RealClearSports
Advertisement

RealClearSports San Francisco

A's Shouldn't Get Excited About Manny

Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News

A's Have Nothing to Lose with Manny

David Schoenfield, SweetSpot

Sacramento Battles to Keep NBA Team

Joel Millman, Wall Street Journal

Warriors' Ellis Becomes Expendable

Monte Poole, Oakland Tribune

You know those times on the freeway when, all of a sudden, cars ahead of you stop for no apparent reason? And you wonder why? And then you go far enough to see that the frustra...(full article)

On June 2, assuming none of Oakland's first 50 games are rained out, Manny Ramirez will be eligible to join the A's. He may need a few games in Triple-A to get ready, but signing R...(full article)

Just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Buster Posey stepped into the batter’s box at Scottsdale Stadium. On the first pitch, he bunted. “GREAT FORM!” a fan hollered from ...(full article)

A hedge-fund manager's $500 million plan for Seattle to poach Sacramento's professional basketball team, the Kings, has city officials in California's capital fuming. But time ma...(full article)

His is still the last name heard when lineups are announced, he is still the last of the Warriors to step onto the basketball court, and his annual salary remains a gaudy $11 m...(full article)

More Recent Articles

Sharks Acquire Moore from Lightning

The Sharks got the player they wanted Thursday night, but only one of the two points they needed. Hours after acquiring versatile forward Dominic Moore from the Tampa Bay Lightn...

Sharks Acquire Moore From Lightning

The small list of NHL teams willing to sell off assets at the trade deadline grew by one on Thursday. Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman signalled his intentions by...

New Raiders Regime Intent on Overhaul

With the blessing of Raiders owner Mark Davis, new general manager Reggie McKenzie is going through the football operation with flashlights and microscopes, opening all the doo...

Seattle's NBA Dreams Could Cost Sacramento

This is the week, of course, that Linsanity ran over the NBA. So, of course, I will be writing about arenas, and city councils, and bond issues. Good times! Jeremy Lin's saga has ...

Stealing Another City's Team Part of the Game

It's hard not to feel like a hypocrite right now. Christopher Hansen, our arena fairy, is working diligently to try to build a palace that could lure the NBA and NHL, and as intr...

Cespedes a Gamble the A's Had to Take

If money bought championships, the New York Yankees would be 13-time defending World Series champions. And the Baltimore Orioles – yes, the Orioles were the last team to outspen...

A's Signing of Cespedes Hard to Figure

Oakland Athletics owner Lewis Wolff acknowledged recently that even if the A’s receive permission to move to San Jose soon, they likely would not open their new ballpark un...

A's Strike Gold with Cespedes Signing?

The A’s finally pulled off their big international signing. Oakland wanted Aroldis Chapman two years ago, but came up short when the Reds bid $30 million for six years. Last win...

Giant Relief: Posey Nearly Ready to Go

Baseball's most important joint is the mending left ankle of a young catcher in San Francisco, a hinge upon which the Giants' playoffs hopes this year might, well, hinge. Buster ...

Thunder Blow Lead, Fall to Kings

The Sacramento Kings closed out the game with a 19-6 scoring spurt to post a 106-101 victory before a sellout crowd of 17,317 at Power Balance Pavilion. The scrappy Kings were ...

Giants Can't Wait to Get Posey Back

Bruce Bochy looks at Buster Posey, whose 24-year-old body is equipped with a mind seemingly 10 years older, and what the Giants' manager sees chases away whatever blues he might ...

Brady in the Same Class as Montana

One quarterback, a certifiable legend, could always lean on the creative offensive mind of a Bill Walsh or a Sam Wyche or a Mike Holmgren. The other, a legend still in the makin...

Don't Bet Against Raiders' Allen

The Raiders introduced their head coach, Dennis Allen, Monday at team headquarters. We now hold a news conference about that news conference: Q: What new and different things did ...

Boy Writes Letter to Kyle Williams

Twitter is busy reminding us what's wrong with sports and more specifically, sports fans. Thanks to Owen Shure, seven years old from Los Angeles, we have an example of what's right...

Warriors Owner Overestimates Talent

There is no magic wand available and no instant Warriors success in the offing, and you get the sense that Joe Lacob is beginning to realize this now. This will go in stages, n...

Raiders Show Commitment to Defense with Allen

The Raiders have hired Dennis Allen, the 39-year-old defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, to be their new head coach. Allen informed the Broncos on Tuesday night in Mobile,...

For 49ers and Ravens, Timing Is All Wrong

Something was going to happen. Eli Manning made that observation. Something always does happen. Football, like life, is about timing. Football, like life, also is about accountabi...

New Raiders GM Puts Reputation on Line

When Dennis Allen is introduced as the next Raiders coach, he'll make his entrance to the hushed tones of skepticism. Unlike the signing of Jim Harbaugh last year by the 49ers, w...

Single Bid for Pac-12 in Tourney?

Last night on Twitter, I posted the Pac-12's updated nonconference records: 1-23 against the RPI top 50 (the one is Stanford over Colorado State) and 8-41 against the top 100. By...

Did Giants Strategically Concuss Williams?

The Giants' win over the 49ers in a magnificent throwback conference championship game at Candlestick Park yesterday turned on two fumbles by 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams, a...

Expect 49ers to Maintain Aggression

Jim Harbaugh was not over the defeat. That was as plain as the khaki pants he wears to every Monday media session. Harbaugh was not eager to revisit the NFC title game loss to th...

Williams Fumbles 49ers' Chances

Fate found Kyle Williams -- twice -- on Sunday, and nobody will ever forget it. In 20 years, 30 years, maybe 100 years, he will still be synonymous with this game, those lost mo...

Niners Earn Glory - and a Ticket Home

There is glory in being part of the resurrection of a dog-dead franchise in one excellent season - zero to 60 in 18 games. There is glory in being the surprise team of the NFL, and...

MMQB: Unlikely Heroes and Goats

I laugh when people call me an idiot for my predictions. I shake my head when gambler friends ask me who to pick. Poor saps. Sunday was a perfect example of why you shouldn't put ...

Harbaugh Started It All at San Diego

The University of San Diego sits on 180 acres overlooking a canyon. The campus is dominated by 16th century Spanish Renaissance architecture. It delivers an elite, Catholic educat...

Hard-to-Define Momentum on Giants' Side

The New York Giants have two huge advantages going into their NFC Championship showdown Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Momentum. And recent NFL history. "I think they're o...

Expect 'Bloodbath' in NFC Title Game

The basketball players of the NFL have all gone home now. They have taken the sprinters and the dancers and the video gamers with them. Now, it is time for the tough guys to take ...

Crabtree Must Play Like No. 1 WR

Is Michael Crabtree, once and finally, an NFC Championship game-changer? If it happens that way on Sunday -- if it's 49ers over the New York Giants, Crabtree in a starring role ...

Self-Exam Propels Manning to Elite Level

It had been seven years and it was tough for those on the outside, in this era that demands a ranking for everything, to categorize exactly what Eli Manning was. On one hand, he...

Special Teams Give 49ers Leg Up

There could be a sliver of an issue dogging the 49ers, the possibility of trouble lurking, but Jim Harbaugh isn’t about to reach for the smelling salts just yet. For the se...

Road Warrior Giants Will Beat 49ers

Who has it better than the San Francisco 49ers? At first glance, nooooobody, just as the Niners' season-long rallying cry says. As they head toward their NFC championship game show...

Candlestick Park a 'Fortress' for 49ers

Few people utter romantic remarks about Candlestick Park. It's probably closer to zero people. All right, so it is zero people. But the other day, Jim Harbaugh came close to bein...

49ers' Harbaugh Keeps Everyone Off Balance

There is a rhythm to Jim Harbaugh's words, if not exactly a pattern. After all, any football coach wants to keep the opponent guessing, make him feel off balance, and maybe nobod...

Vernon Davis: From Problem Child to Leader

Vernon Davis stepped behind the podium and, with an air of confidence and self-awareness, prepared himself for whatever might follow. He surely knew how this would go. Questions ab...

Toughness Will Prevail in Giants-49ers Game

The “No Toughness, No Championship!” signs have followed the Giants from their old Giants Stadium headquarters to the Timex Performance Center. They might want to sta...

Giants-49ers Playoff Rivalry Resumes

The irony of this most unexpected pairing can't be missed. The NFC Championship Game matchup that we never saw coming -- Giants versus 49ers -- is actually one we've become very ...

Alex Smith Could've Been Better Than Aikman?

In their second NFL seasons, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had more yards, touchdowns and a higher quarterback rating than did Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. After their second year in ...

Parents Fret Possible All-Harbaugh Super Bowl

Jack Harbaugh has said he doesn’t want to think too much about it. Archie Manning said the other day he wouldn’t want to even imagine it. Ask any parent and they’d probably...

The Storied Rivalry of Giants-49ers

It’s not exactly a rivalry, but then again, it is. Separated by a continent, meeting in the NFL schedule every couple of years, the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers m...

Rain May Hurt Giants' Passing Game

There is zero percent chance the Giants will be able to operate their high-flying passing attack at peak efficiency Sunday against the 49ers in the NFC Championship. Anyone who t...

49ers DEs Might Make the Difference

The NFC Championship Game between the Giants and 49ers Sunday will be a showcase for four of the best defensive ends in the game, and their aggregate impact could determine the o...

In Year of Offense, 49ers Focus on Defense

Last week, as the San Francisco 49ers’ defense sauntered onto the field, safety Dashon Goldson wore eye black and full pads. His fellow safety Donte Whitner pushed his mouthpie...

Once a Distraction, 49ers' Davis Now a Leader

A 49ers hero in San Francisco last week, he's a film star in New York this week. Once a destabilizing presence on a foundering team, now a galvanizing force with a franchise one w...

49ers Open Window to Glorious Past

They were The City’s team, in name and function, created here, not transported from New York or Philadelphia. And if they never reached the top, they were no less entertaining ...

Can Jimmer Become NBA's Tebow?

You better believe that while Tim Tebow led the Denver Broncos to a miraculous turnaround this season and eventually to the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the Maloof brothers were wond...

NFL Returning to Normal

There's something wonderfully refreshing about the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers making it to the NFC Championship Game, and it has nothing to do with histo...

49ers' Stunner Traceable to Harbaugh

The San Francisco 49ers, in pulling off a mesmerizing and historic 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints, did more than advance to next week’s NFC Championship Game by wi...

A Late, Great Victory for 49ers

Move over, Joe Montana to Dwight Clark. Scoot aside, Steve Young to Terrell Owens. Make room for The Catch 3.0. San Francisco's Alex Smith fired a 14-yard touchdown pass to Verno...

Smith, Davis Hook Up for History

There was, of course, “The Catch,” the miracle play that for three decades has been cushioned in reverential tones. Around here it’s taught in kindergarten, right after stu...

Energy of 49ers' Harbaugh Is Infectious

We'll call it the Tara VanDerveer Observation. The Stanford women's basketball coach once said, "All the great ones have a screw loose." It's open to debate whether Jim Harbaugh h...

49ers Can Win With Physical Play

All the 49ers have to do is play their best and brashest game in at least 17 years, and I think they will do it. All the 49ers have to do is play better than they've played at an...

Turnaround No Surprise to 49ers

You want to know the moment this season when Frank Gore realized -- voila! -- that the 49ers were onto something special here? He didn't have one. No such revelatory moment. Not i...

Giants Sign Vogelsong for 2 Years

Ryan Vogelsong finally has some security, and he earned it. The Giants' pitcher, who made a storybook comeback in 2011 and went 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA, has the first multiyear cont...

Ranking Potential Super Matchups

We're down to the final eight teams in the NFL playoffs, and that means there are only 16 potential matchups remaining for Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium next month in Indi...

8 Best Playoff Storylines

1. Whatever happened to the Patriots' aura of invincibility in the playoffs? Back in the day, New England in the playoffs meant you had better have your parade route at least ske...

Kings Rally to Give Smart Debut Win

When Keith Smart coached the Warriors last season, the one thing you could count on most nights was maximum effort. That kind of effort had been lacking with the Kings over the pas...

Source: Warriors Pursuing Howard

As the Orlando Magic consider deals for Dwight Howard, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as aggressive suitors for the NBA’s best center, league sources told Yahoo! Spor...

Biggest Win of Season for 49ers

Though darkness and light, times of struggle and moments of elevating success, the 49ers held on tight Monday night. They did what they had to. They didn't lose their grip through ...

Ravens' Defense Dominates 49ers

John Harbaugh aggressively pumped his fist when Joe Flacco converted a big third-down throw. He jumped on the back of linebacker Jameel McClain as he ran off the field after a key ...

Raiders Sign Houshmandzadeh

The Raiders attempted to speed up the chemistry process between new quarterback Carson Palmer and his receivers by signing former teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh on Tuesday, the c...

Thornton Scores 2; Sharks Top Wings

The Sharks kept their trip a perfect 4-0, beating the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 for their fourth consecutive win at Joe Louis Arena. Joe Thornton's first goal of the night proved to ...

Golden Era of California Goalies

When it comes to earthquakes, floods, and just-shoot-me traffic, we all know California is king, but now we can add another notable item to the Golden State's royal list: goalies...

Trade Proof of Jackson's Control

As has become Jackson’s MO, the Raiders went further than most people would have expected by reportedly giving up a 2012 first-round draft pick and a conditional first-roun...

Bengals Make Point, Then Good Deal

It's not often I have a chance to say this, but here goes: Mike Brown did the right thing. First, he made his point with Carson Palmer. Then he made a deal with Oaklan...

Could Set Oakland Back Years

The Oakland Raiders paid a steep price to acquire quarterback Carson Palmer before Tuesday's NFL trading deadline. As the team's first huge personnel move since the passing of ow...

Sharks Remain Undefeated

There was a scary moment or two Thursday night when two of their players had to be helped off the ice. But by the end of the game, the Sharks had no reason to feel anything but ...

A's Snap Tigers' Winning Streak at 12

Then there was one. The Tigers lost Thursday night, but inched forward all the same. They are so close now to clinching the American League Central, their next victory will do it...

Sandoval Hits for Cycle in Giants' Win

With the Giants all but finished in the postseason hunt, it was hard to imagine them accomplishing anything at Coors Field on Thursday night to upstage all of the intrigue in the...

Raiders Take Opener vs. Broncos

An eight-year run of opening game futility ended as the Raiders continued their dominance of their own division with a 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night. Quarterb...

Sources: Pryor to Appeal Suspension

Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, informed the NFLPA on Friday that Pryor wants to move forward with an appeal of his five-game suspension, sour...

X-Factors for Playoff Teams

You don't need me to tell you that Jacoby Ellsbury is important to the Red Sox or that the Brewers need Ryan Braun to hit if they're going to have a big October. Every team in th...

49ers' Crabtree Limited in 1st Practice

Michael Crabtree was activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. If his first practice is any indication, however, the Niners wide receiver is not yet able to pe...

Agent: Gore Agrees to Extension

Perhaps Frank Gore didn't get everything he wanted, but the 49ers' Pro Bowl running back evidently got the "fair" deal he was hoping for in advance of the regular-season opener. Go...

NFL: No Plans for Security Changes

The NFL’s chief security officer said Monday that the league will study the circumstances surrounding the fan violence at this past weekend’s preseason game in San Fra...

SF, Oakland to End Preseason Series

In a response to the violence at Saturday's exhibition game at Candlestick Park, a high-ranking NFL source said it is certain that the 49ers and Raiders will end their annual ...

Raiders Select Pryor in 3rd Round

Unlock HQ Video HQ video delivered by Akamai The Oakland Raiders used a third-round pick in the NFL's supplemental draft Monday to select former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pr...

Giants Finally Defeat Braves

The sacrifice fly: a pitcher's new best friend. The way the Giants have operated lately, with losses and injuries piling up beyond anyone's gloomiest expectations, they'll take an...

Brawl Mars Phils' 9-2 Win Over Giants

They will remember this as the night a rivalry was cemented. The seeds were planted long before Ramon Ramirez fired a 92-m.p.h. fastball at Shane Victorino's back, prior to Eli W...

Lee, Phillies Shut Out Giants

The nightmares will not cease because this was merely Game 111 in a season that promises more than 162 for these Phillies. They entered this ballpark by the bay Thursday for the ...

Braylon Edwards Signs with Niners

From one former Michigan man to another, Jim Harbaugh is asking Braylon Edwards to grow up and be accountable for his actions. Like they were taught in Ann Arbor. Edwards is asking...

Giants Regain Lead in NL West

So Arizona acquired Jason Marquis from Washington largely because he owned the Giants and blanked them in April. Someone forgot to text the news to Jeff Keppinger, Carlos Beltran...

D'backs Grab Share of 1st in West

SAN FRANCISCO - The ball shot off Paul Goldschmidt's bat and into the chilly Bay Area night, a 400-plus-foot home run that also served as a silencer at AT&T Park, where 42,33...

Gore Reports to 49ers Camp

Frank Gore reported to 49ers headquarters early Monday morning, ending a training camp holdout. A team official confirmed that the running back was in the building and prepared f...

Giants Beat Phils; Beltran 0-for-4

Aubrey Huff has learned to stomach all the torturous wins. Still, he said, with Carlos Beltran in the lineup, "Hopefully, it bumps us up to winning by more than one or two runs."...

Giants, Cards Load Up for Playoff Run

The 2011 trading deadline went from zero to sixty on Wednesday with a pair of blockbuster deals. The Giants and Cardinals loaded up for the stretch run, and the Mets and Blue Jay...

Cal Sent Home by No. 1 Virginia

For the moment, the Cal players were in no mood to acknowledge everything they had accomplished. Early in the season, they had withstood a state of chaos and shock that few colleg...

Weeks Big Part of A's Turnaround

David Forst, assistant general manager of the Oakland A’s, was checking out batting practice before Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets and ticking off reasons for...

A's Knock Off Giants, Lincecum

Not even the sight of the A's could cure Tim Lincecum's lingering ills Friday night. The Giants ace, who had dominated Oakland in six previous starts, was beaten 5-2 by the host A'...

A's Snap 10-Game Losing Streak

Down to their last strike and facing a two-run deficit, the A's gave new manager Bob Melvin a memorable first win Friday. Scott Sizemore cleared the bases with a two-out, three-r...

Huff Hits 3 Homers in Giants' Win

Giants players are going to miss something as they go beddie-bye in the coming weeks: that mint next to their pillows. To say their road has been long is an understatement. After T...

Giants GM Upset by Posey Collision

Giants general manager Brian Sabean on Thursday tore into Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins for his devastating hit on Buster Posey, saying the Giants will have a "long memory...

SF Bay Area Sports News

Oracle Racing shows off America's C

Security isn't what it used to be at the America's Cup. For instance, any media member with a hidden...

SF Giants' Affeldt, Bumgarner on cu

To witness the often-sophomoric world of a baseball clubhouse is to understand how a near-maiming be...

Giants say Tim Lincecum's stiff bac

Though manager Bruce Bochy is saying the right things about getting injuries out of the way early, h...

Blue Jackets double up Sharks 6-3

(02-21) 19:27 PST Columbus, Ohio (AP) -- Jeff Carter had three goals _ two on the power play during ...

Buster Posey on an inevitable colli

Covering the spectrum of players worth watching in baseball's spring camps: Buster Posey : We won't ...