Month: January 2020

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Super Bowl LIV at Miami: Sabor Latino

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mercurynews.com photo: The San Francisco 49ers Richard Sherman (25) gets the handle on the Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in a September 23, 2018 game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City

Super Bowl LIV at Miami: Sabor Latino

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The 54th version of the championship for the NFL title, will match the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers against the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs.February 2, 2020 at Miami. This will be the first Super Bowl appearance for the 49ers since Superbowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans.

That was the only time a San Francisco team lost a Super Bowl. The 49ers won the Super Bowl in 1981 vs Cincinnati Bengals,1984 against Miami Dolphins at the Pontiac Silver Dome,Pontiac,Michigan,1988 vs Cincinnati Bengals at Miami,1989 against Denver Broncos in Louisiana and in 1994 when they defeated the San Diego Chargers in Miami.

I covered (on location) the 1981 and 1984 Super Bowls and the last time when they played and lost to the Baltimore Ravens as a reporter in San Francisco for Telemundo Network. Super Bowls are a weekly party for the host city and sometimes,with all the things happening prior to the game,the game itself becomes anti-climatic.

Among all cities in the United States with over 1 million in population, Miami is #Uno with 70 percent of Latinos. Miami’s total population is now reaching close to 3 million people. The NFL have planned this “Sabor Latino” (Latin Flavor) Super Bowl with a spectacular half-time show featuring Jennifer López (Jenny from the Bronx,NY) she became the first Latina to get paid 1 million dollars for a movie(Selena)in 1997. Shakira, is a Colombian-born superstar singer-composer whose complete name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll. Demetria(Demi)Lovato will sing the National Anthem.

Kansas City Patrick Mahomes is the fourth youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl game,the other four: Dan Marino 1985,Ben Roethlisberger 2006, David Woodley 1983 and Jared Goff of the LA Rams last Super Bowl. Chief’s Mahomes is 24 years old attended Texas Tex University and his father Pat was a pitcher for 11 years in the major leagues. Mahomes threw 50 Touchdowns in 2918 and was the NFL MVP.

For the first time ever San Francisco 49ers will face Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl.49ers quarterback Jimmy Garaffolo is going for the first time. If the 49ers win they will tie for most wins in Super Bowl history with: New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers with six(6)wins. This is the sixth time the Super Bowl takes place in Miami(stadium under different corporate names)

San Francisco defense is #1 in the Playoffs and #2 in Regular season. With a record of 4-12 the previous season,they are just the third team in NFL history that reached the Super Bowl on the next season. Coach Kyle Shanahan will make his Super Bowl debut, his dad Mike was offensive coach for the 49ers in the 1994 championship season and later led the Denver Broncos to consecutive titles in 1997-1998.

A 30 seconds commercial on FOX National TV is $5.6 million dollars.

FOX TV 6:30PM East Coast Time(3:30 PM West Coast time)

Hard Rock Stadium,Miami,capacity 64,767. Worldwide a Television audience in the hundred of millions in various languages.

Predictions: In San Francisco/Bay Area 49ers are favorites. In Kansas City the Chiefs are the favorites. While the money in Las Vegas is Kansas City as slightly the favorites but basically you can flip a coin.

My prediction? Well…Flip a coin.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda looking for another road win take on Condors tonight in Bakersfield

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sjbarracuda.com photo

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (14-20-1) earned a point in their overtime loss to the Iowa Wild (24-14-3) on Jan 18th just one positive thing to come out of the trip with the Wild.

#2 Can the Barracuda hold onto leads they have, they had an early lead in the game Saturday but the Wild took the lead and the Cuda tied it and lost in overtime 4-3

#3 Barracuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko had a great game in front of the net despite giving up four goals he faced 41 shots and stopped 37

#4 Iowa goalie Matt Robson has a point in his last five games while stopping 23 out of 26 shots against the Barracuda

#5 The Barracuda continue their road trip they’ll be in Bakersfield (16-18-4) tonight for a 6:30 pm face off

Marko Ukalovic does the San Jose Barracuda podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Hertl to represent Sharks at All Star game; Sharks shocking 3 game sweep loss on the road

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nhl.com file photo: Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks will represent the team at the All Star game in St Louis this Saturday

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The San Jose Sharks are coming off a three game loss from their last road trip into the All Star Break taking a look at the first of those three loses they dropped a tough one to the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 allowing three goals in the third period.

#2 In the Sharks second loss on the road they were completely manhandled by the Colorado Avalanche in a 4-0 shutout it was a game where they just couldn’t get any offense going

#3 In the third and last game of the trip the Sharks couldn’t but watch the Vancouver Canucks score on them and there was that terrible third period where they surrendered three goals.

#4 The Sharks hope to get back on their winning ways again as they face off against Anaheim at SAP Center on Monday night.

#5 Talk about Sharks All Star representative Tomas Hertl who will be appearing in St Louis this season 46 games, 15 goals, 20 assists.

Join Len for all the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Charlie O: Kings can’t stand the Heat on five game losing streak

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msn.com photo: msn.com photo: Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) attempts a 3-pointer over Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn, left, and forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, in Miami.

On the Kings podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The Sacramento Kings lost another one this time by five points 118-113 in Miami it was the overtime stanza that dropped the Kings as the Heat outscored them 13-8

#2 The Kings only won in the first frame the first quarter 24-21 but dropped the rest of game and showed flashes forcing overtime

#3 The Kings Nemanja Bjelica led with 22 points he was one of the main reasons why Sacramento stayed in this one.

#4 For the Heat Kendrick Nunn kept things going with a team leading 25 the highest scorer of the contest.

#5 It’s off to Little Cesar’s Arena in Detroit, the Kings will face the Detroit Pistons (16-28) Wednesday night. The Pistons have been playing .500 ball winning four of their last eight.

Charlie O hosts the Sacramento Kings podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Barbara Mason: 49ers-Chiefs expected to be a toss up; Osaka favored to win Australian Open; plus more

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mercurynews.com photo: Terry Bradshaw, left, concludes the NFC Championship trophy presentation as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10), George Kittle (85), Raheem Mostert (31), Richard Sherman (25) an head coach Kyle Shanahan along with their family members celebrate their NFC Championship after defeating the Green Bay Packers 37-20 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers dominated the Green Bay Packers in November and they did it again on Sunday with a 37-20 win

#2 The Kansas City Chiefs can be tough customers and with quarterback Pat Mahomes you can’t underestimate him on any given Sunday

#3 The Super Bowl draw millions and this one will be no different and this game is expected to be a toss up between the 49ers and Chiefs

#4 In the Australian Open on Sunday and won again on Tuesday, defending champion Naomi Osaka went 6-2, 6-4, to go onto defeat Marie Bouzkova on day one. Osaka faced Saisai Zheng in the second round.

#5 The Cal Bears and the Stanford Cardinal men’s teams tip off on Sunday at Haas Pavilion for Pac 12 basketball. The Bears are coming off two tough loses to USC and UCLA meanwhile the Cardinal lost to USC and beat UCLA

Barbara Mason hosts Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Congress will be asking detailed questions as to how signs got stolen

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wkyt.com photo: The Houston Astros Jose Altuve waits his turn at bat could be called as a witness to whether he was wearing a wire or electronic device that help him indicate which pitch was coming next during the 2017 season.

Amaury does the News and Commentary podcast each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1 There is little doubt that Congress will call witnesses and former players and current players and coaches into the sign stealing scandal to come to testify

#2 Amongst the center of the probe will be former Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch and former general manager Jeff Luhnow and current Astro Jose Altuve

#3 In the congressional inquiry congressmen will be expected to turn this scandal upside down while they get to the bottom of what exactly happened?

#4 Also in the probe look for former New York Mets manager Carlos Beltran and former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora to be asked what role they played while with Houston Astros

#5 Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers said he had just about enough when he reported that signs were being stolen with high technology when he played with the Astros and guilt more than anything played a role into his coming forward.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Super Bowl LIV/San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: How the Chiefs Pat Mahomes stacks up against the 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo in Super Bowl LIV

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image from operationssports.com

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The 49ers absolutely dominated the Green Bay Packers in the first half on Sunday’s NFC Championship game taking a 27-0 at half time was that an indication of things to come

#2 There is so much talk about the Kansas City Chiefs Pat Mahomes and the success he’s had in getting the Chiefs to the Super Bowl how do you see the Chiefs matching up against the 49ers and quarterback Jimmy Garopplo in Miami on Sun Feb 2

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Kings lost their fifth consecutive game in Miami 118-113

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By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings lost their fifth consecutive game on Monday afternoon in Miami. The Kings took the Heat to overtime but lost 118-113.

The optimist will say the Kings came close to handing the Heat just their second home loss of the season. The proper response at this point of the season is: “Close on counts in hand grenades and horseshoes!”

The situation is going supercritical

The Kings record has fallen to 15-28 for the season. They are now 5.0 games out of eighth place which is the final playoff spot. With the season more than half over, time is slipping away at a rapid rate.

As head coach Luke Walton said over a week ago, “No one is coming to save us.” Sacramento is not going to be able to make one blockbuster trade that is going to change their entire direction for the remainder of the season. They just do not have the pieces in place to make such a deal.

FiveThirtyEight.com gives the Kings just a 2% chance of making the NBA Playoffs. They are projecting Sacramento to finish with a record of 32-50 which certainly seems to be within the realm of reason. That would also put the Kings well short of being a playoff team … again.

The Kings battled hard in this game

After being blown out in Utah to start this road trip, the Kings regrouped to put up a fight against the very talented Miami Heat. In fact, the Kings held a 58-56 lead at the half. The Kings continued to battle the Heat and the game finished in a tie in the regulation 48 minutes after Bam Adebayo tied the game with a layup with less than a second left in the game.

Miami went on a 7-0 run to finish overtime to guarantee the win over the Kings. Miami has lost just one game this season at home and after the game on Monday, the Kings now know why.

Top performers

Kings

  • Nemanja Bjelica scored 22 points and pulled down six rebounds
  • Buddy Hield put up 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds and added seven assists
  • De’Aaron Fox scored 14 points and dished out eight assists
  • Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 14 points
  • Harrison Barnes scored 11 points and hauled in five rebounds

Miami

  • Kendrick Nunn scored 25 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists
  • James Johnson added 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks
  • Goran Dragic put up 18 points plus four assists
  • Bam Adebayo finished with 16 points, 11 points and five assists

 

 

Up next

The Kings will travel on to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday.

The Heat will host the Wizards on Wednesday night.

 

Warriors lose a thriller in overtime to Portland 129-124

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azcentral.com photo: msn.com photo: Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard drives to the hoop against the Golden State Warriors.

By Jerry Feitelberg

It was a meeting of two banged-up teams Monday night at the Mod Center in Portland, Oregon. The Golden State Warriors suited up eight players for the game. Draymond Green was out with a sprained finger.

Glenn Robinson has a sore ankle and was not available. Kevon Looney is still on the injured list. Portland had nine players available. C.J. McCollum was held out of action Monday night. He may return on Wednesday. There is no timetable for Zach Collins or Jusef Nurcic to return.

The Warriors beat the Blazers the last time the teams met. The Blazers couldn’t believe what happened to them, and they wanted to get the win. Without McCollum, the scoring load fell to the Blazers’ other All-Star guard, Damian Lillard. Lillard, who is from Oakland, had a sensational game.

The young man from Oakland put a career-high and season-high sixty-one points on the board. He made a career-high 11 threes and led his team to a 129-124 overtime win over the Warriors.

The game was a barn-burner from start to finish. The most significant lead that Portland had all night was six points. The Warriors led by 11 in the second quarter 44-33. Lillard started making threes, and the W’s lead disappeared.

The Blazers won the first period 27-23. D’Angelo Russell was one-for nine from the floor early in the game. Alec Burks and Damion Lee paced the Warrior offense in the quarter. The Warriors started the second quarter on a 12-0 run to lead 35-27 the Warriors, behind D’Angelo Russell’s 13-point performance, finished the first half with a 4-point advantage 57-53.

Russell led the team in scoring in the first half with 15. Burks had 11. Willie Cauley-Stein and Marquese Chriss each had eight. Damian Lillard led Portland with 21. He made two threes in the half.

The third quarter was wild and wooly. The Warriors won the quarter 35-34. Eric Paschall, D’Angelo Russell, Alec Burks, and Jordan Poole all contributed helping the Warriors end the third period leading 92-87. The Blazers’ Lillard put on a show as he had 21 points in the third quarter to keep Portland close to the lead.

The Warriors maintained the lead for a while in the fourth quarter. Russell hit a three to make the score 100-95. Portland clawed their way back and regained the lead for the first time since the first quarter when Lillard knocked down a three to put Portland ahead 103-102.

The Blazers increased the lead to 105-102. It was at this point that the Warriors went on a 7-0 run to lead 109-105. Portland fought back and led 110-109. The Warriors made the next two baskets to lead 113-110. Lillard made his tenth three of the night to tie the game at 113 and send it to overtime.

The Warriors, behind Alec Burks, Eric Paschall, and Willie Cauley-Stein scored the first six points of the overtime period to lead 119-113. The Warriors could not stop Lillard. He continued to find ways to score, and his efforts led the Blazers to the lead 123-121.

Alec Burks hit a three, and the W’s regained the advantage 124-123.  The Warriors would not score again. Portland made a two-point shot to go-ahead 125-124. Burks then missed a three. Portland’s big center, Hassan Whiteside, was fouled, making the rebound.

Whiteside made the free throws to put the Blazers in the driver’s seat 127-124. The Warriors with 8.5 seconds to play, and they needed to make a three-point shot. The Warriors found Jordan Poole in the corner. His three-point shot missed the mark. Damian Lillard was then fouled. Lillard made both free throws to put the icing on the cake. Portland wins 129-124.

Game Notes and Stats- The star of the night was Damian Lillard. Lillard set a career-high with 61 points. He tallied 60 earlier this season. He also had a career-high 11 threes. He also set an NBA record for points scored on Martin Luther King Day.

The Warriors played well but not well enough. The young Warriors have played tough competitive games, and they should be much better when they get their star players back. The Warriors youngsters are getting valuable playing time. They are learning how to compete in the NBA. It has been a challenging year, to say the least, for the Warriors. Let’s take a look at the bright side of Monday’s night loss.

Alec Burks led Golden State with 33 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Burks made two three-point shots. D’Angelo Russell’s numbers were 27 points, eight boards, nine assists, and five 3s. Eric Paschall had a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Marquese Chriss had 14, Willie Cauley-Stein 12, and Jordan Poole nine.

Damian Lillard finished with 61 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and he connected on 11 threes. Hassan Whiteside, who always plays well against Golden State, had 17 points, 21 rebounds, and he blocked six shots. Carmelo Anthony had 14, Anfernee Simons, 15, and Gary Trent, Jr. 11.

The Blazers will announce on Tuesday that they have traded Kent Bazemore and Anthony Tolliver to the Sacramento Kings for Trevor Ariza, Caleb Swangian, and Wenyen Gabriel.

With the loss, The Warriors drop to 10-35. The Blazers improved to 19-26.

The Warriors return home to face the Utah Jazz Wednesday night at the Chase Center. The game will start at 7 pm.

 

Super Bowl Bound; Niners Win NFC Championship 37-20

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photo from msn.com: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) and San Francisco 49ers media relations director Bob Lange (left) take off down the field at Levis Stadium following the 49ers victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday

By Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA–The matchup is set, it will be the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers who will battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIV on February 2nd in Miami. The Niners advance to their seventh Super Bowl in franchise history, thanks to a 37-20 drubbing of the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game.

Raheem Mostert gashed the Green Bay Packers in one of the most dominant rushing attacks in NFL postseason history. Finishing with 220 yards on 29 carries and four touchdowns, Mostert became the first player in NFL history to rush for 200+ yards and four scores in a playoff game. He finished with the second-most rushing yards in a playoff game, falling 28 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s record.

It was San Francisco’s most dominating rushing performance in franchise history. Not only did he surpass Colin Kaepernick’s memorable 181-yard game in Green Bay, but he also set the single-game franchise record, besting Frank Gore’s 212-yard game versus the Seahawks in 2006.

After quickly going three and out to open the game, San Francisco’s offense found it’s footing in the second drive and never looked back. Mostert initiated the scoring on a beautifully dialed up third and eight drawn play from the 36-yard line. Mostert found open space and was off to his first of three first-half touchdowns in the longest rush of his night.

Mostert was explosive no matter which direction he ran. He carried it nine times off the left tackle for 50 yards and two touchdowns, six times through the left-a gap for 42 yards and a score, five times through the right a-gap for 39 yards and a score, and off the right tackle nine times for 89 yards.

“Whether it’s special teams or offense, the way he hits the hole, he gets so vertical and fast. I think guys defense underestimate his speed. You can just see it, he’ll hit a hole and the guy will take what he thinks is a good angle. Next thing you know, he’s by him doesn’t even touch him. His 0 to 60 is literally in two steps and it’s so special with our offense, the way we run outside zone, inside zone, he can make one cut and get vertical. That’s all we need.” Said George Kittle.

The Niners rushing attack was so potent, it made Jimmy Garoppolo’s day incredibly easy. Garoppolo completed six of eight passing attempts for 77 yards, becoming just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win a conference championship while attempting eight passes or fewer. He targeted Deebo Samuel three times for two completions and 46 yards. Kittle caught his only target for 19 yards.

Sunday’s Championship matchup felt like a replay of San Francisco’s week 12 commanding 37-8 victory. The Niners took control very early, racing out to a 27-0 halftime lead before Aaron Rodgers did his best to battle back in the second half, only to come up short.

Rodgers completed 31 of his 39 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions and felt the 49ers’ potent pass rush most of the contest, looking uncomfortable for most of the game. San Francisco forced three turnovers from Rodgers with Richard Sherman and Emmanuel Moseley getting the interceptions, while K’Waun Williams blitzed off the slot for a strip-sack, setting up San Francisco’s second of three field goals.

The Niners now will be competing for their first Super Bowl since 1995, going up against the Chiefs, who will be making their first appearance in 50 years. “It’s amazing. It means a lot to us, especially going through all of the adversity that we went through over the past couple of years. To be going to the Super Bowl and have the chance to be top of the league is amazing,” said Arik Armstead.

Dee Ford is excited to be going up against his former team, “it is going to be a great opportunity, it’s going to be like playing my brothers back to training camp days. It’s going to be fun.”