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September 7 -- September 13, 2026
Issue No. 658
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Bob Mathias -- from the
Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
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Here’s a second photo of Bob Mathias which he signed for me. I met Bob Mathias at a sports show in the 1990s. Up until that point I had only known him as an Olympic athlete. He had won gold medals in 1948 and 1952 in the Decathlon. Later I found out he was also a Stanford graduate, served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was an actor. I remember we chatted briefly about this incredible photo which was the cover of TIME Magazine in 1952.
Rich Yee, Sports Today photographer
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Wilma Rudolph
January 22, 1940 -- November 12, 1994
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Note: Most photos in each issue are linked to Facebook albums produced by our talented photographers. To enjoy additional photos, simply click on a photograph or on the link provided at the end of each report. New albums, contributor essays and Sports Today issues are continually posted to: www.ultimatesportsguide.net
Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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Contents
Games
Cal Bears (WSoc) 2, Columbia Lions 1
Cal Bears (MSoc) 2, North Carolina Tar Heels 2
Cal Bears 24, UCLA Bruins 45
Stanford Cardinal 6, Miami Hurricanes 45
Features & Commentary
Bob Mathias, from the Autograph Collection of Rich Yee
Newsletter, Image, Likeness, by Darren Heitner, Esq.
"Practice. We In Here Talk'n About Practice!", by Andy Dolich
The Winner's Circle Blues, by Robert Moselle
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Cal Bears 24
UCLA Bruins 45
Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA
Saturday, September 5, 2026
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The 2026 season kicked off in front of a sold-out Memorial Stadium, ushering in the new Travers Family head coach Tosh Lupoi era. The Cal Bears jumped out early, and the game was tied at 24-24 with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter when Cal gave up two late interceptions and a turnover on downs; all three possessions resulting in Bruins scores. UCLA would win 45-24 and hand the Golden Bears a home loss.
Above, leaders leading the charge as new Travers Family Head Coach Tosh Lupoi, sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (#3) and the team took the field during the pregame festivities. The University of California Golden Bears played host to the University of California Los Angeles Bruins at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday evening,
September 5, 2026.
| Starting the scoring off for Cal, Chase Hendricks (#7) dives over the goal line on a nine-yard pass midway through the first quarter. | |
Both defenses came out swarming the running backs, allowing minimal yardage. Here above we have just one of the
typical Bears piles.
| Getting his first career interception and co-leader in tackles in the game with six, new safety Kingston Lopa (#2) steps in front of the intended receiver early in the second quarter. | |
Breaking out of the pocket, quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (#3) spots wide open tight end Mason Mini (#85) for an eight-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
All photos and captions by Ron Sellers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLMrCuvkP58
| “Practice. We In Here Talk'n About Practice!" | |
by Andy Dolich
As a lifelong marketer in the world of sports, I was a big fan of Allen Iverson.
Iverson became one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Frequently the smallest player on the court, he could get anywhere he wanted with his quickness and handle.
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In the 1996 NBA draft, Iverson was selected by the
Philadelphia 76ers with their first overall pick.
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Nicknamed “The Answer,” Iverson left Georgetown following
his sophomore season to pursue his NBA dream and showcase his killer crossover. He left his answer on the Philadelphia 76ers and the Hoop World in 2001 when he was named regular season MVP and led the franchise to the NBA Finals. In 17 NBA seasons AI was selected to eleven NBA All-Star teams, scored more than 24,000 points and dished out more than 5,000 assists.
He was an All-NBA performer seven times and won the regular season scoring title four times (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005). Iverson brought a new sense of style to the NBA with his hip-hop influenced fashion.
The nickname that stands out above all others when talking about Allen Iverson is “AI, The Answer.”
| Iverson's emotional outburst was prompted by reporters constantly questioning his practice habits rather than focusing on his actual performance in games. | |
Artificial Intelligence became a household term and an active part of daily life for "everyone" in November 2022, with the launch of Open AI's ChatGPT. While people had been using AI for a few years behind the scenes, this moment marked the first time the general public could directly interact, converse, and create with it.
Reebok Partnership: When Iverson signed with Reebok ahead of the 1996 NBA Draft, his signature sneaker lines were explicitly built around "The Question" and "The Answer," heavily leveraging the AI double-entendre in marketing materials.
If Iverson would have held onto his “AI” and consulted with Legal and Licensing gurus he would have become the richest athlete and or human being on the face of the globe. Anytime the word AI is used he would receive a dime. Based on the trillions of times it is used in today’s world, Alan Iverson (A.I.) would be worth several Trillion dollars.
His ANSWER to any question asked him today would be: “Practice, We Talk'n Practice?”
“I could have been the richest man of all time had I been patient and listened to my advisors.”
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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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Stanford Cardinal 6
Miami Hurricanes 45
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
Friday, September 4, 2026
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Miami sophomore defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald (#3) tackles Stanford junior tight end Benji Blackburn (#88) after a short
gain in the second quarter.
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Stanford junior running back Micah Ford (#20) carries the ball for eight yards in the second quarter before being pushed out of bounds by Miami junior defensive lineman
Marquise Lightfoot (#8).
| Stanford fifth-year safety Scotty Edwards (#21) recovers a fumbled punt in the third quarter. A Cardinal illegal touch penalty negated the turnover. | Stanford freshman wide receiver Zion Robinson (#2) is unable to bring in a deep pass in the fourth quarter. | |
Stanford junior safety Charlie Eckhardt (#39) intercepts a ball deflected by cornerback Leroy Bryant (#4) and intended for Miami junior wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs (#8)
in the fourth quarter.
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Cal Bears 2
North Carolina Tar Heels 2
Edwards Stadium, Berkeley, CA
Sunday, September 6, 2026
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Cal Bears midfielder Junhwan Park scores the first of two Cal goals in the span of 2:20 as the Bears opened ACC play with a 2-2 tie with the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday,
September 6th at Edwards Stadium.
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Cal celebrates a goal by winger Callen Lewis (center) to give
the Bears a 2-1 lead in the first half.
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California Golden Bears goalkeeper Adam Salama (center) reaches for the ball against the North Carolina Tar Heels
during the first half at Edwards Stadium.
| California Golden Bears midfielder Florentino Junior (21) fakes a shot against North Carolina Tar Heels midfielder Jarle Petzold (34) during the first half at Edwards Stadium. | |
Forward Finley Reynolds out-leaps North Carolina defender Myles Carson to head a shot during the second half. To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Darren Yamashita.
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Cal Bears 2
Columbia Lions 1
Edwards Stadium, Berkeley, CA
Sunday, September 6, 2026
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Soccer balls sit on the pitch before the game between the California Golden Bears and the Columbia Lions at
Edwards Stadium.
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Cal Bears defender Miriam Hills scores on a free kick in the 89th minute as the Bears defeated the Columbia Lions, 2-1,
at Edwards Stadium on Sunday, September 6th.
| Midfielder Reese Doherty (4) opened the scoring in the 16th minute with her first goal of the season. | California Golden Bears midfielder Reese Doherty (4) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Columbia Lions during the first half at Edwards Stadium. | |
Goalkeeper Alyssa Savig makes one of her two saves during the game, stopping a shot by Columbia midfielder Alexa Lee. To view a photo album, visit www.ultimatesportsguide.net.
All photos and captions by Darren Yamashita.
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This standout southpaw continues stacking up awards in Giants' system
By Jesse Borek
In 2024, Jacob Bresnahan was named the Arizona Complex League Pitcher of the Year. Last season, he won the same honor in the Single-A California League. The only thing standing between the Giants’ No. 9 prospect earning such kudos for the third consecutive year might be his recent promotion to Double-A Richmond.
Bresnahan concluded his High-A Eugene tenure by being named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Month for August, leading the circuit in WHIP (0.95), average-against (.175) and K/9 (10.2) while finishing second in ERA (2.86) over a stellar four-start stretch. He allowed one earned run or fewer in 11 of his 20 outings for the Emeralds this season, doing so while generating a ton of weak contact with a .235 batting average on balls in play ranking sixth in the Minors among pitchers who have thrown 90 innings this year.
But he wasn’t always viewed as a surefire thing on the mound. In 2023, Bresnahan became just the third player ever drafted out of Sumner High School (Wash.) and the first since 2004. While he had a University of Oregon commitment, he wasn’t a standout on the showcase circuit as an amateur, limiting his exposure. When the Guardians came calling in the 13th round, it took a $375,000 signing bonus (roughly fifth-round money) to get him to begin his pro career.
After making his debut in three abbreviated Arizona Complex League appearances in 2023, Bresnahan began making hay the following summer. But the club was firmly in the American League playoff picture and decided to swap the southpaw to San Francisco at the 2024 Trade Deadline in a deal that sent veteran righty Alex Cobb to Cleveland for what ended up being a three-start rental.
continued...
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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
| | These 2 A's prospects have reached Triple-A in the blink of an eye | | |
by Martín Gallegos
This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SEATTLE -- Jamie Arnold (above) and Devin Taylor have arguably been the top two performing Athletics prospects in the entire organization, and both are now officially on the cusp of the big leagues.
Earlier this week, the duo was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas after posting stellar numbers for Double-A Midland.
Arnold -- rated the A’s No. 3 prospect and the No. 57 overall prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline -- took a while to find his footing in his first professional season after he was selected No. 11 overall in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Florida State. Once summer hit, the left-hander found his groove, posting a 2.43 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 25 walks in 66 2/3 innings over his final 13 starts with Midland before the promotion.
The strikeouts are certainly impressive, but perhaps even more important for Arnold was the 53.1 percent ground-ball rate he carried in 23 starts at Double-A. Keeping the ball on the ground is of the utmost importance for A’s pitchers going forward as they play their home games in the hitter-friendly environment of Sutter Health Park and then eventually a new ballpark in Las Vegas, and that ability should help Arnold once he gets that call to the big leagues.
continued....
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Ballers Fam,
2027 season tickets are officially on sale.
Lock in your seat at Raimondi Park for the entire season, with more flexibility when life gets in the way.
Your seat stays yours. Your tickets stay flexible.
Can’t make a game? Give us 72-hour notice and bank your ticket for later. Then use those banked tickets to bring friends and family to another game.
Same seat. More flexibility. More ways to experience Ballers baseball.
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Raimondi Park is home. Lock in your spot for 2027.
Let’s Go Oakland!
-- Ballers
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T Trent Williams, QB Brock Purdy.
Photo by Terrell Lloyd/49ers
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49ers Arrive in Melbourne Ahead of Season Opener against the Los Angeles Rams, presented by
United Airlines
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TE George Kittle, QB Purdy RB Christian McCaffrey.
Photo by Terrell Lloyd/49ers
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LB Fred Warner. Photo by Terrell Lloyd/49ers
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Wide receiver Mike Evans. Photo by Terrell Lloyd/49ers
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S Malik Mustapha. Photo by Terrell Lloyd/49ers
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WR Deebo Samuel Sr. Photo by Terrell Lloyd/49ers
continued...
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Warriors Announce 2026 Hawaii Training Camp, Presented By Gatorade, Along With Complete 2026 Preseason Schedule
Golden State To Tip-Off Preseason In Honolulu Against The Los Angeles Clippers On October 4
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August 31, 2026 1 PM PDT
The Golden State Warriors will hold their 2026 Training Camp, presented by Gatorade, on the campus of BYU-Hawaii from Tuesday, September 29, through Saturday, October 3, it was announced today. This will mark the team’s second trip to Oahu for Training Camp in the last three years (2024) and the sixth time visiting the North Shore to begin practice overall. The Warriors will practice at the George Q. Cannon Activities Center in Laie, Hawaii, for five (5) days before traveling to Honolulu to open their six-game preseason slate against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, October 4 at 4 p.m. PDT.
Golden State’s initial trip to BYU-Hawaii for Training Camp was in 2001, and was followed by subsequent visits in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2024. The Cannon Activities Center is a 4,500-seat gymnasium that has served as the home of several of the Seasiders’ sports teams since being built in 1981.
Tickets for the October 4 preseason game, which will be played at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, will go on sale at a later date. The Warriors defeated the Clippers, 91-90, on October 5, 2024, to conclude their most recent preseason visit to Oahu. The Warriors have played 14 preseason games in Hawaii since 1974, compiling a 10-4 record. Golden State has played the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (three times), the Los Angeles Lakers (10 times) and the Clippers (once) in preseason games in Hawaii.
Prior to leaving for Hawaii, the Warriors will hold their annual Media Day on Monday, September 28, at Chase Center in San Francisco. The team’s training camp roster and practice schedule will be announced at a later date.
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San Jose Sharks to hit the road for 4th annual "Sharks Around
the Bay" tour
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August 27, 2026
The San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) and the San Jose Barracuda (@SJBarracuda) announced today plans to kick-off the 2026-27 NHL Season with the Sharks Around the Bay community player tour. Players from the Sharks organization, including the American Hockey League (AHL) San Jose Barracuda, will travel to communities throughout the Bay Area to sign autographs, take photos, and engage with fans in their hometowns. The Sharks Around the Bay tour begins on Friday, September 4 and will conclude on Sunday, September 13.
Scheduled stops on the Sharks Around the Bay tour include Oakland (September 4), San Jose (September 5), Gilroy (September 6), Cupertino (September 8), Dublin (September 10), San Francisco (September 11), Mountain View (September 12), and San Jose (September 13). All dates and locations are subject to change.
2026 Sharks Around the Bay Schedule:
Friday, September 4
- 3-4 p.m.
- TBD Players
- Oakland - Sharks Ice Oakland, 519 18th Street Oakland, CA 94612
- 5-6 p.m.
- TBD Players
- Oakland - Oakland First Friday, 2633 Telegraph Ave., Ste. 109, Oakland, CA 94620
Saturday, September 5
- 2-3 p.m.
- TBD Players
- San Jose - Kristie Yamaguchi’s Family Literacy Festival, Children's Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Sunday, September 6
- 2-3 p.m.
- TBD Players
- Gilroy - Arteaga's Gilroy, 6906 Automall Pkwy, Gilroy, CA 95020
- 4-5 p.m.
- TBD Players
- Sharks Ice at San Jose, 1500 S 10th St, San Jose, CA 95112
(more options are listed...click link below)
Activities at each tour stop will vary but will include meet-and-greets, giveaways, and more. Each stop might include event ticket offers, information about upcoming Sharks and Barracuda games and promotions, offers to skate at one of the Sharks Ice facilities in the Bay Area, and information about upcoming events at both SAP Center and Tech CU Arena (@techcuarena).
Additional events will continue through the month of September around the Bay Area with the San Jose Sharks Street Team. Fans are encouraged to stop by for giveaways and gear up for Opening Night on October 1, when the Sharks host the Florida Panthers at 7 p.m. at SAP Center (@SAPCenter).
Please note that the tour schedule and player appearances, are subject to change.
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Natalie Nakase Named WNBA Coach of the Month for August
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 11:05 AM
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was named the WNBA Coach of the Month for August, the league announced Wednesday.
The Valkyries went a league-best 10-2 (.833) during the month of August, including 6-1 on the road. Golden State held its opponents to 72.0 points per game as well as a 40.1 field goal percentage, both of which led the league, and the team’s +/- of +11.8 in August was also the best in the WNBA. Golden State began the month with a six-game win streak which was highlighted by a playoff-clinching win over Dallas on the 17th.
On the 24th, Golden State held the first-place Lynx to a season-low 66 points and then limited the New York Liberty to a season-low 60 points three days later. The Valkyries, who currently sit in second place in the WNBA standings with a 29-11 record, are carrying a four-game winning streak into the month of September.
The best defensive team in the league, Golden State leads the WNBA in opponent points per game (75.4), defensive rating (99.8), opponent field goal percentage (41.8), opponent points in the paint (31.4), and have held teams to 70 points or fewer in a league-leading 14 games this season. Five Valkyries players rank top 10 in the WNBA in defensive NET points, led by No. 1 Gabby Williams (25), No. 2 Veronica Burton (20), No. 7 Kiah Stokes (12), No. 8 Kayla Thornton (11), and No. 9 Cecila Zandalasini (10).
This is Nakase’s second career Coach of the Month award after earning the honor in June last season. Golden State is back in action on Friday, September 18 against Portland, tipping off at 7 p.m. at Chase Center. The Valkyries host Seattle at 6 p.m. in their regular-season home finale on Saturday, September 19, with tickets available at valkyries.com/schedule.
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| | FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Tournament 2026 | |
The Valkyries may be taking a break, but the
basketball never stops.
This September, the world’s best women’s basketball players will come together in Berlin, Germany for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, and seven members of the Valkyries family will be there representing
five different countries.
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MATCH RECAP:
Earthquakes 1, Austin FC 1
San Jose dominates match but concedes in stoppage time; Black and Blue complete three-game road trip Wednesday in San Diego
Saturday, Sep 5, 2026. 08:40 PM
AUSTIN, Texas — The San Jose Earthquakes drew with Austin FC 1-1 on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium in Major League Soccer regular-season play.
The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Niko Tsakiris took a pass in the left half-space from Beau Leroux at the edge of the box, then laid it off for Leroux, who sauntered a few steps and slid a low shot for the far post. The ball rolled by Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. The hosts quickly answered when Besard Sabović connected with Facundo Torres in the opposing box two minutes later, but the goal was eventually called back as the VAR review ruled handball on the latter before he netted. The Black and Blue defense immediately clamped down the remaining 35 minutes and did not concede a single shot on goal for the third straight half.
After intermission, Austin searched for the equalizer in minute 77 when Torres found himself alone in the box, but Quakes goalkeeper Angus Gunn denied him with a kick save to preserve the lead. However, in the waning moments of stoppage time, Brandon Vazquez headed a ball toward Christian Ramirez, who passed to his left in the box to an open Guilherme Biro for the finish and the final 1-1 margin.
The Quakes move to fifth place in the Western Conference (10-8-5, 35 points), while Austin remains in 14th (6-10-7, 25 points).
The full “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s match is scheduled to air Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m. PT on KTVU Plus. For highlights, analysis and features, fans can also watch the new half-hour magazine show “Quakes Exclusive” on Friday, Sept. 11, on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT.
The Black and Blue will complete their three-game road trip against San Diego FC on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Kickoff from Snapdragon Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT with the match to be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pZwg79gJJM
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Match Recap: Bay FC Shows Well but Falls in Heartbreaker Friday
vs. Kansas City
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2026) – Bay FC fell 2-1 Friday night at home to the Kansas City Current, despite another strong performance at PayPal Park. Forward Karlie Lema leveled the match for Bay FC before halftime after an early score from Kansas City, but the Current netted the decider with two minutes remaining after a tightly played second half.
“I thought we did a great job to get a goal back in the first half and get ourselves back in at 1-1,” said head coach Emma Coates. “They sort of adapted a couple of things in the second half from their in possession play just to try and obviously adjust to what we’d done. I’ll take that as a compliment that they were having to adjust and adapt to us. It’s just as I say, disappointing to concede later on again.”
Bay FC started fast and nearly opened the scoring just five minutes into the match. Forward Alex Pfeiffer broke a spell of midfield press by Kansas City and played through to forward Karlie Lema, but her ball wasn’t quite strong enough to give Lema a chance at goal. Kansas City opened the scoring in the 11th minute in rare fashion, as midfielder Izzy Rodriguez put her club ahead direct from a corner kick, one of few olimpico goals in NWSL history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upPNA-GfM0I
continued...
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Autographs and Haikus
Immediately below is a link to over 655 issues of
Sports Today! which bring to life memories of Bay Area sporting events and the stories behind them. Reclaim memories of titles won and lost and championships reclaimed and slipped away.
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Hardly Trivial by T. Buff | |
Almost Everyone Alive
On 09-11-2001 Has A 911 Story
The New York Yankees certainly do.
They are in the current news and in a few TV
specials because the country is remembering the
25th anniversary of the event. Two easy
questions this week.
#1 -- Who won the 2001 World Series?
#2 -- Because of the extended season, what player
was nicknamed Mr. November?
answer below...
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Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 200: The Protect College Sports Act's Ad Campaign, and the House Calendar Working Against It
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by Darren Heitner, Esq.
Founder of Heitnerlegal -- Sports, Entertainment, Trademarks, Copyrights, Business, Litigation, Arbitration
The Weekly Longer NIL Thought
| | |
200 volumes of this newsletter. Incredible. Thanks to each of you who reads this on a regular basis and continues to spread it to others. It will remain a free resource for as long as I run it!
Nick Saban stars in a new commercial this week, timed to college football's opening weekend, telling viewers that the Protect College Sports Act ends the chaos and protects the traditions that make this sport what it is. It landed the same week I was still fielding questions about the eligibility mess I wrote about in this column last time, the LSU litigation, the SEC's new pro player ban, the Big Ten's version of the same rule. Put those two things next to each other, and the story writes itself. Congress is closer than ever to "fixing college sports" (if you believe that's what the bill would do) and the chaos off the field is exactly why.
Yet, that isn't the story. The actual story broke this week on a different platform entirely, and it did not involve Nick Saban, who once famously stated, in my presence, that college sports isn't a business (that still cracks me up). Jake Sherman reported that House leadership is canceling the final two weeks of September, sending members home to campaign. Ross Dellenger filled in the number that matters. The House was originally scheduled to be in session for four weeks in September. It is now scheduled for two. Which means, in Dellenger's words, the House would not take up the congressional bill until it returns in mid-November, and only then if the Senate has already passed it.
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WeatherTech Raceway
Laguna Seca
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THE ZANARDI CORKSCREW
OFFICIALLY DEDICATED AT
WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
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Pictured left to right: Host Ralph Sheheen, Chip Ganassi, Mike Hull, Max Papis, Doug Boles and Bruce Canepa. Photo: Coel Mayer/WRLS
Motorsport Legends, INDYCAR Champions and race fans gather to celebrate Alex Zanardi’s extraordinary talent, spirit and enduring connection to Laguna Seca
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MONTEREY, CA (Sept. 4, 2026) – One of the most iconic stretches of pavement in all of motorsports now carries the name of one of th esport’s most unforgettable competitors.
Before a packed gathering of racing legends, industry leaders and race fans Friday morning, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca officially dedicated its famed Corkscrew as The Zanardi Corkscrew, permanently honoring two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi and his extraordinary connection to the legendary circuit.
The dedication comes 30 years after one of the defining moments in Laguna Seca and INDYCAR history. On the final lap of the 1996 race, Zanardi made an audacious move on Bryan Herta entering the Corkscrew, dropping wheels into the dirt and emerging ahead in a maneuver that became known simply as “The Pass.” The moment remains one of the most celebrated overtakes in American open-wheel racing history and forever linked Zanardi with Laguna Seca.
Friday’s ceremony, however, celebrated far more than a single racing moment. It honored Zanardi as a champion, teammate, friend and inspiration whose talent, personality and spirit left an indelible mark on motorsports and on the people who knew him.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca President and General Manager Mel Harder opened the ceremony by unveiling a rendering of the future permanent monument honoring Zanardi, his extraordinary talent, indomitable spirit and enduring connection to Laguna Seca.
continued...
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Zanadi passes Herta in the Corkscrew | |
The Winner's Circle Blues
by Robert Moselle, Esq.
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One of the most famous moments of auto racing took place
at Laguna Seca in 1996. It would become known as "The Pass" and occurred when Alex Zanardi passed Bryan Herta on the inside of the Corkscrew on the last lap of the CART race to take the victory. I was in the winner's circle, prepared to present the Lee Moselle Trophy, which was awarded to the winner of the annual CART race. The trophy was named in honor of my father, who served as executive director of the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula, the nonprofit entity that operated the raceway, for 13 years.
The Corkscrew
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is an 11-turn, 2.2-mile road course in Monterey. One specific section, Turns 8 and 8A, commonly known as the Corkscrew, is unique in motorsports. The Corkscrew drops 59 feet between the entrance of Turn 8 to the exit of Turn 8A -- the equivalent of a 9-story drop -- in only 450 feet of track length. From Turn 8 to Turn 9 the elevation falls 109 feet, or just over 10 stories.
Bryan Herta was in the lead in the Team Rahal-Letterman car, and I had my eye fixed on David Letterman as he paced around the winner's circle. It looked like a lock for Herta as he entered the Corkscrew, with Alex Zanardi apparently destined for second. But near the top of the Corkscrew, Herta took his normal line and left open an opportunity for the daredevil Zanardi, who outbraked him as they went into the turn. As Herta started in for Turn 8A, Zanardi blew by him. The crowd went wild as Alex took the checkered flag for Team Chip Ganassi and Joe Montana, and as Zanardi spun celebratory donuts all Letterman could do was stand silently in stunned disbelief.
(For a video of the last laps, with the final lap starting at 3:54 and The Pass at 4:40, click HERE.)
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Robert Moselle with daughter Monica and the family's Belgian sheepdog Penny. Moselle is a California attorney and executive director of the Center for Continuing Education, (CCE). Based in Monterey, CCE (cce-mcle.com) is a State Bar-approved Provider
of Continuing Legal Education seminars
and online programs.
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Uncork The Fun: NASCAR Returns to Wine Country July 10-11, 2027
SONOMA, Calif. (August 26, 2026) – NASCAR racing returns to Sonoma Raceway July 10-11, 2027, bringing the roar of the NASCAR Cup Series to Northern California for a summer weekend of high-speed action, spectacular scenery and the unmistakable flavor of wine country.
Set among the rolling hills and vineyards of Sonoma Valley, the NASCAR weekend will feature two days of racing and entertainment, highlighted by the 38th running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, July 11 and the 5th running of the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 NASCAR O’Reilly Series race on Saturday, July 10.
Coming just one week after the Fourth of July, the 2027 NASCAR weekend offers fans the perfect opportunity to extend their summer holiday with a getaway to Sonoma. With long summer days, great weather, world-class wineries, outstanding restaurants and some of the most picturesque scenery in motorsports, there’s no better time to experience NASCAR in wine country.
“There’s simply nothing like NASCAR in Sonoma, and moving our weekend into the heart of summer makes the experience even more special,” said Brian Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sonoma Raceway. “Fans can spend the Fourth of July with family and friends, then make their way to Wine Country for an incredible weekend of racing, food, wine and everything that makes Sonoma such a special destination.”
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TEST YOUR BEST AT THE 2026 ROLEX
BIG BOAT SERIES
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After a long summer of tuning up the boat, solidifying the team and locking in race maneuvers, sailors are now preparing to test their best at Rolex Big Boat Series on September 16-20, 2026.
“All the competitors in the Express 37 fleet, they bring their best—the best crew, the best sails, everything’s the best and everyone has their A game, and that’s really exciting for us,” says Michael Laport, owner and skipper of Express 37 Golden Moon.
A relatively new owner in a relatively old fleet—Express 37s have been lining up at this event for over 30 years—this year will be Laport’s third Rolex Big Boat Series at the helm. He just missed the podium last year, so sustaining an excellent performance over four days of racing is what he, co-owner Mike Spitz, and their team have been focused on in the lead-up to the race.
“Big Boat is the place that it all comes together and we can test our mettle against people who’ve been sailing Express 37s and sailing the Bay longer than we have, and we see that as a good measure of our competitiveness.”
If you race an Express 37, or any of the other boats eligible to enter, it’s not too late to turn your tiller toward San Francisco Bay and register for the 2026 Rolex Big Boat Series on September
16-20.
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| | Hardly Trivial Answer by T. Buff | | |
(#1) The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees in seven games in a series recorded as one
of the best in MLB history.
Many Americans, even Yankee haters, were rooting
for the Yankees. ~ Wikipedia
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(#2) The New York Yankees' Derek Jeter earned the nickname "Mr. November" after hitting a game-winning, walk-off home run in game 4, just past midnight
on November 1, 2001.
This link will take you to a story about it written in 2007, when Jeter was inducted into the Hall of Fame!
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p.s. -- The handsome gentleman above is a
regular at USG's Central Coast office.
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Adam Mohammed rushed for a career-high 120
yards and a touchdown for the Bears.
Bears Fall To
UCLA In Season-Opener
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Mohammed Rushes For Career-High 120 Yards In Defeat
By: Cal Athletics
BERKELEY – The California football team came back from a double-digit deficit to tie the game in the second half but ultimately fell to UCLA 45-24 in its 2026 season-opener on Saturday night at California Memorial Stadium.
The Golden Bears, playing their first game under new Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi, fell behind 21-10 late in the second quarter but eventually knotted the contest at 24-24 with 3:50 to play in the third period. The Bruins scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game away.
photo credit: Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
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Cardinal Hits the Road Sunday
No. 1 Stanford will hit the road following a five-match homestand when it travels to Santa Clara on Sunday
MATCH NOTABLES
Stanford and Santa Clara have won two of the last seven national titles (STAN - 2019, SCU 2020-21) ... Santa Clara eliminated Stanford from the 2022 NCAA Tournament ... seven of the last 10 matches have been decided by one goal or fewer ... including the 24-21-7 record against Santa Clara, Stanford is 99-34-11 against current West Coast Conference teams - 21-5-2 vs. Saint Mary's; 1-0-0 vs. Seattle University; 2-2-0 vs. Pepperdine; 5-1-0 vs. San Diego; 27-0-0 vs. San Francisco; 4-1-0 vs. Denver; 2-1-0 vs. LMU; 8-3-2 vs. Portland; 5-0-0 vs. Pacific
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Spartans Battle No. 1 Stanford
in Narrow Defeat
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Ronin Axelson made six saves to lead the San José State men’s soccer team (1-3-0, 0-0-0 MW) in a 1-0 loss to No. 1 Stanford (5-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) on Friday night at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
Stanford scored the match’s only goal in the 36th minute off a free kick set piece.
Angel Gutierrez produced San José State’s lone shot moments after entering the match, sending an attempt over the crossbar in the 36th minute.
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| | Saint Mary's College Gaels | |
MXC | Gaels Open 2026
Season with 10th Place Finish
at USF Invitational
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Saint Mary's men's cross country team kicked off the 2026 season at the USF Invitational on Friday afternoon, placing 10th overall in a field of 17 teams.
Senior Joel Fischer led the way for the Gaels in his first coll egiate 8K and placed 48th in a field of 189 runners. Fischer surpassed 61 runners throughout the race to cross the finish line in 25:14.5. Fellow seniors Alan Solari and Ethan Gray were next across the line for Saint Mary's. Solari placed 60th overall with a time of 25:37.5, while Gray followed with a time of 26:07.3 to take 82nd. Next in for the Gaels was sophomore Anthony Sharp, who finished the race in 26:10.7. Freshman Matteo Byrd rounded out the top five finishers for Saint Mary's after moving up 65 spots over the race to finish in 26:13.4..
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Dons Bounce Back, Sweep Lopes
in Straight Sets
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The University of San Francisco (USF) volleyball team (3-3) bounced back in its second match of the GCU Invitational as the Dons cruised to a three-set sweep, 3-0, over host Grand Canyon (2-3) on Saturday night at Global Credit Union Pavilion.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Despite GCU recording the first three points of the evening, San Francisco responded and took its first lead of the match at 10-9. The Dons continued to battle and would end on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the opening set, 25-20. USF registered a .429 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set victory.
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Photo by: Christina Leung
| | The Santa Clara University women's volleyball team played two close matches Saturday in the final day of the Yale Invitational. | |
Volleyball Closes Out Yale Invite
with Close Matches
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NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Santa Clara University women's volleyball team closed out its trip to the Yale Invitational Saturday, suffering narrow defeats against Hofstra and the host Bulldogs at Yale's John J. Lee Amphitheater.
vs. HOFSTRA
Though swept, the Broncos (2-5) played a close battle versus the Pride, falling 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22), with all three sets decided by five or fewer points. Santa Clara hit .267 with 45 kills, while Hofstra (4-2) managed a .287 hitting percentage with 47 kills and held a 50-43 edge in digs.
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| | University of Pacific Tigers | | Nicole Zake Stays Hot, Tigers Down LSU New Orleans in Four Sets | | |
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Junior outside hitter Nicole Zake posted a season high 15 kills as the Pacific women's volleyball team rebounded from a tight first set loss to soundly dispatch LSU New Orleans in four (23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22) Saturday night from Spartan Gym, completing the team's action for the weekend.
Zake's 15 kills came on an efficient .281 clip (15-6-32), the fewest attack opportunities she's had since opening night but also allowed her her most efficient night of the season. Defensively, her double-double streak would end at four consecutive matches, however, the junior was still active by racking up nine digs on the match.
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Aggie Women Place Seventh, Men Take Eighth To Open 2026 Season At USF Invitational
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Led by top-25 finishers Peyton Adams, Kirra Fisk, and Dominic McMahon, UC Davis cross country opened its 2026 campaign at the USF Invitational as the Aggie women secured a seventh-place finish and the men claimed eighth overall.
ON THE COURSE (MENS 8K)
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Freshman Dominic McMahon set the pace for the Aggie men throughout the 8k course in his collegiate debut, surging up 27 spots from 52nd to cross the finish line in 25th overall.
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Fellow freshman Chase Joanou provided steady scoring support in his debut as the second Aggie across the line, placing 40th overall.
- The combined efforts of the scoring group powered the UC Davis men to an eighth-place finish in a packed regional field to open the fall campaign.
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Cal State University East
Bay Pioneers
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Logan Paces Pioneers
at USF Invite
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Cal State East Bay men's cross country opened the 2026 season Friday with a 13th-place team finish at the USF Invite at Golden Gate Park.
The Pioneers totaled 378 points in the 8K race, led by Phillip Logan, who crossed the finish line in 25:32.8 to place 58th overall.
Dylan Baptista followed as East Bay's second finisher, placing 87th with a time of 26:12.7. Elijah Fordham crossed in 26:40.4 to finish 114th overall.
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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, September 7, through
Sunday, September 13, 2026
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Monday, September 7
San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 5:10 p.m.
Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, September 8
San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday, September 9
San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 12:45 p.m.
Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 12:05 p.m.
Thursday, September 10
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams, 5:35 p.m.
Friday, September 11
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 7:15 p.m.
Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners, 6:40 p.m.
Saturday,September 12
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 1:05 p.m.
Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners, 6:40 p.m.
Oakland Roots vs. Lexington SC, 7 p.m.
Bay FC @ Seattle Reign FC, 5 p.m.
Cal Bears @ Syracuse Orange, 12:30 p.m.
San Jose State Spartans vs. Cal Poly Mustangs, 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 13
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:35 p.m.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres, 4:20 p.m.
Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners, 1:05 p.m.
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Publisher: Christopher Weills
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Contact us at: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com
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