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September 1 -- September 7, 2025
Issue No. 605
| | Avery Brooks/Hawk, and Robert Urich | | |
Some may remember the television show: Spenser: for Hire, a crime-drama series starring Robert Urich. His dapper and similarly ethical enforcer, Hawk, was played by Avery Brooks. Spenser took care of business -- like another Spencer W's fans know (note: Television Spenser was spelled with an "S" -- like the poet as he would advise others, plus, Spenser the poet has been rumored to have written some of Shakespeare's works).
| | Golden State Warriors Pat Spencer | | |
The Warriors' Spencer (with a "c") takes care of business, as he did in the NBA playoffs in a style similar to the Pacers' T.J. O'Connell. It was O'Connell who hustled and clawed the Pacers back in the third quarter in Game 5. For some reason he did not appear in the fourth quarter, and OKC came back to win.
Pat Spencer was a four-time All-American in Lacrosse at Loyola, MD. As a senior, Spencer won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s outstanding college player, but says basketball is his first love
and that he sees many transferable skills between the two sports.
Lacrosse players rule -- nobody dared go near Spencer on the court, and his defense was a difference-maker.
On March 4, 2025, Spencer's two-way contract with the Warriors was converted into a standard contract. He has the same quality as O'Connell: INTENSITY! Plus, he makes his free throws. Opponents FEARED Spencer. The Dubs need to keep him and play him! Unfortunately, sources now say Spencer's days with the Warriors are numbered.
Apparently it's time to, YAWN, dredge up old Al Horford and continue the pathetic "Why we can't sign Jonathan Kuminga" saga. SIGN KUMINGA, who was a STAR in the playoffs, AND SPENCER, and get ready to step up the intensity and toughness as the season starts.
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
Marketing Director, Sports Today
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Contents
Games
Oakland Roots SC 1, Monterey Bay FC 0
San Jose Earthquakes 1, Austin FC 3
Features & Commentary
Back to School and Back to Winning? by Lydia Chain
Last Time I Wrote About The Valkyries, by Howard Pearlstein
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
The Last Game, by Andy Dolich
The Swiss Cheese 49ers Have Holes Showing, by Dave Newhouse
Organizations
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A's
Bay Area Falcons
Bay Area Panthers
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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(Click on the above image for a document trailer)
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The Last Game
by Andy Dolich
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As I sat in the green-and-gold Oakland A’s logo clad audience at yesterday's screening of Matt Dooley’s Oakland A’s documentary The Last Game, my emotional roller coaster was veering off the tracks.
Dooley began filming the 57-year history of the A’s in Oakland in 2023. He didn’t know exactly how it would end. The hour-long story is explained through the hearts, minds, souls of fans through each decade the A’s made Oakland their home. Dooley and his team found the voices from decades gone by which brings his work to real life.
| For more The Last Game information, visit: @thelastgamedoc. Photo: Ann Cooke | |
Voices like Steve Watkin who went to his first A’s game in 1968 at age seven or Joe Wolfcale whose dad came to the Bay in the Navy and started taking his son to the Coliseum for his baseball baptism. As a major promoter of giveaways at the Coliseum during my 14-year career as head of Business Operations (1980-1994) I was bobbing when Rob Roberts of Lodi showed off his extensive A’s memorabilia collections, featuring his custom-made Bobbles.
Dooley wanted to focus on A’s fans. He was looking for people who had deep personal A’s baseball memories to share. The result is a Green and Gold grassroots documentary from those who were sitting in the Coliseum seats, pouring their emotions into the team, players and the game they love. One of the key points in his wonderful work is that Oakland, the Coliseum, Players and Fans were family during the historical highs the team created during their 57-year history in Oakland.
| | Above, author Andy Dolich is pictured with film producer Matt Dooley. Dolich is holding a copy of Goodbye, Oakland, the best selling account of the Oakland A’s flight out of town, co-authored with Dave Newhouse. Photo by Ann Cooke | | The Last Game ends with a montage from September 26, 2024 with the A’s beating the Texas Rangers 3-2 before crowd of 46,899 at the final Coliseum home game with a musical background of East Bay musical legends Tower of Power’s So Very Hard to Go. | | |
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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.
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The 49ers begin their, hopefully, comeback season
Sunday in Seattle. (Graphic by Carl Macki.)
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Swiss Cheese
49ers Have
Holes Showing
by Dave Newhouse
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Make believe you’re selling an advertised furnished home, and a prospective buyer comments: "I don’t see a sofa in the living room, curtains on the rods, or lamps anywhere. And you’re telling me this house has everything?”
The San Francisco 49ers are trying to convince themselves that they are a best-listed NFL product, while looking at themselves quizzically, wondering if 2025 will be an extension of 2024, when they fell off as a dynamic franchise.
The regular season begins Sunday, San Francisco playing Seattle on the road. The Forty-Niner Faithful are waiting, nervously, to see if they’ll be watching a furnished or finished product.
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Brock Purdy is a talented quarterback, but is his offense
a functioning component?
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How quickly things can change in the NFL as the 49ers plummeted from 12-5 and first place in the NFC West in 2023 to 6-11 and last place a year ago. Their prospects for a huge turnaround this autumn don’t, unfortunately, appear likely.
There are too many holes to fill, or keep filled, as they lack depth at wide receiver or talent at other positions where they once flourished. Deebo Samuel was a great all-purpose back until last season, when his productivity fell off greatly. He’s now a Washington Redskin. Brandon Aiyuk was a solid receiver when paired beautifully with Samuel, but injuries now dog Aiyuk, and he won’t be available until the fifth week of the season. The 49ers awarded him a new contract regardless.
The Niners don’t mind spending money, signing quarterback Brock Purdy to an even richer contract, though he is deserving. He’s mostly an accurate thrower and a credible runner. But his supporting cast, offensively and defensively, has weakened.
The defensive line, linebacking, and tight end positions don’t cause immediate worry. But every place else on the field brings concern because of health and talent issues.
| | Christian McCaffrey makes the 49ers a threat with his versatility, but they’re a sub-average team when he is injured, like 2024 | | |
When the 49ers were striking fear throughout the NFL, the biggest reason offensively was Christian McCaffrey, as versatile a running back as the league had seen in years. He could run, catch passes, block effectively, and even throw accurately as a bonus.
When McCaffrey went down last year, so did the 49ers quickly, like Smokin’ Joe Frazier against George Foreman. Reports are that McCaffrey has regained his health, but we won’t know for sure until judging his durability. He isn’t the biggest back, no Jim Brown type, so can he last a full season? The 49ers can’t make it without him, that’s for sure. Plus the 49ers don’t have a marquee offensive line, save all-world tackle Trent Williams, but he is aging and more often injured.
The most important 49er after McCaffrey is the placekicker, Jake Moody. The 49ers will be fighting to stay in games, and Moody could be their key outlet if he is accurate. He had a comeback pre-season, which brings hope.
Purdy does have two capable wide receivers in Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. A more dangerous target is George Kittle, perhaps the NFL’s premier tight end with his big-play catches and superb blocking. He must stay healthy or else.
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Nick Moody is an elevator placekicker — up and down in terms
of accuracy. The 49ers need his “up” button to pose
a team threat this season.
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Nick Bosa is a great defensive end, but he can’t do it alone. Rookie Mikel Williams, already pegged as the opposite defensive end, could relieve Bosa of constant double-team blocking if Williams looks as good in games as he has in practice. A big if.
The gifted Fred Warner leads a talented linebacker corps, but the secondary, alas, could capsize this season. The 49ers no longer have the likes of Jimmy Johnson or Ronnie Lott at cornerback, or Dwight Hicks or Merton Hanks at safety. A major drop-off.
So hold your breath, Faithful. And if you have prayers to offer the team, make sure they include McCaffrey and Moody. The 49ers aren’t anything close to a best-buy house sale, but these two men are the team's best house bets.
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Dave Newhouse's journalism career spans more than half a century, including 45 years at the Oakland Tribune before his retirement in November 2011. Newhouse is the author of 19 books. His most recent book, Goodbye, Oakland, is available in bookstores and from Triumph Books. Dave grew up in Menlo Park, graduated from San Jose State, and has radio and television experience, in addition to his work as an award-winning sportswriter and columnist. For earlier articles by Dave published in Sports Today, click HERE.
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Golden State Community Foundation and Kaiser Permanente Unveil Refurbished Courts at Mosswood Park in Oakland
Festus Ezeli And Gary Payton Sr. Celebrate Court Renovation With Ribbon Cutting At Mosswood Park
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The Golden State Community Foundation, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and in collaboration with Creative Sports Concepts, has revealed two refurbished basketball courts at Mosswood Park in Oakland. This marks the second time the Golden State Community Foundation and Kaiser Permanente have refurbished these courts, with the first coming in 2011, featuring a celebration with Warriors legend Alvin Attles and former Warrior David Lee.
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For further information:
https://historysmc.org/courthouse-docket/
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We are currently offering the opportunity to feature your advertisement in our weekly publication -- starting at $100.
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Dominic Smith recorded a Splash Hit home run on Friday evening, August 29. Smith drove in four runs for the game
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Smith adds Splash Hit to resurgent season in SF
by Andres Soto
SAN FRANCISCO -- Ever since Dominic Smith first got the call to put on a Giants uniform back in June, hitting a ball into McCovey Cove has been on his mind.
“It’s something that you dream of as a kid,” he said. “You first start playing this game, I think we all dream of playing in the big leagues, and dream of playing in the playoffs, the World Series. And one of the most iconic things in all of sports is seeing guys hit the ball into that water.”
You knew it was gone as soon as the ball left Smith’s bat. He squared up a hanging slider and it just kept carrying through right field, zipping over Levi’s Landing at 106.7 mph -- the hardest-hit home run from Smith this season.
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Athletics No. 3 prospect Luis Morales
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Morales' gem seals surging A's sweep of first-place Tigers
Martín Gallegos
WEST SACRAMENTO -- The Tigers may have held the best record in the American League entering this series, but the Athletics have been the AL’s best team over the past month, and they continued showing why.
A 7-0 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday at Sutter Health Park punctuated an impressive three-game sweep in what felt like somewhat of a coming of age for this young and talented A’s squad, which maintains the second-best record in MLB (21-10) since July 24, only slightly trailing the Brewers (22-10) over that span.
"Great series,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We continue to improve. That’s the right direction we wanted to be going in to finish this thing, and there’s still some big series in front of us.”
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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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Ballers Fam,
Key things to know:
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The last regular season homestand of 2025 starts Tuesday. More game info below.
- We are 3 wins away from breaking the modern-era Pioneer League wins record of 69, while boasting the best winning percentage in professional baseball (.770).
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We are playing at least 2 playoff games in Oakland, they're Sept 11th and 12th and tickets are on sale now.
We wouldn't have made it this far without you. Every record, every playoff, every win, every time we hit the field: it's because of our fans, our fan owners, our community -- it's because of you. Thank you.
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Tuesday, 9/2, 6:35pm
Curt Flood and Union Night
Brought to You By International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
Ballers celebrate local unions – and Oakland-born baseball legend Curt Flood - who ushered in collective bargaining in sports.
$2 Tuesday tickets are sold out. But there are some really great seats available in Section B and other sections.
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Back to School and Back to Winning?
by Lydia Chain
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Oakland Roots SC 1 vs. Monterey Bay FC 0.
The Oakland Zoo and other local organizations gathered before the match to welcome fans of all ages, but Saturday night was specifically for the students and to honor the educators for Back to School Night! Pupils of all ages milled around the interactive booths, playing games, adding to murals and having their faces painted. Everyone was lured in by the Roots themed giraffe, and many queued up to take photos with it.
Families enjoyed snacks from local food trucks and explored the booths, especially the zoo’s, who provided the multicolored giraffe. Their booth was filled with animal crania and other cool specimens, with educators that promoted interest in nature and life sciences. DJs bumped music from their booth, adding a rich soundtrack to the community-minded event.
| | Posing with the Roots giraffe was a big hit with families | | An Oakland Zoo employee educating kids in front of the stadium | |
Claremont Middle School preparing to welcome teams to the
pitch for Back to School Night
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The battle of the bays commenced and was immediately end-to- end. Monterey Bay FC and the Roots were both going hard to attempt to secure the first goal, desperate for a win. In the 34th minute midfielder Faysal Bettache assisted #30 Morey Doner, our Canadian gem of a defender, to blast a ball past the defenders of his prior team and into the net. (Doner had previously spent three seasons with Monterey Bay, then Detroit City FC for a few matches before being transferred to the Roots at the end of May.)
Monterey came close to scoring a couple times, once with Luke Ivanovic whacking a powerful shot behind Kendall McIntosh across the face of the goal, then another near miss in the 81st minute by Ilijah Paul Gindiri. Though Monterey made more attempts to convert shots to goals, some luck and McIntosh’s refusal to let anything breach his domain allowed the Roots to prevail.
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Oakland employing vigorous defending from Gagi Margvelashvili and Kai Greene against Monterey Bay’s Tarik Scott
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A magnificent and crucial save by McIntosh to
keep the Roots' lead
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Neveal Hacksaw's celebration included a victorious
post-match selfie session. All captions and photos by Lydia Chain
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On an auspicious note, the match was also commemorating the 6th anniversary of the formation of the Oakland Roots Sports Club! The amazing milestone is only possible because of the overwhelming community-led effort; one that only works because the Roots believe—from the players on the pitch to the staff behind the scenes -- in The Town’s need for a footy club. The match was followed by a celebratory drone show which commemorated the six-year-long endeavor and helped to bookend a special night.
Someone, whose anonymity I’ll keep for now, even has a lucky suit for special days when he said, “We really need the win.” Well, I guess the suit worked, because the Roots really did show up and win, delivering the perfect birthday gift to Roots fans!
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While Lydia has a background in art history and printmaking, she has indulged in photography since she could hold her father’s Polaroid camera steady as a toddler. Now, she relishes the chance to explore the world of sports media and journalism.
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San Jose Earthquakes 1
Austin FC 3
Q2 Stadium, Austin, TX
Saturday, August 30, 2025
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Earthquakes 1, Austin FC 3
AUSTIN, Texas — The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Austin FC 3-1 on Saturday at Q2 Stadium in Major League Soccer regular-season play in front of 20,738 fans.
The Quakes were aggressive early. In the first 10 minutes, Josef Martínez had two chances in the box, but the first attempt was batted away by Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver and the second one was a goal that was ruled offside. In the 12th minute, the hosts capitalized off a transition moment. Midfielder Owen Wolff played a through ball for forward Osma Bukari down the right wing, who then took one dribble and netted his attempt for the far post to give Austin a 1-0 lead. Verde doubled the advantage in minute 33, when Bukari collected a turnover on the touchline, sped down the right wing, and fed Myrto Uzuni with a low cross to tap in for a 2-0 lead at the break.
After intermission, San Jose got back in the game in the 53rd minute off a corner kick. Wingback DeJuan Jones took a shot from the top of the box that ricocheted in front of net. Quakes defender Daniel Munie was in perfect position to emerge from the scrum and clean up the mess, thumping the ball home to make it a 2-1 contest. Six minutes later, Cristian “Chicho” Arango almost equalized but his shot from the top of the box was deflected and then tipped by Stuver over the crossbar. However, in minute 77, an own goal off a wayward clearance gave Austin FC a 3-1 lead for the final margin despite San Jose outshooting the hosts (19-9) and dominating possession (58%-42%).
With the result, San Jose now occupies the ninth and last playoff spot in the MLS Western Conference with 35 points (9-12-8). Meanwhile Austin FC trades places with the Quakes and moves to eighth with 38 points (10-9-8).
The Black and Blue now head into the international break before returning to action at home Saturday, Sept. 13, for Prime Time at Levi’s Stadium vs. LAFC. Kickoff will take place at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on 107.7 FM The Bone (English) and KZSF 1370 AM La Kaliente (Spanish).
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Last Time I Wrote About
The Valkyries
by Howard Pearlstein
About James Naismith developing the original game of basketball. The main reason was an indoor sport for athletes to maintain training and conditioning during the winter months. But also a sport with fewer risks of injury than football, especially college football in 1890’s -- piling on, running headfirst into other players and what they called protective gear we’d call laughable if it weren’t for the very unfunny permanent damage done.
The game addressed American men’s average height in 1891 -- five foot eight. He set the hoop at a challenging ten feet up. Smith College women joined the game in 1892, and their average height was five foot two or three.
Today’s WNBA women are considerably taller than that, but they’re still closer in size to the original game than the NBA, more jumping and moving, more steps across the court. Different shooting styles to put the ball in the basket. For me, the slight increase in difficulty makes the game more fun.
I once saw an NBA player take one step from the foul shot line and leap to dunk the ball. Definitely impressive, but it’s an exception. And many of the methods of NBA play are the result of increased size in a game designed for smaller people.
That is why there are the occasional calls for raising the basket or widening the court, or… ain’t gonna happen.
Every successful player’s instincts involve the basket being ten feet up. Every high school and college gym in America would have to be rebuilt, raising the basket a foot or so, making the court longer and wider.
But Naismith’s second point is not certain for today’s WNBA. Most WNBA games seem to have a lot more physical contact than the men’s game and the refs allow it.
And then, one game earlier last month was something else. I honestly can’t remember which. I was on my way out and only saw a bit of the first quarter before I left, and it was Holy sh----! It was brutal.
When I got home and turned on the tv there was an increasingly common message screen from Comcast, that they had a problem with the recording and they could record it when it’s replayed. So, Atlanta? Phoenix? I’m not sure. But it was brutal.
My first attempt to describe it was like women playing football in their underwear.
Then a friend said she thought it was more like rugby. But both games have tackling and piling on.
It was more like Roller derby but without the helmets or other impact gear. Roller Derby was all about pushing shoving hitting knocking other players out of your way and onto their respective asses or over the outside rail.
I remembered something Ann Calvello had said when I’d interviewed her in 1970 or 71. She was a force of nature, a funny charming force of nature straight talking wisdom. Got together for post-game drinks at the bar across the street from Kezar Pavilion where she skated with her Bay Bombers.
There was a new movie called Derby about a kid working in a factory, trying to get into roller derby, which he did. She said: “He won’t last more than a year or two.
He’s playing a big man’s game, but he’s not built big enough to handle the punishment.”
But is anyone today big enough to absorb repeated punishment from fighting it out on hardwood floors?
It’s great when the body’s ability to stay healthy for the long game can match an athlete’s talent and desire.
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Someone once told me that my peripatetic life-path reads like the dust jacket of an experimental novel. He didn't realize that it is that novel, still being written.
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 147: 5,100 Deals Cleared By NIL Go, But Backlogs And Legal Battles Loom
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
This week, we learned a little bit about the College Sports Commission's operation of NIL Go (with Deloitte at the helm) during its first month of existence.
The CSC said that 5,100 NIL deals have been "cleared," and that the compensation terms in those deals range from $600 to $1.5 million. However, it did not disclose how many deals were submitted, how many were rejected, and thus also how many remain in "purgatory." But it did state that it is not using an algorithm or artificial intelligence to review deals and is instead relying on warm bodies to review every single transaction. No wonder so many people are complaining about lag times.
It clarified that multimedia rights (MMR) companies, such as Learfield, which represent schools, in part, to secure sponsorship deals, are considered "associated entities" and thus NIL Go must determine whether deals with MMRs are made with the purpose of using athletes' NIL rights to "advance a valid business purpose" and that such deals are "within a reasonable range of compensation."
It also noted that it is looking into whether shoe and apparel brands may be deemed "associated entities" and thus require deals with such entities to be examined based on the above criteria. This is likely a direct response to the Tennessee/Adidas deal (discussed in Vol. 145).
In sum, there's a bit more transparency, but still much that we do not know.
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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September is Coming in Hot at
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Plenty on-track action,
as Ferrari Challenge and GRIDLIFE return to Monterey
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Ferrari Challenge
September 12-14
Experience the epitome of speed, style, and luxury at Ferrari Challenge, where professional and amateur drivers battle for championship points in this year’s North American finale.
General admission tickets include access to an open paddock of Prancing Horses or opt for an elevated hospitality pass for an unforgettable celebration with the whole family. Weekend camping is also available for some end-of-summer fun!
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Sonoma Raceway Announces 2026 Dates For The 38th Annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals:
July 17-19, 2026
SONOMA, Calif. (August 28, 2025) – Sonoma Raceway is excited to announce that the 38th Annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals will take place July 17–19, 2026, marking another unforgettable weekend of championship drag racing in the heart of wine country.
For nearly four decades, Sonoma Raceway has hosted one of the premier stops on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, delivering the unmatched sights, sounds, and thrills that only nitro-powered, 22,000+ horsepower racing can provide. Building on that tradition, the 2026 event will elevate the fan experience like never before.
“The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals are all about pure speed and unforgettable fan experiences. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back July 17–19,” said Brian Flynn, Executive Vice President & General Manager at Sonoma Raceway.
Sonoma Raceway’s legendary quarter-mile dragstrip continues to be a proving ground for history-making moments. In 2025, the track once again captured the spotlight when Brittany Force electrified fans by setting a new world speed record – an astonishing 343.16 mph – in her Top Fuel Dragster during Friday night qualifying on July 25. That same record-breaking energy, intensity and edge-of-your seat action will be on full display when the NHRA returns to Sonoma Raceway in 2026.
Tickets for the 2026 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals are on sale now. Fans are encouraged to lock in their seats early by visiting SonomaRaceway.com or by calling the Sonoma Raceway Ticket Office at (800) 870-RACE [7223] during normal business hours.
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REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2025 ROLEX
BIG BOAT SERIES
Event to Host 2025 ORC Pacific Coast Championship &
2026 ORC North American Championship
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Registration fees for the 61st Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club from September 10–14, 2025, will increase by $275 after July 31, 2025. The can’t-miss regatta on the West Coast sailing calendar, Rolex Big Boat Series draws skippers and sailors from across the country eager to compete on the legendary waters of San Francisco Bay.
Registration for the 2025 RBBS is open now and dozens of boats have already committed. The following are invited to compete in this year’s Rolex Big Boat Series:
- One-design boats of the J/88, J/105, Cape 31 and Express 37 classes. Other classes with a minimum of six boats can be considered with application to the Organizing Authority.
- ORC Monohulls with a LOA ≥ 30 feet. Boats with an APH of 500 or lower are required to have an ORC International certificate. Boats with an APH higher than 500 may compete using either an ORC International Certificate or ORC Club Certificate.
- Classic boats built prior to 1955 with a LOA ≥ 48 feet and a current ORRez rating certificate.
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Bears Roll Past Oregon State In Season-Opener
Sagapolutele Throws 3 TD Passes In Debut
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw three touchdown passes in his collegiate debut and the California football team led wire-to-wire in a season-opening 34-15 thumping of Oregon State on Saturday night at Reser Stadium.
Sagapolutele, who became the first Cal quarterback to start a season-opener as a true freshman since Jared Goff in 2013, got his career off to a breathtaking start. He completed his first nine pass attempts, including two for touchdowns, as the Golden Bears scored on each of their first two possessions of the game to lead 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
"I got to play in my first college game, and it went not too bad," Sagapolutele said. "It wasn't my best game. We left some points on the board. Our coaches put in a great game plan for us and I just trusted the system."
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Photo: Al Sermeno
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Cardinal Cruises Past No. 16
LMU 15-8
Botond Balogh opens the season with six-goal performance
LOS ANGELES – The No. 3 Cardinal started the 2025 season with a dominant win at No. 16 Loyola Marymount, winning 15-8 to move to 1-0. Sophomore Botond Balogh led the way with six goals, coming off of a 31-goal freshman campaign last season.
Stanford jumped out to a commanding lead in the first quarter, going ahead 6-2 and never looking back. Six different players scored for the Card, including hat tricks from Max Zelikov and Ben Forer.
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Volleyball Started 2025 Season
on Friday
SAN JOSE, Calif.—Nine Spartans recorded at least one kill on Friday, led by Lolo Fonua with eight, as the San José State volleyball team opened the 2025 season at Spartan Gym, falling 3-1 to UC Santa Barbara in a non-conference match.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
VB | Klein’s Career Night Leads Gaels to Five Set Thriller Victory to Kick
Off Tyler Hildebrand Era
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The first match of the Tyler Hildebrand era at Saint Mary's goes down in the books as a victory, and a five set, come-from-behind thriller at that. The Gaels found themselves down 2-1 playing against an inspired North Dakota squad on their home court, but, unphased by the adversity, the Gaels grinded out wins in the final two sets to move to 1-0 on the season.
Photo: SMC Athletics /Tod Fierner
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Dons Fall to Aztecs in Season Opener
BERKELEY, Calif. – The University of San Francisco volleyball team (0-1) dropped its first match of the California Tournament, falling to San Diego State (1-1) 3-0 in the 2025 season opener on Saturday afternoon at Haas Pavilion.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Going back and forth at the start of the opening frame, San Diego State, leading San Francisco 10-9, used a 3-0 scoring run to take control of the set, 13-9.
- The Aztecs dominated throughout the remainder of the set, securing a 25-16 win to take the early advantage.
- A 25-19 second-set loss put San Francisco in a 2-0 deficit in the match. The green and gold trailed by as many as six points as San Diego State grabbed the advantage for good at 4-3 in a set that was tied up three times before the Aztecs took over the lead.
continued...
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Broncos Fall in Opening Day Thriller at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Many Broncos saw career highs on a night where Santa Clara women's volleyball twice held a big lead in the final set, but were unable to come away with the statement victory at Notre Dame to open the season on Friday night at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind. The Broncos fought back after trailing 1-0, winning sets two and four to force a decisive fifth set, but despite an early lead were unable to hold on at the end. Their lineup featured a pretty balanced attack with three players posting double figures in kills led by Cate Shanahan with 13. Macy Hinshaw had a game high 40 assists, while Lexi Trapani led the Broncos with 22 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
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Notre Dame (1-0) scored the first five points to open the game, forcing a Santa Clara timeout. However, the Broncos fought back, scoring three in a row capped off by a kill from Morgan Hayes to cut the Irish lead to 8-6.
continued...
| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Women’s Soccer Hosts UC San Diego on Senior Day
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific women's soccer program celebrates Senior Day, hosting UC San Diego on Monday at 11 a.m. at Knoles Field.
The Tigers (1-3-1) will honor their six seniors in a pregame ceremony before taking on the Tritons (1-1-2) in their third straight contest against a Big West school.
Entering their final non-conference home match of the season, sophomore Sierah McCallum has been a force for the Pacific offense, generating a team-leading two goals and four points on nine shot attempts. Four of McCallum's six career goals have come against Big West opponents, including most recently in the last time out at Cal State Bakersfield. McCallum's pair of goals is tied for second among scorers in the West Coast Conference.
continued...
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Shutout from Pieper Leads UC Davis to Road Draw at Lamar
Score: UC Davis 0, Lamar 0
Location: LU Soccer Complex (Beaumont, Texas)
Records: UC Davis 1-1-2 | Lamar 0-3-1
THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis had opportunities throughout to breakthrough, but ultimately battled to a road draw against Lamar, powered behind a six-save shutout from goalkeeper, Cat Pieper.
PITCH SIDE
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UC Davis had five different players on the night record shots, with Ava Coverdale leading the charge with three
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Genavieve Fontes, Sarah Canavan and Sydney Bushman were reponsible for all three UC Davis shots on goal tonight
- Defensively the Aggies were faced with 18 shots, but the aforementioned Pieper weathered the efforts all night, recording the third most saves in a single game by a Big West goalkeeper so far this season, with six
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Leading the backline along with Pieper was the duo of Kiley Fehrenbacher and Summer Humphreys, accounting for the two Aggies on the night to play all 90 minutes
continued...
| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Men's Soccer Selected 4th in CCAA Preseason Poll; Two Pioneers on Preseason Watchlist
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - This week, the 2025 CCAA Men's Soccer Preseason Poll was announced. Cal State East Bay was picked to finish fourth in the standings and received one first place vote among coaches in the conference.
The Pioneers appeared in the CCAA Tournament for the first time in 2024 after a sixth place regular season finish and won their opening match, 1-0 over Chico State.
Scoring the goal in the first round win was Yuto Hatayama, who is one of two Pioneers on the CCAA Preseason Watchlist. Julian Valle is also on the watchlist.
Cal Poly Pomona was picked to finish atop the standings, followed by Cal State LA, Cal State Dominguez Hills, then East Bay.
continued...
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Watch any program on CCE's YouTube channel, or, for attorneys, earn MCLE credits online, economically, with "The Best in Topics and Talent."
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San Francisco 49ers
Las Vegas Raiders
2025/26 Schedules
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Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, September 1, through
Sunday, September 7, 2025
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Monday, September 1
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Athletics @ St. Louis Cardinals, 11:15 a.m.
Bay FC @ Angel City FC, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, September 2
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Athletics @ St. Louis Cardinals, 4:45 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries vs. New York Liberty, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 3
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Athletics @ St. Louis Cardinals, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, September 4
Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 5
San Francisco Giants @ St. Louis Cardinals, 5:15 p.m.
Athletics @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:38 p.m.
Saturday, September 6
San Francisco Giants @ St. Louis Cardinals, 4:15 p.m.
Athletics @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:38 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx, 5:30 p.m
Bay FC vs. Kansas City Current, 7 p.m.
Cal Bears vs. Texas Southern Tigers, 3 p.m.
Stanford Cardinal @ BYU Cougars, 7:15 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans @ Texas Longhorns, 9 a.m.
Sunday, September 7
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots, 10 a.m.
San Francisco Giants @ St. Louis Cardinals, 11:15 a.m.
Athletics @ Los Angeles Angels, 1:07 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC, 1 p.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
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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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