RealClearSports: Tom Cable Unleashes Emerging Raiders

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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

in ,
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

in ,
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

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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

SF Examiner: Momentum, maybe fate, with Giants

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

So close now. So near the impossible dream. So hard not to believe in the possibility. So difficult to make yourself think the Giants can’t win the World Series.

No, they’re not there yet. They still need one victory. One magic victory that sits up there like a pop fly waiting to be grabbed.

“We have baseball left,” cautioned Bruce Bochy. “We still have work to do.”

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: Rangers inject doubt into Giants

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

One game, but one game too many. One game to emphasize the Giants’ vulnerabilities. One game to realize that in their own park with a designated hitter, the Texas Rangers are a different team.

One game to make us understand the direction of the 2010 World Series has made a turn — in the land of former Rangers president George W. Bush, a right turn of course.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: All the stars are aligning for Giants

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

It doesn’t get any better than this. Any more one-sided. Any louder. Any more entertaining. Any more unbelievable.

“When the lights go down in The City ...” That’s Journey’s song, which was sweeping through AT&T Park on Thursday night. That’s San Francisco’s song. And quite possibly, the way this World Series is blasting along, this is San Francisco’s time.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Giants Glad to Shout 'Oooh-Ree-Bay'

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- No scoreboard advisory is required. No message saying "Louder'' or "Make Noise.'' The chant is from the heart and in a way self-perpetuating. Also, to San Francisco Giants fans, historic.

Juan Uribe steps to the plate, and the cheer rolls through AT&T Park. "Oooh,'' they yell, and then after a pause, "Ree-Bay.'' Again and again. "Oooh-Ree-Bay. Oooh-Ree-Bay.''

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: A surprising offensive outburst on a magical night

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Those were the Giants? That was Cliff Lee? One thing’s for certain, that was a fifth inning, as wild and exhilarating as imaginable.

This wasn’t a game, it was a statement. It was a revelation. It was enough to make you think San Francisco’s time finally is about to arrive.



Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Cool San Francisco Warm to Giants

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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Sure we're different. The great Rudyard Kipling, he of the road to Mandalay, he who declared "a woman is only a woman but a good cigar is a smoke," stopped by the city in the 19th Century and said all San Franciscans were mad.

And that was before the creation of the Exotic Erotic Ball on Halloween.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

Glendale (Calif.) News-Press: Sanchez' perseverance paying back

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By Art Spander
Special to the News-Press

SAN FRANCISCO — He knew what he could do. But Freddy Sanchez wondered in the difficult times — when his body was slow in healing, when the fans and media were slow in acceptance — would there be a chance to do it?

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 Glendale News-Press

SF Examiner: Can Giants get out of the on-deck circle?

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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Maybe this time. Maybe this group. Maybe the Giants, the San Francisco Giants, finally win a World Series.

Maybe we stop talking about Willie Mac’s line drive to Bobby Richardson. About how an earthquake took over. About that 5-0 lead against the Anaheim Angels in the seventh inning.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company