Category Archives: Commentary

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It’s just a game, so why are you trying to hurt each other?

This is what I don’t understand. Why do people take sports so seriously? How come it leads to something like this?

I don’t know if the people involved were thugs or anything, but there has to be a reason why someone felt it was necessary to pull a knife and hurt somebody. I know emotions are running high, but is it ever necessary to go to a football game with a knife with the potential intent on using it?

Sports is something we’re all supposed to enjoy and it should be a safe place for people. But with arguments and all that loud banter, sometimes people don’t know their limits. Sadly, stupid things like this happen. Can we put an end to this madness?

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One story that can’t be ignored in the Super Bowl hype: The Alex Smith factor

Colin Kaepernick’s success came in part by Alex Smith’s willingness to mentor him.

Yes, I criticized Alex Smith for costing himself the starting job due to the concussion. But it was what happened afterward that made me appreciate his attitude towards the whole thing.

Instead of being bitter about not being the star quarterback of the team heading to the Super Bowl, Smith told Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports that he’s happy for all that’s happened.

“I’m so happy, man,” Alex Smith said afterward as he dressed alone at his locker. “This is so surreal. It’s such a crazy time, such a crazy moment. Obviously, it’s been a unique year, and it would be great to be in there. But I couldn’t be happier. This is a great group of guys, and they’re all Super Bowl bound. I’m just so happy for all of them.”

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Michael Crabtree’s sexual assault case and what to make out of it

If the allegations are true, this guy is in trouble.

If you haven’t heard the news, Michael Crabtree is being questioned on a case of sexual assault. He’s complied with everyone and is with the team in Atlanta right now.

I don’t know what to make of this. The woman reportedly went to the police a few days after the incident. That sounds fishy. But at the same time, these kinds of sexual assaults are so common in this day and age with athletes that I will never rule out anything.

It’s a surprise to me though because in my years covering Crabtree, he has never come off as a guy that would do such a thing. His shy demeanor never came off to me as a very aggressive guy that would hurt a woman.

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Happy New Year/Calendar Changing Day! My hopes in sports for 2013

Get your new calendars ready.

HAPPY CALENDAR CHANGING DAY!

I really don’t care for this day but I still like the idea of new hope. And with a new year, that means newer expectations. And so for this upcoming year, I have a lot of hopes for some times I care a lot about. Here are my hopes for the upcoming year.

  • 49ers win the Super Bowl: After being so close last year, they better win it this year. They have gone too far this year not to get it done. This offseason will feature major changes and the 49ers don’t want to squander this opportunity.
  • NHL returns: Optimistic me tells me it will happen, but I don’t know if it will. Regardless, give us hockey back.
  • A’s win West again, make it to World Series: I don’t know if they will win it all, but at least repeat as division champs and make a run in the playoffs. That’s my hope.
  • Indians don’t finish in last place: New times for Terry Francona. Let’s see how he does.
  • Warriors have better record than the Lakers: So far so good. Keep at it and make that playoff run.
  • Heat or Lakers don’t win NBA title: That’s all.

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How much have the 49ers changed over the past year?

Free advertising for Jordan brand.

I remember how I felt about the 49ers last year after they wrapped up the regular season. It was a lot of optimism for a team that nobody saw coming this far. I had felt that the team was good but not this good. They won games with a lot of grit and passion. More importantly, head coach Jim Harbaugh turned a team into the right direction. This was something special for the community and it got the entire Bay Area buzzing about the 49ers again.

But everything that season was icing on the cake. Because the expectations were exceeded beyond belief, whatever happened in the playoffs just seemed like extra. The fact that the 49ers had a thriller of a game against the Saints only added to the magical season that was. But after the loss to the Giants, the 49ers fans got a chance to take a step back and look at the big picture.

What that big picture became was a foundation for things to come. The 49ers knew how good they can be. Now expectations were to follow them in 2012.

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Another drunk driving incident and I wonder if we’re part of the blame

Jerry Brown 1987-2012

Yesterday’s tragedy involving Josh Brent and Jerry Brown was a wake up call to an already struggling NFL family. With players being caught with DUIs, possession of drugs and so many other problems, the NFL is being tarnished with players that just don’t know how to conduct themselves in public.

There was this piece written by Mike Freeman that summed up my thoughts on this perfectly.

The point that Freeman made that was very clear was that the players have been given so many opportunities to prevent these incidents yet they ignore it.

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Are we too oversensitive with taunting in sports?

Taunting is something that has been around sports for a very long time and all the professional leagues are trying to find ways to prevent it from being a frequent thing. The NFL has 15-yard penalties for it and the NBA has technical fouls. Last night’s taunt from Jeff Green after his dunk was something that I think should have been OK.

As you can see from the video, Green had a thunderous dunk on Al Jefferson. As Green went back on defense, he stared at Jefferson very briefly and that in the officials mind was worth a technical foul.

I’m not sure this is the kind of taunting that warrants a technical. It’s not like Green pointed at Jefferson like Shawn Kemp, or even Dikembe Mutombo’s finger wag. Heck, it wasn’t even Scottie Pippen level.

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Is there a solution to prevent ties in the NFL?

Let me say a few things first about this game that ended in a tie.

  • The 49ers played terribly and did not deserve to win.
  • The Rams played terribly and did not deserve to win.
  • I find ties funny and they intrigue me, but they should be something that the NFL has to get rid of soon.

With that said, I don’t know if there is a solution. Double overtime would run the safety of the players at risk. Also, adopting the college style isn’t a solution either. The NFL isn’t a gimmick league where giving an offense free yardage is a way to determine the ending to a game.

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Election day, voting and is the system really a good one?

Make it count.

Today is election day and I hope that you are voting today (or have already sent in your absentee ballots).

One thing I do caution about people who are eligible to vote is that they make themselves aware of what they are voting for. It takes five minutes to get caught up on all the propositions and it is worth it.

I remember when I first registered to vote. I had just arrived at San Jose State and one of the tables out on campus had people asking people to register. I had just turned 18 that summer and this was one of the things that I had looked forward to do.

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What does the re-signing of Bartolo Colon mean for the A’s?

Bartolo Colon is back.

So the A’s have brought back Bartolo Colon on a one-year deal which is reported for $3 million with a potential to become $5 million if incentives are met. This comes on the heels of a 50-game suspension that Colon is still serving for testosterone. Colon still has five more games left on the suspension and bringing him back doesn’t make sense with the team’s young core of starting pitchers.

But in a way, it might make the most sense.

Financially, $3 million isn’t too much for the A’s and there is no guarantee Colon makes the roster. Remember that he pitched with PEDs in his system. If he doesn’t perform well in Spring Training, the A’s would be convinced that Colon doesn’t have it anymore and could just cut ties with him.

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