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March 16 -- March 22, 2026
Issue No. 633
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Dave Newhouse
1939 -- 2026
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Lavish praise and accolades are pouring in from fellow journalists, fans and friends memorializing a man so well loved in the Bay Area sports journalism milieu, Mr. Dave Newhouse.
As recently as March 2 I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with Dave and his beloved wife, Patsy, and his lively enthusiasm for all things sports-related didn’t miss a beat, making news of his passing eleven days later shocking!
An author of 19 books, Dave will likely be known best for Goodbye Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town's Fight for Survival, perhaps the most relevant Oakland sports story written to date. Co-authored with Andy Dolich, this book shares insight into the sad story of Oakland’s losing fight for sports survival. Multiple interviews are recorded and it is safe to say there will never be another Dave Newhouse.
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Goodbye, Dave.
Ann Cooke
Associate Publisher/ Ultimate Sports Guide
Friend, Fan and Follower of Dave Newhouse
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Further Praise
Dave was truly a Man for all Seasons.
A gift to all Northern California sports fans who followwd his incredible storytelling talents.
His work always contained the Heart, Mind and Soul of whoever and whatever he was writing about.
Andy Dolich
Co-author, Goodbye, Oakland
Los Altos, CA
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I knew Dave for nearly 50 years. He was kind of like an uncle to me. So call him my Uncle Dave!
I met Dave on the Oakland Raiders flight to Denver for the AFC Finals between the defending champion Raiders and upstart Broncos. Dave was a veteran beat writer covering the Raiders for the Oakland Tribune while I was just getting my start in broadcasting, doing TV sports on the nightly news at a station up the coast in Eureka.
You could not meet a nicer fellow. Unlike so many of his cynical, hard bitten colleagues, Dave was very easygoing and a truly happy gentleman. He also was a wonderful reporter and columnist. And he did a nice job as the regular host of KNBR's Sportsphone 68 in the mid- and late 1980s. Dave had a wonderful way of putting coaches and athletes at ease, and I learned a few things about how to deal with the sometimes prickly personalities in the locker room. We were gonna have lunch this week at Crogan’s in Montclair when I heard he had just passed. I’ll miss you my old friend!
Bruce Macgowan
Fairfax, CA
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It was truly a shock to hear of Dave Newhouse's passing.
The infancy of my sports fandom was spent consuming the Oakland Tribune sports pages with his byline and smiling face on the front. Throughout high school (Reach for the Peach!) and college, I would pour over the previous night's stats as well as his stories. Being a part of this eNewsletter with Mr. Newhouse was something younger me never would have imagined and having my photos supporting his words has truly been an honor.
Darren Yamashita / Photographer/ Ultimate Sports Guide
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Dave was one of my long time ideals as a writer, even when the idea of sports writing -- per se -- never occurred to me.
He embodied the tradition that "Sports writers are the best journalists" because they need to get facts correct, that their readers are the most demanding in the world of journalism because they probably know as much or even more about that game, that team, that player than they do. And because of that, he always treated the reader with respect.
And more, as I got into it and read more sports news, realized Dave was the only one I read who could write about contract disputes, player holdouts and all the rest of the sturm und drang of pro ball money without ever dissing the player or the management or the team, treating everyone involved with respect as fellow human beings, no matter how far off the mark they might seem. In other words a decent honorable man.
Howard Pearlstein / Columnist / Ultimate Sports Guide
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Dave was a shot putter on the base track and field team which won the France Air Force championship while he
performed military service in Europe
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Dave's contribution to the Ultimate Sports Guide/Sports Today were immense. Dave brought not only credibility and knowledge, but stature, warmth, and the kind of seasoned authority that cannot be manufactured. His presence elevated the publication in every sense. He helped bring USG/ST to a level of quality, depth, and distinction that not even the publisher himself may originally have imagined possible. Dave’s involvement gave the work greater reach, greater seriousness, and greater soul.
Dave understood Bay Area sports not as a string of scores, but as a living history. He carried Oakland, San Francisco, and the East Bay in his memory and on his shoulders. He preserved stories that might otherwise have been lost, and he did it with generosity rather than ego. That mattered. It still matters.
What stood out most was the man himself. Dave was revered not only because he was gifted, but because he was decent. Again and again, people describe his kindness, his encouragement, his press-box warmth, and his instinct to build others up rather than tear them down. That is a rarer legacy than any byline.
For all who care about Bay Area sports and the journalism that honors it, Dave Newhouse was a blessing. He helped make the Ultimate Sports Guide stronger, richer, and more meaningful. He also reminded everyone around him what a sportswriter, and a human being, could be at his best.
Dave did not just chronicle Bay Area sports history. He became part of it.
Carl Macki
Artist / Ultimate Sports Guide
Mill Valley, CA
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Jesse Eisenhardt of the Oakland Ballers sat down with Dave Newhouse in San Francisco several years ago
Photo by Darren Yamashita
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The Man who lived
Between the Lines
by Pete Elman
I met Dave Newhouse three years ago, and within minutes I felt like I had known him for 40 years, which, in a way, I guess I had. I moved to Oakland in 1985, and although I didn't subscribe to the Tribune, I was familiar with Dave's work, especially his pieces about my favorite teams, the A's, Raiders and Warriors.
I began my erstwhile writing career as a stringer for the Contra Costa Times/Hills papers in 2000, covering high school sports in the East Bay. In 2014 I befriended Christopher Weills at the Berkeley Y. We hit it off, and I have been writing for
Sports Today ever since. I think I may have subconsciously patterned my style after Dave’s: to be accurate, intimate, humorous and entertaining.
In 2022 Christopher and I decided to put together a compilation of 49 short pieces I had written over the years for the Ultimate Sports Guide. Christopher suggested we reach out to Dave for a blurb, or testimonial, that we could put on the front cover that might help promote the book, titled Insights and Outtakes. We were thrilled
when we read what Dave wrote: "Elman's writing probes the brain, clutches the heart and grips the reader with its
wisdom, tenderness, humor and haymakers."
WOW…
This was my fourth book, my third about sports, but in that one sentence I gained the confidence that a real sportswriter -- a legend, in fact -- liked my writing. I called Dave to thank him and he suggested brunch at his favorite Oakland breakfast
place, Mama's Royal Cafe on Broadway.
Thus began a beautiful friendship, usually over lunch, one that I will always cherish. As some of you already know, and many of you are finding out just now from the tributes that have been pouring in all week, Dave was a gem; a sweet, kind, considerate man who just happened to be a brilliant and prolific sportswriter.
Dave was a great listener, a great interviewer, a great writer and a Renaissance man. Within minutes of meeting me he wanted to know my life story, and shared some of his personal history willingly. And when he spoke, I listened, intently. He not only covered the famous athletes of the Bay Area -- he knew them, as people, from Madden to Montana, from the Snake to the Eck. His recollections were jewels of Bay Area sports history.
Dave understood not only the importance of sports to our culture, but the emotion behind the games, and the commitments of the players, and coaches—and fans.
We were all fans of Dave Newhouse, who no doubt is crafting his next byline for the angels. He will be missed.
Godspeed, David.
Pete Elman
Rockridge
March 14, 2026
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Pete Elman is the author of Insights and Outakes, a collection of sports essays covering Bay Area teams and sports personalities.
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Bracket Bonanza!
Get On Your
Pony And Ride!
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The 2026 NCAA Division 1 Men's BB Championship is here. Get out your dartboards, because those picks are usually as accurate as the Gurus'. One tradition continues: most of my teams are in the same bracket (the East).
For convenience, here is a link to the complete schedule and dates. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2026-03-15/2026-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates
The East is loaded, with #1 Duke, Kansas, St. John's and U Conn. I will continue to go with Duke, but all of these teams are extremely dangerous and the latter three could make Duke's road easier if they knock out each other. Kansas could be Duke's best friend, beat U. Conn and St. John's, then face Duke in a #1 vs. #4 contest.
In the West, one of my early picks, BYU, made it in as a #6 but will have to face Purdue, #2, and likely Arkansas, Wisconsin and/or Purdue to advance and then #1 Arizona. #4 Arkansas, with Darius Acuff Jr. is my surprise here. #1's are no fun.
The Midwest has Michigan as #1. (No way)! While we would all like Miami (Ohio) to win it all, I'll stay rational and go with an early pick, #2 Iowa State to beat another previous selection, Alabama. Go #14 Santa Clara -- do NorCal proud!
The South features current champions #1 Florida, which was unimpressive vs. Vandy. #4 Nebraska is a threat. St. Mary's is always tough, and will make some noise, although #2 Houston will be a major obstacle.
Current Final 4: (East) #1 DUKE, (South) #1 FLORIDA, (Midwest) #2 IOWA STATE and (West) #4 ARKANSAS.
To enhance enjoyment and get plenty of exercise as well, Kurtis Blow is here to help! Check it out, and get ready to Ride and Dance your way to the Championship!
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Note to Readers:
Most photos in each issue are linked to Facebook albums produced
by our talented photographers. To enjoy additional photos, simply click on a photograph or on the link provided at the end of each report. New albums, contributor essays and Sports Today issues are continually posted to: www.ultimatesportsguide.net
We have updated our Facebook Albums link. Check here to see if your favorite team was covered and enjoy the exceptional photo coverage from our exceptional photographers:
https://conta.cc/49DptcC
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Contents
Games
Bay FC 2, Denver Summit FC 1
Cal Tri Meet -- Cal, Stanford, San Jose State
Oakland Roots SC 2, New Mexico United 1
San Jose Earthquakes 0, Seattle Sounders 1
Features & Commentary
Alysa Liu, by Ed Jay
Farrah Fawcett, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Oakland Roots Give the Coliseum a Night That Felt Like Home,
by Medhavee Upadhyaya
The Man Who Lived Between The Lines, by Pete Elman
Organizations
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A's
Bay Area Falcons
Bay FC
Cal Bears
Cal State University East Bay
Golden State Valkyries
Golden State Warriors
Oakland Ballers
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul SC
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco Giants
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San Francisco Nighthawks
San Francisco Unicorns
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
SF City
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
UC Davis Aggies
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna
Seca
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Olympic double gold medal winner Alysa Liu brought her infectious smile and warm charm to Oakland’s City Hall on Thursday, March 12 before several thousand well-wishers. Triumphant and beaming, Alysa shared: “I trained right here in Oakland, at the Oakland Ice Center. My father and family work here in Chinatown, and they’re here today.”
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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Alysa Liu dances with TURFinc., the uniquely Oakland-based dance group promoting the dance culture of TURFinc.
Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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Alysa dances next to two-time 2026 Grammy Awards winner Kehlani at the rally. Both are alums of the Oakland School
for the Arts. Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
| Arthur Liu came out to support his daughter. The poster is from the mural of Alysa in the Temescal district painted of the luminaries. Photo and caption by Ed Jay. | |
Alysa is flanked by her coaches, Phillip DeGuglielmo (l) and Massimo Scali, during the press conference before the rally. Their reaction after Alysa’s free skate were of pure
emotion and joy. Photo and caption by Ed Jay.
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Alysa Liu fans packed the plaza in front of Oakland's City Hall to celebrate her remarkable Olympic victories. Liu is the 2026 Winter Olympics champion in both the women's singles and in the team event and with her warm, infectious personality she is now
an international star at age 20.
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Angelique Brown, a security guard in Oakland's downtown area, displays a commemorative towel lucky fans received at
the joyful Alysa Liu celebration.
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Oakland Roots SC 2
New Mexico United 1
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Saturday, March 14, 2026
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Oakland Roots Give the Coliseum a Night That Felt Like Home
by Medhavee Upadhyaya
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For one night, the Oakland Coliseum felt loud, full, and entirely its own.
On March 14, in front of 14,973 fans, Oakland Roots beat New Mexico United 2–1 in a home opener that felt bigger than an early-season result. It was the club’s first-ever 2-0-0 start, but the bigger story was the atmosphere: Oakland finally had a soccer night that matched the scale of the stage.
The Roots set the tone early. In the 7th minute, Wolfgang Prentice rose to meet a Mark Fisher cross and headed Oakland in front. New Mexico had long stretches of pressure after that, but Oakland stayed organized, stayed patient, and found its second big moment in the 80th minute, when Peter Wilson finished from close range to make it 2–0. New Mexico answered quickly through Justin Rennicks in the 82nd minute, turning the closing stretch tense, but Oakland held on.
On paper, New Mexico had enough of the match to make this uncomfortable. The visitors finished with 13 shots and a 9–0 edge in corners, but Oakland owned the moments that mattered most. The Roots were sharper in front of goal, steadier under pressure, and clinical when the game offered them openings.
That is what made the night feel important. Not just because Oakland won, but because the win felt connected to the city around it. The crowd showed up. The team gave them a reason to stay loud. And for a few hours, the Coliseum stopped feeling like borrowed space.
It felt like home.
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Software engineer and web designer Medhavee Upadhyaya,
a resident of Nepal, spent her early years nourishing
a strong soccer interest
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Bay FC 2
Denver Summit FC 1
PayPal Field, San Jose, CA
Saturday, March 14, 2026
| Bay FC opened their 2026 NWSL season with a 2-1 victory over the expansion Denver Summit FC on Saturday, March 14th at PayPal Park. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | Forward Alex Pfeiffer shoots and scores to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita. | |
Midfielder Joelle Anderson (wearing mask) celebrates with teammates after scoring Bay FC's second goal in the first half.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Forward Melissa Kossler celebrates after scoring the first goal in Denver Summit FC history. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
Caption and photo by Darren Yamashita.
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Cal Tri Meet
Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
Friday, March 13, 2026
| | Friday night's three-way meet brought out a good crowd to watch the Golden Bears host the Bay Area’s San Jose State Spartans and Stanford University Cardinal at Haas Pavilion. Stanford would win the team competition, but it was Cal’s freshman Tonya Paulsson who would win two of the four exercises on the night. Above, the Golden Bears take a moment after introductions for the quick regroup. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | Erupting in celebration after sticking her dismount, freshman Tonya Paulsson would go on to the top of the podium for both the bars and floor exercise. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | Senior All-Around Jayden Silvers was the top Bear for the vault, posting a 9.875. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | Spotting the bar during the transition, Annalise Newman-Achee finishes the bars with a 9.85 for a share of third on the exercise. Photo and caption by Ron Sellers. | | |
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THRIVE CITY ANNOUNCES 2026 SPRING PROGRAMMING
Events Include Taste of Thrive City, Easter Egg Hunt, Golden State 5k, Live Music Performances, And More
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SAN FRANCISCO — Thrive City has announced its 2026 spring programming schedule, which features nearly 70 free family-friendly events from March through May. Highlights include a Lucha Libre Wrestling Night, the annual Sana G Easter Egg Hunt, Taste of Thrive City, Spring Golf Day, fitness classes, and more. Guests are encouraged to RSVP for upcoming events at ThriveCity.com.
Upcoming Thrive City events include:
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Men’s College Basketball Viewings – Thrive City will host free community viewings of March college basketball games simultaneously from the split-screen plaza videoboard on March 19, March 20, March 21, and April 6. Multi-game viewings will be available for fans to catch all the action at once. Times will vary based on game schedules.
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Lucha Libre Wrestling Night – Hosted by West Coast Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Revolution, Lucha Libre Wrestling Night brings the high-flying spirit of independent wrestling to Thrive City on Sunday, March 22. Featuring San Francisco’s top talent, the action starts at 3 p.m. in the plaza ring and will be featured live on the Thrive City plaza videoboard to enhance the viewing experience.
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Golden State 5k, presented by Kaiser Permanente – Thrive City, in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, will host the annual Golden State 5k on Sunday, March 29, starting at 9 a.m. The scenic, bayfront 3.1-mile race will begin outside Chase Center and end with a celebration at Thrive City featuring live entertainment and wellness activations.
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Our Mission:
Weavery's mission is to provide data and ai strategy advice, training, and innovative solutions to high impact humanitarian organizations. Weavery leverages artificial intelligence to enhance operations and amplify impact to serve a world in need.
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San Francisco Giants’ relief pitcher Spencer Bivens (76)
with relief pitcher Erik Miller (68)
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Miller's spring debut a welcomed sight for injury-depleted Giants 'pen
Maria Guardado
@mi_guardado
:232:08
This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe
to get it regularly in your inbox.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants’ bullpen depth has been thinned by injuries as of late, but they welcomed a key arm back to the mound on Friday.
After missing the first three weeks of Cactus League action with lower back tightness, left-hander Erik Miller finally got to make his spring debut in the Giants’ 6-1 loss to the Reds at Scottsdale Stadium.
Miller entered the game in the top of the fourth and gave up a leadoff single, but he came back to strike out the next three batters to post a scoreless inning. It was a significant milestone for Miller, who hadn’t faced big league competition since suffering a season-ending left elbow injury last July.
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Lopez ready to complete unfinished business in 2026
This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ Athletics Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe
to get it regularly in your inbox.
MESA, Ariz. -- For as impressive of a rookie campaign as Jacob Lopez had, you can’t help but wonder, “What if?” when looking back at his 2025 season.
What if he had never felt that discomfort in his left forearm, later diagnosed as a season-ending left elbow flexor strain, during a start against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park last August?
Based on the trajectory his year was taking, it looked as if Lopez was on his way to challenging for the title of top rookie pitcher in MLB. In the 13 starts prior to that outing in Seattle, the left-hander was 7-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 70 2/3 innings, posting the third-lowest ERA in MLB over that stretch.
Lopez’s dominance was even catching the attention of representatives for Team Mexico, which reached out to gauge his level of interest in representing the country for this year’s World Baseball Classic.
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Our documentary, The Last Game, will be online on YouTube for free on Thursday, March 19th at 7 p.m. PST.
We're hoping this generates more eyes on the project and allows it to be shared on social media so that the story of the A's can be seen and understood for what the fans have gone through these last six decades.
We'll be posting the link on our social media platform on Instagram @thelastgamedoc and through our various partners like Last Dive Bar, one of the main A's fan groups and Reddit pages, etc.
Matt Dooley
Director, The Last Game
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Celebrini leaning on Olympic lessons in Sharks playoff push
Young center excited for stretch run after
starring for Team Canada
By Amalie Benjamin
@AmalieBenjamin NHL.com Senior Writer
BOSTON -- There is a world in which Macklin Celebrini would have been playing in Boston on Wednesday night, not on Thursday, a world in which his jersey would still have said Boston University, not San Jose.
This is not that world.
Instead, it’s been nearly two years since Celebrini last donned a Terriers jersey, since he last made his home in Boston, a time in which he made his debut for the San Jose Sharks and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 before making his current push for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.
“It’s gone by fast, for sure,” Celebrini said. “Feels like yesterday I was here. To say it’s been two years, it’s gone by really, really fast.”
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Battle of the Bay 2.1: San Jose Giants to Host Oakland Ballers
After making history last season, the Ballers and Giants will meet again in a Champion vs. Champion rematch
San Jose, CA – On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the San Jose Giants and the Oakland Ballers will face off for the second consecutive year, building on the success of last season’s historic matchup. Dubbed “Battle of the Bay 2.1,” the two organizations, each fresh off their respective 2025 Championship seasons, will meet for an exhibition game at San Jose’s Excite Ballpark as part of the Giants’ Minor League Spring Training schedule. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM.
Tickets for the game are now on sale at sjgiants.com with the game set to air on CBS Bay Area.
“Congratulations to the Oakland Ballers on their first championship last year,” said San Jose Giants President Ben Taylor. “Our organization is familiar with that winning feeling as, after beginning the year with a Battle of the Bay 2.0 victory, the team secured its historic 13th League Championship. In San Jose, winning isn't a singular achievement, it is a Giant culture. We look forward to again providing fans, and the Ballers, the chance to experience it as we begin the 2026 baseball season."
Taking place at the ballpark formerly known as Municipal Stadium, which first opened in 1942, this matchup marks just the second time an affiliated Minor League franchise, the San Jose Giants, will take on an MLB Partner League team, the Oakland Ballers. The inaugural Battle of the Bay 2.0 last year was the first such meeting in baseball history.
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MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 0, Seattle Sounders 1
Quakes’ unbeaten run ends at three in front of sellout crowd at PayPal Park; San Jose faces Vancouver Whitecaps FC in road contest next Saturday
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out PayPal Park crowd of 18,251 to snap their unbeaten streak at three.
The visitors struck first in minute 20 when Danny Musovski and Jesús Ferreira combined to feed a streaking Paul Rothrock on the right wing, whose subsequent low finish gave Seattle a 1-0 lead and snapped the Quakes’ club-record streak of not conceding to start the season at 290 minutes.
After intermission, the Quakes came firing out the gate with 11 shots (five on goal), but Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas turned them all away. After an 80th-minute goal by Seattle's Cody Baker was called back due to offside, the Quakes put on another furious rally. Ultimately, San Jose outshot Seattle 25-7, had more shots on goal (8-4), won more corner kicks (17-0), had more expected goals (3.0-0.5) and dominated possession (59.6%-40.4%), but could not secure the equalizer before the final whistle.
The Black and Blue now go on the road next Saturday, March 21, to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff from BC Place is 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally via Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
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Get ready for our Spring Series matchup—a friendly against Ottawa Rapid FC on Friday, April 17th. It’s the perfect way to kick off spring with a can’t-miss matchday!
Be there as Ottawa Rapid FC travels to the Bay Area for a friendly during their sophomore season in the Northern Super League season, marking the club’s first-ever visit to PayPal Park. Enjoy the excitement with family and friends as Bay FC goes
head-to-head in an action-packed match.
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Ballhalla awaits! The Valkyries return to the violet hardwood for Year Two with a preseason match-up against the Seattle Storm on Saturday, April 25 at 5:30PM at Chase Center.
After an unforgettable inaugural season, we can’t wait to welcome fans back for another year of elite basketball, unforgettable moments, and the electric energy that makes Ballhalla one of the loudest homes in the league. Preseason is your first chance to see the team back on the floor, build momentum for the season ahead, and be part of what’s next.
Single-game preseason tickets will be going on sale soon! Stay tuned for on-sale details and be ready to lock in your seats as we kick off Year Two together.
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| | SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS EXTEND MAJOR PARTNER STATUS WITH QUALYS THROUGH 2027 | |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MARCH 9, 2026) — The San Francisco Unicorns have confirmed a partnership extension with Qualys, Inc. (NASDAQ: QLYS), a leading provider of cloud-based IT, security, and compliance solutions, to continue as the franchise’s Major Partner and Official Cybersecurity Partner for the 2026 and 2027 seasons of Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC).
Following a successful first season of partnership in 2025, which saw the San Francisco Unicorns make the MLC playoffs for the second year in a row and play for the first time in front of home fans at the Oakland Coliseum, the two Bay Area organizations have agreed to continue the relationship, which embodies their aligned goal towards fostering elite sport and cricket growth in the region.
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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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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff | |
More NBA teams make the NBA playoffs (16) than there were teams when the first
modern NBA season began
The NBA started as the Basketball Association of America, which absorbed much of the competing
National Basketball League after the
1948-49 season.
Of the 11 original teams, only two teams
remain which have the same name and home location. The Celtics are one of them!
What team is the second team?
answer below...
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Farrah Fawcett -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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I received this autographed photo of Farrah Fawcett along with many other celebrity photos from my uncle, Benson Fong, who was an actor and Beverly Hills restaurant owner. Celebrities would eat at his restaurant and take photos with him and/or bring photos for him to hang on his walls. He often sent me stacks of extra photos for my own collection. I’ve had this photo since the 1980’s. It shows Farrah in her famous red swimsuit pose which sold over 12 million posters. I remember having this poster on my walls when I was in high school.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 175: Nebraska May Be The State That Brings Down The College Sports Commission
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
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The College Sports Commission released its latest NIL Deal Flow Report this week, and on the surface, the numbers look impressive. Through February 28, 2026, NIL Go (the CSC's clearinghouse platform) has cleared 21,025 deals worth a combined $166.5 million. 50% of submitted deals have been resolved within 24 hours. 70% within a week. Bryan Seeley, the CSC's CEO and a former MLB executive, can point to those statistics and call it a success story.
But 711 deals, worth a combined $29.3 million, have not been cleared. Just between January 1 and February 28, 2026, 187 deals worth $14.36 million were denied. And Seeley himself this week acknowledged the obvious, which is that the system is buckling. Alleged "associated-entity" deals from power-conference athletes spiked 65% over those 2 months alone, now accounting for 78% of total deal volume submitted in 2026. Seely says the massive increase in associated deal volume of this kind of "manufactured NIL" is leading to some increased review times in NIL Go. He says that he doesn't think the system was designed with this amount of alleged "associated deals" in mind.
Then what the hell was it designed for?
Everyone with a brain knew that schools would be engineering deals through affiliated third parties, including multimedia rights companies, marketing agencies, and apparel brands, to route compensation to athletes outside of the revenue-share cap. No one truly believed that powerhouse programs would stick to payments within the artificial cap that was not bargained for with the players. Anyhow, Seeley calls it "manufactured" NIL, and technically it isn't against the rules, so long as the deals include a valid business purpose, timely deliverables, and fall within Deloitte's range-of-compensation algorithm. But the volume is overwhelming for a for-profit startup organization with 15 employees.
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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PETER BROCK Named Grand
Marshal of the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca announced today that legendary automotive designer, racer, and motorsports visionary Peter Brock will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, one of the world’s premier celebrations of historic racing.
A pivotal figure in American motorsports history, Brock’s career spans design, engineering, competition, and storytelling. Brock first made his mark at GM Styling as one of the youngest designers hired in at the age of 19. In November of 1957 he drew the sketch which became the iconic 1963 Corvette split window Sting Ray. Before the Sting Ray even hit the market, Brock joined Carroll Shelby in Los Angeles to run his new race driver’s school and played a key role in shaping the Cobra program and designing the Shelby Daytona Coupe which won the FIA GT Championship in 1965. He then founded Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE), the team that turned compact Japanese sedans into championship-winning race cars. Read More…
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| | Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff | | |
New York Knickerbockers
Not nearly as storied as the Boston Celtics, but
they do have quite a history.
I didn't know there was/is a Knickerbocker baseball
club, did you? That is the opening comment at the
Wiki story of the Knicks.
It certainly makes for a long time rivalry with the
Celtics even though the Celtics left them in the dust...
(Above -- 1946-1964 Knicks logo)
Go Celtics!
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Bears Win Cal Quad Meet
On Senior Day
Cal Hits Third-Straight Score Higher Than 197
BERKELEY – No. 16 California women's gymnastics compiled a 197.175 on Senior Day in Berkeley, marking the third-straight meet that the Golden Bears have earned an overall score of 197 or higher. Cal outscored Washington (196.575), Pennsylvania (195.900) and UC Davis (191.175) to win the Cal Quad Meet on Sunday afternoon in Haas Pavilion.
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Photo: Kahlil Gray
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Stanford Selected for WBIT
Cardinal will host LMU in the first round on Thursday, March 19
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford will participate in the postseason as part of the 32-team Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament field, the WBIT selection committee announced Sunday.
The Cardinal will host Loyola Marymount in a first-round game at Maples Pavilion on Thursday, March 19. Game times for the entire first round will be announced by 9 a.m. PT on Monday, March 16. Tickets are currently on sale by visiting tickets.gostanford.com.
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Spartans Shutout New Mexico
to Take Series
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Dylan Smith and Tyler Albanese combined to hold New Mexico scoreless, allowing only four hits while striking out six, to lead the San José State baseball team (7-12, 2-1 MW) in a 3-0 victory over New Mexico (13-7, 1-2 MW) Sunday afternoon from Excite Ballpark in the final game of a three game series. With the win, the Spartans take the series over the Lobos 2-1.
The Spartans scored in three separate innings and held the Lobos to just four hits to earn the shutout win. Starting pitcher Smith delivered a dominant outing on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out three to earn the victory. Reliever Albanese closed the door with three scoreless innings and three strikeouts to collect his first save of the season.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
ROW | Gaels Sweep All Nine Races at Hornet Invitational Against UCSD and Kansas State
LAKE NATOMA, Calif. — Back on the water at Lake Natoma, the Saint Mary's rowing team had an outstanding day of racing, winning all nine races that they competed in at the Hornet Invitational. Taking on the likes of UCSD and Kansas State, the Gaels enjoyed loads of improvement at an event in which they only won one race a year ago.
In a picturesque morning for racing that featured very little cross wind, the Gaels opened up their day with three wins against the Tritons. In the varsity fours, the Gaels narrowly edged UCSD by a 3.7 second margin. The gaps widened a bit in the second and first varsity eight groups, with the Gaels taking the 2V8+ race by 9.5 seconds, and the 1V8+ race by 15.2 seconds. The Gaels 3V8+ boat also raced in the 2V8+ race, taking third place over UCSD's 3V8+ boat. Below is a list of each boat's makeup for the races against the Tritons:
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Baseball Drops Series Finale at UC Riverside in Extra Innings
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of San Francisco baseball team (9-9) concluded its three-game series with a 6-5 extra-inning defeat at UC Riverside (6-14) Sunday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
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San Francisco gained an early advantage in the first inning when Eddison Esquivel doubled in the left-center field gap to drive in Tino Vasell for a 1-0 lead.
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Santa Clara Athletics to Hold NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Show Watch Party
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara Athletics invites members of the Santa Clara University community, students, staff, local media and season ticket holders to join the men's basketball team on Sunday, March 15, in Leavey Center to watch the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Selection Show. The watch party will begin at 2:30 p.m. PT with the selection show airing live on CBS beginning at 3:00 p.m. PT.
The event will be held on the court in Leavey Center where the Broncos put together a 14-1 record, including a 13-game winning streak, as part of a 26-8 overall season. Santa Clara is looking to receive an at-large bid to this year's tournament after a great run at the 2025-26 Credit Union 1 WCC Men's Basketball Championship where they defeated Pacific and No. 21 Saint Mary's to advance to the title game for the first time since 2007.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Tigers Set Course for Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate
TUCSON, Ariz. – Competing out of California for the final time during the regular season, the Pacific men's golf program heads to the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate, hosted by Arizona at Tucson Country Club.
The Tigers are one of 14 teams competing in this week's tournament in the Valley. Pacific, who ranks in the top 80 in the country according to the national rankings, is coming off a middle-of-the-pack performance at the Lamkin Invitational last week.
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Statement Made: UC Davis Secures Series Victory Over UC Santa Barbara
Keenan Anzai's massive day at the plate fueled a 15-hit attack as the Aggies secured their fourth consecutive series win and first over UC Santa Barbara since 2018.
Score: UC Davis 10, UC Santa Barbara 6
Location: Davis, Calif. (Dobbins Stadium)
Records: UC Davis 9-9 (4-2), UC Santa Barbara 14-4 (4-2)
THE SHORT STORY: The UC Davis baseball team made a massive statement on Sunday afternoon, overpowering UC Santa Barbara 10-6 to claim the rubber match and secure a monumental weekend series victory at Dobbins Stadium. Fueled by a relentless 15-hit offensive explosion and a breakout day at the plate from Keenan Anzai, the Aggies clinched their fourth consecutive series win and captured their first series victory over the Gauchos since 2018.
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| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Pioneers Finish 18th at NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships
Evansville, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's swimming program closed out an impressive week at the 2026 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships with several strong efforts on the final day at the Deaconess Aquatic Center. The Pioneers secured their third-best team finish since the 2017–18 season and claimed another All-American performance in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
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Watch any program on CCE's YouTube channel, or, for attorneys, earn MCLE credits online, economically, with "The Best in Topics and Talent."
Center for Continuing Education, Monterey, CA is a State Bar of California MCLE approved Provider, #8450
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, March 16, through
Sunday, March 22, 2026
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Monday, March 16
Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards, 4 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels, 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m.
Athletics @ Chicago White Sox, 1:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks @ Edmonton Oilers, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18
Golden State Warriors @ Boston Celtics, 4 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 19
Sacramento Kings vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Cincinnati Reds, 1:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners, 6:10 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 20
Golden State Warriors @ Detroit Pistons, 4:30 p.m.
San Francisco Giants (SS) vs. Kansas City Royals, 5:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants (SS) @ Texas Rangers, 5:05 p.m.
Athletics (SS) vs. Chicago Cubs, 6:10 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
Golden State Warriors @ Atlanta Hawks, 5 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Cleveland Guardians, 12:05 p.m.
San Jose Sharks vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 1 p.m.
Athletics @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots @ Phoenix Rising FC, 7 p.m.
Bay FC vs. Angel City FC, 5:45 p.m.
Sunday, March 22
Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets, 3 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. River Cats, 5:07 p.m.
Athletics (SS) @ Milwaukee Brewers, 1:05 p.m.
Athletics (SS) @ Colorado Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Associate Publisher: Ann Cooke
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Sales: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Lydia Chain, Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, 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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