January 27-- February 3, 2025

Issue No. 574

Inspiration: Carl Macki

Letters to the Editor

Keys to the City --

ANY CITY!

Kudos to Madison Keys!

On Saturday, America's Madison Keys triumphed over World No. 1 tennis player Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open Final. It was Madison's first Grand Slam title and the 29-year-old earned it with power, confidence and cool.

In a fit of fury which would make Russia's Medvedev jealous, after the traditional post-match handshake Sabalenka violently smashed her racket to bits. Conversely, the first person Madison Keys sent a message to after she had won the title was her mother.

“Because,” a smiling Keys said, “of course you have to text Mom first.”

To claim the trophy, Madison also had to beat No. 2-ranked Iga Swiatek, a rare accomplishment. Her focus, strong ground game, and determination won the day and scored a major victory for U.S.A. tennis.

Madison with a "Keys to the City" smile!

Kristen LaRue

San Francisco, CA

Math in the Mix

Nineteen-year-old tennis star Learner Tien (Issue #573, https://conta.cc/3WpR8XF) is proving that math runs in the family—putting the integer 'ten' in tennis into an algorithm of wins that his math-teacher mom would love. Cheers.

Carl Macki

Fairfax, CA

Fond Uecker Memories

Nice to see Bob Uecker in the latest edition. (Issue #573, https://conta.cc/3WpR8XF.) Brewers fans were so lucky to have him calling their games. With a 162 games, regular listeners/viewers start to regard the person behind the microphone as a friend. And those Miller Lite "I must be in the FRONT row" commercials... priceless!

Chris Monaghan

Chicago, IL

time59.com

Contents

Games

Cal Bears (MBkB) 98, Miami Hurricanes 94 (overtime)

Cal Bears (MBkB) 77, Florida State Seminoles 68

Saint Mary's Gaels (MBkB) 71, USF Dons 51

Stanford Cardinal (WGYM) -- 197.025, North Carolina State -- 195.925

Features & Commentary

49ers' 2025 Prospectus: Stayin' Alive, by Dave Newhouse

Bruce Jenner, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee

Golden State's Dutch Masters, by Robert Moselle

I Moved Dave to a New House, by Andy Dolich

Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.

The Dubs Are Alright. Maybe. I Think So..., by Howard Pearlstein

Organizations

A's

Bay Area Falcons

Bay Area Panthers

Bay FC

Cal Bears

Cal State University East Bay

Golden State Warriors

Oakland Ballers

Oakland Roots SC

Oakland Soul SC

Oakland Spiders

Saint Mary's College Gaels

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Nighthawks

San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose State Spartans

Santa Clara Broncos

SF City

Sonoma Raceway

St. Francis Yacht Club

Stanford Cardinal

UC Davis Aggies

University of Pacific Tigers

USF Dons

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna

Seca

Turnaround Uncertain

A sixth Super Bowl trophy has eluded the 49ers

and their fans

49ers' 2025

Prospectus:

Stayin' Alive

by Dave Newhouse

The Bay Area’s biggest sports question: Are the San Francisco 49ers capable of a quick turnaround or is the National Football League about to pass them by again?

The 49ers slumped badly this season with a 6-11 record, sinking to last in the NFC West. Their Faithful fandom may regard this as a one-year aberration, envisioning a Super Bowl next season, for they’ve become accustomed to such success.

With valid reason, I might add, as the 49ers have played in three Super Bowls since 2011 along with seven NFC title games —although 0-3 in the former, 3-4 in the latter. But that overall 3-7 record can't stop the Faithful from hoping, faithfully.

The San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl parade in 1989

So what will it be next fall, an immediate return to past glory or a continued downslide? The evidence weighs more heavily on a downslide than a postseason return. Several factors bear the most overall importance.

The 49ers offense isn’t the same without Christian McCaffrey in the backfield. He runs, he catches, he throws, he blocks, he returns kicks. Without him most of this past season, the 49ers lost all five of those components. But McCaffrey isn’t a big running back like Derrick Henry of Baltimore, so it remains to be seen how much longer this Stanford alum can be a marquee player while taking similar punishment.

McCaffrey is key to an offensive re-charge, but the 49ers need to get their heads turned around as much as their bodies. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is first up in this regard. He acted strange in training camp last year, wearing his own colored jersey in practice, before an injury sidelined him for most of the season.

Christian McCaffrey missed most of the 2024 season after

being placed on injured reserve

But player contracts also have been a deterrent. Offensive tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa regressed as All-Pro players as late-arriving holdouts. More team slippage to deal with for head coach Kyle Shanahan.

There’s a lot of blame to go around, including the front office, which gave away the front-office safe to pay quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, who are no longer around. Now quarterback Brock Purdy wants to be paid royally as well. He deserves such a boost, for he WAS the offense in 2024.

The 49ers had only one first-team All Pro this season, linebacker Fred Warner, another indicator of the franchise’s regression. Placekicker Jake Moody had a fall-off year, though injuries impacted his accuracy. And the 49ers secondary is a far cry from the days of Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Deion Sanders.

So there’s a lot of work ahead for the 49ers. They’ve been in the playoff hunt long enough that they can’t overlook player drop-offs because of advancing age. But, truthfully, some of their recent No. 1 picks have been busts, such as defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Clelin Ferrell. Thus there is as much focus of success in the drafting room as on the playing field.

And as if the 49ers didn’t already have enough concerns, their No. 1 pick from a year ago, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, was shot during a shopping excursion in Union Square. Luckily, the bullet passed through his chest without hitting any major arteries, and Pearsall played well over the last month of the season.

The 49ers have been at the top of the league or at the bottom in their 79-year history. Yes, they’ve won five Super Bowls in eight appearances, but their post-season record of 39-25 is a notch below dominant.

San Francisco can rise again in 2025 if they draft smartly and sign role-filling free agents. This is a team that once had Joe Montana and Steve Young at the same time, therefore little wonder why they kept winning Super Bowls.

And 49er veterans shouldn’t think only of their wallets. Wealth is a goal, but so is winning, which is more achievable if players get to camp on time, offering the image of a team atmosphere.

The 49ers had better start looking like a t-e-a-m, or the NFL will pass them bye again next autumn.

* * * * *

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.

Baseball From A to Z

I Moved Dave to a New House

by Andy Dolich

Don Zimmer, 1989 NL Manager of the Year

Dave Newhouse recently penned a piece on January 6th in which he selected Major League Baseball's 10 Greatest Non-Pitchers. He named three teams, including managers.

Dave is as knowledgeable as anyone when it comes to the National Pastime and his Teams of Ten made me think about the alphabet. Yes, who are the 26 greatest players in the history of the Game alphabetically. (I will include pitchers since Sandy Koufax was my first baseball hero.) To make matters simpler or more confusing I’m going with last names.

Please enjoy picking it apart.

Baseball's 10 Greatest Non-Pitchers

by Dave Newhouse

(Sports Today, Issue #571)

Dave's Team A

Honus Wagner

Ty Cobb

Babe Ruth

Lou Gehrig

Ted Williams

Stan Musial

Willie Mays

Mickey Mantle

Hank Aaron

Rickey

Henderson

Dave's Team B

Rogers Hornsby

Joe DiMaggio

Jackie Robinson

Roberto

Clemente

Ernie Banks

Pete Rose

Brooks

Robinson

Cal Ripken, Jr.

Johnny Bench

Tony Gwynn

DaDve's Team C

George Sisler

Jimmie Foxx

Yogi Berra

Roy Campanella

Al Kaline

Rod Carew

WIllie McCovey

Joe Morgan

Derek Jeter

Ichiro Suzuki

* * * * * *

Hal Newhouser made Andy Dolich's Alphabetical

All-Time All-Stars list

Andy's Alphabetical All-Time MLB

All-Stars (by last name)

A -- Hank Aaron

B -- Barry Bonds

C -- Ty Cobb

D -- Joe DiMaggio

E -- Dennis Eckersley

F -- Bob Feller

G -- Lou Gehrig

H -- Rickey Henderson

I -- Monte Irvin

J -- Reggie Jackson

K -- Sandy Koufax

L -- Nap Lajoie

M -- Willie Mays

N -- Hal Newhouser

O -- Mel Ott

P -- Albert Pujols

Q -- Dan Quisenberry

R -- Babe Ruth

S -- Mike Schmidt

T -- Frank Thomas

U -- No HOFers, Bob Uecker-Ford Frick Award Winner

V -- Dazzy Vance

W -- Ted Williams

X -- No HOFers, Leovigildo Xiques

Y -- Cy Young

Z -- No HOFers, Don Zimmer

* * * * * *

Kung Fu Panda (aka Pablo Sandoval) is a beloved former

San Francisco Giant

The Alphabetical Nickname

Hall of Fame

A -- Arriba

B -- Babe

C -- Catfish

D -- Dizzy

E -- El Guapo

F -- Franchise

G -- Goose

H -- Hammerin Hank

I -- Iron Horse

J -- Junior

K -- Kung Fu Panda

L -- Little Louie

M -- Mr. October

N -- Nap

O -- Oil Can

P -- Polar Bear

Q -- Q

R -- Rapid Robert

S -- Say Hey Kid

T -- The Cobra

U -- Uncle

V -- Vladdy

W -- Wizard

X -- Double X

Y -- Yogi

Z -- Zack

* * *

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.

Don't Miss Our Next Issue!

Stanford Cardinal -- 197.025

North Carolina State -- 195.925

Maples Pavilion, Stanford, CA

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Junior Anna Roberts completes her bars dismount in the then-No. 18 Cardinal's 197.025-195.925 victory over No. 21 North Carolina State. Roberts scored a 9.925 to win the bars event title and was named ACC Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Caption by Maddie Gotreaux, Associate Director,

Communications, Stanford University. Photo by Rich Yee.

Freshman Jaime Dugan celebrates junior Anna Roberts after her floor performance dismount in the then-No. 18 Cardinal’s 197.025-195.925 victory over No. 21 NC State. Roberts scored a 9.925, good for first place on the event and was named ACC Gymnast of the Week on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Caption by Maddie Gotreaux, Associate Director,

Communications, Stanford University. Photo by Rich Yee.

Senior Brenna Neault and junior Claire Dean embrace after Neault’s beam routine in the then-No. 18 Cardinal’s 197.025-195.925 victory over No. 21 NC State. Neault matched her career-best score on the event with a 9.950 to bring home the beam title.

Caption by Maddie Gotreaux, Associate Director,

Communications, Stanford University. Photo by Rich Yee.

Junior Porsche Trinidad and the Cardinal gymnastics team celebrate freshman Alana Walker after her floor routine in the then-No. 18 Cardinal’s 197.025-195.925 victory over No. 21 NC State. Walker recorded a new career-best score of 9.875 and was named ACC Newcomer of the Week on Tuesday, Jan. 21 for her efforts in Stanford’s ACC dual-meet opener.

Caption by Maddie Gotreaux, Associate Director,

Communications, Stanford University. Photo by Rich Yee.

Junior Claire Dean completes her leap series in the leadoff position of the Cardinal’s beam rotation. Stanford totaled a new season-best team beam total of 49.375, the seventh-best beam team score in the nation in 2025. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.

Caption by Maddie Gotreaux, Associate Director,

Communications, Stanford University. Photo by Rich Yee.

Golden State Warriors

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn:

The Master of Dutch Baroque Painting

https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Night-Watch

Golden State's Dutch Masters

by Robert A. Moselle, Esq.

Holland in the 17th century was home to the most remarkable concentration of artistic talent in modern history, including masters such as Hals, Vermeer, and-of course-Rembrandt. Dutch Masters: Now, in San Francisco, there are two new Dutch Masters.

Meet Golden State's new Dutch Masters. However, these Masters do not work WITH paint, but IN the paint, and not with a brush, but with a large spherical object known as a Basketball. Meet Quinten Post and Gui Van Santos and others from the School of Golden State B-Ball.

Quinten Post

Gui Santos

Along with Stephen Van Gogh, Post and Van Santos combined for 60 points and 15 3-pointers as the Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls 131-106 at Chase Center on Thursday. Post (20 points, five 3-pointers) and Santos (19 points, five 3-pointers) each tallied career-highs in points and made 3-pointers. They headlined a second unit that accounted for 18 of the Warriors' 25 made threes and became the first bench duo in franchise history to each hit five threes in a game.

On Thursday, led by the Dutch Masters, the Warriors reclaimed their lofty status with Quinten and Gui each with five 3-pointers, aggressive defense, high-spirit and ball movement. Unleashed after worthy tutelage in Santa Cruz, Quinten and Gui also inspired fellow artists Moses Van Moody, Andrew Van Wiggins and Stephen Van Gogh to display their talents as Golden State cruised to victory after a 40-point loss to the Celtics.

Quinten Post, "The pride of Amsterdam." is a 24-year-old, 7'0", 244 lbs., Power Forward/C, Dutch professional player, who averaged 17 PPG at Boston College, 8.1 RPG, 1.7 Blocks per game, only 2.9 fouls per game, and is now the Warriors biggest player. He has now demonstrated, on the big stage, his extended range as a shooter. Gui Van Santos, although from Brazil, not Holland, is an international star who has developed his own style with the Brush and excels in all aspects of the game. These new artists have generated fresh excitement for fans who long for a Golden State Warriors Renaissance!

Robert A. Moselle, Esq.

https://www.cce-mcle.com

Marketing Director, Sports Today

Cal Bears 98

Miami Hurricanes 94 (overtime)

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA

Saturday, January 25, 2025

For the second back-to-back game, Cal would be looking for an offensive presence with the team's leading scorer, Andrej Stojakovic, recovering from the flu. Freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson (#0, above) would lead all scorers with his first 30-point game and junior transfer student Dejuan (DJ) Campbell would toss in 22 points to lead Cal to an overtime win over the Miami Hurricanes. The University of California Golden Bears played host to the University of Miami Hurricanes in ACC Conference Men’s Basketball at Haas Pavilion on Saturday, January 25 in

Berkeley, CA. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.

Cal registered only one block in the game, but it was an impressive swat by Lee Dort (#34) right before halftime. Caption and photo

by Ron Sellers.

Down but not out, in the closing seconds of overtime DeJuan (DJ) Campbell (#3) pauses to collect himself as Mady Sissoko (#12) takes a seat to check on his teammate after a hard midcourt collision. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.

Insert growling bear sounds, as this is bear country Head Coach Mark Madsen gets up close and personal with the student body in celebrating the win. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.

Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.

Saint Mary's Gaels 71

USF Dons 51

UCU Pavilion, Moraga, CA

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Saint Mary's Gaels forward Paulius Murauskas scored a team-high 24 points as the Gaels remained unbeaten in the West Coast Conference after defeating the USF Dons, 71-51, at UCU Pavilion on Thursday, January 23rd. Caption and photo

by Darren Yamashita.

Sophomore guard Jordan Ross finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Caption and photo

by Darren Yamashita.

Center Mitchell Saxen was an efficient 6-for-8 from the field, recording 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.

Dons center Carlton Linguard Jr. hit four three-pointers, tallying 14 points. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.

The Saint Mary's Gaels bench reacts after a dunk by center Harry Wessels (not shown) during the second half against the San Francisco Dons at UCU Pavilion.To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.

Cal Bears 77

Florida State Seminoles 68

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA

Tuesday, January 22, 2025

With Cal’s leading scorer Andrej Stojakovic out with the flu, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson got to start and was the co-scoring leader in the game with 18 points. On the defensive front, graduate Mady Sissoko had five blocks in the game. Above, Wilkinson (#0) drives to the basket. The University of California Golden Bears played host to the Florida State University Seminoles in ACC Conference Men's Basketball at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, CA. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.

Cal's Rytis Petraitis (#31) drives past the basket to toss up a reverse layup under heavy defensive pressure early in the second half. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.

Coming in hot to the basket Dejuan (DJ) Cambell (#3) scored 11 points in the game. Caption and photo by Ron Sellers.

Late in the second half Mady Sissoko (#12) reaches for the stars, as he swats one of his five blocks in the game. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Caption and photo

by Ron Sellers.

To Our Readers

If you enjoy our free publication, a

contribution to help defray costs

would be appreciated.

Thanks to the following generous donors!

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Arif Khatib

Mitchell Kim

David Larson

Ann McNaughton

Timothy Maroney

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San Francisco Giants

Attend the Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour 2025, presented by Experience Scottsdale -- next stop is Sacramento with Logan Webb and Heliot Ramos

The Giants & KNBR FanFest Tour 2025, presented by Experience Scottsdale, is a free tour that includes a series of stops across Northern California. Current and former Giants players, coaches, broadcasters and Lou Seal will caravan to meet fans in their local communities to sign autographs, participate in Q&A sessions, distribute merchandise and more.

Attend in Sacramento next Saturday. Admission is free, claim your tickets now .

The tour will conclude with an Open House at Oracle Park on Saturday, March 8, providing fans with access to exclusive ballpark locations, including the clubhouse, broadcast booth and dugout. Meet-and-greets and autograph opportunities with Giants alumni and Lou Seal will be available - in addition to photo opportunities with the World Series trophies. Plus, enjoy the Giants Spring Training game in Scottsdale via broadcast on the scoreboard during the event.

Full details on locations, dates, timing and players and coaches scheduled to attend are available at sfgiants.com/fanfest.

Free tickets are required for all FanFest Tour stops

and the Open House.

continued...

www.sfgiants.com

Claim Free Tickets!

The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant

"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

A's sign 15 international players

including six from the Dominican Republic, six from Venezuela, one from Japan, one from Cuba, and one from the Bahamas. Learn More

Dave Stewart joins A's staff for

the 2025 season

Former A's pitcher will assist Director of Player Development Ed Sprague in addition to other members of the baseball operations department. Learn More

www.oaklandas.com

Oakland Ballers

Ballers,

May 20th is Opening Day at Raimondi Park and it's coming up fast.

For season tickets, we still have some availability in each section, but we wanted to give you a heads up that we only have 12 seats left in our Premium Reserved Section A, the section right behind home plate.

We don't sell all our seats as season tickets, so there will definitely be seats available in all sections when we begin Flex Ticket redemptions in late February. But if you were eyeing PR Sec A Season Tickets, we recommend acting soon before those 12 seats go.

continued...

www.oaklandballers.com

Click Here

Advertise in Sports Today!

Ann Cooke, Sales Director

Or call (510) 414-5394

anncooke510@gmail.com

Oakland Roots SC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1/22/2025

Oakland, CA – Yesterday, Oakland Roots and Soul SC announced their intent to make the Oakland Coliseum the club’s short-term home beyond 2025. As part of this decision, the club will no longer pursue the Malibu Lot Interim Stadium project, instead shifting focus to remaining at the Coliseum while actively working toward a permanent stadium in Oakland for the long term. A key factor in our shift toward the Coliseum as a viable option has been the confirmed departure of the Athletics. This significant change since we first explored the Malibu lot, has opened new possibilities for us to establish a home in a stadium that holds deep historical and cultural significance for Oakland.

“Oakland Roots and Soul are committed to securing a permanent home in Oakland, and this decision allows us to focus our efforts on making that vision a reality,” said Oakland Roots and Soul SC President Lindsay Barenz. “By staying at the Coliseum in the short term, we are ensuring stability for our players, fans, and community and keeping the Coliseum as a productive asset for the community. We remain dedicated to building something sustainable and deeply rooted in Oakland, and we look forward to continuing this journey alongside our supporters and partners. We also want to thank everyone at the city and county for working towards an outcome at Malibu and appreciate their support for making a soccer stadium in Oakland a reality.”

We congratulate AASEG on their continued progress and are excited to collaborate under our cooperation agreement to establish a clear path for Oakland Roots and Soul to remain at the Coliseum in the interim. This partnership is a crucial step in providing stability for the club while we work together on a long-term vision for a permanent home in Oakland. We look forward to building on this shared commitment to keeping professional soccer in Oakland and creating a sustainable future that reflects the passion of our community.

“We thank Oakland Roots and Soul for their continued collaboration throughout this process,” said Ray Bobbit of AASEG. “As we work towards our shared objectives of a brighter future for East Oakland, we look forward to our continued corporation and would be open to working with Oakland Roots for a longer stay at the Coliseum.”

continued...

Click Here

www.oaklandrootssc.com

San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Transfer Goalkeeper Emi Ochoa to Cruz Azul of Liga MX

San Jose receives undisclosed fee from Mexican club for Homegrown Under-20 Concacaf Championship-winning shot-stopper

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes announced today they have transferred goalkeeper Emi Ochoa to Club de Fútbol Cruz Azul of Liga MX for an undisclosed fee.

A Homegrown Player originally from Salinas, California, the 19-year-old Ochoa made his official Earthquakes debut on May 7, 2024, making four saves and earning a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Oakland Roots SC in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. In addition, he made 48 total appearances with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro team, The Town FC, with 139 saves and 13 clean sheets over the past three seasons. Ochoa was named the MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month in September 2024 after recording three consecutive shutouts.

“We want to thank Emi for his hard work and dedication to the San Jose Earthquakes these past five years,” said Earthquakes Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena. “It’s always fulfilling to see a local player take the necessary steps to develop and evolve from the Quakes Academy into a full-fledged professional. We wish Emi and his family all the best in this exciting new chapter in his journey.”

continued...

www.sjearthquakes.com

Click Here

Bay FC

KEEP UP WITH BAY FC

LEGENDARY MOMENTS ARE AWAITING

ICYMI—our second season schedule is live!

We are already less than 60 days from our home opener against Racing Louisville FC on Saturday, March 22nd at 7pm PT, presented by Sutter Health.

View the 2025 schedule and become a Season Ticket Member today.

EXPLORE>>

CELEBRATE SOCCER & COMMUNITY

We will celebrate special occasions, including cultural and heritage theme nights, to honor our fans and the diversity of the Bay Area.

Celebrate the heart of the Bay Area at our theme nights. Don’t miss out of any of these exciting fun-filled matches — get your Season Ticket Membership today!

BUY NOW>>

continued...

www.bayfc.com

Click Here

Hardly Trivial by T. Buff

Before the Current

NFL Houston Texans...

there were two Dallas Texans franchises.

A 1952 Dallas Texans version couldn't make it and eventually became the Baltimore Colts

(now Indianapolis Colts).

A 1960 AFL Dallas Texans version left Dallas

and moved to what city?

answer below...

Sports Precis

The Dubs Are Alright. Maybe.

I Think So. Who Knows For Sure? Yes. Maybe.

by Howard Pearlstein

I wasn’t looking forward to the game against the Bulls. I mean the Dubs were good and tight and on the beam against the Kings. Everyone was doing what they’re sposed to, where they were sposed to be. They were playing fast and tough, the way we knew they could.

And then it was clutch time, and there they were once again, outscored by something-or-other to nada. It was like the curse of a wicked witch or an evil Grand Vizier in a Persian fairytale.

But they had been right in there, even without Draymond or Kuminga or Slo-Mo or Podz. Was it too many players out of the rotation to spell the others for rest minutes? Too pooped for points in the clutch time? But depressing, nonetheless...

And the Bulls game started out with the Dubs looking tired. At first.

And then it was as if they finally said: F--- IT! That’s enough of THAT! And then they made the Bulls pay for weeks and weeks of frustration. Did to the Bulls what the Grizzlies had done to them in not so long ago memory. Dubs131 – Bulls106.

Wiggs had 17, Steph had 21, Gui Santos had 19, Moody had 16, and Podz, back after missing 12 games, had 10. Quinten Post, up from Santa Cruz, had 20 points, hitting 3-pointers like a 7-foot tall point guard...

What tells us if the Dubs’ strategy is working is assists, which says that even though everyone is moving, they’re more or less accessible in relation to everyone else. Dennis Shroder had 11 points, but more to this point, he had seven assists, the same number as Steph. Along with the veterans, we’ve got experienced players in from other teams, G league players up from Santa Cruz, and the more they all can play in Steve Kerr’s game, the better. That game gives us hope.

In other local news, BayFC’s season begins March 15 with two preseason games in February – the 16th at Seattle and the 22d at San Diego. Regular season starts March 15, away at Utah.

First home game March 22 (7:00 PM) against Racing Louisville at Pay Pal Park. Tickets are available, and it’s broadcast on ION.

After an exceptional first season that surprisingly got to the playoffs, they’re coming back strong. They’ve signed Kerlie Lema from Cal, a striker who was the ACC Offensive player of the year, as well as Florida’s three-time All-American midfielder Taylor Huff. The was a position expected to be held by Alex Loera, highly anticipated player who went down in the first game last year with a season-ending injury. (She’s gone to the Utah Royals, where we can expect to see her when BayFC plays there on March 15.) One other player change: Deyna Castellanos bought out her contract to be a Free Agent.

Both acquisitions and losses are part of the new system established last year giving more career control to players, eliminating the draft as a start.

A note: I am a faithful reader of the Chronicle’s Marisa Ingemi, who, unlike me, REALLY KNOWS women’s sports. I’ve made no secret that I’m something of a newbie still learning soccer, and much of my knowledge comes from on-air announcers as well as Ms. Ingemi’s columns. She also writes about the Valkyries, and while I know a bit about basketball, I also rely on her columns for player and organizational information as the new team looks to start their first year of play at home in Chase Center in May.

* * *

Howard Pearlstein has been a few places and done a few things.

Bruce Jenner -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee

I first met Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Marie Jenner) at an Olympic Hero's event in Los Angeles back in the 1990s. He was signing a variety of photos but I chose this one for some reason. He was very friendly and chatted about his Olympic gold medal in the Decathlon which he won at the Montreal Olympic in 1976. Years after this event I met him again and he signed a Wheaties

cereal box for me.

Rich Yee, Sports Today Photographer

Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 116: Government Agencies Express Concerns With Possibility Of

Revenue Sharing

by Darren Heitner, Esq.

Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration

The Weekly Longer NIL Thought

Last week I didn't have time to address the Department of Education's Title IX guidance related to NIL given that it was issued close to this newsletter's dissemination.

But now I have had ample time to review it and comment on how it may or not be important to the industry.

In sum, the guidance (in the form of a "fact sheet") from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) counsels that the then-in-place Department of Education's position is that the gender-equity standards that apply to athletic scholarships must also apply to NIL money remitted to college athletes. The OCR views such money as part of an institution's athletic financial assistance in the same way that provisions related to grant-in-aid and cost-of-attendance would be viewed.

But it additionally contends that NIL deals brokered by NIL collectives could also invite Title IX exposure for schools.

The fact sheet says that "OCR has long recognized that a school has Title IX obligations when funding from private sources, including private donations and funds raised by booster clubs, creates disparities based on sex in a school’s athletic program or a program component. The fact that funds are provided by a private source does not relieve a school of its responsibility to treat all of its student-athletes in a nondiscriminatory manner."

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WeatherTech Raceway Completes 2025 Radical Cup Calendar

The 2025 Radical Cup North America season will feature three events alongside America’s premier open-wheel series, with the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey announced as Round 4

MONTEREY, Calif., Jan. 24, 2025—“Based on the feedback we receive, Radical Cup is a fan favorite at INDYCAR events, especially with our ever-growing Sim Racing community, and we’re delighted to be returning to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the third year in a row,” said Tom Drewer, Director of the Americas for Radical Motorsport.

“Our reigning Pro 1500 class champion Jordan Missig, who recently secured a full-time ride in INDYNXT with Abel Motorsport, proves that Radical Cup provides an alternative pathway for young, up and coming drivers to the upper echelons of the sport, and having three INDYCAR events in 2025 confirms that message.”

Missig is not the only connection between the Radical and INDYCAR paddocks. Dale Coyne Racing’s Toby Sowery is also a Radical alumni, having won the 2022 Radical World Finals presented by Hankook at Spring Mountain Motor Club and Resort. Sam Schmidt, who until recently was an owner of Arrow McLaren, is a regular in the Radical paddock, watching his son Spencer, who finished fourth in the Pro 1500 class in his rookie year. Indy 500 regular Katherine Legge and INDYCAR legend come steward Max Papis are also friends of the brand, acting as coaches in the Prodigy Racing League which uses Radical SR1 machinery. Then of course there’s six-time IndyCar race winner Graham Rahal, who fields a multi-championship winning team in the Radical Cup via his Graham Rahal Performance/Radical Indianapolis outfit which is also a dealer for the British manufacturer.

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Story and photo provided by Radical Cup

www.weathertechraceway.com

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Sonoma Raceway

DENSO TO CONTINUE AS TITLE SPONSOR OF NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

SONOMA, Calif. (January 15, 2025) – NHRA officials announced today that DENSO will continue as the title sponsor of the annual NHRA national event at scenic Sonoma Raceway.

The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals will take place July 25-27 in Sonoma, and is part of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This year’s race marks the 10 year anniversary of DENSO serving as title sponsor for an NHRA national event.

The annual trek to wine country in Sonoma and picturesque Sonoma Raceway is one of the highlights on the NHRA circuit. For nearly four decades, fans have been treated to a scenic racing facility that is also one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA tour, showcasing incredible performances year after year.

The title sponsorship in Sonoma continues DENSO’s long relationship with NHRA, and DENSO also partners with a number of top NHRA competitors, including Pro Stock Motorcycle riders Matt and Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo and John Hall, as well as 2024 U.S. Nationals Top Fuel winner Clay Millican and his 11,000-horsepower dragster.

"DENSO is proud to continue its sponsorship of the NHRA Sonoma Nationals,” said DENSO Marketing and Communications Manager Daniel Muramoto. “This event has been a cornerstone of our longstanding commitment to the NHRA and its passionate fans. This partnership reflects our dedication to innovation and performance both on and off the track, and we’re excited to once again be part of the action at Sonoma Raceway in 2025 and for years to come."

The 2025 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals will again feature the GETTRX NHRA All- Star Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout as well. Riders will compete in the Callout style specialty event, picking their first-round opponent in a bonus event that features big money and bragging rights. Matt Smith won the GETTRX NHRA All- Star Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout a year ago, finishing off a stellar weekend with a DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals victory.

Tickets, camping, upgrades, and premium options for the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals on July 25-27, 2025 are available at SonomaRaceway.com.

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Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff

A Google search didn't turn up an AFL Dallas Texans logo. The 1960 version of the Dallas Texans

moved to Kansas City in 1963.

This link will take you to the fascinating wiki entry

on the Dallas Texans franchises.

Go Celtics

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Universities & Colleges

Cal Bears

Carl Emil Overbeck led Cal to a dominant win over Saint Mary's in Berkeley.

Overbeck Leads Cal’s 7-0 Rout Of Saint Mary’s

BERKELEY – Fourth-ranked Carl Emil Overbeck won in straight sets to lead the California men's tennis team to a resounding 7-0 victory over Saint Mary's on a sunny Monday afternoon at the Hellman Tennis Complex.

Four of Cal's five nationally ranked singles players played on Monday as the Golden Bears improved their record to 2-0, including a 6-1 thumping of the Gaels (0-3) on Saturday in Moraga. Monday's match was a resumption of the Saturday night contest in Berkeley that was suspended early in singles due to wet courts.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead when they took the doubles point on Saturday. The teams split the first two matches, with Cal's Theo Dean and Alex Aney defeating Stevie Gould and Finn Dyer 6-1 on court two and Cal's 84th-ranked Alex Chang and Mikey Wright falling to Paulo Hugo Etchecoin and Thibaud Maxant 6-4 on court one. Derrick Chen and Fryderyk Lechno-Wasiutynski clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win over the Gaels' Carlos Ramos Membrives and Pierre Lieutaud on court three. Their doubles matches represented the first home contest for Dean – who transferred to Cal from Yale in the offseason – and for Lechno-Wasiutynski, a freshman who joined the Bears this month.

On Monday in singles, 32nd-ranked Dean was in full control in a 6-0, 6-3 win over Etchecoin on court two and then Bernardo Munk Mesa – in the Cal freshman's first home match – captured a 6-3, 6-4 result over Dyer to give Cal a 3-0 lead. The talented Overbeck clinched the masterful victory over the Gaels with his own 6-3, 6-3 win over Ramos Membrives on court one that gave the Bears a 4-0 lead.

The teams played out the last three matches, which included Lechno-Wasiutynski's first singles victory in Berkeley – a 6-1, 6-4 win over Lieutaud that gave Cal a 5-0 lead. Chang, ranked 66th, bested Gould 6-1, 3-6, 1-0(4), and then 102nd-ranked Chen wrapped up the match with a 6-1, 7-6(4) win over Maxant.

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Photo: Matthew Smith / KLC fotos

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Stanford Cardinal

Cardinal Takes Down Tigers 4-0

Stanford sweeps Memphis and advances to face Ole Miss for a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship.

STANFORD, Calif. – No. 3 Stanford cruised past Memphis 4-0 on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend at the West Campus Courts.

The Cardinal (2-0) will next face Ole Miss on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Illinois (Feb. 9-12) on the line. The Rebels defeated Utah 4-3 earlier Friday morning.

Stanford rolled through doubles, with its top two pairs securing 6-1 victories for the early lead.

It was much the same in singles. No. 12 Connie Ma earned a quick 6-2, 6-0 victory on court 2 and Caroline Driscoll, making her Stanford debut, was a 6-1, 6-0 winner on court 5. No. 6 Valerie Glozman clinched her first match for the Cardinal with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court 1.

Stanford, which has won 115 of its last 122 matches on The Farm, is seeking its fourth straight ITA Indoors appearance and chasing its first tournament title at the event since 2011.

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Photo by Scott Gould / ISI Photo

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San Jose State Spartans

Spark's Hat Trick Leads SJSU

To Victory

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—Darcy Spark recorded her third consecutive hat trick of the season, and six other Spartans scored as the No. 17 San José State women’s water polo team won 11-6 over host California Baptist at the Lancer Joust.

Spark scored a goal in each of the final three periods.
Nynke Willemsen scored the first Spartan goal of the match and added another in the second period.
Emma Ruzic scored twice in the match, the second goal of the match and the 10th Spartan goal.
Bridget Cranley was one of four Spartans to score in the fourth quarter
Rachel Williams scored the final Spartan goal of the match, her first of the season.
The Spartans held the Lancers scoreless in the first quarter, jumping out to a 3-0 lead.
The Spartans scored a power-play goal in each of the four quarters.
Goalie Grace Smith picked up the win.

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Saint Mary's College Gaels

MBB | Gaels Answer “Untested” Claims with 71-51 Victory Over

San Francisco

MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gaels (17-3, 7-0 WCC) quickly silenced any "untested" claims following their 6-0 WCC start, taking down the team nearest to them in the conference standings, San Francisco (16-6, 6-3 WCC) 71-51. The Gaels shot a season best 61.5% from the field, while holding the Dons to a season-low 26.9% from the field in what was a true outmuscling of a performance on both sides of the basketball

The Gaels offense continued to flow with efficiency in the first half, as the Gaels shot 65% from the field and 50% from three en route to a 36 point first half. For the first 14:30 of the first frame, the Dons kept pace with the Gaels, as they trailed by just one, 26-25 with a little over five minutes remaining. Saint Mary's then proceeded to go on a 10-0 run over the next 5+ minutes, ended by a USF three pointer as time expired in the opening stanza with the score at 36-28 in favor of the Gaels. Saint Mary's starting bigs, Paulius Murauskas and Mitchell Saxen, did a majority of the first half work for the Gaels, scoring 12 and nine respectively on a combined 10-12 shooting from the field. Murauskas, Saxen and Luke Barrett each reeled in three boards, one shy of the unlikely team leader, Jordan Ross, who ripped down four, one more than his season per game average. Augustas Marciulionis was held scoreless, but accounted for four of the Gaels nine assists. Saint Mary's dominated the Dons on the glass (+10) and in the paint (+20), while forcing USF to take 17 of their 27 shots from beyond the arc.

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Saint Mary's Athletics/ Tod Fierner

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USF Dons

Gaels Extinguish Dons in Moraga

MORAGA, Calif. - Making the quick trip across the Bay, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (16-6, 6-3 WCC) couldn't muster enough momentum in the second half to overcome Saint Mary's (17-3, 7-0 WCC) on Thursday night as the Gaels topped the Dons, 71-51, at University Credit Union Pavilion.

Women's Basketball Tops LMU

on the Road

LOS ANGELES – Santa Clara women's basketball got back in the win column with a 67-60 victory at LMU on Thursday evening. The Broncos (10-11, 4-7 WCC) led most of the way, including by double-figures for much of the second half, while the Lions (1-10, 1-8 WCC) made a bit of a run in the fourth that ended up being too late.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

A 6-0 run by Santa Clara midway through the first broke a tie score but LMU came right back with five in a row to keep things close. The Broncos ended the period up 14-13.
Santa Clara was able to create some distance in the second quarter. A 9-0 run in the early going put the Broncos up double digits for the first time at 11. The lead would grow to as many as 14 before five in a row for the Lions cut it to nine. After the last two buckets of the half, Santa Clara went to the locker room up 39-26.
The Broncos stretched their lead to as high as 17 in the third and were up 16 when LMU rattled off six points in a row to make it a 49-39 game with 1:53 left in the period but Alana Goodchild knocked down a 3-pointer to end the run. Santa Clara took a 52-41 lead into the final quarter.
Neither team was able to go on any runs in the fourth as Santa Clara's lead hung around the 10-point mark for the whole period.

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University of Pacific Tigers

Pacific Welcomes UC Davis, Simon Fraser for Final Home Swim Weekend

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific swimming program puts a bow on its home schedule, hosting UC Davis on Saturday at noon and Simon Fraser on Senior Day on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.

The Tigers look to wrap up their busy January slate on a high note after completing their first of two home back-to-backs last weekend against Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. On Sunday morning, Pacific will be commemorating 15 seniors (nine women and six men) throughout the meet for their hard work and dedication to the program.

"These seniors are at the core of the championship culture we currently have on the team this year," head coach Katelyne Herrington said. "This group has helped me grow the program since I've been head coach and have been grateful for their trust, leadership and dedication to the team. I have the greatest amount of gratitude for them and the impact they have had on me as a coach and the program. I will miss this group and can't wait to see them make the same positive impact and growth in their next career!"

Senior Kelly Kermoian, one of the nine Pacific women being honored on Senior Day, put together a strong performance for the Tigers against the Mustangs and Gauchos. The native of Walnut Creek, California recorded a personal best in the 200 yard back with a time of 2:01.59 and set a season best (4:29.23) in the 400 yard IM in a first-place finish against UC Santa Barbara.

"Pacific swimming has given me lifelong friendships and memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life," Kermoian said. "Being part of this team has made my college experience unforgettable, and I'm so grateful to have been a part of an amazing group of people."

Senior Aidan Vollmar, one of the six Pacific men being honored on Senior Day, has been a vocal leader throughout his five years as a part of the Pacific swimming program. The native of Orinda, California has been morale booster, guiding his team to a 5-3 women's record and a 4-2 men's record, which is the most wins in a season on both sides since the 2014-15 campaign.

"My time swimming for Pacific has been the most influential part of my life," Vollmar said. "From my freshman year all the way to my fifth year with the team, the unwavering support I've received from my coaches, teammates and trainers has helped me grow as an athlete and an individual. I'm so proud to be a part of the Pacific family and look forward to watching our swim program grow in the future."

Pacific clashes with UC Davis in a women's swim meet for a sixth straight season. The Tigers seek their first-ever win over the Aggies under Herrington's leadership, having met six previous times since the 2016 season.

Pacific and Simon Fraser lock horns for the third year in a row in Stockton. The Tigers have won the last two matchups since 2022. The men scored over 200 points in the first dual meet with the Red Leafs, claiming victory by a score of 206-107.

Both meets will be streamed live on Overnght with Saturday's contest beginning at noon and Senior Day at 11 a.m. at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center. There is free admission both days.

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UC Davis Aggies

Aggies Get Third Straight Win After Thrilling Finish Against Rainbow Warriors

Score: UC Davis 68, Hawai'i 66

Location: Davis, Calif.

Records: UC Davis 12-8 (6-3), Hawai'i 12-7 (4-4)

The short story: In a thriller, UC Davis clinched its third straight win to improve to 6-3 in Big West play. Showcasing one of their finest defensive efforts of the season, the Aggies were also bolstered by three players scoring in double figures, including a career night from Pablo Tamba, and the game-winning basket from TY Johnson, who poured in a game-high 23 points.

COURT SIDE

Johnson led with 23 points, along with four assists and three steals
Johnson's three steals were a game-high and played a significant role in forcing 13 turnovers by the opposition, helping the Aggies win the turnover battle
In addition to Johnson's offensive output, Tamba, the conference's leader in field goal percentage, added a career-high 19 points in an efficient manner, going 9-12 from the field
Connor Sevilla splashed in with 11 points, including three crucial three-pointers
The Aggies committed only five turnovers on the night and controlled the pace of the game throughout
Taking care of the ball, coupled with a 44.8 percent shooting performance, helped UC Davis improve to 11-1 in games where they shoot over 40 percent from the field
On the other end, UC Davis' defense held Hawaii to just 35.8 percent shooting from the field
UC Davis also limited the Rainbow Warriors to their lowest scoring half of the season, allowing just 23 points in the first half
This is the third consecutive game in which UC Davis has held their opponent to their lowest scoring half of the season, following similar performances against Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara last week
For the Rainbow Warriors, they were led by the bench production of Harry Rouhliadeff who finished with 21 points, and seven rebounds

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Cal State University East Bay Pioneers

Pioneer Women's Basketball Drops Thursday's Game to No. 16 Cal Poly Pomona

HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team faced a tough challenge against No. 16 Cal Poly Pomona, falling 81-58 in a CCAA matchup on Thursday evening at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward, California. The Pioneers struggled to keep pace with the high-powered Broncos throughout the contest.

Cal Poly Pomona set the tone early, jumping out to a 19-11 lead after the first quarter. The Broncos continued to build their advantage in the second period, outscoring the Pioneers 20-14 to take a 39-25 lead into halftime.

The third quarter proved decisive, as Cal Poly Pomona erupted for 27 points while holding Cal State East Bay to just 10, extending their lead to 66-35. Despite a spirited effort in the fourth quarter, where the Pioneers outscored the Broncos 23-15, the deficit was too large to overcome as Cal Poly Pomona cruised to an 81-58 win.

Sierra Morris led the charge for East Bay with a career-high double-double, posting 19 points and 14 rebounds. Morris showcased her efficiency by shooting 6-for-10 from the floor and 6-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Ariyah Smith and Lailah Carey each contributed 10 points to the Pioneers' effort.
Smith's defensive prowess was on display, as she recorded a game-high five steals.
The Pioneers showed strength on the boards, outrebounding Cal Poly Pomona 41-37.
Cal Poly Pomona shot 49.2 percent from the floor whule Cal State East Bay shot 33.8 percent.

Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin following Thursday's home loss:

"We have to get better at starting off games as we dug ourselves into a hole early and it's tough to get back into games when you are trailing. With that being said, we will get back to work tomorrow and get ready to defend our home court on Saturday."

Cal State East Bay: 7-10, 5-6 CCAA

No. 16 Cal Poly Pomona: 15-2, 10-1 CCAA

The Pioneers will look to bounce back quickly as they host Cal State San Bernardino in their next CCAA contest. The game is scheduled for this coming Saturday, January 25, with tipoff set for 1 p.m. at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward, California.

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Photo: Jared Darling

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