New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers meets with the press after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sun Dec 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville (AP News photo)
On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:
#1 The Las Vegas Raiders could have the number one draft pick if they just had mailed it in on Sunday but instead decided to fight it out and beat the visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday winning by five 19-14.
#2 New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers laughed while being interviewed on the Pat McAfee show saying that Jets it would be funny if he was released by the owner Woody Johnson’s son. Rogers was making fun of the way the organization has been run “Being released would be a first; being released by a teenager, that would also be a first,” said Rogers.
#3 The very next day after the Arizona Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs after they occupied first place in the NFC West just a month ago the Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said he accepts for most of the blame for the Cards fall “I’m not satisfied with the performance of the team, and that starts with me,” said coach Gannon “So, what I’m really saying, that’s an indictment on myself. I’m not satisfied with myself.”
#4 The injured list continues to pile up for the San Francisco 49ers as left tackle Trent Williams (left ankle), left guard Aaron Banks (right MCL) and back up tackle Jaylon Moore (quad) they will miss the remaining two games of the season. The 49ers have sank fast losing five of their last six games and were eliminated from post season on Sunday when they lost to the Miami Dolphins 29-17.
#5 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says his ankle should be alright and he was ready to go under center on Christmas day against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mahomes said that the team hasn’t done a lot of as far as getting on the practice field saying they’ve done two walk throughs. Mahomes says he can walk around and do what he needs to do that all in all he came out pretty well.
Utah Hockey Club’s Ian Cole (28) take a shot at the net in the first period against the Dallas Stars at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Mon Dec 23, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Tom Walker
SALT LAKE CITY–Utah came within a goal late in the game, but could not overcome second period difficulties.
The Utah Hockey Club welcomed the Dallas Stars to Delta Center on Monday for their second faceoff in Salt Lake City this month, the first ending in Utah’s only regulation loss over the past 12 games during which they posted a record of 8-1-3, earning 19 points and re-emerging in the Wild Card hunt.
Dallas winger Colin Blackwell kicked off the scoring eleven minutes into the game with his 4th goal of the season, assisted by Oskar Back. Utah responded less than two minutes later as defenseman Ian Cole ripped a fierce shot from the blue line which was tipped in by Kevin Stenlund for his sixth of the season, with an additional assist given to Michael Carcone.
The Stars owned the second period as center Roope Hintz netted his 15th goal of the season followed by winger Jamie Benn with his 7th.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the third period, Utah center Barrett Hayton, while being pushed down to the ice by Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen, tipped in a shot by Nick Schmaltz to get Utah back to within one, but that’s where the game ended up 3-2.
After the game, Hayton, whose goals in back-to-back games have given him 100 career points, commented on the loss. “I think that second period is a learning lesson, obviously. We knew coming into this game, it’s a four point game, a division game. Obviously those matchups are huge. I thought we did a great job in the first period. We were urgent, we were intense, we were on the ball, playing the right way, and you just can’t afford those lapses against good teams. That was what our second period was. It’s gonna be something we have to take as a learning experience right now. We’re all pissed off about it and disappointed and frustrated in ourselves, and yeah, that’s a big game, and sucks for it to go that way.”
Utah Hockey Club head coach André Tourigny, when asked whether the second period decided the outcome, said, “I agree, I think we had 12, 15 or eight minutes where we were not aggressive enough defensively, which led to them possessing the puck a lot, and we could not change from there. But I think we were successful when we are aggressive defensively, when we play with pace and we cut possession, which leads to our own offense and being able to have good chances and having energy out there. So when we stopped doing that, the game turned around.”
Utah concludes its three-game homestand at 7:30pm MST on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche before embarking upon a four-game trip to Seattle, Edmonton, Calgary, and Dallas.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) puts the stop on a shot by the San Jose Sharks in the first period at Rogers Center in Vancouver on Mon Dec 23, 2024 (Canadian Press via AP)
By Mary Walsh
The San Jose Sharks fell 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks Monday in the last game before Christmas. Brock Boeser, Kiefer Sherwood and Elias Pettersson scored for the Canucks, with Pettersson scoring twice. Thatcher Demko made 26 saves for the win. William Eklund, Cody Ceci and Luke Kunin scored for the Sharks. Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves in the loss.
The win was Thatcher Demko’s 12th against the Sharks, maintaining a perfect record against San Jose. While the Sharks improved their third period performance, a brief collapse in the second period was the difference in the game. After the game, Barclay Goodrow talked about that collapse:
“A couple pucks we didn’t get deep, I failed to get behind their D, they turn it up, it’s in the back of our net. That created momentum for their team and next thing you know they’ve scored three. Obviously if we don’t have that little stretch in the game it might be a different outcome.”
Shortly after being hit hard into the boards by Tyler Myers, William Eklund scored the first goal of the game. On a five-on-three power play, Eklund took the shot from the faceoff circle through traffic. Assists went to Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini. The goal was scored at 11:36 of the first period.
Brock Boeser tied the game at 14:10. Skating to the net, he tipped in a shot from Quinn Hughes. An assist also went to Vincent Desharmais.
Though Eklund played through the period, he did not return after the first intermission.
The Sharks outshot the Canucks 10-6 in the first period. Each team took two penalties and a fighting major.
Kiefer Sherwood gave the Canucks a lead at 16:42 of the second period. Sherwood skated into the Sharks zone and shot around Henry Thrun. Assists went to Teddy Blueger and Nils Hoglander.
Elias Pettersson scored Vancouver’s third goal of the game at 17:08 of the period. The Sharks challenged the goal for goaltender interference. While Connor Garland made some contact with Askarov, the NHL upheld the call on the ice, putting the Sharks on the penalty kill.
The Canucks made it 4-1 on that power play. Elias Pettersson Had too much time to pick his shot and he used it to put the puck in the top corner. Assists went to J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes.
Vancouver outshot the Sharks 14-6 in the second period. Early in the third period, Henry Thrun took a shot to the face and had to leave the ice for repairs. He did return to the game with a gash on hi8s forehead. Elias Pettersson took one shift in the third period and then left the game.
Cody Ceci made it 4-2 with a shot from the point at 4:21 of the third period. Demko almost stopped it but it trickled through. An assist went to Fabian Zetterlund.
With just under 2:30 to go, the Sharks pulled Askarov for an extra skater. With six seconds left in the game, Luke Kunin caught a rebound and shot it in from a tight angle. Assists went to Celebrini and Toffoli.
The Sharks outshot the Canucks 14-4 in the third period.
The Sharks next play on Friday at 7:30 PM PT in San Jose against the Vegas Golden Knights.
BERKELEY, CA–How many black women coaches do you know? How many black women coaches did you play for?
Surprisingly, black women coaches are asking themselves these questions.
Like 83 streaking meteors, black women basketball coaches at the Division I level travel a lonely path, seeking success at the highest levels of their profession while often having to forgo family, relationships and time to themselves. The payoffs for success are enormous, and the sacrifices are just as big.
And unfortunately, the second chances are few.
“A lot of Black coaches got opportunities during that time,” said Dawn Staley of a period around 2007 when Jolette Law was hired to coach Illinois. “And then probably three, four years later, 75% of them weren’t head coaches anymore, and they don’t get recycled like other coaches. So I think now Black coaches are more prepared because they have had to be prepared.”
After Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks captured the 2017 National Championship, the coach who is the absolute vanguard for the sport and her people, sent pieces of the celebratory basketball net that was cut down after the final victory over Mississippi State to all 70 black women head coaches that were then in place at the Division I level. The gesture received a great deal of attention, as did Staley’s measured words in explaining her reasoning for distributing the net.
“I pick ALL of you to receive this piece of our 2017 National Championship net in the hope that making our goal tangible will inspire you, as it did me, to keep pushing forward and us all to keep supporting each other in our journeys,” Staley wrote to each of the recipients.
The gesture was actually started by Carolyn Peck, the first black women to win a national title in basketball at Purdue in 1999. She sent a piece of her net to Staley in 2015 with the stipulation that Staley continue the gesture when she won. 70 coaches received a piece of the net in 2017. Now seven years later, there are 83 black women’s coaches as their numbers continue to grow.
Staley’s story is best known, but 82 other stories deserve to be told. Would all that have been possible without the South Carolina’s coach special touch? Maybe not.
“She’s so great and gracious,” Syracuse coach Felecia Legette-Jack said. “You call her, and you think you’re the most special person in the world. She does it with everybody.”
California’s Charmin Smith had a story to tell, and she created a platform from which to tell it. The Raising the B.A.R. Invitational is an annual tournament that features four teams coached by black women, and was started by Smith. Basketball, Activism and Representation are the words of the tournament title’s acronym, and this time, in the fourth year of the tournament, a fund-raising component has been added with each participating team raising money for a local charity.
Smith’s mission is simple, but important: be heard, say what’s important, and create change.
“In my career there have been times where I felt like they don’t want me to speak my mind,” Smith said. “They don’t want to hear what I say. But I am not one of those black women, I guess. I can’t be silent on the issues that affect me and affect my student athletes.”
Smith didn’t know if she wanted to coach. At a standstill following her WNBA career, her college coach, the legendary Tara VanDerveer suggested she try it. Smith resisted but accepted a job interview with the Boston College women’s basketball program that led to her first coaching job.
Xavier coach Billi Chambers wasn’t a transcendent player at Hofstra, but she knew she could be special as a coach. Following her college career, she jumped into the coaching profession immediately, and then into her first head coaching job at Iona, one that lasted 10 years. She wasn’t looking for a new challenge or wanting to uproot her family from Long Island New York, but she knew she wanted one when Xavier came calling after their program fell to 7-23 in the 2022-23 season.
“During the interview, I told myself, I can sell this place,” she said after walking into the Cintas Center, the Xavier on-campus arena.
Chambers decided to forgo 10 years of success for a bigger school, a bigger conference, and a bunch of uncertainty regarding a program that had fallen on rough times. Coaching against Geno Auriemma and UConn didn’t deter her either.
“Who doesn’t want to compete against the best?” she thought.
Diane Richardson knew that coaching and the coaches that mentored her changed her life from humble beginnings in Washington D.C. to a wildly successful career in the financial services field. But at the peak of her success, the coaching bug hit, and she assumed a head coaching job of an AAU program in Maryland. That led to Richardson leaving the financial field, coaching full-time, and eventually accepting an opportunity to be the head coach at Towson University.
Like Chambers, Richardson jumped when a bigger opportunity came from Temple University in Philadelphia, where their proud program had fallen on rough times, ironically after Dawn Staley departed to coach South Carolina. Having to hit the floor initially with seven players new to the Temple program, and little to hang their collective hats on other than gritty defense, didn’t slow Richardson. She simply accepted the challenge, and subsequently hit the recruiting trail to increase the talent level of her team.
Now in year two, Richardson is starting to see results. Her Owls have won 5 of their last 8, and should be a factor in the American Athletic Conference title chase.
“We are leading with our defense,” Richardson declared.
Bakersfield Condors defenseman Connor Corcoran (8) has the San Jose Barracuda forward Lucas Vanroboys (67) by the collar at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield on Sat Dec 21, 2024 (Bakersfield Condors photo)
On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Madison Montez:
#1 Marko tough loss for the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday a 6-2 drubbing by the Bakersfield Condors at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield.
#2 The Condors came right out of the gate scoring two goals starting with Cam Dineen scoring his second goal of the season at 9:28 followed up by Matthew Savoie scored his seventh goal of the season at 15:40 in the first period it was quickly 2-0 Condors.
#3 In the second period the Condors Matthew Petrov scored his eighth goal of the season at 10:00 and Ronnie Attard scored his first goal of the season at 10:41. The Barracuda picked up their first goal at 12:18 when Filip Bystedt scored.
#4 Bystedt scored again in the third period at 16:04 for the only goal of the period and the Barracuda just couldn’t get off the mat to even come close to chasing the Condors for their second loss of the two game series.
#5 The Barracuda try it all over again as they face off with the Henderson Silver Knights this Saturday and Sunday at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson. Knights are struggling in last in the Pacific Division they’ve lost their last six games in a row. The Barracuda are coming off a two game loss to Bakersfield how do you see this match up in Henderson?
Former Oakland A’s player Rickey Henderson checks on the game between the Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Sep 25, 2024 (AP file photo)
On That’s Amaury podcast:
#1 The passing of Rickey Henderson at age 65 comes as a shock. Rickey looked like a picture of health the last time he made two public appearances. The first one was at the A’s last home game ever in Oakland on Sep 26, 2024 and at the Reggie Jackson Classic one month later on Oct 27, 2024 all at the Coliseum.
#2 Rickey’s family made the sad announcement confirming Rickey’s former teammate Dave Winfield’s X tweet that announced Rickey’s passing on Friday night.
#3 Amaury, Rickey’s playing days he had that swagger once he came on the scene. Rickey even waved his glove at the fans in leftfield during his playing days in games.
#4 Rickey’s most famous moment came when he stole his 939th stolen base that broke Lou Brock’s stolen base record in 1991. Rickey holds the record for stolen bases in season at 130 and holds the record for the most bases stolen of all time at 1406.
#5 Amaury, I have to ask you in closing you had the opportunity to interview Rickey numerous times during his tenure with the A’s in Oakland. How special was that and what was that relationship like?
December 22, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) shoots the basketball against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. (Photo: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images/REUTERS)
On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:
#1 Kings lost their fourth in a row going into another slump.
#2 This game remained close in the first half but fell apart in the second half.
#3 There are some critical problems in the defense right now that have to be corrected.
#4 With what is going on in Sacramento right now there are bound to be some major changes in February. Especially if this continues going forward.
#5 The Kings are off until next Thursday night when they take on the the Detroit Pistons. How do you see this game and will they rebound?
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell acknowledges the crowd after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sun Dec 22, 2024 (AP News photo)
On the Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony R:
#1 Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis was besides himself after the Raiders snapped their ten game losing streak to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium for a 19-14 victory.
#2 It took a long three months for the Raiders to pick up a win after losing ten straight games.
#3 Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw for 257 yards after coming back from an injury went 24-38 and threw no touchdowns but did enough to squeak by the Jaguars.
#4 Brock Browers the Raiders tight end said that the vibes in the dressing room were much better and it was a matter of just coming in and winning the game.
#5 The Raiders try to put together two wins in a row as they battle the New Orleans Saints next Sun Dec 29 at the Super Dome. Saints have a short week playing on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers and then host the Raiders at the Super Dome this coming Sunday.
BERKELEY, CA–Ioanna Krimili and Lulu Twidale combined for 12 made 3-pointers, and Cal blew past Temple 89-63 in the championship game of the Raising The B.A.R. Invitational on Sunday night.
The Bears finished non-conference play 13-1, their best showing since 2017, ahead of their first ever ACC road trip that starts at Clemson on January 2.
“I thought this Temple team was really good and shot the ball well in the first half,” coach Charmin Smith said. “We just had to keep pushing and pushing, and we were finally able to bust through. This is a good game for us being a little shorthanded and having people step up to do a really good job to get a great win.”
The Bears play without starter 6’3″ Marta Suarez for a second, consecutive game, but there was little slippage offensively or defensively, as Cal broke open a close game with a hot-shooting third quarter that ended with Cal up 69-48.
The Bears combined 16 made threes with a 50-25 advantage in rebounds that created a blowout from what was a close game at halftime. Temple of the American Athletic Conference was picked to finish eighth in the 13-team league’s preseason poll. The Owls fell to 6-5 with the loss after they beat Xavier 66-51 in Saturday’s opening round.
“Towards the second half, we just weren’t crashing the boards enough. They definitely outrebounded us. It was a big margin,” Owls coach Diane Richardson said.
Tristen Taylor led Temple with 17 points on 7 of 10 from the floor. Three other players, Jaleesa Molina, Tiarra East and Anissa Rivera, contributed eight points each.
Cal got 20 each from Krimili and Twidale. Kayla Williams added 17. The Bears also beat Fordham 69-53 on Saturday in the tournament’s opening round.
It’s been 24 hours since I got the news of Rickey’s passing. In that time, I’ve tried to unpack my thoughts and feelings, but they’re still a mess of nondescript silence and swirling emotion. Rickey Henderson was, no, he IS my baseball hero. He’s the reason I discovered and fell in love with the beautiful game at the age of 10. He’s the reason I pursued a career in baseball. He’s the reason I am now a sports journalist. Rickey…IS…baseball to me. Losing the A’s from Oakland this year already tore my heart to pieces, but losing Rickey—my baseball hero—is a feeling I can’t even begin to describe. At least I know I’m not the only one feeling it.
SEVEN! Seven is the number of one-on-one conversations we shared (according to my journal). Sure, I saw him more than that, so many more times, but those other encounters were just a handshake, a fist bump, or a simple hello.
A former pitcher and all-around nice guy I respect immensely, Gio Gonzalez, introduced me to Rickey for the first time in 2011. I don’t remember that initial conversation very well because, even though I was keeping my cool on the outside, my 12-year-old self was totally freaking out on the inside. It took all my energy not to let it show. I mean, I went to hundreds of games between 1984 and 2003 just to see this legend play. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d actually meet him, let alone have multiple one-on-one conversations. Yet, there I was, standing no more than five feet from him and he was talking to me. For the next 13 years after that, we’d have six more one on one interactions. Only one lasted for more than 10 minutes, but they were each memorable.
I doubt he ever remembered my name, even though I reminded him each time. But that didn’t matter, he always treated me like someone he’d known for years. He’d joke, talk smack, and show genuine interest in what I had to say. I think he treated everyone that way; it’s just who he was. We all knew we were in the presence of baseball greatness, but in ten seconds, he brought you in, and for that moment, you were equals—buddies.
The most memorable and longest conversation we ever had was in the player parking lot after a game in 2019. We both happened to walk out of the tunnel at the same time, and he noticed I was limping. He asked if I was okay; I told him I’d rolled my ankle. Somehow, that led to us chatting by his car for thirty minutes. I picked his brain about what it was like to be Rickey: his days in the minors, the highs and lows of fame, his strategies for stealing and hitting, Billy Martin vs. Tony La Russa, and even what might have happened if he’d been allowed to play both NFL and MLB, and much more. Everything I’d ever wondered about, I asked with the rapid fire of a machine gun, and he answered everything! And it wasn’t some formal interview—just a really cool conversation. He even asked about my life at one point, which blew my mind. I’m forever grateful he gave me that moment. I’m not a betting man, but I’m pretty sure he enjoyed it as well.
I was 12 years old when my dad and uncle took me to my first baseball game: June 24, 1984, A’s vs. Rangers. We sat in field-level section 130, left field. I watched Rickey like a hawk – how he got ready between pitches, how he snagged flies like a magician. It was the first time I saw him make one of his signature snatch catches, pure perfection. And his batting stance? To me, it always looked like an F-117 Stealth Bomber at takeoff: sleek, low, powerful, and fast. Unfortunately, he didn’t get on base that day and didn’t steal any bags, but he came up in the 9th, tied 2-2 with a man on second, and took a 1-2 pitch high and deep over the left-field fence for a walk-off home run. Right then, I wanted to be a ballplayer and roam center field next to him. It’s funny how life works. I never made it to the show as a player, but I did make it there as a journalist, and I stood right next to him on that same field many times.
On May 1, 1991, I skipped school to sit in the upper deck behind first base and watch him steal #939. I’ll never forget that day. It was well worth the Saturday detention!
Baseball changed when Rickey retired. The magic I felt since I was 12 years old just wasn’t the same. I still loved the game, and I always will, but it never again felt quite like it did when he was on the field. I didn’t attend a single MLB game from 2004 to 2010. I finally went back as a sports writer in 2011. I met Rickey, and although he was no longer a player, he was there, and that was cool. Now he’s gone…and, well…
I last spoke to him prior to the A’s vs Yankees game on September 20th. He was on the field with his daughter who threw out the first pitch. I walked by him, he saw me and smiled, we shook hands. “How ya feeling?” I asked. “Amazing!” he replied. Then prior to the A’s last game at the Coliseum ( a somber day in itself) on the 26th, I was walking towards the dugout, he was walking towards me to the clubhouse. We exchanged a look, no words, a smile, a fist bump, and we kept walking.
What can I say. I’m beyond sad that I will never see him again. But I find comfort in the fact that I met my baseball hero and had multiple memorable interactions. What more could I really ask for?
Sports Radio Service 