It was a beautiful Opening Day at AT&T Park. The Giants and their fans celebrated their victorious 2012 season and the echoes of the 2010 championship. A group of players raised the new championship flag. One at a time, as each basked in extended cheering, coaches and players... Read More
Roberto Kelly is the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants. He’s held the job for the past six years, which includes, to the delight of Giants fans, two world championships. Kelly had a way-above-average, 14-year career as a major leaguer, playing for the Yankees, R... Read More
I recently asked a serious Giants fan, “Are you psyched about the World Baseball Classic coming to San Francisco?” The question generated a blank expression. I continued, “It is the World Cup of baseball. They are playing the finals here, at AT&T Park, in ... Read More
Here are some World Series poems from my new book of baseball poetry, Orange Waves of Giants, which is available at Books, Inc. on Chestnut Street. Go Giants! The Panda’s Game 1 Homers Speak No. 1: Verlander’s neck snaps looking at me! ... Read More
Hockey is the least telegenic of team sports. The puck is tiny. It gets lost to the TV viewer along the boards. Watched live, the flow of players skating around the rink is beautiful to behold. Wayne Gretzky was an amazing skater, whether controlling the puck or away from it. But... Read More
You didn’t have a chance, really,” was the way my college baseball coach told me I was cut from the team. That night, the other cut players and I had a huge, sad, boozy party. Up to that point, I hadn’t envisioned doing anything other than playing first base for a p... Read More
You say no one cares about baseball cards. You say they’ve lost their charm. You say you’re not even supposed to hold the cards in your hand; you’re supposed to send your valuable cards to a company in Irvine, where for about $10 each they will encapsulate your ... Read More
Want to watch professional baseball on a warm summer evening? Would you like $10 seats and free parking? Want to match the driving time that it takes to go from the Marina Green to AT&T Park? If so, there’s a new quasi-local team: the San Rafael Pacifics. They play in ... Read More
Craigslist and Stubhub did not exist back on Oct. 10, 1988, the day I showed up at Shea Stadium in Queens with extra tickets to the day’s Mets vs. Dodgers playoff game. It’s a long story best accompanied by cheap drinks, but the previous night’s game had been ra... Read More
It’s Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins, $16 This book is over 10 years old, but still riveting and very well written (by Jenkins). It’ll bring tears to your eyes and doubt to your mind as you wonder if the Armstrong doping allegations of the 2000... Read More