Month: July 2019

McBride falls short in WNBA’s 3-point contest

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cover photo from sfgate.com Connecticut Sun’s Shekinna Stricklen reacts after winning the 3-point contest during the WNBA All-Star festivities Friday, July 26, 2019, in Las Vegas

galley photos: Shawn McCullough Sports Radio  Service

20190726 - Kayla McBride - 3 Point 01
Las Vegas Aces G-F Kayla McBride during the WNBA 3-point contest at the 2019 All-Star weekend (Photo credit: Shawn McCullough/Sports Radio Service)

By Shawn McCullough

Aces G-F Kayla McBride got a second chance to improve on her second place performance in last year’s WNBA 3-point contest.   Unfortunately, Connecticut Sun’s G-F Shekinna Stricklen had something to say about that.

Stricklen beat McBride in the final round by one point, 23-22, to win the 3-point contest and $10,000 for her charity Room 29:11.

20190726 - Shekinna Stricklen - 3 Point 01
Connecticut Sun’s G-F Shekinna Stricklen, winner of the 2019 WNBA 3-point contest (Photo credit: Shawn McCullough/Sports Radio Service)

McBride led all shooters in the first round, also with 22 points, to advance to the finals against Stricklen, who scored 21 points.

McBride finished second also in last year’s 3-point contest in Minnesota to Chicago Sky’s G Allie Quigley.

First Round

 

  • Kayla McBride (Las Vegas) – 22
  • Shekinna Stricklen (Connecticut) – 21
  • Allie Quigley (Chicago) – 19
  • Kia Nurse (New York) – 14
  • Erica Wheeler (Indiana) – 12
  • Chelsea Gray (Los Angeles) – 8


Final

  • Shekinna Stricklen (Connecticut) – 23
  • Kayla McBride (Las Vegas) – 22

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Team chemistry might be reason for Bumgarner not being dealt yet

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On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Sources say that it’s unlikely that the Giants will make a deal to trade Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Would this be due to Bumgarner’s right to wave any trade or Farhan Zaidi, the Giants general manager, just couldn’t get a better offer to make the trade?

#2 Michael talks about what makes Bumgarner so valuable to the team.

#3 If Bumgarner doesn’t get dealt, does the team chemistry of having Bumgarner around play a part in that reason? The players expressed how much Bum means to the team.

#4 The deadline is not here yet. Can you see Giants reliever Will Smith getting dealt before July 31st? He’s also been so key for saving ball games for the club this season.

#5 The Giants had the day off on Thursday and open a three-game series with the Padres at Petco Park on Friday night for the Giants. They’ll be sending Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 4.08 ERA) vs. the Padres starter Joey Luchessi (7-5, 4.27 ERA).

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: How much protection will Carr get from the O line this season?

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On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon:

#1 How crucial is the protection for Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and will the Raiders get him the protection he needs for the upcoming season?

#2 Carr got sacked 51 times in the 2018 season, 8.4 percent of the time when he was dropping back for a pass

#3 Carr had two rookie tackles and a walking wounded line protecting him last season.

#4 This offseason, the Raiders are making in roads to try and get Carr some protection after they signed a $66 million deal with Trent Brown for four years, $36.2 million of that contract is guaranteed.

#5 This will be the final season for the Raiders being in Oakland, how sentimental will the fans be? There certainly are a lot of memories that will be left behind once the Raiders finish up the season.

Listen to the Raiders podcasts with J Hawkes each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Look for more Kittle heroics; Scouts and coaching at odds: plus more

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Photo credit: @brgridiron

On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 88 receptions, 1377 yards, and five touchdowns in 2018, Joe tells us about tight end George Kittle and his fantastic season last year.

#2 Looking at Kittle and what he’s done and what he’s able to do, what will be expected of him for 2019?

#3 Joe talks about the current rift that going on between head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, the coaching staff vs. the scouts. The 49ers scouts feel like they been marginalized and they have said their work has not been appreciated lending to the Shanahan-Lynch combination for the last season to compile a 10-22 record.

#4 One of the contrasts that the scouts have with the 49ers coaching staff is just using one of the draft choices when they selected Solomon Thomas a defensive lineman. The scouts felt Thomas who was a number five pick and that the scouts felt there was never any serious consideration about taking a quarterback.

#5 Preseason just is around the corner as the 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, August 10th. What are some of the things that Shanahan looks forward to in this preseason opener?

Catch Joe Fridays for all the 49ers podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

White-hot Giants could go for it, be buyers at the deadline

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By Jeremy Harness

Two weeks ago, the Giants were sure-fire sellers at the trade deadline, as they were in no position co contend and general manager Farhan Zaidi already saying that he plans to rebuild sooner or later.

Now, it appears that the Giants could very well put those rebuilding plans on hold for now, as they have suddenly found themselves in the thick of the National League’s wild-card race following a 17-4 spurt to start the second half of the season.

Zaidi now has a decision to make, and the team’s weekend series against the San Diego Padres will be a very important one, a series that starts Friday night at Petco Park.

Despite the changed state of the team, the Giants could still make the trades that have been widely discussed for most of this season, notable starter Madison Bumgarner and closer Will Smith, and get the rebuilding process off the ground.

On the other hand, they could decide to capitalize on their suddenly-winning ways and add to the roster, and therefore, become buyers at the deadline, which is this Wednesday, if they truly believe that it can make a run in the postseason and make manager Bruce Bochy’s last season a memorable one.

But it appears the moment of truth starts Friday night, when Jeff Samardzija (7-8, 4.08 ERA) takes the hill for the Giants opposite San Diego’s Joey Lucchesi (7-5, 4.27 ERA).

Meanwhile, Bumgarner (5-7, 3.66 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball against Padres righty Chris Paddack (6-5, 2.84 ERA). He has given up nine hits combined in his last six outings, and he has appeared to have flipped the switch and reminded people of the form that saw him carry the Giants to the 2014 World Series crown.

Rangers rout the A’s 11-3

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By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s returned home Thursday to start a four-game series against their division rival Texas Rangers. The A’s lost four out of seven on the road trip and were hoping to reverse their fortunes at the expense of the Rangers. The A’s started lefty Brett Anderson, and Texas countered with righty Ariel Jurado. The A’s started well as they scored three runs in the first inning and it looked as if they were on their way to a victory. The Rangers’ Jurado composed himself after the dismal start and allowed the A’s just one hit in the next six innings. Brett Anderson pitched well for four innings. He met his Waterloo in the fifth when the Rangers scored five times and took the lead for good. The Rangers scored five more in the sixth and one in the seventh to win 11-3.

The A’s put three on the board in the bottom of the first. A’s leadoff hitter Marcus Semien started the rally with a double to left-center. Matt Chapman worked Rangers’ starter Ariel Jurado for a walk to put men on at second and first with no out. Matt Olson flew out to deep center. Semien tagged and went to third. Canha walked to load the bases. Ramon Laureano followed with a single to drive in Semien and Chapman. Canha went to third. A’s DH Khris Davis drove in Canha with a sac fly to right. The A’s owned an early 3-0 lead.

The Rangers plated five runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead 5-3. Three consecutive singles produced the Rangers first run of the game. Anderson retired Tim Fedorowicz for the first out. The next hitter Shin-Soo Choo singled to load the bases. Rangers’ left fielder Danna Santa doubled down the right-field line to drive in Cabrera and DeShields to tie the game. Choo stopped at third. Elvis Andrus hit a sac fly to right to drive in Choo with the fourth run of the inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin removed Anderson from the game and brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch. Petit gave up a single to former San Francisco Giant, Hunter Pence. Santana scored, and the Rangers lead 5-3 midway through the fifth.

The Rangers blew the game open in the top of the sixth. The big blow was Danny Santana’s first career grand slam. The Rangers scored a run earlier in the inning when A’s reliever Lou Trivino hit Logan Forsythe to start the inning, Trivino walked Cabrera. DeShields laid down a bunt for a hit to load the bases with no out. Trivino retired Fedorowicz for the first out. Lefty Wei-Chung Wang was now pitching for Oakland. Choo singled to drive in Forsythe and Santana followed with his big blast. Texas leads 10-3 after six.

The Rangers added a run in the seventh to end the scoring for the night.

Game Notes: With the win, the Texas Rangers improve to 52-51. The A’s drop to 58-46. Oakland remains in second place in the AL West. The A’s would be the number 2 Wild Card if the playoffs were to start today. They trail the Cleveland Indians by 2 1/2 games for the top Wild Card spot. The A’s are a 1/2 game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays and one game ahead of the Red Sox in the race for the second Wild Card.

The Rangers’ Ariel Jurado was the winning pitcher. He is 6-6 for the season Brett Anderson went 4 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits and five runs. Anderson’s record drops to 9-6.

A’s relievers Lou Trivino, and Wei-Chung Wang had rough outings Thursday night. Trivino went 1/3 of an inning. He hit a batter, then walked a hitter, and gave up a single before being lifted from the game. His line was one hit and three runs. Wang went 1 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and three runs. He threw the pitch to Danny Santana that left the park for Santana’s first career grand slam. Santana finished the night with six RBIs.

The Rangers announced that their slugging first baseman Joey Gallo will be out for at least four weeks. Gallo will be having surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

Time of game was two hours and 45 minutes. 11,854 fans watched the A’s go down to defeat.

Up Next: The A’s will have to regroup Friday night. Players have to have short memories and remind themselves that each game is a new portrait. The A’s will send Daniel Mengden to the hill. Mengden is 5-1 for the year. He will be opposed by Lance Lynn. Lynn has a record of 12-6.

San Jose State QB Josh Love named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State University quarterback Josh Love is one of 93 players from the NCAA’s FBS named to the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.

The Wuerffel Trophy is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wurffel of the University of Florida and is awarded to a college football player that “best combines exemplary community service with athletics and academic achievement.”

The 2019 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented on February 14, 2020, at the city’s 51st annual All Sports Association Awards banquet. Semifinalists will be announced on November 5 and the finalists will be named on November 18. The winner will be announced on December 10 in conjunction with the National Football Foundation’s activities that week in New York City.

Love, a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif., enters the season as San Jose State’s number one quarterback. The three-time Academic All-Mountain West award winner had his best season in 2018 completing 56.0 percent of his passes for 1,963 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Among his 2019 summer community service activities, Love and seven teammates visited the Northern California Ronald McDonald House near Stanford University and spent a mid-July afternoon with the siblings of patients receiving care at nearby Lucille Packard Hospital. In June, the entire Spartan team participated in the YWCA Silicon Valley’s annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes event to raise awareness against domestic abuse and all forms of violence directed to women. Both activities were part of the San Jose State football team’s Beyond Football initiative.

Muguruza forced to withdraw from Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic 2019

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza has been forced to withdraw from the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic due to a right leg injury.

“I am so disappointed to have to pull out of San Jose,” said Muguruza. “Unfortunately my leg is not ready to compete and I am doing everything I can to be back on court and healthy. I am sorry to have to miss San Jose and wish the tournament a great week.”

“It is certainly disappointing that Garbiñe has had to withdraw from the event, but unfortunately injuries are a part of sports and a player’s health is always the top priority,” said tournament director Vickie Gunnarsson. “Hopefully she will be able to recover quickly and get back on the court soon.”

The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is entering its second year at San José State University. The tournament is a weeklong WTA Premier event and highlights the best the region has to offer.

The tournament will showcase a complete entertainment experience including robust culinary options, an expanded food truck program, interactive fan exhibitions, premier hospitality options, daily autograph signings, and of course, incredible tennis action.

Fans visiting this year’s tournament will also see many improvements from last year, including shading on the west side of the stadium, shaded seating in the food court, and more seating overall around the site shaded with umbrellas. The tournament will also add artificial turf on the site to cover much of the exposed asphalt.

On the court, the 2019 player field is impressive including seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova.

Other featured players coming to San José include defending champion Mihaela Buzarnescu, 2018 finalist Maria Sakkari, 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, World No. 7 and Wimbledon semifinalist Elina Svitolina, World No. 10 Aryna Sabalenka, Belgian star Elise Mertens, Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins, two-time finalist CoCo Vandeweghe and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

In addition to the impressive list of WTA players set to compete in San José, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic will be hosting four former ATP stars as part of the Invesco Series on Saturday, August 3 following the evening women’s semifinal match.

The Invesco Series is a legends tour event that features three one-set matches consisting of two semifinals and one final. The line-up for the San José event is one of the best of the legend’s season and includes 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick, 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, 10-time ATP tour winner James Blake and 11-time tour singles champion Mark Philippoussis.

Now entering its 49th year, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is a weeklong WTA Premier event bringing the worlds of tennis and technology together in a festival of sports and entertainment. Highlighting the best the region has to offer, the tournament showcases locally sourced cuisine, fine wine and cheese selections, interactive fan exhibitions, premier hospitality options, and of course, incredible tennis action.

Featuring a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw the tournament boasts $876,183 in prize money and serves as the opening women’s event of the US Open Series.

With several different ticket options available, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic has something for everyone. To purchase tickets go to www.MubadalaSVC.com or call 1-866-982-8497.

ABOUT THE MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC
The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first women’s stop of the US Open Series. Owned and operated by IMG, the WTA Premier event features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw with total prize money of $876,183.

ABOUT MUBADALA
Mubadala Investment Company actively manages a worldwide portfolio supporting the vision of a globally integrated and diversified economy, through sustainable returns to its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi. In March 2018, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) joined the Group. Mubadala’s US $225 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, defense services, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings. Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to ethics and world-class standards. For more information about Mubadala, please visit: www.mubadala.com.

ABOUT THE US OPEN SERIES
Now in its 16th season, the world’s best players on the WTA and ATP Tour are coming together for the US Open Series. Linking seven summer WTA and ATP Tour tournaments to the US Open, the US Open Series serves as a true “regular season” of hard court tennis. Featuring a cohesive schedule, the Series centralizes the way tennis is viewed in North America, across multiple television and digital platforms. Fans will see today’s top champions go head-to-head with tomorrow’s emerging stars, as storylines develop throughout the summer season. Each tournament also engages its local community with a variety of outreach initiatives, including grass-roots youth tennis clinics and activities.

ABOUT IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.

ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY
The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, San José State provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study — offered through its eight colleges. With more than 33,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, San José State University continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce. The university is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its more than 260,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Raiders’ Gruden expects Carr to lead team in offense; Jimmy G has a brand new knee, looking good in drills; plus more

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Photo credit: @NBCSRaiders

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 What are the expectations of Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden for quarterback Derek Carr and will Carr get the protection he needs?

#2 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo says that it was a tough process to rehab from the ACL injury he had last season, but says he ready and he’s agile and mobile.

#3 You can’t win them all. The SF Giants took on the NL Central first place Chicago Cubs and lost two out of three. The Cubs are one of baseball’s toughest clubs in the majors.

#4 The A’s are a wild card team, but for them to play catch up to the Houston Astros is a reach. The A’s lost two out of three to the Astros, including an 11-1 laugher to open the series on Thursday.

#5 Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that Andre Iguodala’s move to the Memphis Grizzlies was like a punch in the gut and Iguodala’s absence will no doubt impact the Warriors as he was considered one of the best presences on the club.

Tony Renteria does the Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com