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March 31 -- April 6, 2025
Issue No. 583
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Brackets Bonanza
Carousel
To The Elite Eight and Final Four --Enjoy It Now, Gentlemen, As Only One Team Will Be Crowned!
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Some riders have stumbled while others
now race to the finish line
Dateline Friday, 3/28: The Elite 8 moved closer to the Big Dance. All three #1 seeds won, which included three of my initial selections. (Only my Creighton Bluejays lost, in a close game). In the MW, HOUSTON (#1) won with the "Play du Jour" -- one Coach Sampson had the team practice the day before, an under-the-basket inbound pass with the score tied and two seconds left, to beat a determined Purdue, 62-60, and TENNESSEE beat Kentucky 78-62, although Kentucky had prevailed in their previous two encounters. In the South, MICHIGAN STATE nipped Ole Miss, 73-70, and AUBURN was strong as it dispatched Michigan, 78-65. In the East, DUKE beat Arizona behind Cooper Flagg & Co. despite Love's 35 points, and in the West, FLORIDA's 3-point sharpshooters defeated Maryland. (TEXAS TECH had beaten Arkansas and ALABAMA had beaten BYU).
Dateline Saturday, 3/29: Down late, the #1 FLORIDA Gators hit four straight 3-pointers and rallied to beat Texas Tech, 84-79. A silly foul negated what would have been a 10-second violation by Florida and opened the door for their dramatic late rally and a spot in the Final Four. In the #1 vs. #2 game it was all DUKE all of the time over Alabama, 85-65. On both offense and defense, the Tide, which had been so impressive, got Rolled!
Dateline Sunday, 3/30: Michigan State #2 vs. #1 AUBURN: In the South, Auburn was too tall and too large for the Spartans., The Tigers were up 33-24 at halftime and kept on the pressure to win 70-64.
#1 HOUSTON Cougars vs. #2 Tennessee: In the MW, Tennessee, which averaged 74 points a game, had only 40 with three minutes to go. A flawless Houston won easily, 69-50. Kudos Coach Sampson.
The Final Four Next Saturday: #1 DUKE vs. #1 HOUSTON and
#1 AUBURN vs. #1 FLORIDA. For the Championship, April 7th, the "Conflict of Interest" game between my two favorite teams, watch for Duke vs. Florida. A whole lot of chalk is in the air this year, with four #1 seeds for only the second time in history.
All this over a Red Rubber Ball! ("The Cyrkle" tells the story.) https://www.youtube.com/watchv=3IgK1Nbsgzk (2:36)
Robert A. Moselle, Esq.
https://www.cce-mcle.com/
Marketing Director, Sports Today
News From The Farm
Stanford appointed Kyle Smith as their new head men's basketball coach, succeeding Jerod Haase, whom they dismissed on March 14, 2024, after eight seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Prior to joining Stanford, Smith served as the head coach at Washington State University, where he transformed the program into a disciplined, analytics-driven team known for its vigorous defense and comprehensive player development.
He has a well-regarded reputation for revitalizing struggling teams, having previously achieved success at both Columbia University and the University of San Francisco.
The team hopes that Smith's arrival will bring structure, improved defense, and a focus on strategic recruiting and player growth--though it may take one to two seasons to realize the full impact.
"I am extremely pleased to welcome Kyle and his family to Stanford,” Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir said.
Carl Macki
Fairfax, CA
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Contents
Games
Bay FC 0, Washington Spirit 2
Oakland Roots SC 1, Las Vegas Lights FC 1
San Jose Earthquakes 1, Seattle Sounders FC 1
Features & Commentary
Baseball, Musial a Perfect Pair, by Dave Newhouse
Celebrating Women…But Not Winning? by Lydia Chain
Hardly Trivial, by T. Buff
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Richard "The King" Petty, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Sports Seasons: NBA Ending, NWSL Beginning, by Howard Pearlstein
Organizations
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A's
Bay Area Falcons
Bay Area Panthers
Bay FC
Cal Bears
Cal State University East Bay
Golden State Warriors
Oakland Ballers
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Soul SC
Oakland Spiders
Saint Mary's College Gaels
San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Nighthawks
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose State Spartans
Santa Clara Broncos
SF City
Sonoma Raceway
St. Francis Yacht Club
Stanford Cardinal
UC Davis Aggies
University of Pacific Tigers
USF Dons
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna
Seca
| | Stan Musial is one of the game's undisputed greats, and played his entire 22-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals | | | | |
Baseball,
Musial a
Perfect Pair
by Dave Newhouse
| | |
Baseball is back,
hear the crack of the bat,
October is every team’s plan.
The grass is a deep green,
with chalk lines in between.
Makes me think of Stan the Man.
Musial’s the name,
the usual was his fame,
danger lurking at home plate.
With that awkward stance,
and penetrating glance,
he was a pitcher’s worst fate.
Line drives left,
line drives right,
often reaching the seats.
The perfect swing,
from a perfect being,
so prone of uncommon feats
| | Stan Musial on the Sports Illustrated cover for January 28, 2013 | | |
Clad as a Cardinal,
viewed as baseball's Pope,
he carried himself with grace.
He wanted the game integrated,
and was willing to state it,
A Hall of Famer of the human race.
Destined for glory,
yet an understated story,
for he wasn’t ever negative news.
His headlines occurred at the park,
he wasn’t a problem after dark,
Stan the Man even honored curfews.
He started out as a pitcher,
similar to a fellow named Ruth,
but a bum arm altered his game.
Then like the Sultan of Swat,
he made a living with his bat,
thereby creating lasting fame.
His throwing arm lacked seed,
yet he ran the bases with speed,
and he delivered in the clutch.
When he played against Brooklyn,
he really got cookin’,
and The Man was just too much.
| | St. Louis Cardinals' Hall of Famer Stan Musial died at the age of 92 | | |
He was compared to The Splinter,
an argument carrying into winter:
Williams, Musiał — who was the best?
Their greatness must be measured,
just as it should be treasured,
each achieving the immortal’s quest.
Those days seem so far away,
Jackie’s breaking the color line,
the Dodgers and Giants moving west.
The designated hitter, Gaylord’s spitter,
Intra-League play, expansion's the way
to feather a free agent's nest.
Yes, baseball is anew,
with Ohtani in full view,
how will this season turn out?
But for the moment let me zero
in on my favorite ballpark hero,
and give Stan the Man a shout.
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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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San Jose Earthquakes 1
Seattle Sounders 1
PayPal Park, San Jose, CA
Saturday, March 29, 2025
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San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Beau Leroux scored the Quakes' lone goal during their 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, March 29th at PayPal Park. Caption and photo
by Darren Yamashita.
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San Jose Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza (10) reacts after being shown a yellow card by referee Guido Gonzales, Jr. (in yellow) during the first half. Caption and photo
by Darren Yamashita.
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San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (center) collides with Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei (right) during the second half at PayPal Park. Caption and photo
by Darren Yamashita.
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SailGP San Francisco:
High-Stakes Racing on the Bay
Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025
Sunday, March 23, 2025 -- San Francisco, CA
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The SailGP fleet led by USA SailGP Team with Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank, Spain SailGP Team, Canada NorthStar SailGP Team, France SailGP Team, New Zealand SailGP Team Switzerland SailGP Team, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and Australia SailGP Team in front of the Golden Gate Bridge on Race Day 2 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held
on Sunday 23, March 2025. The event was part of the Rolex SailGP Championship, an annual global championship in iconic cities around the world, with national teams battling it out in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, racing faster than wind speeds at over 60 miles per hour. Photo: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP.
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Crowds watch from the main grandstand on Race Day 2 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Sunday 23 March 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025.
Photo: Jed Jacobsohn for SailGP.
| Germany SailGP team helmed by Erik Heil, on Race Day 2 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Sunday 23 March 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025. Photo by Ed Jay. | Germany SailGP Team helmed by Eric Heil, USA SAILGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield and Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin on Race Day 2 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Sunday 23 March 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025. Photo by Ed Jay. | Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin, Canada SailGP Team helmed by Giles Scott and France SailGP team helmed by Quentin Delapierre on Race Day 2 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Sunday 23 March 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025. Photo by Ed Jay. | The Switzerland SailGP Team, Spain SailGP Team, and Red Bull Italy SailGP Team on Race Day 2 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Sunday 23 March 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025. Photo by Ed Jay. | Spectators in the grandstand supporting Canada NorthStar SailGP Team and USA SailGP Team on Race Day 1 of the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Saturday 22, March 2025. Photo: Jed Jacobsohn for SailGP. | Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin are presented with the winners trophy on stage after Spain SailGP Team win the Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix held in San Francisco, California, USA. Sunday 23 March 2025. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 Season 2025. To view a photo album, visit our Facebook Page or visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net. Photo by Ed Jay. | | Stanford Continuing Studies | | |
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:50 pm (PT)
• 6 weeks • April 8 – May 27
Join Us Online!
Baseball isn’t just a game, it’s a national heartbeat. The most traditional, numbers-oriented, and nostalgia-inducing of our major sports, it offers a fantasyland for statisticians, an instrument for social change, a reprieve from the digital rush, and a source of lifelong memories. This course offers a behind-the-scenes look at the culture, history, and strategy that make America’s game so captivating.
Each week, you will join baseball insiders as they reveal the sport from unique perspectives: the journey of a player, the life of an umpire, the impact of analytics on team building, the evolving
media landscape, and more. We will also examine the business side of baseball, exploring everything from minor league operations to contract negotiations and stadium construction.
Luminary guest speakers, including major league players and executives, will show you how the game has evolved on and off the field.
Whether you’re a dedicated fan or just curious, join us this spring for an in-depth, entertaining look at what makes baseball an enduring part of American culture.
Register Now »
Course Instructors
| | | | |
Andy Dolich
President, Dolich Consulting
| | |
Andy Dolich has held executive positions in the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL with the Oakland A's, San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Capitals. He is the
executive vice president of Fan Controlled Sports and Entertainment. Dolich is a co-author of Goodbye, Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town's Fight for Survival with Dave Newhouse and of 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes and LOL, Loss of Logo: What's Your Next Move? He is also the co-host of the podcast Life in the Front Office and a columnist for the Ultimate Sports Guide.
| | | | |
Dave Newhouse
Columnist and Author
| | Dave Newhouse has been a prominent figure in the Bay Area sports scene since the 1960s. He was an award-winning sports writer and columnist for the Oakland Tribune, a pioneer among sports talk show hosts on San Francisco radio, and is the author of 19 books. His most recent book, Goodbye, Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town's Fight for Survival, co-authored with Andy Dolich, explores the story of Oakland losing its professional sports teams. | | |
Guest Speakers
Dave Stewart, Former Oakland A's All-Star Pitcher and Baseball Executive
Larry Bear, CEO, San Francisco Giants
Ken Korach, Oakland A's Radio Announcer
Brian Murphy, KNBR Sports Radio Host
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle Sports Columnist
Mike Pinto, Manager, Joliet Slammers, Minor League Baseball
Daniel Rascher, President, Sports Economics and Faculty, University of San Francisco
Ted Robinson, National Sports Broadcaster
Bill Schlough, CIO, San Francisco Giants
Russ Stanley, Senior Vice President, Ticket Sale's Service,
San Francisco Giants
Please note: Guest speakers may be subject to change.
Register Now »
| |
Jeremy Affeldt:
Pitching in the Big Leagues—Physical, Psychological and Strategic Aspects
| | |
While opening day fever is still in the air, join us at noon to hear the inside story of pitching in the big leagues from Jeremy Affeldt, who pitched seven of his 14 major league seasons for the
San Francisco Giants (2009–2015).
How do major league pitchers prepare for their jobs? How do all the pieces (physical, mental, strategic, managerial, team chemistry, coaching and more) fit together? Affeldt will be in conversation with Leland Faust and will explore the realities and dispel the
myths of the sport.
George Hammond / Organizer
Leland Faust / In Conversation
| | |
Jeremy Affeldt --
Former San Francisco Giants Pitcher; Three-time World Series Champion; Founder, Generation Alive nonprofit; Analyst, Major League Baseball Network
| | Leland Faust --Founder and Former Chief Investment Officer, CSI Capital Management; Investment Advisor to more than 100 NFL, NBA and MLB All-Stars | | |
George Hammond --
Author: Conversations With Socrates
| | |
In-person: $22
Free for Leadership Circle members and students
Thu, Apr 10 / 12:00 PM PDT
Not yet a member? Now is the time to join. Members get ticket discounts, special programs, travel opportunities, early notice of big events and more; plus, your membership helps sustain our nonprofit organization's work. You can become a monthly sustaining member for just $13 a month.
The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
| | |
If you enjoy our free publication,
a contribution to help defray costs
would be appreciated.
| | Thanks to the following generous donors! | | |
A. Nonymous
Elisabeth (Betty) C.
Steve Chain
Harvey Cohen
Richard Cross -- Founder / San Francisco Nighthawks
Andy Dolich
| | |
Robert Flammia
Bill & Nona Hool
Sheila Jordan
Arif Khatib
Mitchell Kim
David Larson
Ann McNaughton
Timothy Maroney
| | |
Dave Newhouse
Timothy Palacios
James Reynolds
Ross & Vicki Robinson
Chloe Satterlee
Selina Satterlee
Robert Scheer
Leonard Schwab
Narda Zacchino
| | Robbie Ray flirted with making his own history... | |
Ray takes perfecto bid into 6th as Giants win first series of '25
Maria Guardado
@mi_guardado
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.
CINCINNATI -- For a while, it looked like the Giants might have a chance to celebrate a no-hitter at Great American Ball Park for the second consecutive season.
Seven months after Blake Snell no-hit the Reds, fellow left-hander Robbie Ray flirted with making his own history, opening his season debut with five perfect innings on Sunday afternoon.
Perfection ultimately wasn’t in the cards for Ray, who couldn’t get out of the sixth after giving up a leadoff single to Gavin Lux followed by back-to-back home runs to Austin Wynns and Matt McLain, though he still picked up his first win of the season after helping the Giants edge the Reds, 6-3, in Sunday’s series finale.
Ray and Cincinnati starter Nick Martinez matched each other with four perfect innings before Heliot Ramos delivered the first hit for either side in the fifth, launching a solo shot out to left field for his second home run of the year.
continued...
www.sfgiants.com
| | |
"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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JP Sears versus the St. Louis Cardinals, April 16, 2024.
Photo by Darren Yamashita
| |
Sears caps off standout opening series for A's rotation
Starters combine to allow 3 earned runs, strike out 26 in 4 games in Seattle
Martín Gallegos
@MartinJGallegos
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.
SEATTLE – Opening the 2025 season by splitting a series on the road against an American League West foe, especially one that swept them over the final three games of 2024, would have been a solid enough statement for the Athletics.
That’s why, as frustrating as it was to miss out on starting a season with a record 3-1 for the first time since 2020, the A’s took the positives from a four-game split with the Mariners following Sunday’s 2-1 loss at T-Mobile Park.
“We had a chance to win all four games,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “First night, tough loss. Last two games, we played well and came out on top. Today, one at-bat changed the game.”
The A’s were essentially an inning and a pitch away from a four-game sweep. Thursday’s season opener was undone by a one-run lead squandered by José Leclerc, who surrendered a pair of backbreaking eighth-inning home runs.
continued...
www.athletics.com
| | We know you're counting down the days until baseball season, but why not fill the wait with some incredible events around town? Whether you're into food, arts, or community fun, there’s something happening for everyone. Check out these exciting activities before the season kicks off: | | |
BANDALOOP GALA – April 5, 2025 (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
Location: BANDALOOP Studios, 1601 18th Street, Oakland, CA
If you haven't seen BANDALOOP in action, you're missing out. Their Gala is the biggest fundraising event of the year, featuring a mesmerizing performance from the aerial dance troupe alongside live music by Destani Wolf and Ben Juodvalkis. Enjoy a tasting flight from local restaurants, including Cafe Noir, Jo's Modern Thai, Pomella, and Here & There, and an open bar featuring Brix Factory Brewing. Your ticket directly supports BANDALOOP’s community events and artist development programs.
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Oakland Roots SC 0
Las Vegas Lights FC 0
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Saturday, March 29, 2025
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Oakland Roots fans taking in the action.
Photo by Lydia Chain
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Celebrating Women…But Not Winning?
by Lydia Chain
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The Roots’ first Women’s Empowerment Night, in collaboration with Oakland Soul SC, honored lauded East Oakland-grown local street photographer Brittani Sensabaugh; the CEO of Children’s Fairyland, Kymberly Miller; and Head Coach for Oakland Soul SC, Jessica Clinton.
The two soccer clubs partnered with the Oakland outpost of Northeastern University to previously host the “Rooted and Rising: Women Leading in Sports Business” conference at the end of February, as a precursor to Women’s History Month and this pre-match ceremony. The conference was to connect, guide, and forecast the role of women in sport.
The dynamism from the local dancers of the Destiny Arts Center as they lit up the field before kickoff, combined with the sparkling smiles upon the faces of the women being celebrated, seemed like good omens. These women were the highlights.
All home fans hoped the Roots hosting the Las Vegas Lights FC would be a win, especially after an unfortunate five match losing streak. But it didn’t turn out that way, though the Roots were able to squeeze a point out of the nil all draw.
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Members of Independent Supporters Groups in The Garden section. (L-R) LG Ashton of the group La Brigada Del Pueblo, with Sirena Larance, and Michelle Leon of the group Oakland 68s.
Photo by Lydia Chain
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The play was a bit all over the place and the Roots weren’t able to connect on several of their long passes. There was one ball that made it into the back of the net, toward the end of the match, but after a brief moment of hope, it was called back for offsides.
If only the Roots could have won to make this woman feel more empowered on the night!
However, when there isn’t the most exciting gameplay on the field, your team isn’t scoring, you’re further lamenting the cost of stadium concessions while you ponder the next beer, and you’re feverishly praying for a goal…perhaps it’s a sign that you could take a break from your seat to explore the stadium?
One diversion is the ever-rotating gallery at section 105 in which the Roots have repurposed one of the merchandise stalls, previously used to peddle A’s gear. It has been turned into an art gallery that hosts a show for one night only—Match Night. For each of this season’s home games, this gallery will host a different theme or artist; the home opener highlighted paintings created by students from Fremont High to honor the half time performer Too $hort’s alma mater.
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Brittani “Brittsense” Sensabaugh, (center), with admirers.
Photo by Lydia Chain
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One of the night’s honorees, Brittani “Brittsense” Sensabaugh, was selected to present some of her works in the Section 105 gallery. Sensabaugh is a world-renowned photographer who captures images of the Black community with a pointed effort to highlight the hidden beauty within that can often be ignored. Her photos were cleverly paired with QR codes so that one may hear the artist discuss the inspiration and listen to the carefully curated music to immerse themselves in the experience.
As I meandered back to the match, and it drew to an uninspired finish, I was grateful that there’s another home game next week against Rhode Island FC. Maybe the Roots can get their first 2025 win?
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Bay FC 0
Washington Spirit 2
Audi Field, Washington, DC Park
Friday, March 28, 2025
| |
Match Recap: Bay FC Suffers First Defeat of 2025, Falls 2-0 at Washington Spirit
WASHINGTON (March 28, 2024) — Bay FC (1-1-1, 4pts.) fell to the Washington Spirit (2-1-0, 6pts.) 2-0 Friday night at Audi Field, its first defeat of the 2025 season. Two goals in the first half by Washington’s Ashley Hatch ended as the lone scores of the contest, although Bay FC responded with a strong second half performance.
“It was I think a tale of two halves,” said Head Coach Albertin Montoya after the match. “First half, we started well in the first 10 minutes, possessing the ball and playing the way we wanted to play. And then credit to Washington, that’s why they’re such a good team, they made it difficult for us and got a couple goals. But in the second half we responded exactly as expected. We came out on the front foot, we created all sorts of problems for them and I thought we were actually the much better team.”
Both sides saw chances in the early goings. Bay FC had the first big chance of the match just five minutes in, when a set piece opportunity in the attacking third was served into the box by Taylor Huff. A partial clearance by Washington’s backline fell to the feet of Penelope Hocking in space but her shot went just wide of the target. Washington countered with their own dead ball chance in the 13th minute, when a header by Hatch was steered wide left of frame, before a deflected shot by Trinity Rodman nearly snuck inside the crossbar a minute later.
Washington opened the scoring just before the mid-way point of the first half. A cross from Leicy Santos was headed in by Hatch inside the penalty area for the first of two scores. Hatch put another in the back of the net to double Washington’s lead just three minutes later off a free kick cross served by Narumi Miura.
continued...
| | Hardly Trivial by T. Buff | | |
I'm Not a Fan of the Indoor
Football League -- YET!
The 2025 Indoor Football League season kicked off on March 21. May the better team win...with that said, because of some stuff I have been reading,
football is on my mind.
Which NFL team was the first to win a
Super Bowl as a Wild Card?
Genius status if you know the number of Wild Card teams who have played in the Super Bowl and won?
answer below...
| | |
Sports Seasons: NBA Ending,
NWSL Beginning
by Howard Pearlstein
We’re at that place. The Dubs are finishing up their (regular) season, hoping for playoffs, while Bay FC just started theirs.
First, the Dubs. They caught lightning, Jimmy Butler’s game balancing Steph’s, giving opposition a bit more than they can handle. Defense is limping a bit with Gary Payton II out. How big is that? My favorite Dubs photo of all time shows GPII and Victor Wembanyama both going up going for a rebound. And it’s clear that 6’2” GPII’s hand was a few inches higher than 7’4” Wemby’s.
But defense-oriented Kuminga is back. The Dubs are hoping he can pick up some of GPII’s game. At 6’7” with athletic skills other teams would love to see outlawed, there’s no question he CAN do that, but with only eight games left, this season? He’s been watching while down and healing, and so far, everyone has underestimated how well he’ll come back.
The Dubs are currently in seventh place, i.e. Play-in Land. And they hate it and want/need/will do whatever they can to get past it, at least up to number 6.
The good news/bad news is wrapped up in a short schedule. Their next four games are against top 5 teams, the first two, Grizzlies and Lakers are away games. The next two are at home against Denver and Houston.
That means a win is tougher but serves a bit of double service improving their own W-L record and decreasing one of those others. And do it with a crucial player down. Also, Steph is just recovering from a back problem, sometimes a day-to-day thing.
And that injury is just one part of a major problem in the NBA. We fans are groomed to get all Oboy! Wow! for the playoffs. Watch the Best of the Best doing what we’d love to do as well.
But looking at the current injury list, maybe not so much. Right now115 players of the 468 in the NBA are down. That’s one out of four, usually starters, so maybe the player you love, the one whose T-shirt you wear and want to see, maybe he’s not playing.
Denver’s Jokic is down with an ankle problem. Houston’s Center, Steven Adams with a wrist. The Lakers: Kleber and Hachimura until whenever. The Grizzlies: Bagley, Pullin and Ja Morant, out for maybe soon maybe not, with Brandon Clarke for the season and maybe more.
And then, when the Dubs get that playoff spot, still four more games to keep it: Phoenix, San Antonio, Portland and last but never least, the current occupant of Slot Number 6, the Clippers.
How much does a win count in terms of bragging rights, when the other team is short one or more key players? They get the W but they also get the “Yeah, but…”
We all know that many former NFL players need assistance to walk, but football’s a game of hitting each other, hard. Do NBA players also need to become disabled from playing the game they love?
Fifty games per season and no back-to-back games.
On Bay FC and the NWSL, I didn’t understand how standings are calculated. I could see it was not the W-L record or number of goals. The announcers said Bay FC needed “those three points.” What three points? Google asked me if I wanted an AI answer to my question. OK.
It’s counter-intuitive. Standings are based on points earned in games: three points for a win and one point for a tie. None for a loss. Bay FC, as of Friday, is at 1-1-1.
(Four points.)
* * *
Howard Pearlstein has been a few places and done a few things.
| | |
Richard "The King" Petty -- from the Autograph Collection
of Rich Yee
| | |
Richard "the King" Petty has always been one of the most accessible and nicest people in NASCAR. I met him several times and every time he has been very friendly and always smiling. I have several autographs from him and this is probably the first one I received from him. He is also statistically the most accomplished driver in the history of NASCAR, having racked up most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185).
Rich Yee, Sports Today Photographer
| | Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 125: When Enforcement Meets Reality | | |
by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
In the ever-evolving world of NIL, the latest developments suggest that the much-anticipated NIL clearinghouse might be more of a paper tiger than a meaningful regulatory mechanism. The recent Yahoo Sports article revealing the intricacies of expected collegiate athletic revenue sharing offers a compelling narrative of potential regulatory circumvention.
Consider the pointed commentary from former Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, who doesn't mince words: "Players are making $500,000-$1 million now for basically doing nothing (no NIL activities). They're going to take that away?"
His skepticism about the clearinghouse's sustainability is telling. Boeheim suggests that any legal challenges will likely be resolved in favor of the athletes, rendering the enforcement mechanism essentially toothless. I agree.
Jeff Goodman separately tweeted, "The new rev-share model is absolutely going to encourage cheating again. Especially if some of the third-party deals aren’t cleared by the NCAA. It’ll result in lawsuits and cheating."
The Yahoo Sports article reveals a strategic landscape in which schools and collectives are already "frontloading" contracts—a tactical maneuver to distribute most athlete compensation before the contemplated July 1st implementation of the new NIL clearinghouse. This approach effectively creates a preemptive workaround to the proposed regulatory constraints.
Perhaps most striking is the underlying message: the NIL ecosystem has become too lucrative and complex to be easily controlled. The proposed Deloitte-run clearinghouse, with its plan to review and potentially reject NIL deals, seems more like a regulatory suggestion box than a genuine enforcement mechanism.
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| | FRIENDS NAMES MOTORSPORTS VETERAN MEL HARDER GENERAL MANAGER | | Friends of Laguna Seca announced today that Mel Harder has been named President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Harder brings three decades of motorsports experience to his new role after most recently serving as team manager... | | |
Ferrari Challenge at Sonoma Raceway Raises Over $67,000 for
Speedway Children's Charities Sonoma Chapter
SONOMA, Calif. (March 12, 2025) – Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) Sonoma, the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway, is proud to announce that it raised over $67,000 through ticket sales from the Ferrari Challenge North America event on March 8. The funds generated will directly benefit local children and families in need across Sonoma County.
The Ferrari Challenge North America, renowned as the largest single-marquee racing series in North America, offered an exciting weekend of high-speed action, fierce competition, and a festive atmosphere, all set against a backdrop of Ferrari Red. Alongside thrilling races, attendees were treated to a stunning display of the latest luxury Ferrari models, including the all-new twin-turbo V6 296 Challenge with over 700 horsepower, as well as a collection of privately owned Ferraris. The event kept fans on the edge of their seats with dramatic podium finishes and intense racing during the penultimate round of the series.
In addition to the on-track excitement, this year’s event featured a special Air Show during the pre-race festivities. For an exciting 26 minutes, the sky above Sonoma Raceway came alive as the Patriots Jet Team performed a breathtaking aerial spectacle that captivated the crowd, adding a thrilling layer to the weekend’s festivities.
While the roar of Ferrari engines and the aerial acrobatics of the jets stole the show, the weekend was also focused on giving back to the community. All proceeds from ticket sales went directly to Speedway Children’s Charities Sonoma, whose mission is to support local nonprofits that assist children and families in need through annual grants.
"We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the fans and the community," said Courtney Kiser, Director of SCC Sonoma. "The funds raised will help provide essential resources to local children and families, making a real difference in their lives."
For more information on Sonoma Raceway’s lively 2025 racing season schedule, including the upcoming GT World Challenge America on March 28-30, visit SonomaRaceway.com.
To learn more about Speedway Children’s Charities and how you can get involved, visit speedwaycharities.org.
www.sonomaraceway.com
| | Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff | | |
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were the first team to win the
Super Bowl as a Wild Card entry!
Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett led the Raiders to victory, winning the game MVP on his way. Sidebar: Plunkett was drafted by the Boston Patriots and his first victory as a quarterback was against the Oakland Raiders!
This link will take you to a list of the seven teams who have won as a Wild Card entry. This link will fill you in on the 11 Wild Card Super Bowl contenders.
Go Red Sox!
Go Celtics!
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Oliver de la Torre is congratulated by Alex Birge after recording the final out of a 14-10 win at No. 18 Louisville on Saturday.
Bears Win Big At No. 18 Louisville
Cal Scores Game’s Final 7 Runs In 14-10 Victory
LOUISVILLE – The California baseball team (15-11, 6-5 ACC) evened its three-game ACC series at No. 18 Louisville (19-7, 4-4 ACC) with a come-from-behind 14-10 victory Saturday at Jim Patterson Stadium. Jarren Advincula (3-6, 3 R, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI) had the first two-homer game of his career, drove in a career-high five and a career-high-tying three runs to lead a Golden Bears' squad that scored the game's final seven runs after trailing 10-7 after five innings. Advincula also extended his season-high and hitting streaks to 21 and 12 games.
Max Handron (3-4, 4 R, 2B, HR, HBP) and Carl Schmidt (2-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI) also homered and had multiple-hit games with Handron scoring a career-high four runs and picking up a season-high three hits, while PJ Moutzouridis (3-5, 2B, RBI) and Jacob French (2-5, 2B) had multiple-hit contests.
Oliver de la Torre improved to 2-2 on the season by earning the win with a career-high 5.2 innings of stellar relief as the final of four Cal pitchers. De la Torre struck out a career-high eight and limited the Cardinals to one run, two hits, one walk and one hit batsmen.
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Photo: Michelle Hutchins
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Late Rally Not Enough
Cardinal scores twice in the seventh, falls 8-7 at No. 16 Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The No. 13 Cardinal rallied in the seventh, but fell 8-7 at No. 16 Virginia Tech this afternoon. Stanford falls to 24-5 on the season and 8-3 in ACC play.
Virginia Tech opened up the scoring, plating three in the bottom of the first to go ahead early.
The Cardinal answered in the top of the fourth, with a solo homer from River Mahler to put Stanford on the board. Mahler’s sixth home run of the season made it a 3-1 game.
In the next inning, the Card took the lead with a two-out rally. Kylie Chung singled to drive in two runs and tie it at 3-3. Just two pitches later, Taryn Kern crushed her 10th home run of the season to score Chung and give Stanford a 5-3 lead.
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Spartans Fall to Fresno State in Series Opener
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Alex Fernandes hit a triple and scored a run to lead the San José State baseball team (16-10, 4-3 MW) in a 13-3 loss to Fresno State (11-14, 4-3 MW) at Excite Ballpark on Friday night in the first game of the three-game series.
After a two-run first inning by Fresno State, the Spartans answered with a run of their own in the first inning. Fernandes hit a leadoff triple, who later scored on an RBI groundout by Antonio Nanez.
The Spartans cut into the deficit in the fourth inning when Jeriah Lewis led off with a single, followed by an RBI double from Rocco Caballero. Jake Maroney added another run with an RBI double, making it a 7-3 ballgame after the fourth inning.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | | |
Jr. MiaAngelina Ruja: 6-4 6-7 2-6 defeat to Ella Nielsen (GU)
WTEN | Gaels Nearly Pull Off Comeback in 4-2 WCC Defeat to Zags
SPOKANE, Wash. - Saint Mary's took on Gonzaga Friday afternoon and after going down 2-0 dropping the doubles point and losing the first singles match, the Gaels clawed their way back to tie the match at two with wins from Olivia Rook and Juliette Daries. Rook would win handily, 6-1 6-1, while Daries won in gritty fashion, 7-5 6-4 in straight sets. The final two singles matches would be decided in extra sets but both went to the Zags as they held on for the 4-2 victory.
After dropping the first set 6-1, Madison Weekley fought her way back and forced a third set with a 7-5 win in the second. Lia Espinal would fend off Weekley with a 6-4 win in the third set to give Gonzaga a 3-2 lead. Another closely contested match would ultimately decide the day as Gonzaga's Ella Nielsen won back-to-back sets to overcome an 0-1 hole and win the clinching match, 4-6 7-6 6-2. MiaAngelina Ruja won the opener in their match, 6-4 in the first set, but the second set required a tiebreaker and the momentum would seem to swing towards Nielsen after winning the tiebreaker 7-4.
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Shang Secures Second-Place Individual Finish at The Silicon
Valley Showcase
MILLBRAE, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's golf team concluded The Silicon Valley Showcase, hosted by Santa Clara, Tuesday afternoon and earned a third-place finish with a 17-over par (294-288-287) at Green Hills Country Club.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS:
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Earning her best finish of the 2024-25 season, Yvonne Shang secured a second-place individual finish with a four-under-par 209 (72-67-70). Shooting a 67 in the second round, she totaled her second-best round of the season, coming one stroke short of her 67 in the first round of The Clash at Boulder Creek on October 20, 2024. Along with Pepperdine's Eunseo Choi and Jeneath Wong, Shang totaled 12 birdies throughout the two-day event, ranking her tied for first in the 51-player field.
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Riana Mission and Eva Pett tied for 11th place, shooting a three-over-par 216. Pett climbed the player leaderboard in the final round, rising seven spots while shooting a one-under-par 70. The mission was steady throughout the tournament, shooting in the low 70's during the three rounds.
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Nick Fontaine threw his longest outing (3 1/3 innings) with his most strikeouts (4) as a Bronco Saturday.
Broncos Come from Behind Again
to Beat UC San Diego
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — They're at it again.
After its first four wins of the season came in come-from-behind fashion, the Santa Clara University baseball team is doing it again this weekend, earning its third consecutive comeback win Saturday, erasing a 4-0 deficit to beat UC San Diego, 5-4, and clinch a non-conference series victory at Stephen Schott Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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The Tritons (13-13) have scored first in each game of the series. Saturday, it was a big, three-run home run in the third inning that put a crack in the seemingly impenetrable armor of Santa Clara starter Max Bayles. Bayles entered Saturday's contest tied for 15th in the country with 53 strikeouts and ranked No. 22 with a 1.74 ERA. But he wavered a bit in the third after retiring the first six batters he faced.
- Bayles issued two walks to the first three Tritons up in the third, then went to a 2-0 count to leadoff man Anthony Potestio before Potestio sent the third pitch he saw over the right-center field fence for a 3-0 lead. Bayles got through the first two innings perfectly with only 24 pitches. It took him 34 pitches to get through the third inning alone. He'd finish the day with four runs allowed on only two hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched, striking out six and walking four.
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The Broncos (12-11) picked him up, though. It started in the fifth inning after the Tritons had chased Bayles out of the game with an RBI double from Gabe Camacho to make it 4-0. Koen Carston sparked Santa Clara with a leadoff single on the first pitch he saw. Luke Devine followed that two pitches later with his first career home run, a two-run blast over the Broncos' hitting facility in left-center field, cutting UCSD's lead in half at 4-2.
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The comeback charge continued in the sixth with two more runs on three more hits. Dylan Joyce hit a leadoff double and Malcolm Williams brought him home two batters later to make it 4-3. Williams moved himself into scoring position by stealing second and scampering to third on a wild pitch. That's when Carston delivered again, tying the game with a two-out, two-strike RBI single that he lined just out of the reach of a leaping Potestio at shortstop, scoring Williams and making it 4-4.
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Photo: Santa Clara Athletics
| | University of Pacific Tigers | |
No. 25 Women’s Water Polo Cruises to Win over Fresno Pacific
STOCKTON, Calif. – A wire-to-wire victory for the No. 25 Pacific women's water polo program saw the Tigers get off to a fast start and never look back in a 13-5 win over Fresno Pacific on Saturday at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
Pacific (10-8, 3-1 GCC) scored the first three goals of the game and led 6-1 early in the second quarter. The Tigers were up 9-3 at half and held Fresno Pacific (10-8, 0-2 WWPA) scoreless in the third to build a 12-3 advantage, which put it out of reach.
Nine different Tigers recorded a goal in the contest including sophomore Ella Cowan who tallied a goal and six assists. Seniors Natalie Johnston, Ilyana Zlobinsky and Hila Futorian, and sophomore Alicia Petkov notched two goals apiece.
Registering a goal each was senior Addison McGowan, junior Dora ALaksza, sophomore Anna Crum and sophomore Millie Jacobson.
In net, sophomore Maja Lizy Dulic played three quarters and blocked five saves. Freshman Laurel Cooper entered in the fourth quarter and rejected four saves.
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Aggies Get Win Over Oregon;
Split The Day
Score (Game One): UC Davis 3, Oregon 2
Records: UC Davis 11-10, Oregon 3-11
Score (Game Two): UC Davis 2, Boise State 3
Records: UC Davis 11-11, Boise State 14-10
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Short Story: UC Davis beach volleyball started their day strong with a 3-2 victory over Oregon early in the morning, but in the afternoon, they fell just short to Boise State, losing 2-3 in a tight match.
THE RALLY
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Seniors Tabitha Mitchel and Kylie Miller went a perfect 2-0 on the day against both Oregon and Boise State.
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Against Oregon, Mia Olen and Skye Smolinski were the first to finish, grabbing an early win for the Aggies against the Ducks.
- Ava Beard and Julia Chapman would fall, evening the score after just two matches.
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Kendal Steller and Kimi Waller would take down their Duck opponents in two sets, giving the Ags the edge.
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After Mitchel and Miller clinched the game, Lindsay Heller and Alexandra Leal fought and lost a hard three-set match, making the final score 3-2 Aggies.
- Against Boise State, Aggies Olen and Smolinski would fall early in just two sets.
- Heller and Leal were next, taking down their Bronco opponents in two sets, evening the score.
- Two more Aggie duos would fall as Steller, Waller, Ava Beard, and Julia Chapman all lost their games in two sets, giving the Broncos the overall win.
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| | Cal State University East Bay Pioneers | |
Pioneers Drop Pair of Games in Saturday's Doubleheader at CSUDH
CARSON, Calif. — The Cal State East Bay baseball team faced a challenging day at Toro Baseball Field on Saturday, dropping both games of their CCAA doubleheader against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Pioneers fell 10-2 in the opener and were shut out 4-0 in a seven-inning second game.
Game Summaries:
Game One: CSUDH 10, Cal State East Bay 2
Cal State Dominguez Hills jumped ahead early in the first inning, taking advantage of a fielding error that allowed two unearned runs to cross the plate.
The Pioneers responded in the third inning as Dominick Najar doubled and scored on Danelle Daniels' RBI double, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Toros quickly regained momentum in the fourth, extending their lead with a solo home run by Trey Winget. The sixth inning saw Dominguez Hills capitalize again on East Bay errors, as Dylan Schumacher cleared the bases with a three-RBI double, pushing the Toros' advantage to 6-1.
A four-run eighth inning, highlighted by Quinn Johnson's two-run homer, effectively put the game away.
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Photo: Rob Edwards / KLC fotos
| | REGISTRATION OPENS FOR THE 2025 ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES | | |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—The Notice of Race is posted and registration is open for the 61st edition of Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club.
Scheduled for September 10-14, 2025, when conditions on San Francisco Bay are ideal for fast and thrilling competition, this legendary regatta rewards the best in West Coast racing with perpetual trophies and Rolex timepieces for select fleets.
The following are invited to compete in this year’s Rolex Big Boat Series:
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One-design boats of the J/88, J/105, Cape 31and Express 37 classes. Other classes with a minimum number of boats can be considered with application to the Organizing Authority.
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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.
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Classic boats built prior to 1955 with a LOA ≥ 48 feet and a current ORRez rating certificate.
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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 31, through
Sunday, April 6, 2025
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Monday, March 31
San Francisco Giants @ Houston Astros, 5:10 p.m.
A's vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m. (Opening Day)
Sacramento Kings @ Indiana Hoosiers, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 1
Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies, 5 p.m.
San Francisco Giants @ Houston Astros, 5:10 p.m.
A's vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, April 2
San Francisco Giants @ Houston Astros, 1:10 p.m.
A's vs. Chicago Cubs, 12:35 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Washington Wizards, 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 3
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 4
San Francisco Giants vs. Seattle Mariners, 1:35 p.m. (Opening Day)
A's @ Colorado Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets, 7 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets, 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 5
San Francisco Giants vs. Seattle Mariners, 6:05 p.m.
A's @ Colorado Rockies, 5:10 p.m.
Oakland Roots SC vs. Rhode Island FC, 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 6
Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets, 5:30 p.m.
Sacramento Kings @ Cleveland Cavaliers, 3 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. Seattle Mariners, 1:05 p.m.
A's @ Colorado Rockies, 12:10 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. DC United, 2 p.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
Marketing Director: Robert Moselle
Director of Sales: Ann Cooke; Representative: 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
Staff Photographers: Jeff Bayer, Alex Ho, Ed Jay, Ron Sellers, Darren Yamashita, Rich Yee, Kenny Karst (retired).
Artist: Carl Macki
Social Media & Production: Jenny Kim
Webmaster/Sports Today Editor: Medhavee Upadhyaya
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: $15 hardcover, $10 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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