Author: Sports Radio Service

SJSU’s Walker added to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

San Jose State wide receiver Tre Walker is one of five NCAA FBS players recently added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

Named after the Oakland Raiders’ great Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, the award honors the top pass receiver nationally regardless of position. The award is presented and sponsored by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. A wide receiver, tight end, running back or a slot back is eligible to be considered and win the Biletnikoff Award.

In 2019, Walker, a junior from Los Angeles, leads the Spartans in receiving and is one of the top pass catchers in FBS football. He has 59 receptions for 896 yards and one touchdown. In games played through Nov. 9, he’s nationally ranked in receptions per game (7th), receiving yards per game (5th) and total receiving yards (13th).

With today’s announcement, more than 70 players are listed on this year’s watch list.

Ten semifinalists will be named on Nov. 18 and three finalists will be announced on Nov. 25.

This year’s Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12 in Atlanta, Ga. The award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Biletnikoff Award is a member of the NCFAA, which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football.

Cal Bears football podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal scrapes together enough 4th quarter offense to get by WSU 33-20

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calbears.com photo: Jaylinn Hawkins hauled in his eighth career interception in the first quarter

On the Cal Bears football podcast with Morris:

#1 From looking at the score frames it looked as if the Bears played small ball and beat Washington State by a 1000 cuts on Saturday 33-20

#2 The Bears big quarter was the fourth quarter when they scored 13 points to over come the Cougars

#3 The Bears quarterback Devon Modster went 16-24 for 230 yards and three touchdowns Modster threw just well enough to beat the Cougars.

#4 For the Cal touchdowns Modster had a keeper, Christopher Brown Jr and Malai Polk both had touchdowns.

#5 With the USC Trojans coming this Saturday to Memorial this will be one of Cal’s biggest challenges and a win could help their post season chances.

Morris does the Cal podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose State loses home opener vs. Portland, 72-57

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Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State men’s basketball was looking to string two wins together on Saturday afternoon in their home opener against the Portland Pilots. But that didn’t happen as the Spartans were unable to get their offense going.

The Spartans (1-1) were held to a 40 percent shooting clip from the floor (23-of-58), while Portland (2-1) shot 48 percent (26-of-54). SJSU also struggled from 3-point range (23 percent) and at the free throw line (31 percent).

For the second straight game to start his career, Richard Washington led the Spartans with 11 points and came up just one rebound shy of a double-double. Sam Japhet-Mathias and Brae Ivey chipped in eight points, while Eduardo Lane scored seven points.

JoJo Walker led the Pilots with game-high 22 points, while Isaiah White added 17 points. Portland finished 9-of-20 from beyond the arc and hit 11-of-15 from the charity stripe.

The Spartans led 7-6 at the first media timeout, but the Pilots grabbed control of the lead and never lost it for the remainder of the evening. The Spartans cut it down to one with 3:49 left in the first half on a Washington trey off a fastbreak, but the Pilots closed the half on a 9-2 run to enter the locker room with an 8-point advantage, 37-29.

In the second half, Portland pushed their lead to 13 with 9:39 to play before Washington hit another 3-point basket to spark an 8-0 run to cut the lead 56-51 at the 6:34 mark. That was as close as the Spartans would get as the Pilots regained control and closed the game on an 8-0 run to shut the door.

Despite the loss, SJSU continued to show signs of improvement in the turnover department, finishing with just 13 while forcing 15, resulting in 16 points off of turnovers. Rebounding was all-square at 32 apiece.

With the loss, SJSU dropped to 1-1, while Portland improved to 2-1.

The Spartans head to McKale Center in Tuscon to take on #21 Arizona on Thursday, November 14 at 5 pm PT. The game will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Network.

Gulls use balanced attack, take down the Barracuda 3-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Diego Gulls scored three unaswered goals and tightened their belts defensively in taking down the San Jose Barracuda 3-1 on Sunday evening at SAP Center.

It is the fourth consecutive loss for San Jose, who have hit a rut offensively this past week. For San Diego, they have won four in a row after going winless in the month of October.

San Diego (4-6-0-0) drew first blood early to open up the game. Jack Kopacka led a 3-on-2 odd man rush where he fed a pass up to Alex Dotsie at center ice. Corey Tropp then gave the puck back to Dostie on a pretty give and go where Dostie skated in all alone on ‘Cuda goalie Andrew Shortridge and snapped a shot top-shelf into the upper right corner for his third goal of the season at the 2:19 mark.

The Gulls doubled their lead toward the end of the opening 20 minutes when Brendan Guhle sent a pass into the ‘Cuda zone that caromed off the right boards where Tropp quickly moved it over to Sam Carrick, who crashed the crease and tipped it past Shortridge for his third goal of the season with 58 seconds left.

San Diego dominated the first period as they outshot San Jose 10-5.

San Diego scored an insurance goal midway through the second period. Alex Broadhurst found a wide-open Justin Kloos at the middle of the ‘Cuda blue line. Kloos skated in and fed a pass to his left over to Blake Pietila, who quickly fired a wrist shot top-shelf into the short side of the net for his second goal of the season at the 11:07 mark.

Joachim Blichfeld spoiled the shutout bid for Gulls goalie Anthony Stolarz near the end of the middle frame. San Jose (4-6-0-1)’s forward stole a pass from Guhle at the blueline and raced down on a breakaway where his initial shot was saved by Stolarz. He was able to collect his own rebound, hesitate and then wired a wrist shot top-shelf past Stolarz for his fourth goal of the season at the 17:54 mark.

San Jose would not get any closer than that. Despite some good pressure put on in the third period as they outshot San Diego 10-6, San Diego’s defense anchored down, with the help of Stolarz, and did not allow another goal.

Stolarz finished with 31 saves on 32 shot to earn his fourth win of the season. Shortridge made 22 saves on 25 shots in the losing effort.

GAMES NOTES: San Jose was 0/4 on the power play. San Diego was 0/3.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Dalton Prout made his debut for the Barracuda while on a rehab assignment. He finished with no goals or assists and a -1.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel down to San Diego to take on the Gulls on Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 pm at Pechanga Arena.

Harris comes home to be the GM of the SF Giants

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file photo the Athletic: San Francisco Giants general manager Scott Harris, who was hired this weekend, will be introduced by Giants team president Farhan Zaidi this week.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — There are many things on the plate of San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Farhan Zaidi during the 2019 off-season, and one of the plates is now filled.

Zaidi announced the hiring of Scott Harris as the Giants 10th General Manager in team history, replacing Bobby Evans, who was let go during the 2018 season.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring in an executive of Scott’s caliber to help lead our Baseball Operations group,” Zaidi said in a statement. “The combination of his breadth of experience, contributions toward building a championship-winning perennial contender in Chicago and his Bay Area roots made him an ideal fit for our General Manager position and I’m looking forward to executing our vision together.”

Harris, who grew up in Redwood City, went to Columbia Business School and worked for Major League Baseball as the League Coordinator of major league operations before going to work for the Chicago Cubs in 2012.

During his seven years in Chicago, he was part of the front office that saw the Cubs break their 108-year curse of not winning the World Series in 2016.

Harris was promoted to the position of assistant General Manager by the Cubs in January of 2019, but now he is coming home to the Bay Area and will get the wheels rolling for the Giants, who are still looking for a field manager after the retirement of Bruce Bochy at the end of the 2019 season.

NHL podcast with Daniel Dullum: Sharks win! Stop the presses, it’s now a 3-game win streak; Tampa Bay takes 2-game set in Stockholm past Buffalo

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sfgate.com photo: San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier, left, scores against Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) in the shootout of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. The Sharks won 2-1.

On the NHL podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Big shootout win for Sharks over Nashville

2 Sharks’ Evander Kane sued by Vegas casino over gambling IOU’s

3 Lightning beat Sabres in first of two games in Sweden for the NHL Global games

4 Sidney Crosby donates car won at NHL All-Star Game to US veteran

NHL podcast with Daniel Dullum is heard each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Are Atlanta and Minneapolis the Best Cities for Bumgarner?

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Photo credit: talkingchop.com

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Madison Bumgarner has won three World Series and is arguably one (if not the best) postseason pitcher in history. The Giants made a $17.8 million qualifying offer to the free agent, which guaranteed a draft pick compensation for the Giants, a team seriously in need of younger players. It is very doubtful the Giants will win the World Series in 2020. There are two young teams looking for that extra puzzle piece to make it over the hump. Two teams that won their divisions but fell way-short of going deep into the postseason. Two teams that could use a guy like him.

Atlanta Braves
The Braves won the East in the National League with a 97-65 record, four games over the World Champion Washington Nationals, but lost the Divisional Series vs. St. Louis Cardinals in five games. They have a great young ball club with a terrific starting rotation of, Mike Soroka, whose just 22 years old and finished 13-4, 2.68 ERA. He is currently their best hurler. Max Fried, who finished 17-6, 4.02 ERA. Mike Foltynewicz and a very good bullpen. Not to mention one of the best lineups around in Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuña Jr.and Ozzie Albies. Bumgarner would be like gold for this young team, which he would bring experience. The location is excellent for Bumgarner, who lives nearby in his home state of North Carolina. Plus he would stay in the National League. I would say Atlanta is the best place for him.

Minnesota Twins
The Twins won the American League Central Division with 101-61 record but were swept by the Yankees 3-0 in the Divisional Series. Like Atlanta, they are another young team in need of an experienced starter like the Giants lefty, but unlike the Braves, they are not as deep in pitching. Therefore, the Twins could go hard after Bumgarner. But there is one disadvantage as Bumgarner has only pitched in the National League with the Giants. He is one of the best hitting pitchers in the game and was even used as a pinch-hitter by Bruce Bochy. He loves to hit. The youngest and most talented starter with the Twins is the 25-year-old José Berrios, who finished 14-8, 3.68 ERA this season. The Twins are probably in the conversation for the Giants pitcher.

There are other potential teams looking for pitching,the Los Angeles Angels are one of those. He would definitely fit very well in Joe Maddon’s new team. The Angels are going to go heavy on free agents, especially Gerrit Cole, who was born in Newport Beach, about 45 minutes from Angel Stadium. He seems a perfect fit for the Halos. The San Diego Padres is another young up-and-coming team who plays in the same division as the Giants. They should be looking at him, too, and do not forget the American League Champion Houston Astros. Their rotation — especially if Cole leaves — will be a solid one with this acquisition.

Either Atlanta or Minnesota could offer Bumgarner, who is 30 years old, a two-year deal worth in the $40 million range. I do not see a problem with that. More than two years is a risk because he is still a good pitcher but not as dominant as he once was. Let’s face it, nobody knows which Bumgarner they would get. Although there is a chance of scenery for him, leaving a team that is not close to returning to the Fall Classic, like Atlanta or Minnesota, who are much closer, is something that he likely is considering at this stage in his career. He is the type of competitor that with a winning team, he would perform much better and he would be motivated to take his team to the postseason, which is something he cannot do with today’s Giants.

Bumgarner is in a good situation. If he decided to stay put with the Giants, that would have been a surprise to many. Although 60 wins is tied in total wins at home when Matt Cain was with the Giants. Pitching at Oracle Park, which is not a hitting paradise, is an advantage if he decides to stay in San Francisco and fans will love it, and if he retired with the Orange and Black, that would be even better, but fans do not have much of a say on his future. In my opinion, the only San Francisco Giant that will never leave the team (of the original players that were part of the even year World Series era) is Buster Posey. He was the Rookie of the Year in the NL with the Giants in 2010 and he will retire as a Giant.

Where will Bumgarner be pitching next season? At the end of the day, it is about the money. What else is new?

San Jose State comes up just short in Hawaii, 42-40

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

San Jose State football looked for a two-game winning streak in the islands against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Aloha Stadium on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the Spartans’ wish didn’t come true, but the road team put up a good fight in Honolulu.

Matt Mercurio opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal with 9:06 left in the first quarter. The Rainbow Warriors responded with a touchdown as Chevan Cordeiro threw a 5-yard pass to JoJo Ward for a 7-3 lead with just 27 seconds left in the first.

The Spartans lead 7-3 at the end of the first.

The Spartans scored first to start the second quarter. DeJon Packer ran for a 6-yard touchdown to put SJSU on top 10-7 at 11:15 of the second. Mercurio hit a 43-yard field goal to make it 13-10 Spartans with 9:59 left in the second.

The Rainbow Warriors made it a 1-point game, 14-13, as Cordeiro threw a 71-yard pass to Ward just 51 seconds later. But the Spartans quickly responded as Packer ran for a 20-yard touchdown to extend SJSU’s lead to 20-14 with 6:26 left in the second.

The Rainbow Warriors went ahead 21-20 as Miles Reed ran for a 4-yard touchdown with 2:37 left in the second. But the Spartans ended up taking a 23-21 lead to the locker room at the halftime break, thanks to Mercurio’s 43-yard field goal with just 44 seconds left in the second.

The Rainbow Warriors struck first in the third quarter. Cordeiro ran for a 3-yard touchdown for a 28-23 lead with 9:30 left in the third. The Spartans made it a 2-point game after Mercurio hit a 25-yard field goal with 1:21 left in the third.

The Spartans led 28-26 at the end of the third.

Cordeiro threw a 5-yard pass to Jared Smart for a touchdown to give the Rainbow Warriors a 35-26 lead at 12:13 of the fourth quarter. But the Spartans pulled within two as Josh Love threw a 40-yard pass to Bailey Gaither with 9:53 left in the fourth.

However, Hawaii went ahead 42-33 with 4:23 left in the fourth as Cordiero ran for a 2-yard touchdown.

SJSU seemed to have had the “never say die” attitude when Love threw a 19-yard pass to Isaiah Holiness for a touchdown that brought the Spartans within two with 1:51 left in the fourth.

The Spartans lost to the Rainbow Warriors 42-40. With the loss, SJSU fell to 6-4, 1-5 Mountain West, while Hawaii improved to 6-4, 3-3 Mountain West.

The Spartans have a bye week, then head to Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas to face the UNLV Rebels on Saturday, November 23 at 1 pm PT.

Four Cardinal score in double figures in Stanford’s 70-54 win over Cal State Fullerton

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

The Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball had hoped to make it two wins in a row. Did it happen? Yup!

To be specific, four Cardinal players scored in Stanford’s 70-54 win over Cal State Fullerton at Maples Pavilion on Saturday evening.

Daejon Davis scored 15 points. Davis was one of four Stanford players to score in double figures. Davis’ efforts helped the Cardinal win their second straight to open the young season. With the win, Stanford improved to 2-0, 0-0 Pac-12, while Cal State Fullerton fell to 0-2, 0-0 Big West.

Oscar da Silva added 14 points for Stanford (2-0), which played the Titans (0-2) for the first time in seven years. Tyrell Terry and Spencer Jones each scored 12 points.

Wayne Arnold scored 14 points, while Davon Clare had 15 rebounds to lead Cal State Fullerton. Brandon Kamga added 10 points.

The Titans were 4-of-23 from 3-point range, including 2 of 13 in the second half. The Cardinal were 5-of-17.

Jones entered the game midway through the first half and immediately hit a 3-pointer to give Stanford a double-digit lead at 17-5. The Cardinal led by as many as 19 before halftime and the Titans never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

NOTES: The Cardinal welcomed back former Cardinal and manager Olatunde Sobomehin as their honorary caption prior to tonight’s game. Sobomehin currently serves as the CEO of Streetcode Academy.

UP NEXT: The Cardinal host their second straight Big West opponent when Long Beach State comes to town for a Tuesday night contest. Stanford opens with six home games for the first time in 13 years.

The Cardinal host the Long Beach State 49ers on Tuesday, November 12 at 6 p.m. PT.

Thunder holds off injury-riddled Warriors 114-108

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photo from sfgate.com: Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, left, as Golden State Warriors’ D’Angelo Russell defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov 8, 2019, in Minneapolis.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, November 9, 2019

Five Oklahoma City players scored in double-figures on Saturday, as the Thunder defeated a short-handed Golden State squad 114-108 in Oklahoma City. It was the Thunder’s second win over the Warriors this season.

Danilo Gallinari led the Thunder with 19 points, followed by Dennis Schroder with 18 points and six assists. Chris Paul scored 16 points to go with nine assists, Steven Adams netted 13 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 12 points.

Oklahoma City has won three of its last four games.

D’Angelo Russell continued his torrid scoring for the Warriors, scoring 17 of his game-high 30 points in the third quarter. His 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer tied the game at 84-all.

On Friday, Russell scored 52 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Alec Burk added 23 points for Golden State (2-8), and Glenn Robinson III added 18 for a Warriors team that has five players inactive due to injury, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Early in the fourth quarter, Willie Cauley-Stein’s jumper put the Warriors ahead 88-86. OKC (4-5) responded with a 9-0 run, sparked by four points from Paul. A jumper by Hamidou Diallo gave the Thunder a 14-point lead with 5:01 remaining.

Though Golden State cut its deficit to 112-108 with 17.7 seconds to play, they could get no closer.

The Warriors were 17 of 17 on free throws. Oklahoma City’s 43 baskets had 30 assists, and the Thunder outrebounded Golden State 42-35.

Golden State returns home on Monday night to host the Utah Jazz at 7:30 p.m.