Shane Lowry ready for PGA in an abnormal time
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — It would be better if things were normal. Shane Lowry, the Open winner, “the champion golfer of year,“ told us that.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
The PGA: No fans, but Tiger and the marine layer
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — The marine layer, a bewitching description of weather that takes yardage from a golf shot and adds extra clothing to a golfer. Brrr.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Giants must find satisfaction in small pleasures
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — So it’s the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series, right? As the networks would have it. You think that, like in 1951, the Giants are going to fall 13½ games behind before becoming a contender? No chance.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
A’s win again, but baseball under shadow of COVID-19
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
OAKLAND — The bad news was more than 2,000 miles away, yet as near as next door.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
A's-Giants: Cardboard paste-ups and broadcasts from afar
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
OAKLAND — It wasn’t as strange as you might have imagined, this exhibition game in the middle of summer with photos on cardboard in the seats instead of real, live fans.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
At the Memorial, Tiger and Jack but still no fans
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
Jack Nicklaus was on the air. Tiger Woods was just off the green. Just like forever.
Except that golf had seemed less important than what it, and virtually every sport, lacked: fans.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Dubón trying to prove he belongs in center for Giants
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — Oh yes, center field. John Fogerty sang about it: “Put me in, coach, I’m ready to play.” Willie Mays virtually owned it. Now Mauricio Dubón is trying to prove he belongs there.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
For the A’s, summer camp at the Coliseum comes loud
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
OAKLAND — So the plumbing is bad, but one thing about the Oakland Coliseum, the sound system is world-class. And can be played loudly. Very loudly.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Giants’ Belt doesn’t want to be the one not to wear a mask
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — There they were, in a stadium that had become a practice field, getting ready for a season that has become a question mark.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
The Masters seems destined to remain the Masters
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
Is the name Masters racist? Someone such as the late Lucius Bateman might be better qualified to offer an opinion. Or Lee Elder, whose travails, unlike Bateman’s, resulted in a degree of fame.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
A symbol and a virus rattle sports
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
A symbol, a noose, was found in the track garage of the only African-American NASCAR driver. A PGA Tour golfer and two world-class tennis players were stricken with COVID-19.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Harry Edwards on sports: ‘The normal will never be again’
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
He is the man to credit. Or blame. For Tommie Smith and John Carlos and their black-gloved salute. For Colin Kaepernick coming to his knees. For the willingness of African-American athletes over the past half century to let us know a system’s imperfections.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Finally, golf’s voice — Tiger — is heard on the murder
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
You’re alone in golf. So, virtually, was Tiger Woods as the game’s spokesman.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
In a pandemic world, baseball stays pragmatic
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
There’s a world out there in which a young man in Minneapolis died in police captivity, millions have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus and many thousands more have lost their lives.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Tiger, Phil, Peyton, Tom: $20 million and a ton of rain
By Art Spander
“Like throwing a little swing pass to the running back.” That was Phil Mickelson, coach Phil, giving advice to partner Tom Brady, before Brady had a little chip shot only a few people not named Phil Mickelson could hope to execute.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
In sports, there’s progress — or maybe there isn’t
By Art Spander
The NBA is set to restart, or so we’re told. Baseball’s battle for the moment is about the health of those involved, rather than the salaries. And Denny Hamlin won a NASCAR race and then pulled on a mask with his own face painted on the front.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
For ‘The Last Dance,’ good fortune and great theater
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
It’s all about timing, of course. Which sometimes is a matter of wise planning or, with “The Last Dance,” good fortune.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Baseball: So close, or maybe not close at all
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
So we’re close to baseball returning. Or maybe we’re not close at all.
Certainly the primary concern in this time of the virus is the health and safety of players, team personnel and fans, really everyone.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Van Pelt works to get words from Marshawn
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
Scott Van Pelt, an expert at asking questions, was matched up against Marshawn Lynch, an expert at what he does, which is avoiding questions.
Copyright 2020, The Maven
Balls in baskets, over fences? Both are a possibility
By Art Spander
For Maven Sports
The lusty month of May, according to the lyrics. The fifth month on the calendar. The third without sports. Or is the seventh?
Copyright 2020, The Maven