recognized as employees. At least not yet. So where exactly does his authority to impose monetary fines come from?
It doesn't come from faculty handbooks, which don't permit professors to fine students for missing class. It doesn't come from student-athlete handbooks, which don't contemplate monetary penalties for athletes. It might exist in NIL deals or revenue-share agreements, but as McCann points out, neither of those frameworks is intended to represent an employment relationship. NIL is a subset of the right of publicity. Revenue-sharing reflects a cut of media, ticket, and sponsorship revenue. Neither authorizes a workplace fine system.
The substance-over-form argument doesn't help Sanders either. If we're being honest, NIL and revenue share in major college football do resemble pay-to-play. But acknowledging that only strengthens the case for athlete employment status, which brings additional costs like health care and retirement benefits that schools desperately want to avoid.
Here's where Josh Wright's commentary becomes relevant. Wright framed the endgame succinctly: "1. Congress saves NCAA model with an antitrust exemption and set aside for Olympic sports. 2. Employees, unions, CBA. 3. NIL and contract law rule." His observation? "The NCAA and colleges can't help themselves from constantly pushing toward 2 while praying for 1."
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Earns Prestigious 2025 IMSA
Golden Ticket Award
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is proud to announce it has been named the recipient of the 2025 IMSA Golden Ticket Award, an honor recognizing excellence among IMSA’s premier Promoter Partners and North America’s top racing venues.
This honor marks the second major event recognition for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s 2025 season, following the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion being named Motorsport Event of the Year at the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards. Together, the awards underscore the Raceway’s growing momentum and commitment to delivering world-class events across multiple racing disciplines.
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San Francisco Unicorns Appoint
Cameron White as Head Coach
Proven leader and ex-Australia international promoted and given year-round remit to guide Unicorns to success
in fourth Major League Cricket season
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (JANUARY 26, 2026) — The San Francisco Unicorns today announced the appointment of Cameron White to the role of Head Coach, rising from his previous position as Assistant Coach.
The former batting all-rounder, who represented Australia in all three formats and captained them in both T20 and ODI formats, while also being the youngest ever Australian to captain their state, was part of the Unicorns’ setup during the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season. In his capacity as Assistant Coach, White earned plaudits for his tactical acumen and commitment to developing domestic talent in training environments. White succeeds his countryman Shane Watson, who led the Unicorns through their first three seasons.
Alongside his existing commitments as Head Coach to BBL side Melbourne Renegades, White will play a new, year-round, hands-on role with the Unicorns’ franchise in preparation for the 2026 MLC season, taking the lead on performance decisions, underpinned by the team’s proprietary data-led approach, for the league’s fourth edition long before players arrive for camp.
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REGISTRATION OPENS FOR THE
2026 ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES
| |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—The Notice of Race is posted and registration is open for the 62nd edition of Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California. In addition to four days of highly competitive racing in select classes, this year’s event also serves as the 2026 ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) North American Championship.
Scheduled for September 16-20, 2026, this iconic regatta, held on the challenging waters of San Francisco Bay in the shadow of Golden Gate Bridge, invites the following to compete:
- One design boats of the J/88, J/105 and Express 37 classes. Other classes with a minimum number of entries may be considered with application to the Organizing Authority.
-
ORC monohulls with a LOA ≥ 30 feet. ORC boats are required to have a current valid ORC International certificate issued by any national rating office. US boats can apply HERE.
- Classic boats built using traditional wooden plank-on-frame construction with a LOA ≥ 40 feet and a current ORRez rating certificate. For the avoidance of doubt, cold-molded construction boats shall not qualify.
| Sports Today Letters continued... | |
The REAL Reason Belichick
HOF Voters Rejected His
First-Ballot Admission
| |
You don't need a Ph.D. in Psychology to figure it out:
Just an awareness of the makeup of the voters:
Jealous, sanctimonious people angry that Belichick's
all-too-human desire for personal happiness somehow besmirched "The Hall" as a bastion of truth,
honor and the American way.
To quote Rod Stewart: "Every Picture Tells a Story" don't It?
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
Marketing Director, Ultimate Sports Guide
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertamoselle/
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Gisella Maul driving to the hoop against Louisville.
Cal Comes Up Short Against
No. 7 Louisville
Gisella Maul Scores Career-High 19 Points
Playing without starters Taylor Barnes and Puff Morris, the California women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 7 Louisville before ultimately losing 71-59 at Haas Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. Gisella Maul, who had a career-high 19 points, hit a 3-pointer that gave the Golden Bears (13-10, 4-6 ACC) the lead midway through the third quarter and they stayed within striking distance the whole game, but the Cardinals (21-3, 11-0) were able to answer with timely runs. Down just six points with 8:41 left in the game, the Bears gave up an 8-0 run and were unable to get any closer.
Joining Maul in double-figure scoring was Mjracle Sheppard with 13 points (on 5-of-7) and Sakima Walker who had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
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Photo: Robert Edwards
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Men’s Tennis Beats USC, Sweeps
LA Schools at Home
No. 3 Stanford posted a 4-1 win over No. 22 USC
STANFORD, Calif. – No. 3 Stanford men’s tennis wrapped up its six-game homestand to open the spring schedule with six wins, downing No. 22 USC, 4-1, at Arrillaga Tennis Center-Taube Pavilion.
The sweep of USC and UCLA is the second in a row for Stanford, which posted a road sweep a year ago in Los Angeles. Stanford improves to 70-79 all-time against USC, and it has reached 30 consecutive wins on The Farm dating back to April 7, 2023.
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Spartans Victorious Sunday,
Four Win Event Titles
SAN JOSE, Calif.—Four San José State women’s gymnasts won event titles as the Spartans scored a season-high 195.900 Sunday afternoon to win a tri-meet over Southern Utah and Texas Woman’s inside the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
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Kaviana Jurries won her third consecutive vault title, and Sophie Patterson won her first vault title as both scored a 9.850.
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Genesis PeBenito won her first beam event title with a season-high 9.900, the highest individual score by a gymnast in the meet.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
WTEN | Gaels Fall to Hornets 6-1
in Saturday Afternoon Affair
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Saint Mary's dropped their first dual of the spring season Saturday afternoon, falling 6-1 to Sacramento State who was picked to win the Big Sky after claiming the league title in back-to-back seasons.
Madison Weekley prevented a shutout for the Gaels, defeating Emilija Pranyte 7-6 6-2 to move herself to 2-0 in singles play this season. First-year Gael Elif Tuana Gunal nearly forced a third set in her dual but dropped the tiebreaker 7-6 to fall to Reese Walker in the number one position.
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Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
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Women's Basketball Travels to Oregon State on Saturday
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (13-8, 6-4) makes its final trip to Corvallis as it takes on Oregon State (16-6, 8-1) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, at Gill Coliseum.
GAME 22 DETAILS:
Opponent: Oregon State (16-6, 8-1)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. PT
Location: Corvallis, Ore. / Gill Coliseum
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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Photo: Christina Leung
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Redza Secures 3-all Clincher over Oregon in Collegiate Singles Debut
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Freshman mid-year enrollee Ferran Redza made a splash in his collegiate singles debut coming through with a 3-all clincher for Santa Clara men's tennis over Oregon on a sunny afternoon at the Degheri Tennis Center. Redza who was originally not in the singles lineup was inserted in by head coach Niall Angus after the doubles play and he came through big with a straight set victory over Cameron Burton 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-2) to complete the Broncos 4-3 comeback win.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Tigers Fall in Home Bout
Against Nevada
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific women's tennis program dropped a
4-0 match to Nevada at the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center on Sunday morning.
Defeats on doubles courts two and three gave the Tigers (0-4) an uphill battle going into singles and showed great fight despite not being able to secure any courts. Junior Nahreen Cheam erased a first set loss on court four to lead 2-1 in set three when play was suspended. Fellow junior Rayna Sugai was locked in a set three battle when play was suspended while junior Milena Maiorova on court one had just entered a tiebreaker on court one to try and force a deciding third set.
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Equestrian: Anna Donovan and Lauren Kolbe Claim Second MOP Honors of the Week in 13–6
Setback to Fresno State
FRESNO, Calif. — Anna Donovan and Lauren Kolbe each earned their second MOP honor of the week with standout performances in Flat and Fences, but despite the Aggies' grit, UC Davis equestrian fell to Fresno State, 13–6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lauren Kolbe opened the meet in Fences, securing the Aggies' first point with an outstanding 85 aboard Jewel and earning MOP honors after posting the highest score of the event. Anna Donovan followed with a solid 82 on Wasco to add a second point for UC Davis. Freshman Cavan Smith closed the event with a competitive 77 aboard Grayson, finishing just one point shy of her opponent. Despite the Aggies' impressive rides, Fresno State narrowly took the event, 3–2.
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| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Quintero Pitches Outstanding in No. 17 Pioneers' Sunday Shutout
IRVINE, Calif. — No. 17 Cal State East Bay closed the final day of the 2026 Concordia Kickoff Classic in emphatic fashion Sunday morning, rolling to an 8-0, five-inning win over Chaminade at Great Park. Behind dominant pitching from Marissa Quintero and a decisive six-run fourth inning, the Pioneers earned a run-rule victory to cap the opening weekend and improve to 4-1 overall.
After two and one-half scoreless innings, East Bay broke through in the bottom of the third. Jasmyn Morales jump-started the offense with an RBI double, and Cynthia Carrillo followed with another run-scoring double to left-center, giving the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage.
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Photo: Catharyn Hayne/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."
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, February 2, through
Sunday, February 8, 2026
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Monday, February 2
San Jose Sharks @ Chicago Blackhawks, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 3
Golden State Warriors vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, February 4
Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Colorado Avalanche, 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 5
Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns, 7 p.m.
Friday, February 6
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 7
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers, 5:30 p.m.
Sacramento Kings vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 8
Super Bowl LX: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots, 3:30 p.m.
| | |
Publisher: Christopher Weills
Associate Publisher: Ann Cooke
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Sales: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Lydia Chain, Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Dave Newhouse, 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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