|
August 18 -- August 24, 2025
Issue No. 603
| | |
Ryder Cup Focus:
"Captain Crunch"
| | | Ryder Cup, Bethpage Black | | |
When the biggest Ryder Cup (9/26-28) issue is whether or not Captain Keegan Bradley should include himself as a team player, the answer is obvious. NO! It's already a distraction and potential USA players are split on the issue. Only the first six ranked players receive automatic bids. Keegan is ranked #10. Is he really THAT much better than the player who will be ranked #11, or one on a hot streak? Of course not. Lose the ego and focus on your JOB!
Ryder Cup Captain is a job like no other. He has to focus AS MUCH ON HIS OPPONENTS as on his own team. Psychological warfare meets data analytics. Add the role of the infamous BETHPAGE BLACK course on Long Island, (my home course), where Sergio Garcia cracked like a walnut, and Keegan has enough to think about besides whether he should use a hybrid or a 5-iron when he plays his own match.
Bradley is an intense and volatile player. He can't waste that intensity on his own game. He needs to be a FULL-TIME Captain and show confidence in the ample number of extremely good players ready to give 100% of their time to their Matches against Europe's best, this time without an American-produced soap opera. In short, either Bradley picks himself and the USA loses, or he decides it's more important to be a full-time Captain, in which case the USA wins.
For relevant, previous Ryder Cup coverage, visit Sports Today Issue #400, 9/27-10/3/21: The Defeat of the Spanish Armada: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Friend---a-weekly-Sports-Journal.html?soid=1102520666012&aid=HRSoayoWGHI
"Instead, the USA inflicted the largest defeat in Ryder Cup history on the Spanish Armada, which could now sail back to Spain on the SS WTF.
The domination by Team USA was the largest in Ryder Cup history, 19-9 points. Kudos to USA team captain Steve Stricker who mixed, matched and motivated the Americans ... and to the entire team, which put aside gossips or feuds, real or imagined, and produced a unified and potent powerhouse."
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
Marketing Director, Sports Today
* * *
| | |
Contents
Games
Bay FC 1, San Diego Wave FC 2
Oakland Roots SC 3, Sacramento Republic FC 3
San Francisco 49ers 22, Las Vegas Raiders 19
San Jose Earthquakes 1, San Diego FC 2
Features & Commentary
Andrea Mead Lawrence, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Merry Moody Everyone! -- 49ers 22, Raiders 19, by Robert Moselle
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
The Spanders Overcome Handicaps As A Couple, by Dave Newhouse
Thoughts on Coaching, by Howard Pearlstein
Organizations
| | |
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
| | |
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
| | |
Merry Moody Everyone!
49ers 22, Raiders 19
By Robert Moselle, Esq.
Exit the Moody Blues and enter the Merry Moody -- the 49ers
kicked their way to a victory Saturday in a see-saw battle. Brock Purdy was sharp in his brief debut, 5 for 7 and 66 yards, with passes to Pearsall which led to a 30-yard Moody FG: 3-0, San Francisco. Geno Smith led the Raiders to a FG and Ashton Jeanty scored his first TD run to make it 10-3, Raiders.
Corey Kiner looked great for San Francisco but was carted off after a run, with injuries uncertain. Mac Jones' pass to Russell Gage Jr., a run by Ke'Shawn Vaughn and a TD run by Jeff Wilson made it 10-10. Moody shanked a 35-yard FG attempt and the Raiders converted theirs' for a 13-10 halftime lead.
Chase Lucas had a key interception, and a fortuitous 49er penalty negated what would have been a turnover and instead gave Moody a shot at a 26-yard FG which he squeezed inside the left goal post: 13-13. With lots of new faces, Nick Martin and the Defense held Las Vegas to a FG; 16-13, Raiders. At QB, Carter Bradley, vastly improved from last week's performance, hooked up with Robbie Chosen and, wait for it, Moody kicked a 50-yard FG: 16-16. The Raiders came back to kick a 30-yarder to take a 19-16 lead. Two San Francisco penalties from the Raiders' 9-yard line moved San Franciso in the wrong direction, but Moody connected for a 44-yarder to tie the score, 19-19. With sacks by newcomers Chase Lucas and Demone Harris and an interception by yet another newbie, Jaylen Mahoney, the score was tied at 19 with 13 seconds left.
It was Merry Moody Time Everyone -- a 59-YARD FG for a 49ers win, 22-19! With contributions by many new players, a hard-nosed defense and some rolls of the dice on offense, the San Francisco 49ers had notched a victory over the Raiders. Always sweet!
San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Game highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol32knH6hPg
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
Marketing Director, Sports Today
| | |
San Jose Earthquakes 1
San Diego FC 2
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Sunday, August 17, 2025
| | Blind in one eye, nearly blind in the other, Art Spander needs to dictate, and wife Liz does the typing, in order to continue his peerless sports writing | | | | |
The Spanders Overcome
Handicaps
As A Couple
by Dave Newhouse
| | |
Tiger Woods, before his golf dominance descended from miracles into misery, walked triumphantly through the crowded press room during a major tournament before spotting a familiar face in the front row.
“Hi there, Artie.”
Legend greeting legend. Woods acknowledged Art Spander, a writer’s writer and the most enduring sports journalist on the planet.
Look anywhere, across oceans if you like, and you won’t find a more aging, physically challenged scribe than Spander, yet still crafting brilliant prose.
Spander turns 87 on Aug. 30, which makes him a medical marvel. Smacked in the left eye as a child so badly, the eye was surgically removed. Forty years ago, he developed glaucoma in the right eye, leaving him currently with five, six percent vision.
If those aren’t enough handicaps in one lifetime, Spander has terrible balance and needs a cane and the arm of wife Liz to continue covering golf tournaments coast to coast.
Ah, Liz, as saintly a sportswriter’s wife as can be imagined. She sits next to him in press rooms, and because he has difficulty even seeing his computer, he dictates and she types. And it still comes out as always, ahead of the class.
| | Spander awards Tiger Woods the GWAA player of the year trophy before the 2006 Masters. (David Cannon / Getty Images) | | |
At this moment, the Spanders sit five feet from each other at a small dining room table, where they are being interviewed in their Oakland hills home.
“I cannot see Liz’s face now,” he said. “It’s a silhouette.”
Handicaps describe his challenged life. He often is the oldest writer at a golf tournament by 15 years. Despite his age, eyesight and risky footing, he traveled to this year’s Masters tournament in Georgia and the PGA Championship in North Carolina. And also the Indian Wells tennis tournament in Palm Springs, with Silverado golf in Napa coming up in September.
It helps greatly that his wife owns a travel business, but Liz would find a way to be with him wherever even without mileage points. The desire to be where the action is still burns deeply inside him.
“Because that’s what I do,” he said, bluntly. “My goal is journalism. This gives me an escape. It keeps me going.”
“He should keep going because he likes it, so keep doing it,” Liz responded. “He enjoys what he does, and he still gets recognition for his writing ability.”
Spander is in various halls of fame — football writers, basketball writers, the Rose Bowl, and UCLA his alma mater.
That’s where he met Liz. They married in 1962, 63 years and counting. They have two daughters, Debbie, an attorney and sports agent, and Wendy, who worked for EA Sports, handling public relations for “Madden” football and the Tiger Woods PGA Tour, but now works in Logitech communications. Between the two married daughters, three grandchildren.
| | |
Art Spander met Liz at UCLA, they’ve been married 63 years,
with two daughters and three grandchildren
| | |
Retirement? Art Spander? He’s covered his last British Open after contracting COVID there from someone else, but he’s not giving up the rest of his sports writing journey without a fight, though steep stadium stairs in football eliminated that sport.
“I’m not working the way I did,” he acknowledged, ”but I want to keep working. And I get positive comments.”
But without Liz, it’s basically over.
“She is wonderful, the most helpful person I know,” he said. “She enjoys life, and makes people feel good. And we get along.”
“He is very giving of himself to other people,” she pointed out, “like writers getting started.”
However, his refusal to give up the way he lives, despite the obstacles, is what she loves about him.
“His willingness to go places even if he isn’t feeling good,” she explained.
Which is practically everyday, but there’s no stopping the unstoppable. Five words are his motivation: “He does a good job.” That’s all the compliment he needs. “You don’t want to be self-important,” he said.
Sixty Rose Bowls, 50-plus Masters, 40-plus Rose Bowls, 30-plus Final Fours, nearly 20 World Series and several Olympic Games — this sounds like the legacy of five sportswriters, not one, the fellow who can barely see.
Anything missing? “The Daytona 500, but there’s no time left to do it,” he said.
As an 87th birthday gift, what would you like, Artie?
“To live to 88, to make my wife happy,” he replied. “What else is there?"
| | |
* * * * *
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.
| | |
We are currently offering a limited-time opportunity to feature your advertisement in our weekly publication -- starting at just $100.
This is a great chance to increase the visibility for your business among thousands of Bay Area readers who trust and enjoy our content each week.
If you're interested, we'd be happy to provide more details, including placement options and audience reach, etc. Let us know if you'd like to
chat further at: thultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
| |
|
Our Mission:
Weavery's mission is to provide data and ai strategy advice, training, and innovative solutions to high impact humanitarian organizations. Weavery leverages artificial intelligence to enhance operations and amplify impact to serve a world in need.
| | |
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee with a
circus catch between his knees...
| |
The knee bone's connected to the ... baseball? JHL makes unreal catch
by Maria Guardado
SAN FRANCISCO -- Jung Hoo Lee has officially entered the conversation for catch of the year.
The Giants’ center fielder made an incredible catch between his knees to rob Rays slugger Yandy Díaz of extra bases in the top of the fourth inning of Sunday’s series finale at Oracle Park.
continued...
| | |
Athletics Brent Rooker and one of his breakfasts which he has posted on social media, including Instagram
|
Rooker dishes on his passion
for breakfast
| |
Martín Gallegos
WEST SACRAMENTO -- Before Brent Rooker was crushing home runs as one of baseball’s top sluggers, he was crushing waffles at the dining table every morning growing up in Tennessee.
“I ate a lot of Eggo waffles,” Rooker said. “I loved Eggos. We ate Pop Tarts. … Eggs and waffles were easy for my mom to make for all three kids and get us out the door for school.”
Those childhood waffle experiences birthed Rooker’s passion for breakfast. While in college at Mississippi State, he frequented Waffle House, establishing the All-Star Special with a blueberry waffle as his go-to order.
continued...
| | |
"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
| | |
Pride @Raimondi
Friday August 22nd, 5:30pm
DJ Shellheart will be spinning from 5:30pm til last pitch, keeping the music going all game long. And the Oaklash performances from last year were such a hit, we have Oaklash back for more entertainment pre-game and in between innings. The night at the ballpark is a partnership with Oakland LGBTQ Community Center and Oaklash and will be a celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride as a wind up to Oakland's Pride month in September.
We're so proud to stand, sing, dance and represent with our LGBTQ community members and everyone in our community who wants to do the same.
Get here early for the party — 5:30pm.
Oh, and get one of our B's Pride hats, limited edition only available in the ballpark.
| | |
Sneak Peak Early Sample of B's Pride Cap.
As they are still in production, the final product may differ.
| | |
Oakland Roots SC 3
Sacramento Republic FC 3
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA
Saturday, August 16, 2025
| |
Roots Fight Back to Earn 3-3 Draw at Sacramento in Instant Rivalry Classic
As if the electricity surrounding rivalry week wasn't already enough to provide edge of your seat action, world class goals, momentum shifts, and non-stop intensity turned Saturday’s USL Championship matchup in Sacramento into an instant classic, as Roots scored a late equalizer to earn a point on the road in a 3-3 draw with Republic FC.
It was clear from the initial whistle that this game was important to both sides, as the speed of the game seemed to be turned up to maximum levels with both sides moving the ball well in the initial phases of the game.
But despite both sides playing quickly, Roots were tilting the field in their favor early on, leading to an opening goal from Danny Gomez in just the 10th minute when Morey Doner played a cross in front of the net from near the top right corner of the box. Julian Bravo missed contact on a one time shot attempt, but the ball fortuitously ricocheted off the knee of Gomez and carried enough momentum to trickle just inside the right goalpost to make it 1-0 Oakland.
Sacramento wouldn’t play from behind for long, however. In the 17th minute, after drawing a foul just outside the top right corner of the Oakland penalty area, Rodrigo Lopez lined up for the free kick and curled an absolute worldie past a four-man Roots wall and into the back of the net off the hands of a diving Kendall McIntosh to bring the score to 1-1.
Oakland reclaimed momentum in the match following the Republic leveler, maintaining possession and hemming Sacramento into their own end for a decent stretch. This pressure nearly saw Roots regain the lead when a long cross from the left side found Gagi Margvelashvili with a header on the doorstep, but right into the mitts of the Republic keeper.
continued....
| |
Bay FC 1
San Diego Wave FC 2
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Saturday, August 16, 2025
|
Bay FC Fall 2-1 to SoCal Foes
San Diego Wave FC
SAN JOSE, Calif. (August 16, 2025) — Bay FC dropped a 2-1 decision Saturday night to San Diego Wave FC at PayPal Park. Following a scoreless first half, San Diego netted a pair of goals to take an advantage into the final half-hour. Bay FC got one back from the penalty spot with 15 minutes to go but wouldn’t find an equalizer before the final whistle sounded.
“In the first half we limited their chances on goal but unfortunately, we went down in the second half. Credit to everyone who came in [off the bench], they had a positive impact on the game,” said head coach Albertin Montoya. “We don’t have time to put our heads down; there was a lot of good to come from this game and we just have to build on that.”
Both squads were patient in the early goings, waiting for the right moment to take their chances. San Diego came close to the opening score ten minutes in, when a free kick by Wave midfielder Kenza Dali rattled the woodwork before being cleared away. Bay FC answered with an opportunity of its own ten minutes later when defender Joelle Anderson headed a corner kick at frame, but the opportunity was swallowed up by the goalkeeper.
The hosts threatened just before the halftime break. Forward Racheal Kundananji cut back on a San Diego defender while charging into the box, but her cross intended for forward Rachel Hill on the back post was intercepted by a defender. Hill repossessed moments later and centered another ball towards the penalty spot for forward Karlie Lema, only for the opposing backline to clear away the threat.
continued...
| | |
Thoughts on Coaching
by Howard Pearlstein
| | |
Looking at the Valkyries, thinking about Bay FC, last year’s expansion team which managed to get to the playoffs.
I learned a lot of what I needed to know about soccer from the local on-air announcers. They explained what was happening in ways that seemed to take into account so many of their audience who were new to the game -- how tactics had been changed between games, and why.
That was the doing of coach Albertin Montoya. I was impressed how, in a game with no timeouts, he seemed able to work with a player on her game during the few seconds she was near the sidelines, tweaking this or that aspect of it.
In addition to expectable first year problems, Montoya’s Bay FC roster was plagued by injuries, players leaving, new ones coming in, absences for foreign players’ international obligations. And depending on where a game is played, the size of the pitch can be anything from 100 to 130 yards long, and 50 to 100 yards wide.
(International games have different size options.)
This year, Valkyries’ coach Natalie Nakase has had to deal with some of the same first year problems, the fluctuating roster losses and changes. It’s a craziness that is part of the job of being a coach, but, other than both games using a ball and players wearing shorts, the specific craziness of the two sports, soccer and basketball, are not the same.
Basketball is played indoors and every court is the same size. Every basket is 10 feet high.
Soccer is usually one game a week. Basketball has a game every one or two or three days, including travel. Turnaround time to rest and recover and review what worked and what didn’t is sometimes nonexistent, none left after changing clothes, getting to the local airport and catching a plane. And it’s difficult to gather the team around when they’re separated by rows of seats and a center aisle.
The dynamics of a team with five players on the court may be less complex than a soccer team with eleven on the pitch. But one player having a miscue or making a mistake can have a drastic effect. She is 20% of the team on the court.
I am more than impressed seeing how coach Nakase has managed to work with, compensate for, and adjust tactics accordingly. I hadn’t kept count, but the announcer before the Mystics game said with some awe in his voice, that it was the fourteenth different starting lineup she’d used thus far in the season.
And yet, here they are, not trying to get into the playoffs -- already there – just needing to KEEP their playoff-ranking win-loss record to stay there.
Two things I want to add that seem important to me.
A little while ago she was told before a game that the team they‘d beat before was out for revenge. She’d said simply: “Bring it.”
Not the same way they say it in movie scripts: “Bring it on.” She just said: “Bring it.”
Which reminded me of something I’d learned growing up in the 50s, when gangs ruled West and South Philly and going across town meant crossing their turfs.
“Bring it on” is sort of “Yaddah yaddah, whenever.” “Bring it” means “Right now? No problem.”
There’s another thing which makes them fun to watch. The game of basketball was originally designed for men who were in the same height range as the women who are playing today. Five foot-something to six foot-something, and that makes a 10-foot high basket challenging enough for fun.
| | |
* * *
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.
| |
Andrea Mead Lawrence -- from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee | | |
While on a ski vacation back in the 1980s, I met a lady in the ski resort that made an appearance to sell books, photos and other items. Her name was Andrea Mead Lawrence and she had won two Gold medals at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics for Slalom and Giant Slalom. In 2013 she had a mountain renamed after her in Mono County called Mount Andrea Lawrence.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
| |
Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 145: Tennessee's Adidas Gambit And The New
NIL Arms Race
| | |
by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
Tennessee's announcement this week of a 10-year apparel partnership with Adidas, effective July 2026, might seem like routine business at first glance. Athletic departments switch gear providers all the time. But dig deeper into the details of this deal, and you'll find what could be the blueprint for the next phase of college athletics' perpetual NIL arms race.
The Volunteers didn't just secure a new uniform supplier—they landed what reports suggest is a multi-million dollar NIL component that will make every Tennessee athlete eligible for Adidas' NIL Ambassador Network. More intriguingly, Adidas will begin offering NIL deals to Tennessee athletes immediately, even while the Vols are still contractually obligated to wear Nike through the 2025-26 season.
This isn't just shrewd business. It's strategic positioning for the post-House settlement landscape that officially began on July 1. Under the new revenue-sharing structure, schools can distribute up to $20.5 million directly to athletes annually (subject to slight increases on a year-to-year basis). For programs with championship aspirations, it may not be enough to maintain their competitive edge.
While schools are capped at that $20.5 million threshold for direct revenue sharing, third-party NIL deals remain uncapped as long as they are compliant with College Sports Commission (CSC) rules. The logical question becomes: how do you legally direct additional compensation to athletes beyond that ceiling? Apparel companies and multimedia rights partners represent perhaps the most obvious answer.
The critical regulatory question that remains unanswered is how the newly formed CSC will classify these types of arrangements. Will Adidas be deemed an "associated entity" of the University of Tennessee, subjecting its NIL deals to enhanced scrutiny under the range of compensation analysis that the CSC has indicated it will employ? We still have no clue what that analysis looks like and what types of deals will be rejected.
continued...
| | |
WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
| | |
HUNDREDS OF ICONIC CARS AND STARS
READY TO SHINE AT
ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION
See, hear and feel the action at Car Week’s
fastest event!
| | |
Photo by: Tony Campbell
No, this isn’t AI.
This jaw-dropping line up of Formula 1 history is now on display at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but it’s just the
tip of the iceberg.
Here’s a quick rundown of why you can’t miss this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion:
- More than 30 rarely seen historic Formula 1 cars in a special marque display in the paddock, including the 2024 Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship-winning McLaren MCL38, driven by Lando Norris.
- Twenty-five authentic F1 cars from the 1966-1985 non-turbo era racing daily in the Mario Andretti Trophy race.
- Twenty-four IROC race cars in a group stacked with racing legends, including NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Bobby Labonte, Dario Franchitti, Jenson Button, Danny Sullivan, Scott Pruett and many more.
- After its unveil at the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this summer, the Porsche 963 RSP will mark its first public appearance and North American debut at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The 963 RSP will be on display Thursday and Saturday, including exhibition laps on Thursday from12:15-12:45 p.m.
- Formula 1 champion Jenson Button will serve as Grand Marshal. Button will meet with fans during an autograph session on Saturday at 2:20 p.m.
- IROC Panel Discussion hosted by Ray Evernham: Stop by the paddock stage at noon on Saturday to enjoy a panel discussion with racing legends Mark Martin, Al Unser Jr. and Kurt Busch.
- IROC Autograph Session: The star-studded IROC field will take part in an autograph session on Saturday at 12:20 p.m. near the paddock stage.
- Lattes with a Legend: Meet racing legend Al Unser Jr. during Lattes with a Legend on Thursday between 11-11:30 a.m. at Captain + Stoker in the paddock food court.
Snag your tickets today—every ticket includes paddock access.
| | |
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.
| |
Beavers Called Up To
Baltimore Orioles
Former Bear In Starting Lineup For MLB Debut
BERKELEY – Former California outfielder Dylan Beavers was called up to the Baltimore Orioles and will be in the starting lineup Saturday for his MLB debut.
Beavers will be batting sixth and playing in right field when the O's face the Houston Astros today at 4:10 p.m. PT.
The former Golden Bears' call up has been highly anticipated due to the stellar season Beavers has had with Baltimore Triple-A affiliate team the Norfolk Tide. In 94 games Beavers has put together a slash line of .304/.420/.515/.935 to go with 18 home runs, 51 RBI, and 23 stolen bases.
MLB Pipeline marks Beavers as the Orioles third-ranked overall prospect and top outfielder. He was selected by Baltimore with the 33rd overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft.
For Cal, Beavers was a back-to-back First Team All-Pac-12 selection and ABCA West All-Region first team selection in 2021 and 2022.
continued...
Photo: Cal Athletics
| |
USA Juniors Claim Gold At
U20 Worlds
Five Cardinal standouts lead Team USA to U20 gold
SALVADOR, BRAZIL – Featuring five Stanford players among its 15-member roster, the USA Women’s Junior National Team defeated Spain 16-15 to capture gold at the World Aquatics U20 World Championships on Saturday.
With the help of Kamryn Barone, Christine Carpenter, Lucy Haaland-Ford, Quinn Healy and Amber Nowaczek, Team USA won its fifth World Championship title for the Junior Women and first since 2015.
Team USA went undefeated in six games and relied on clutch play to win four contests that were decided by two goals, including a pair of shootouts against Greece and Italy.
Haaland-Ford scored four goals in Saturday’s final against Spain to earn player of the match honors while Carpenter finished with eight saves in goal. Barone contributed two goals in the victory.
continued...
| |
Iniguez Named WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Dossmann Named Preseason All-WAC, Spartans Picked Third
SAN JOSE, Calif. - For the second consecutive season, Angel Iniguez has been named WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, voted on by the conference’s head coaches as a part of the WAC men’s soccer preseason coaches poll, released by the conference on Friday. Additionally, Iniguez and Niklas Dossmann were named to the Preseason All-WAC Team.
Last season, Iniguez was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Spartan ever to win a player of the year award. Iniguez recorded 10 goals and seven assists, leading the team to an appearance in the WAC Championship game last year. Dossmann anchored the backfield last season, helping lead the Spartans in recording seven shutouts.
Additionally in the preseason coaches poll, the Spartans were picked to finish third and received one first place finish vote.
continued...
| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
VB | Gaels Host CSU Bakersfield in First Exhibition of the Tyler Hildebrand Era
MORAGA, Calif. — With all the buzz about the Saint Mary's Gaels volleyball program following the hire of Head Coach Tyler Hildebrand, the wait is almost over, as the Gaels will host an open exhibition on Saturday, August 16, hosting CSU Bakersfield inside UCU Pavilion at 5:30 PM. The best part? You will have the opportunity to see the new look Gaels up close free of charge, as admission to this exhibition will be free. Come out to see the beginning of a new era of Saint Mary's Volleyball!
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Saturday, August 16 at 5:30 PM
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
Photo: SMC Athletics /Tod Fierner
continued...
| |
Cardinal Blank Dons on
Opening Night
STANFORD, Calif. - The University of San Francisco women's soccer team (0-1) opened its 2025 season against a familiar foe down on The Farm, but the Dons fell on the road at No. 7 Stanford (1-0), 7-0, on Thursday night.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Stanford got off on the right foot by punching home their first goal of the season just 4:38 into play to take an early 1-0 lead.
-
Through the rest of the opening 45 minutes, Jasmine Aikey and Y-Lan Nguyen found the back of the net for the Cardinal to give Stanford a 3-0 advantage at halftime. San Francisco's lone shot of the first half came from Lindsey Chau at 11:19.
- Moving into the second half, the Cardinal continued its dominance by putting up four more goals in the second period, including two from Brooke Holden.
- Despite one final push from the Dons at the end of regulation, Stanford held on to secure a 7-0 victory on Thursday night.
continued...
Photo: Brandon Vallance/ISI Photos
| |
Convincing Win Opens 2025 for No. 16 Women's Soccer Against
San Jose State
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – It was a good start to the season for No. 16 Santa Clara women's soccer as they took care of business with a convincing 3-0 victory over San Jose State. The Broncos (1-0) got the scoring going early and added on throughout the night while keeping the Spartans (0-1) on the back foot for much of the night.
continued...
| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
Pacific Continues Homestand
Against UC Davis Sunday
STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific women's soccer program prepares for the second game of the season, inviting UC Davis for another regional contest at Knoles Field at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The Tigers (0-1-0) and the Aggies (0-0-1) both are in search of their first wins of their respective 2025 campaigns as both programs ushered in new eras with first-year head coaches on opening night.
While the Tigers faced a 3-0 setback in their home opener last Thursday, the Aggies opened up their season with a 1-1 draw against Fresno State in the program's first-ever home night match.
continued...
| |
2025 UC Davis Football Positional Previews: Defense
DAVIS, Calif. – The 2025 UC Davis football defense is poised to be one of the better units in the country with six-year defensive coordinator Matt Coombs surrounding a returning a strong core of Aggies with an equally talented group of incomers.
"We did a really good job of rebuilding our unit around the strong group of returners we have for the upcoming season," said Coombs. "Up front we got bigger and in the secondary and among the linebackers we return some of our top guys from last year. I'm excited to see what the unit can accomplish in a challenging conference to defend."
continued...
| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Pioneer Teams and Student-Athletes Collect a Variety of Academic Awards in 2024-25
In 2024-25, the academic year once again was outstanding for many Cal State East Bay student-athletes and teams.
Below is a list of the deserving teams and student-athletes of various academic awards sponsored by the CCAA, WWPA, PCSC, D2 ADA along with various coaching associations nationwide.
Criteria varies by award, with factors that may include, but are not limited to, thresholds in grade point average, GPA calculation variation, athletic participation minimums, enrollment maturity at Cal State East Bay and athletic performance.
continued...
| | | | |
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/
| | |
San Francisco 49ers
Las Vegas Raiders
2025/26 Schedules
| | |
Weekly Bay Area
Sports Calendar
Monday, August 18, through
Sunday, August 24, 2025
| | |
Monday, August 18
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, August 19
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m.
Athletics @ Minnesota Twins, 4:40 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m.
Athletics @ Minnesota Twins, 4:40 p.m.
Thursday, August 21
San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Athletics @ Minnesota Twins, 10:10 a.m.
Friday, August 22
San Francisco Giants @ Milwaukee Brewers, 5:10 p.m.
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners, 7:10 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries @ Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 23
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 5:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Arizona Cardinals, 7 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Milwaukee Brewers, 4:10 p.m.
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners, 6:40 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes @ Houston Dynamo FC, 5:30 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC @ Lexington SC, 4 p.m.
Bay FC vs. Washington Spirit, 1 p.m.
Sunday, August 24
San Francisco Giants @ Milwaukee Brewers, 11:10 a.m.
Athletics @ Seattle Mariners, 1:10 p.m.
Golden State Valkyries @ Dallas Wings, 1 p.m.
| | |
Publisher: Christopher Weills
Associate Publisher: Ann Cooke
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Sales: Ayiko Konopaski
Contributors: Lydia Chain, Steve Chain, Harvey Cohen, Andy Dolich, Pete Elman, Rob Flammia, Bruce Macgowan, Robert Moselle, Dave Newhouse, Howard Pearlstein, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, T. Buff, Shelia Young
Software Engineer / Sports Today Editor: Medhavee Upadhyaya
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee, Kenny Karst (retired)
Advisor: Arif Khatib
Artist: Carl Macki
Website: www.UltimateSportsGuide.net
Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
| | |
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.
| | | | |
