San Jose Sharks photo of Amaury Pi-Gonzalez and Jesus Zarate.
By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
For the second season in a row, the San José Sharks broadcasted in Spanish on Hispanic Night with Los Tiburones. Live broadcast on KIQI 1010AM/990AM, 10,000 Watts, 24X7X365 in San Francisco, Oakland, San José, Sacramento, Stockton and the Valley. Also, on SAP (Audio Channel), NBCSCA and social media outlets.
Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com
By Ana Kieu
The San Jose State Spartans football team had lost two in a row. So what’s next for the 3-4 team? They’ll head to West Point, N.Y. for the Army Black Knights game this Saturday.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s game:
Game #8
San Jose State at Army West Point
Michie Stadium, West Point, N.Y.
Saturday, October 26, 2019, 12:00 p.m. ET
CBS Sports Network
SJSU record
3-4, 1-3 Mountain West. Most recently, San Jose State lost a Mountain West contest to San Diego State, 27-17, on October 19.
Army record
3-4. Army lost their third consecutive contest, 28-21, at Georgia State, on October 19.
Radio
KKSF (910 AM, Oakland), RealTalk 910, is the new flagship radio station for San Jose State football. Justin Allegri calls the play-by-play. Kevin Richardson provides commentary. The Army broadcast begins at 8:30 a.m. PT with a pregame show.
Network affiliates are KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas), KFIV (1360 AM, Modesto), KWSX (1280 AM, Stockton).
Television
CBS Sports Network will provide broadcast coverage. Ben Holden calls the play-by-play. Ross Tucker provides commentary. Tina Cervasio is the sideline reporter. The CBS Sports Network presentation begins at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT.
Series history
Army leads the series, 1-0. The Black Knights won the first meeting between these teams, 52-3, on October 13, 2018, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
First team trip to New York
The Army game will be the first time a San Jose State football team is playing a game in the state of New York and the tenth contest in the Eastern Time Zone. The Spartans’ last game in the Eastern Time Zone was their AutoNation Cure Bowl victory over Georgia State, 27-16, on December 19, 2015.
Hawaiian optics
San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan and Army head coach Jeff Moncken started their college coaching careers as a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii. Brennan was there for the 1998 season when Fred von Appen was in his third season as the Rainbow Warriors’ head coach. Moncken was a graduate assistant in 1989 when Bob Wagner was in his third season as head coach at Hawaii.
#40 in 2018
In 2018, San Jose State became the 40th school in college football to play each of the three service academies that compete for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
The 2019 season is the first time in school history the Spartans are playing two service academies, Air Force and Army West Point, in the same season.
Bid to become #20
Through the 2018 season, 19 schools have wins over Army, Navy and Air Force. San Jose State with wins over Air Force in 1997 and Navy in 2011 and 2012 can join the group by defeating Army on October 26.
Possible second road win in 2019
San Jose State has its second opportunity this season for a second road win in the same season. The Spartans picked up their first 2019 road victory at Arkansas, 31-24, on September 21.
The 2015 season was the last time San Jose State won two road games in the same season defeating Mountain West opponents UNLV, 33-27 in overtime in Las Vegas, and Hawaii, 42-23, in Honolulu.
The last time San Jose State won two non-conference road games was in back-to-back weeks in 2012 with victories at San Diego State, 38-34, and Navy, 12-0.
Tie for #2 nationally in turnover margin
For the third consecutive week, San Jose State is in the top-three nationally in turnover margin. The Spartans were the national leader in turnover margin in games played through October 5 and October 12.
After games played through October 19, San Jose State is tied for second with San Diego State at 1.57 per game or +11.
The Spartans have 13 interceptions, which leads the country, and five fumble recoveries.
San Jose State has lost the ball on four fumbles and three pass interceptions.
The next running back in 2019
After seven games, four Spartans have started a game at the running back position. The latest is freshman Kairee Robinson against San Diego State. Robinson’s modest rushing totals against San Diego State, 14 carries for 59 yards, are season bests by a Spartan running back this season.
Prior to Robinson receiving the starting call for the first time, senior DeJon Packer started four games; junior Tyler Nevens, one; and freshman Isaiah Holiness, one.
A 99-yard scoring drive
For the first time since 2011, San Jose State had a 99-yard touchdown drive in the recent San Diego State game with an 11-play, 99-yard touchdown drive capped by a Bailey Gaither 8-yard touchdown reception.
In the October 29, 2011 game at Louisiana Tech, San Jose State scored its final touchdown in a 38-28 loss on an 11-play, 99-yard drive that consumed 2:37 of game time. Quarterback Matt Faulkner connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass play to tight end Ryan Otten for the Spartan touchdown.
10 Spartans with a touchdown reception in 2019
Running back Kairee Robinson became the 10th San Jose State player this season with a touchdown catch, thanks to his 15-yard reception in the first quarter of the San Diego State game.
Of the 10 players with a touchdown catch, six are wide receivers, two are tight ends, and two are running backs.
The last time the Spartans had 10 players with a touchdown reception in the same season was in 2016.
photo from sfgate.com: California quarterback Devon Modster, left, hands off to running back Christopher Brown Jr. in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, October 19, 2019.
On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:
#1 The Cal Bears (4-3), in the first half of the game, could never make good use once they got into the red zone except to elect to kick a field goal. If not for that, they would have got shutout in the first half of the game by the Oregon State Beavers (3-4).
#2 Here is a Beavers team, whose been on a struggle, came into Berkeley at 2-4 and there’s Cal, who had a lot of confidence. This would be a great building block going forward after losing their last two games to Oregon and ASU.
#3 Did OSU take Cal out of their game in that first half by scoring two first half touchdowns and holding Cal to only a field goal?
#4 OSU won 21-17. Did Beavers quarterback Jake Luton, who threw 18-34 for 174 yards and two touchdowns, get some good protection and some time to throw the ball Saturday?
#5 Cal travels to Utah to face the Utah Utes (6-1) and the Utes are no pushover. They beat ASU (5-2) in their last game 21-3 on the road in Utah. This is a game that might keep Cal head coach Justin Wilcox up all week.
Morris does the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
athletic.com photo: Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who carried for 121 yards, contributed to the Buckeyes’ landslide win Friday at Northwestern.
On the NCAAF podcast with Michelle:
#1 The Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields threw four touchdowns and running back J.K. Dobbins ran for 121 yards as the No. 4 ranked Buckeyes crushed Northerwestern in a laugher 52-3 on Friday night.
#2 Pittsburgh (5-2, 2-1) edged Syracuse (3-4, 0-3) 27-20 when Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Pickett even used a trick play in one of his touchdowns. The win was Pittsburgh’s fourth consecutive.
#4 Michigan State University head coach Mark Dantonio, who had a seven-hour deposition for wrongful termination issues regarding the recruiting of Austin Robertson, who is in prison for sexual assault. Six MSU players have entered a transfer portal and MSU is in a state of dysfunction are 4-3 this season.
Michelle’s Final Thoughts
Michelle does the NCAAF podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
photo from Houston Chronicle: Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is picked up at home plate after hitting a game-winning, two-run, walk-off home run to win Game 6 of the American League Championship Series in the ninth. Altuve, a 5-foot-6 sparkplug touted as Houston’s heart and soul, didn’t let this one get away.
By Amaury Pi-González
Within seconds of José Altuve’s walk off home-run from Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning of Game 6, which sent the Astros to their second World Series in the last three years, Yankee fans’ hope of winning their 28th World Series banished into the heavy Texas night.
A ‘high and outside’ slider might have been a ball, not a strike if he didn’t swing. But Altuve is one of the best bad ball hitters in baseball. He has not won three batting titles by walking. He comes to the plate looking to hack, most of the time.
This ability to hit pitches that are not strikes is also attributed to some great Hall of Fame players like Yogi Berra, Roberto Clemente, Vladimir Guerrero as well as future member of the Hall of Fame, Adrian Beltré and Albert Pujols and others. Without going that far back in history among great bad ball hitters, the Astros’ current first baseman Yuliesky (Yuli) Gurriel fits that category. Pitchers who know best will tell you the Cuban-born first baseman is one of the toughest outs.
You can analyze all you want about “discipline at the plate,” which is taught in baseball since Little League. I mean, no coach when you are 12 years old tells you to hit a pitch that is ‘head high,” or bouncing two feet before the plate.
These guys are basically born with that ‘God given talent.” You cannot teach these types of guys plate discipline because they just see the ball and hit the ball, regardless where the ball is. They are abundant in talent, talent to hit pitches that many others can only dream of hitting.
These quotes below are courtesy of the Houston Astros Productions.
José Altuve speaking about his faith as a Christian.
“Faith has always been something very important to me and to my family.”
“When my brother and I were growing up, our parents always reminded us to give thanks to God.”
“When we go on a road-trip and I am not with my family, the Bible has always been helpful to me as a Christian. It is like I am born like that, just like being hungry, it is to me to open and read the Bible.”
“Many other players are friends who also are Christians and share the same experiences with me like Robinson Chirinos and Albert Pujols.”
“Nobody tells me what to do, it is a call I have to read the Bible.”
“My favorite verse of the Bible is John: 14.6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In 2017, after the Astros defeated the Dodgers to win the World Series, Altuve — one of the smallest men in baseball, but one of the biggest talents — was as humble as ever as he said: “I give all the glory to God.”
All of Altuve’s 5’6″ and 165 pounds will be at second-base for the Astros when they face the National League Champion, Washington Nationals, in the 115th edition of the World Series.
World Series
Tuesday, October 22
Game 1
FOX National TV (Bay Area KTVU CH 2)
Time: 8:08 ET
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Pitchers: Nationals TBD
Astros: Gerrit Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA)
Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish Major League Baseball broadcast in the Bay Area since the mid-1970’s with the Oakland A’s. Also, most recently, the Spanish voice of San Jose Sharks hockey and one of the most recognizable voices in multiple sports in Spanish in the country. Pi-González is a longtime contributor to this site.
photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco 49ers offensive guard Mike Person walks on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against Washington at Landover MD
By: Joe Lami
The 49ers continue to prove that they win no matter the circumstance, improving their undefeated record to 6-0. Sunday was the most extreme example of the yet as San Francisco brawled out a muddy 9-0 victory in the rain-drenched nation’s capital. The shutout marks the first under the Kyle Shanahan era and brings the 49ers to 6-0 for the third time in their history and the first since 1990.
The defense continues to be the backbone of this team. Washington totaled 156 yards with the Niners completely shut them down in the second half, allowing just 36 yards. Washington also struggled to do much on third down, going three of nine to extend drives.
Adrian Peterson was a workhorse for Washington, picking up 81 yards on 20 carries, including 49 yards on eight carries in the opening drive. Washington was able to copy LA’s opening drive by marching right down the field on the Niners, but the defense was able to make a stand. Dustin Hopkins was no good from 39 yards.
Nick Bosa led the team with seven combined tackles. He also finished off the game to his fourth sack of the season to a slip and slide styled celebration. The defense got to Case Keenum three times with Dee Ford and Arik Armstead joining the fun.
Kwon Alexander made the play of the day, punching out the ball in the middle of a promising Washington drive for the only forced turnover the Niners had.
The offense also improved as the game went on, as Kyle Shanahan started to get more aggressive. 215 of their 283 yards came in the second half. More importantly, the Niners were able to stay on the field, converting 7-of-16 third downs and totaling 17 first downs.
Jimmy Garoppolo was responsible for nine of them, and in a sloppy game, that’s all it takes sometimes. He threw for 151 yards on 12 of 21 passing, but more importantly, he scrambled for 20 yards in crucial situations.
Robbie Gould was three of four, missing his first attempt of the game. The miss marked the seventh of the early season and immediately brought concern about how serious of an issue it’s becoming. Fortunately, he was able to settle into the game, knocking in three-straight.
The Niners’ next test will be next week at home against the 4-2 Carolina Panthers who will have the extra week to prepare coming off their bye.
photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis.
By Jeremy Kahn
Daniel Carlson gave the Oakland Raiders the lead on their first series of the game, but after that it became the Aaron Rodgers Show.
Rodgers went 25-for-31 for 429 yards passing with five touchdowns, as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Raiders 42-24 at Lambeau Field.
Carlson got the Raiders on the board, as he nailed a 42-yard field goal just 2:35 into the game; however, Rodgers took the Packers right down the field and connected with Aaron Jones for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
That would be all the scoring in the first quarter, and then Foster Moreau was on the receiving end of a 10-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead; however, Rodgers decided that it was enough for that lead for the visitors.
Rodgers and the Packers scored the next three touchdowns to take a commanding 28-10 lead before Carr found Darren Waller for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
Once again, the Packers and Rodgers scored the next two touchdowns to give them a 42-17 lead, as Rodgers found Jimmy Graham for a three-yard touchdown and the last touchdown of the game, as he located Marquez Valdes-Scantiling for a 74-yard touchdown pass.
Waller caught his second touchdown of the game with just 1:32 remaining in the game, as he ended the week where he signed a long-term contract in style, when he and Mike Glennon hooked up for 17-yard touchdown pass.
Despite the loss, it was a good day for Carr, who went 22-for-28 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Josh Jacobs continues to shine in his rookie year, as he carried the ball 21 times and gained 124 yards.
Waller was the leading wide receiver for the Raiders, as he caught seven passes for 126 yards and those two touchdowns.
Jones was the leading rusher for the Packers, as he carried the ball 12 for 50 yards, while Valdes-Scantlingwas the leading receiver, as he caught just two passes for 133 yards, that included that 74-yard touchdown pass.
UP NEXT: Once again, the Raiders return to the road, as they face the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 27.
illustration from mlb.com
On the MLB The Show Fall Classic 2019 podcast with Daniel:
1 ALCS — Yankees and Astros, Nationals standing by after sweeping St. Louis in NLCS
2 MLB wants to make sweeping changes to minor leagues
3 Yankee fans taunting Astros’ Zack Greinke for his mental health issues
4 Giants managerial rumor of the week
5 Jeopardy host not a fan of the Phillie Fanatic
photo from sfgate.com: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark, right, reaches for the puck next to San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.
By Mary Walsh
SAN JOSE- The Buffalo Sabres continued their hot start to the season with a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks Saturday. The win brings the Sabres record to 7-1-1. Buffalo goals came from Marcus Johansson, Casey Mittelstadt, Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons. Linus Ullmark made 29 saves in the win. Sharks goals came from Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl and Marcus Sorensen. Sharks goaltender Martin Jones made 31 saves in the loss.
After the game, Sharks forward Timo Meier said:
I think it was a good team game. We took some penalties that we probably shouldn’t have taken. It kind of took the rhythm out of our game, to kill off some penalties, and you know at the end, some energy that might miss. But overall, I think we played a pretty solid game. Like I said, too bad we didn’t come up on top but overall some stuff we can take out of this game.
Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer also thought the team played pretty well:
I liked their resiliency, I thought we battled all night. I thought our game was pretty good tonight. When I look at the seven or eight games we’ve played, that’s probably one of the better sixty minute efforts we got. Penalty kill did a good job, we got a power play goal. I thought we passed up some opportunities to shoot, you know, got a little cute around the net a few times. That might have been the difference.
The Sabres scored first at 12:10 of the first period. Henri Jokiharju carried the puck into the zone and made a drop pass to Marcus Johansson in the slot. Johansson took a shot just as Jokiharju passed in front of him. The puck went off of Jones and trickled across the line Assists went to Jokiharju and Marco Scandella.
The Sharks tied it on a power play at 16:00. With Marleau screening the goaltender, Timo Meier took a pass from Joe Thornton below the goal line. Meier’s quick shot went into the top corner for his second of the season. Assists went to Thornton and Erik Karlsson.
The Sabres took the lead back near the end of the second period when Casey Mittelstadt scored on a shot that was initially called a goal, then disallowed by the on-ice officials as being scored with a high stick. An official review reversed that reversal and called it a good goal. Assists went to Jokiharju and Jimmy Vesey.
The Sharks tied the game again 44 seconds into the third period on another power play. Erik Karlsson took a shot that went off of Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen. Tomas Hertl had taken a shot that rebounded out to Karlsson. Hertl and Evander Kane we both nearby when the puck went in but it did appear that Karlsson was the last Shark to touch it. Nevertheless, the goal went to Hertl with assists to Karlsson and Logan Couture.
Buffalo took their third lead of the game at 2:28 of the third with a goal from Jeff Skinner. Marcus Johansson tried to take a shot as he skated to the net but he didn’t get all of it and instead the puck slid slowly toward Martin Jones. Jones kicked it away but had come out too far to properly recover when puck went to his right. Skinner skated in behind him and was able to backhand the puck into the net for his fifth of the season. Assists went to Jake McCabe and Johansson.
The Sharks tied it again just 22 seconds later when Brent Burns’ blue line shot went off of Marcus Sorensen’s skate. The puck bounced over Ullmark’s leg and under his blocker.
Zemgus Girgensons scored the game winner at 12:15 of the period. Johan Larsson took a shot from above the face off circle. Martin Jones was set to stop it but it hit Kyle Okposo in the back instead of getting through to Jones. That created a rebound that Girgensons was able to pick up and shoot back in before Jones could find the puck. Assists went to Okposo and Larsson.
The Sharks will play the Sabres again in Buffalo on Tuesday at 3:30 PM PT.
Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com
By Ana Kieu
San Jose State was looking to stun San Diego State in their Homecoming game Saturday night. But the Spartans’ wish wasn’t granted as the Aztecs spoiled one of the liveliest games of the year at CEFCU Stadium.
Ultimately, a strong first half and a late comeback attempt against one of the nation’s top defenses wasn’t enough as San Diego State battled past San Jose State for a 27-17 win. The Aztecs improve to 6-1, while the Spartans fall to 3-4.
San Jose State quarterback Josh Love threw for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but San Diego State dueled their way to a win.
“We just made a few too many mistakes to beat a team as good as them,” said Spartans head coach Brent Brennan after the game. “It was a little frustrating because I felt like there were moments where we had a chance to make it fun.”
San Jose State found themselves in an early deficit after the game’s opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown. However, the Spartans would promptly answer right back, going on a four play, 66-yard scoring drive to tie the score at 7-7 at 13:11 of the first quarter.
The quick-hitting scoring possession was capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Love to Spartan freshman running back Kairee Robinson. The play marked the first career reception and touchdown for Robinson.
Ranked #4 nationally in rushing defense heading into the afternoon, San Diego State was able to limit the Spartan ground attack for the majority of the night. San Jose State finished with 54 total yards on the ground and was led by a 59-yard performance for Robinson.
“I thought Kairee did a really nice job tonight,” Brennan said when asked about Robinson. “It was exciting to see him get in there. He’s a freshman and it’s always fun to see a freshman go in there and run the football against a good group like he did.”
San Jose State wideout Bailey Gaither also impressed and found the end zone on a late 8-yard touchdown reception. Gaither would end the day leading all players with four receptions for 75 yards.
After getting even at 7-7, San Diego State tallied 20 of the game’s next 23 points to take a 27-10 lead. The only interruption to the run came on a third quarter field goal off the foot of the Spartan kicker Matt Mercurio, a 25-yarder that was the freshman’s ninth of the season.
The scoring drive went an impressive 68 yards, spanning 14 plays that featured four Love completions and four Robinson carries.
The Aztecs tallied a pair of touchdown runs — one short (1 yard), one long (50 yards) — on their next two possessions but the hosts refused to go quietly into the night.
Starting from its own 1-yard line with just over nine minutes remaining, San Jose State marched 99 yards down the field to keep itself in the game. Highlighted by a huge 52-yard reception for Gaither, he would then snag a touchdown pass from Love three plays later to cut the deficit to 27-17.
The 99-yard touchdown drive marked the Spartans’ longest of the season.
A spirited Spartan defense got the ball back for its offense on the ensuing possession, pushing San Diego State back for negative three yards on five plays. The comeback attempt would soon be extinguished, however, as the Aztecs forced their first turnover of the night following yet another punt that pinned San Jose State on its own 1-yard line.
San Jose State ended the night with a 218-88 advantage in passing yards and were only flagged once to San Diego State’s 12 penalties. The Aztecs entered Saturday ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (13.2 points per game) and the Spartans converted on all three of its trips inside the red zone before the night was over.
NOTES: For the first time this season, San Jose State is 1 game under .500 after the loss to San Diego State … The 348 yards San Jose State allowed in the San Diego State game was the second fewest allowed in a game this season … San Jose State allowed 287 yards in the season-opening Northern Colorado victory … San Jose State’s 99-yard touchdown scoring drive in the fourth quarter was its longest of the season and its second 90-plus yard touchdown drive in 2019 … The Spartans had a 93-yard, 7-play drive in the New Mexico win on October 4 … San Jose State’s two quarterback sacks are the most in a game since the four sacks in the Northern Colorado season opener … Kairee Robinson became the fourth different starting running back this season for San Jose State when he was on the field for the first Spartan offensive play of the San Diego State game. Robinson scored his first major college touchdown on a 15-yard reception. He led the Spartans in rushing with 59 yards on 14 carries, the most rushing yards in a game by a Spartan running back this season … The 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game by San Diego State’s Kaegun Williams was the first kickoff return for a touchdown against San Jose State since Stanford’s Chad Owusu returned a kickoff 94 yards against the Spartans in 2009 … Matt Mercurio’s 25-yard third-quarter field goal was his sixth straight conversion since he missed a 41-yard try against New Mexico … Spartan linebacker Tysyn Parker shared game-high honors for tackles with 10 stops. It was the second time in his career he was credited with 10-plus tackles in a game. Both double figure tackle games were against San Diego State. As a freshman in 2016, he was in on 16 tackles … For the second straight game, San Jose State was 3-for-3 in red zone scoring opportunities … The San Diego State game marked the second time this season the Spartans didn’t come up with a fumble recovery or interception.
UP NEXT: The Spartans look ahead to their non-conference finale, where they’ll travel to New York to face the Army Black Knights on Saturday, October 26 at 9:00 a.m. PT at Michie Stadium.
