SF Examiner: Niners need to start over

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The advice has become cliché: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. What if it is broken? What if it’s a football team? What if it’s the 49ers, who need a very large repair job?

What if it’s a franchise without direction or people who could locate that direction?

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Heat's On LeBron, Miami

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

"We're not having fun right now.'' The speaker was LeBron James. The same LeBron James who turned the end of his free agency into a parody and it was believed would turn the Miami Heat into the greatest team in the history of basketball. Or at least in the history of overhyped basketball players.

Nothing against Mr. James and the Heat, but some of us are having a great deal of fun.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Stanford's Luck 'Best Player in Country'

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

BERKELEY, Calif. -- It's always been a quarterback school. Way back, there was Frankie Albert, and later John Brodie. Along came Jim Plunkett to win a Heisman. Then John Elway on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Now Stanford has Andrew Luck.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Tiger Begins Attempt to Redefine Himself

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

The problem for Tiger Woods, as the process of image restoration begins its merry run, is not so much what he did -- his sins are all too public. It is what he failed to do -- connect with so many members of the media.

So now, as he visits early-morning radio or appears in Newsweek telling how his value system has changed, explaining that giving his son a bath is as rewarding as winning a tournament used to be, the skepticism is natural.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Tedford has had Stanford's number in Big Game

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — The other guy is getting the attention. A huge article on Jim Harbaugh in Sports Illustrated. Why not? Stanford has lost only one game. Stanford is ranked No. 7 in the nation.

“I have a lot of respect for coach Harbaugh,” said Jeff Tedford.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Vick Not Wasting His Second Chance

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

We find satisfaction in realizing what Michael Vick can do. After finding revulsion in learning what he did.

He moves forward, with remarkable skill, a brilliant talent. We move on. And yet ...

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Nothing Shocking About Newton Scandal

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

A scandal in college sports? Impossible. We're shocked, shocked, to borrow from Inspector Renault in Casablanca. He was talking about illicit gambling, which in a way would put him in fine stead these days when dealing with undergraduate games.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Things are looking up in NorCal

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner


John Cook, who won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday at Harding Park, was saying as a kid who grew up in Southern California — or “SoCal,” as he phrased it — how much he reveled in beating people and teams from Northern California.

Read the full story here.

C0pyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Tom Cable Unleashes Emerging Raiders

in ,
By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

ALAMEDA, Calif. - As of the moment, Tom Cable is the coach of the Oakland Raiders and Wade Phillips is no longer the coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Or exactly the opposite of what we believed a few weeks ago might be the situation.

Read the full story here.
RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Once again, Allen comes up short in bid for victory

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Some days are like that. Michael Allen said it — sadly.

Some days are like that. Not just cold and wet, which Sunday was. But a time when a golf course that’s your friend becomes your enemy. A time when the clubs turn on you like vipers.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

PGATOUR.com: Langer, Cook worthy victors on a hard Sunday at Harding

in
By Art Spander
Special to PGATOUR.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- An unbelievable year. Bernhard Langer said that. About Bernhard Langer's year, and the observation is undeniable. Also, considering everything, understated.

That year, this year, was embellished by Langer becoming Charles Schwab Cup Champion, virtually the only thing in his three years on the Champions Tour which Langer had not won. Until Sunday.

Read the full story here.

© 1995-2010 PGA TOUR, Inc. | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SF Examiner: Local guy gets his day at Harding Park

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner



After nine holes, he remained the other man, playing partner of Fred Couples.

“The fans were yelling ‘Fred, Fred, and Fred,’ Michael Allen pointed out with a touch of sarcasm. “I’m thinking, ‘What about me?’”

After 18 holes, he was the only man.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company


PGATOUR.COM: San Mateo native Allen adds to Harding history with 61

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By Art Spander
Special to PGATOUR.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The gods of sport can be whimsical, especially in golf. Strange things happen on a course. Wonderful things happen. As Bobby Jones wrote, we become the dogged victims of an inexorable fate. And isn't that part of challenge?

Michael Allen left TPC Harding Park on Friday afternoon after a double bogey on the final hole, the sort of finish which might stay with a man.

Read the full story here.

© 1995-2010 PGA TOUR, Inc. | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PGATOUR.com: Cook channels TPC Harding Park spirit in fine first round

in ,
By Art Spander
Special to PGATOUR.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- If there is a mystical quality to TPC Harding Park, that historic muni so much a part of San Francisco golfing history, John Cook understands. The man who mentored him in the game grew up playing here.

Read the full story here.

© 1995-2010 PGA TOUR, Inc. | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SF Examiner: Homegrown Allen has game on track

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — He has come home, if not a hero, then a success. For Michael Allen, there are old friends and old memories and a new perspective. His is potential finally realized.

Allen shot a 2-under-par 69 Thursday at the Schwab Cup Championship at Harding Park, putting him roughly in the middle of the most elite field in senior golf, and five shots back of John Cook.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Old-School Sparky Was One of a Kind

in ,
By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

In later years, the school was one of the more dangerous in Los Angeles, a place of guns and occasional gang wars. Football games had to be cancelled. Police had to be called.

It wasn't always that way at Dorsey High, in another era recognized for its diversity long before the word became a meaningful part of the social vocabulary.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Couples caught up in Giants fever

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

He’s a Dodger fan. Or was, because in truth Fred Couples was a Joe Torre fan, and for three years, Torre managed the Dodgers. But most of all, Couples is a baseball fan, a sports fan, and like so many others, he was mesmerized by the Giants.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: At Last, Giants Fans Take to the Streets

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- They're taking over the streets today. Classic San Francisco. Not for gay rights, however. Or to legalize marijuana - that measure on the California ballot failed to pass Tuesday night.

Or to get the troops out of Afghanistan.

It's to celebrate the Giants' first World Series triumph in San Francisco. It's to celebrate success.


© RealClearSports 2010