Author: Sports Radio Service

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: World Series Champion Houston Astros to Visit the White House

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Photo credit: @KPRC2

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The Houston Astros are scheduled and have accepted to visit the White House by invitation of President Donald Trump on March 12. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a very exciting seven-game World Series to win their first title ever. The team began with the name Colt .45s in 1962 and later changed their name to the Houston Astros in 1965 when they began playing in the Astrodome. In 2013, the Astros moved from the National League to the American League. The previous World Champion Chicago Cubs (2016) visited the White House by invitation of Trump on June 2017.


Recent visits from other sports: On October 2017, the Stanley Cup Champions (2016) Pittsburgh Penguins visited the White House by invitation of Trump, and on April 2017, Trump hosted the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors did not attend this week, declining their invitation after winning the NBA title last season.

The first known official team meeting between a President and an organized baseball team at the White House was on August 30, 1865, when President Andrew Johnson met the Washington Nationals and the Brooklyn Atlantics. The Atlantics won the title of the National Association of Baseball Players. In 1924, the Washington Senators were the first professional baseball team to visit the White House hosted by President Calvin Coolidge.
As far as the other main three sports: the NBA was founded in 1946. In 1963, the Boston Celtics became the first NBA champions to visit the White House upon an invitation from President John F. Kennedy, a Massachusetts native. The NFL was founded in 1920. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first Super Bowl champions to visit in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was President. The NHL was founded in 1917. The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins broke the ice for the NHL as guests of President George H. W. Bush and were the first NHL team to visit the White House.

Baseball teams were the first to accept invitations to the White House, and since then, it has become an American tradition. The protocol is for the White House to extend an invitation to a team–usually a champion–the team can accept or decline, or the White House can also cancel a team visit for any reason, and do not have to explain why. The White House also can re-schedule a visit.

In the past, teams have accepted and visited, but some members of those teams have decided not to go. It is usually left to the individual decision, and that is the way it should be. Nobody should be forced to attend or feel pressure not to attend. Athletes are also protected by the First Amendment. After all, we’re still a country made of individuals, not groups, at least not until the robots take over. Is it that important? Not at all, more symbolic, and in good sportsmanship than anything else, and nobody should lose any sleep over it. I sure don’t. It is like throwing the Ceremonial First Pitch at a baseball game, or playing or singing the National Anthem prior to a sporting event. It is just another photo-op.

It is said that President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 clemency to a turkey recorded in an 1865 dispatch by Washington reporter Noah Brooks, was the origin for the pardoning ceremony. This might be the oldest ceremonial tradition at the White House. To this day, no turkey has demonstrated against the pardon.

San Jose State looks to make it two wins in a row at Air Force

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State wraps up regular season at Air Force
The San Jose State men’s basketball team has a chance to win two in a row in the regular season finale at Air Force on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans are coming off of their first Mountain West win this season, a 64-62 triumph over Utah State at home. Tipoff for Saturday’s game is set for 2:00 pm MT and will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network. Justin Allegri will have the play-by-play call on the Spartans’ radio broadcast on KLIV 1590 AM with the pregame show starting at 1:30 pm MT.

Game #29
SJSU (4-24, 1-16 MW) at Air Force (11-18, 5-12 MW)
Saturday, May 3, 2018, 2:00 pm MT
Clune Arena
USAFA, Colo.

TV: Mountain West Network
Radio: KLIV 1590 AM

Mountain West Tournament tickets on sale

Single-game and all-session tickets for the upcoming Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas are on sale at SJSUSpartans.com/tickets. Head to the web site and make your plans to see the Spartans in their opening-round game on Wednesday, March 7, at 4:00 pm PT. inside the Thomas & Mack Center. The ticket office can be reached by telephone at (408) 924-7589.

Mountain West win at last
SJSU sent its seniors out the right way on Wednesday night with the team’s first win during Mountain West play, a 64-62 victory over Utah State. The game featured 15 lead changes, but it was SJSU with more points in the end after Isaiah Nichols buried a jumper with 57 seconds left. His shot put SJSU up 64-60 and the Spartans held on for the victory after Utah State’s last-second shot was ruled before the buzzer. The win snapped a 21-game losing streak to Utah State, which dated back to the 2008 season.

Series between SJSU and Air Force
SJSU and Air Force are deadlocked at 6-6 in the all-time series. SJSU’s three-game win streak against Air Force was snapped earlier this year when the Falcons won 78-71 inside the Event Center. SJSU erased an 18-point deficit in the game and took multiple leads, but Ryan Swan’s 19 points led the Air Force to a victory.

Nichols makes late-season noise
Sophomore guard Isaiah Nichols has played 25 minutes and 27 minutes, respectively, in the last two games and has made a great impact for the Spartans. Nichols scored nine points on three 3-pointers against SDSU. He only made one basket in the last game against USU, but it was the basket to clinch SJSU’s first Mountain West win of the year–a jumper from one step inside the three-point line in the left corner. Nichols had been averaging 13.2 minutes per conference game before getting 25-plus minutes of burn in the last two games.

Welage takes over as all-time leaders in threes
After coming up empty against SDSU, Ryan Welage drilled his 154th career 3-pointer in his last game against Utah State and took over as SJSU’s all-time leader in made threes in a career.

Spartan opponents load up from downtown
USU attempted a Mountain West record 43 threes against SJSU on Wednesday night. It continued a trend where Spartan opponents are living beyond the arc. In the last four games, SJSU opponents are averaging 39.0 three-point attempts per game and hit 34.6 percent. Guarding against easy points in the paint, the Spartans have been playing the 3-point percentages against their opponents. Air Force comes into Saturday with the Mountain West’s lowest 3-point field goal percentage at 32.2 percent.

Fisher extends career-scoring high again
Redshirt freshman Keith Fisher III extended his career-scoring high twice in one week with a 23-point performance at Colorado State on February 10, followed by 26 points at Wyoming. Fisher has finished seven of the last 10 games in double-figure scoring. Over the last five games, he’s averaging 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds.


Hillsman makes fourth straight start
Jaycee Hillsman has started the last four games for the Spartans after playing as a reserve in 16 consecutive games prior. During his time back in the starting lineup, he’s been averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists–all above his season averages. Hillsman is averaging 36.6 minutes per game during the stretch when he averages around 25 minutes over the course of the conference season. He led SJSU with 19 points last game in the win over USU and has finished in double-figure scoring in three of the last four games.

Emotional return by Miller, Wildcats defeat Stanford 75-67

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gostanford.com photo: Stanford Cardinal Reid Travis (22) leads the Cardinal with 23 points but it’s not enough as Stanford drops it’s 14th game of the season

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, March 1, 2018

After a tumultuous week, Sean Miller returned to the University of Arizona sideline, and the No. 19-Wildcats responded with a 75-67 Pac-12 men’s basketball win over visiting Stanford at McKale Center in Tucson.

The victory, Arizona’s 17th consecutive over the Cardinal, gives the Wildcats at least a share of the league championship. Arizona (23-7 overall, 13-4 conference) also clinched the top seed in the Pac-12 tournament.

Dusan Ristic topped the U of A scoring with 21 points – 15 in the first half. Alonzo Trier, back in uniform after serving an NCAA two-game suspension, was next with 18 points.

Freshman Deandre Ayton, who leads the Pac-12 in scoring and rebounding, added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Reid Travis was Stanford’s top scorer with 23 points. The Cardinal (16-14 overall, 10-7 Pac-12) saw their hopes of a top-four finish dim, along with their shot at a first-round bye.

Miller received a rousing ovation upon entering the arena. Earlier in the day, he read a prepared statement denying he had approved a monetary payment to Ayton, or any other player, during his tenure at the U of A.

The university’s president also made a statement, saying that the school’s investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, and that the university would stand by its coach.

ESPN, meanwhile, insists its report that a wiretap, alleging that Miller spoke about a $100,000 payoff to Ayton, is accurate. Ayton denies receiving any payment to attend U of A.

The Wildcats held a 37-28 lead at halftime, though Stanford battled back in the second half, cutting its deficit to 69-64 on a Daejon Davis dunk with 1:04 remaining.

Arizona put the game away on four free throws by Trier and two from Ayton.

Stanford travels to Tempe on Saturday to face Arizona State. A Cardinal win could help revive the team’s hope of a top-four finish in the Pac-12 race.

Kings down Nets 116-111 in overtime

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Photo credit: @SacramentoKings

By: Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets both came into Thursday’s contest coming off losses. The Kings fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Nets fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The matchup was all-set with two teams having sub-par seasons with nothing really to play for except pride. De’Aaron Fox would lead to Kings onto the court with a 7:11 tip-off.

In the first quarter, the Kings would come out of the gate sluggish, but managed to pick it up halfway through the quarter. The Kings would have a 12-14 lead with six minutes to play in the quarter.

Allen Crabbe and the Nets would storm back to snatch a 31-22 lead. Willie Cauley-Stein would lead the way, scoring 12 points for the Kings. The Kings were a little sloppy with the ball in the first, leading to multiple dunks in transition.

The Kings needed to make up some ground in the second quarter. They did not help their cause much by continuing their sloppy ball handling. The Kings would fall to a 27-36 deficit with 9:26 to go in the first half. The game did not stay in the Nets favor for long though. The Kings stormed back to take a 43-49 with two minutes left in the quarter. Skal Labissiere would be charged with two shooting fouls and all four free throws were made. DeMarrre Carrol would cap the first half with a buzzer-beating two-point shot. They headed into the second with a score of 53-51 in favor of the Kings.

The second half started in the Kings favor with Skal Labissiere and Justin Jackson’s dunks, respectively. Yet, the Nets would come right back with points of their own to make it 62-61 Kings with 7:30 left to play in the third period. With the Kings looking to build on the one-point lead, just the opposite happened. The Kings once again were sloppy with the ball, and that led to 71-66 lead with four minutes left to play. The quarter would end with the Kings trailing 79-73.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Kings had some ground to make up. The Kings were able to tie it up at 79 apiece with a Garrett Temple dunk off a turnover. The game would go back-and-forth with the Kings up 94-89 with 3:40 to play. D’Angelo Russell would hit a long range jumper to make it 95-94 Nets with 2:20 left to go in the game. Nothing was falling for the Kings during the Nets’ run. Buddy Hield would put the Kings up 98-95 before DeMarree Carroll hit a shot from downtown to tie it up. Buddy Hield would be charged with a foul with 6.1 seconds left on the clock. The Nets made both free throws and the game was 100-98. Fox would tie it at the buzzer with a floater and the game headed to overtime.

In overtime with the help of Buddy’s buckets and Bogdan Bodanovic, the Kings would have a 110-109 lead with 1:42 left to go in overtime. Buddy Hield was fouled in transition with 13.4 seconds left to go and made both his shots to put the Kings back on top 114-111.

The final would be 116-111 with Bogdan Bogdanovic making two free throws.

Game Notes: The Kings improve to 19-43 while the Nets fall to 20-43.

Up Next: The Kings host the Utah Jazz this Saturday at 7:00 pm PT. 

Tony Renteria on Headline Sports: Durant continues to lead Warriors scoring; McCutchen catching onto being the face of the Giants; Ex-49er cut by Colts

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants outfielder Andrew McCutchen takes the field on Wednesday February 28 at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

1 Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant has led the Warriors in scoring time and time again and did so once again with a 32 point game as Golden State continues to roll with a 109-101 victory over the Washington Wizards

2 Tony sees the addition of Andrew McCutchen as a benefit to the San Francisco Giants line up and will he be the face of the Giants this season

3 Ex-49er Frank Gore is now an ex-Colt the Colts decided not to exercise his option and extend him. Gore 34 will go shopping to sign with another club

4 Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden says he is going to shake up the Raiders roster and Tony explains what holes he will need to fill

5 The San Francisco 49ers Ruben Foster looks like he’s in a boat load of trouble. Foster whose facing domestic violence charges and is accused of dragging his girlfriend by the hair out of his house might be either be suspended or released from the 49ers as the case is under investigation.

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

 

San Jose State men’s basketball podcast with Ana Kieu: SJSU upsets USU 64-62 for first conference win; Welage was honored for 1,000 points; Fisher III continues to shine

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Photo credit: @SJSUMBB

On the San Jose State men’s basketball podcast with Ana:

1. The Spartans lost to the Wolf Pack 80-67 in Reno last Wednesday. They had a single-digit deficit midway through the first half, but they let it slip away. What did Nevada do to stifle the Spartan defense?

2. Despite the Spartans’ loss to the Wolf Pack, the San Jose State men’s basketball Twitter tweeted a sportsmanlike tweet of SJSU’s Jaycee Hillsman and Nevada’s Jordan Caroline side-by-side with smiles on their faces. Can you spare me a few details on two of Champaign’s finest?

3. Spartans junior forward Ryan Welage has come a long way. Athletic director Marie Tuite and head coach Jean Prioleau honored him for his 1,000 points before the San Jose State vs. San Diego State game on Saturday night. Welage was also named to the All-District VIII First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). What else can you say about Welage and his impact on SJSU?

4. Spartans freshman forward Keith Fisher III dominated on the court with 21 points in the Spartans’ 71-59 loss to the Aztecs at home. What’s in store for Fisher’s future?

5. The Spartans upset the Aggies 64-62 at the Event Center on Wednesday night. How did the players and coaches feel after picking up their fourth win of the season?

6. The Spartans football team began spring practice this week. It’s too early to tell, but what are your thoughts on the players and coaches at the moment?

Ana does the San Jose State men’s basketball podcast each week for sportsradioservice.com.

 

San Jose State releases 2018 football schedule

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

Brent Brennan was a San Jose State assistant football coach the last time the Spartans’ schedule had at least three consecutive home games on the schedule.

There was 2006 when the team went from 3-8 to 9-4 and a New Mexico Bowl victory, thanks to four home games in a row, covering September to mid-October. The next year, Brennan was still on the SJSU coaching staff that had three home games in a row. The Spartans finished that season at 5-7.

Brennan will be the SJSU head coach this time when the Spartans’ 2018 schedule includes three consecutive home games in CEFCU Stadium.

“We play in a very good conference. We’re excited to play the teams on our schedule. We have another tough non-conference schedule that’s going to test us early starting with UC Davis,” said Brennan. “The schedule includes eight teams that played in a 2017 bowl game.”

SJSU opens Mountain West play on September 29 at home against Hawaii. Then, the Spartans take on conference opponent Colorado State on October 6 and conclude three consecutive weeks at home with the team’s first meeting with Army West Point on October 13. SJSU will become the 38th school to play the three military service academies (Air Force, Army, and Navy) when the Spartans and Black Knights take the field.

The remaining three home games start with a Thursday, August 30 season opener with UC Davis, October 27 vs. UNLV and November 17 against Nevada.

SJSU’s road opponents start with Pac-12 non-conference opponents Oregon on September 8 and Washington State on September 15. In conference action, the Spartans travel to San Diego State on October 20, Wyoming on November 4, Utah State on November 11 and close the regular season at Fresno State on November 25.

This year’s schedule concludes the home-and-home cycle with Mountain West Mountain Division opponents Colorado State, Utah State and Wyoming.

Kickoff times and games assigned to the Mountain West television and broadcast partners will be announced in the future.

Season ticket renewals are underway. New season ticket holders can purchase their seats beginning March 24 when the Spartans host their annual Spring Game in CEFCU Stadium starting at 1:15 pm.

Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: After narrow win against WSU, Cardinal reboots for Arizona and Sean Miller fiasco tonight

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Photo credit: @StanfordMBB

On the Stanford Cardinal Men’s Basketball podcast with Jerry:

1 Stanford Cardinal (15-13) hosted the Washington State Cougars (11-17) had quite a week in the Bay Area beating Cal and just losing to the Cardinal 86-84

2 The Cardinal got past the Cougars in double digits the highest 12 points and finished beating them by two points

3 The Cardinal’s top offensive players Reid Travis, Michael Humphrey, and Dorian Pickens were key in helping the Cardinal get by the Cougars who are the bottom of the Pac 12

4 The Cardinal are in the Tucson to face the Arizona Wildcats as the Wildcats head coach Sean Miller is going to be front and center as the game maybe secondary to the Miller story. The big question is will Miller return to Arizona next season?

Jerry does the Stanford Men’s basketball podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

First conference win of the season: San Jose State holds on for 64-62 win over Utah State

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Photo credit: @SJSUAthletics

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It’s obvious the San Jose Spartans have a nightmarish record this season, but the players and coaches had something to smile about as the team hosted its Senior Night against the Utah State Aggies in the Event Center on Wednesday night.

From the Spartans’ perspective, their series history with the Aggies hasn’t been pretty. Utah State has won 21 straight games dating back to 2008 and hold a 60-21 advantage in the all-time series vs. San Jose State. Not only that, SJSU hasn’t won a conference game at home since February 18, 2017, against the Air Force Falcons. The Spartans beat the Falcons 83-78 in overtime.

The Spartans fell behind early in the game as the Aggies’ Koby McEwen, Julion Pearre and Sam Merrill overpowered the Spartan defense with four 3-pointers along with a jumper and a layup. However, the Spartans were able to pick themselves up off the ground and tie the game at 16 apiece at the 11:50 mark.

Spartans’ Jaycee Hillsman hit a three to give his team a 19-16 lead at the 11:11 mark, but the lead was short-lived as Merrill quickly responded with a three of his own. McEwen and Diogo Brito followed up with shots of their own to help the Aggies to a larger lead.

Yet, SJSU didn’t let USU’s lead discourage them. Welage and Fisher each hit a jumper to pull the Spartans within one with 7:23 left.

The Spartans tied the game at 29 apiece, thanks to Hillsman’s jumper with 4:41 left. Ashtin Chastain made a pair of free throws to put the Spartans up 31-29 with four minutes left, but the Aggies quickly responded on Merrill hit a three to pull his team within one just six seconds later.

Both teams exchanged leads numerous times, but the Spartans played efficient defense and the game was tied at 37 apiece at the end of the first half.

Spartans’ halftime stats: 15-27 FG-FGA (total), 2-4 FG-FGA (3-pointer), 5-9 FT-FTA, 6 offensive rebounds, 12 defensive rebounds, 18 total rebounds, 6 PF, 37 TP, 5 A, 6 TO, 1 Blk, 1 Stl, 100 Min.

Again, both teams exchanged leads numerous times, but the home crowd erupted when Welage hit a three to put the Spartans back on top 52-49 at the 11:43 mark.

The Aggies tied the game at 52 apiece on Daron Henson’s three at the 12:23 mark, but the Spartans re-tied the game at 54 apiece on Fisher’s jumper with 8:41 left and picked up a 60-58 lead a little over three minutes later.

Welage hit a jumper to extend the Spartans’ lead to four points, but Dwayne Brown Jr. pulled the Aggies within two with a little over two minutes left.

However, SJSU didn’t press the panic button yet. Isaiah Nichols hit a jumper to put the Spartans up by four with 53.1 seconds left.

The Spartans’ challenged the Aggies’ play, but the officials reviewed the play and determined that it was a two-point field goal. SJSU continued to lead USU by two points with 11.3 seconds left.

The Spartans held onto that two-point lead for a 64-62 win over the Aggies. With the win, SJSU won their first conference game of the season.

Spartans’ full-time stats: 25-54 FG-FGA (total), 5-14 FG-FGA (3-pointer), 9-15 FT-FTA, 12 offensive rebounds, 25 defensive rebounds, 37 total rebounds, 13 PF, 64 TP, 9 A, 10 TO, 4 Blks, 3 Stls and 200 Min.

Notes
Spartans’ starting lineup: Keith Fisher III, Oumar Barry, Jalen James, Jaycee Hillsman and Ryan Welage.

Aggies’ starting lineup: Koby McEwen, Sam Merrill, Julion Pearre, Quinn Taylor and Dwayne Brown Jr.

Up Next
The Spartans conclude the regular season in Colorado as they take on the Air Force Falcons on Saturday at 1 pm PT.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks’ Kane makes all the difference in Oilers win; Next test as Blackhawks come to town on Thursday

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@SanJoseSharks photo: from left to right San Jose Sharks injured reserve player Joel Ward, center Willie O’Ree and right Evander Kane all pose in the front offices of the San Jose Sharks on Willie O’Ree Night at SAP Center in San Jose

On the San Jose Podcast with Mary Lisa:

The visiting Edmonton Oilers were unlucky last Tuesday night because the Sharks were coming off some disappointing loses from their most recent road trip losing three out of four. The Sharks picked up Evander Kane from the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, a talented new player to the roster whose been waiting to play for a good team all his career. Kane started out his career way back with the Atlanta Thrashers and he had some much promise there and that he could really do something, but he bounced around to different struggling teams and had some challenges and it never got off the ground for Kane.

This is Kane’s fourth NHL team he previously played for Winnipeg Jets after starting out in Atlanta and then onto Buffalo and now with San Jose. He’s now with a team that might see the results of his hard work. The first period against the Oilers were kind of flat for the team, but in the second period, the Sharks came right out and Kane got had two points with his linemates with a brand new team and really made an impression and played very well in front of the net which sparked the offense in their 5-2 win.

Mary Lisa has the Sharks podcast and every Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com