San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks meet the crème de crème of hockey in Tampa Bay and Washington lose both

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) after scoring the second goal on San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the San Jose Sharks on December 4, 2017, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. The Capitals defeated the Sharks 4-1. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

On the SJ Sharks Podcast with Len:

The San Jose Sharks got outscored on this three game swing in Florida, Tampa Bay and Washington scoring three goals in five games. This just shows you the problems the Sharks are having and also the problems in the long term since the season started. The Sharks are next to last in the NHL in goals scored with 66 the team that’s on the bottom of the league in goals is the Buffalo Sabers with 56.

This just shows you what going on with the Sharks who are struggling they can’t put a good offensive game together on a regular basis. The game with the Washington Capitals on Monday night the Sharks couldn’t take care of the physicality of the Caps who were checking, checking players into the boards, and the end a four game road trip on the east coast and didn’t do it and the Sharks right now have three injuries with Joonas Donskoi, Melker Karlsson, and Tim Heed as they come back to San Jose to open a three game homestand starting Thursday night against Carolina.

Len has much more on this podcast join him each week for the SJ Sharks podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris Phillips: St Mary’s was the more experienced team Saturday night; Cal faces Central Arkansas Wednesday night

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AP File photo: St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett reacts to a referee’s call during the second half an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Freshly ousted with an early exit in the West Coast Conference tournament, Saint Mary’s made the quiet flight home and returned to campus. Coach Randy Bennett sent home the seniors and called a team meeting for the underclassmen that began about 10 p.m. He did the talking, for about an hour: The Gaels hadn’t been close to good enough and this would be a painful lesson. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

On the Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris:

You could have not scripted a more lopsided game than the 74-63 loss to the St Mary’s Gaels at Haas Pavilion as the Cal Bears dropped their fourth out five games it was a match up due to St Mary’s experience. Cal has seven new players and are one of the youngest teams in Division one. Then you have St Mary’s who just resigned their coach Randy Bennett to a ten year deal Bennett had already coached for 12 years at St Marys.

St Mary’s has experienced and veteran players that have the potential to topple a team like Gonzaga in the national championship game last year. So in terms of experience and in terms of continuity you couldn’t find a more lopsided match up. Maybe we should be applauding Cal for only losing by 11 points. There were some disturbing things that we will talk about on this podcast. The Bears host Central Arkansas on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion.

Morris Phillips does the Cal Bears Podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NCAA Football Podcast with Michelle Richardson: SC in remarkable Pac 12 Championship; Sooner leave little doubt; Boise defense supplies win

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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) calls the signal during the Big 12 Championship Game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Oklahoma Sooners on December 2, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

Michelle on the NCAA Football podcast this week:

1 SC got a roll and a big victory over Stanford 31-28 quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 325 and two touchdowns to advance to the Fiesta Bowl

2 The Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) left little doubt with a 41-17 victory over the TCU Froghorns (10-3) on Saturday Ok quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 243 yards and four touchdowns Mayfield had a great year

3 Boise State Broncos (10-3) are first in the MWC with a narrow 17-14 win over Fresno State Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien threw for 246 yards and no interceptions

4 Michelle’s final thoughts

Michelle Richardson does the NCAA Football podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

NHL Podcast with Daniel Dullum: NHL power rankings; NHL only league not to allow players to Olympics; Habs back in contention; plus more

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Montreal Canadiens’ Paul Byron scores against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

On the NHL Podcast with Daniel:

1 NHL power rankings are out – a surprise or two; Sharks at No. 12

2 Leagues that will allow players to play in 2018 Olympics

3 Rivalries between stars, teams not always easy to create

4 Montreal back in playoff contention

5 NHL’s first Australian player hits waiver wire

Daniel Dullum does the NHL Podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors get it going in second half and dominate Heat 123-95 in Miami

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Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, right, and Kevin Durant react on the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Miami. The Warriors won 123-95. (AP Photo/Joe Skipper)

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors had the day off on Saturday in Miami. “Just needed to get some sun and hit the clubs,” head coach Kerr deadpanned with clear sarcasm “That’s what the coaches and I did. We were out all night.” The rest did wonders for the club as they sent the Heat down to defeat Sunday night by a score of 123-95.

The two teams played a very competitive first half. The Heat outscored the Warriors 36-33 in the first quarter. The Warriors fought back and led by just two points at the end of the half (62-60). Curry led the club with 20 points.

The Warriors took control of the game at the beginning of the third period as they went on an 18-3 run. They outscored the Heat by 20 points in the quarter, and Kerr did not play Curry or Durant in the fourth period. In fact, the Warrior defense was so good they held the heat to just 35 points for the entire second half as they won going away.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this about the Dubs: “Golden State took it to a different level…What I wanted to see was a competitive response.”

Heat’s leading scorer, Goran Dragic, said this: “The first half we competed with them. Second half, we didn’t.”

Game notes and stats — Curry scored 30 points in 30 minutes of action and was Plus 20 when he was on the floor. “Nothing magical or no secret sauce to it,” Curry said. “Just trying to be efficient.”

Warriors’ Shaun Livingston got ejected with 6:24 left in the first half after going forehead-to-forehead with referee Courtney Kirkland while arguing a non-call. Kirkland said the ejection “was for making physical contact with me.”

Durant knocked down 24 and had seven assists and three rebounds. He was plus-18. Draymond Green didn’t score a lot, but his presence was felt when he was on the court as he ended the game with a plus-32. He scored four points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Klay Thompson added 19, four assists, five rebounds and he was plus-33. Omri Casspi led the bench with 10 and David West knocked down eight.

Leading scorers for Miami were Goran Dragovic with 20, Josh Richardson 12, Kelly Olynyk 14, and Tyler Johnson 13. Dion Waiters, who torched the Dubs when they were beaten in Miami, was 1-for-10 from the floor and scored just four points. He was minus-23 during his playing time.

The Warriors made 47 field goals, good for 56% from the floor, and held the Heat to just 33 field goals and 40.7% shooting. The Warriors outrebounded them 47-28. The Dubs recorded 32 assists and they committed just 10 turnovers. They also had four steals and four blocked shots.

The Warriors play their third game in four nights as they travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans. Shaun Livingston will be given the night off. Game time is at 5 pm.

Barracuda defeats Condors 2-1 for Coach Roy Sommer’s 700th career AHL win

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Alexandra Evans

BAKERSFIELD–First things first, the San Jose Barracuda’s win over the Bakersfield Condors tonight marked their coach Roy Sommer’s 700th career win, the most wins of any coach in AHL history.

Roster update: Marcus Sorensen was called up to the Sharks yesterday. He exceeds all Barracuda players in points with 14, and ranks T-2nd in goals (5) and assists (9). Manuel Wiederer has also returned to the ice following a concussion. Also, defenseman Michael Brodzinski was moved to the forward position, playing right wing for the evening.

Both teams excelled defensively in the first period, though the Cuda could not manage to make it past the Condors’ defense and were, at one point, outshot 9-0. Forward Iiro Pakarinen, who was recently reassigned to the Condors from the Edmonton Oilers (their NHL affiliate), made a wrist shot over Cuda goaltender Antoine Bibeau’s to give the Condors a 1-0 lead on the power play at the 12:42. Defenseman Cavan Fitzgerald tied the score at 16:51 with a wrist shot from the blue line, assisted by Jeremy Roy and Rudolfs Balcers. The score remained tied 1-1 at the end of the first period.

Each team held one another scoreless in the second period, at the end of which the Condors had 19 shots compared to the Cuda’s nine. Wiederer handed the Cuda a 2-1 victory when he notched a goal, his second of the season, at 8:42, assisted by John McCarthy and Jacob Middleton.

Bibeau made 30 saves on 31 shots for his fifth straight win this season, defeating Condors goaltender Eddie Pasquale who made 18 saves on 20 shots.

The Cuda will face the Condors, who beat them 6-0 in the preseason, another nine times this season. They are back at home on Wednesday, December 6 to face the Stockton Heat.

Long Beach State rallies to upend Cardinal 76-68

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Photo credit: Stanford Cardinal

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, December 3, 2017

Despite the efforts of junior Reid Travis, the Stanford Cardinal dropped a 78-66 men’s basketball decision to the Long Beach State 49ers Sunday in a non-conference game at Walter Pyramid.

Travis posted his third double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 26 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. It was the seventh time Travis has topped the 20-point mark this season, scoring 18 of his points in the second half.

Stanford (4-6) led by as many as five points midway through the second half before the 49ers (4-6) rallied to take the lead with eight minutes to play.

Travis scored eight straight points to pull the Cardinal to within 62-61 at 3:21 of the second half. Long Beach State responded with an 8-0 run in the final three minutes, scoring 14 of the game’s last 21 points.

Jordan Griffin scored eight straight points during the 49ers game-clinching run. Griffin led LBSU with 21 points, followed by Bryan Alberts (15), Gave Levin (13) and Deishaun Booker (13).

Freshman Isaac White added 17 points for the Cardinal, and senior Michael Humphrey had 13 points and six rebounds.

The 49ers scored 17 points off 17 Stanford turnovers. LBSU outshot the Cardinal 51 percent (28-55) to 49 percent (28 of 57, 6-19 3-pointers), including 45 percent from 3-point range (10 of 22).

At the free throw line, LBSU hit 63 percent from the stripe (10 of 16), while Stanford was 60 percent (6 of 10).

The Cardinal held a 37-24 rebounding edge and collected five steals.

After a break for final exams, the Cardinal return to action on Friday, Dec. 19, hosting the Denver Pioneers at 7 p.m. PST at Maples Pavilion.

Marshawn Lynch records first 100-yard rushing game since October 2015 in Raiders’ 24-17 win over NY Giants

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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch (24) scores a touchdown in front of New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — Don’t look now, but Raiders’ running back Marshawn Lynch has gotten his running legs under him in 2017.

With Oakland playing without starting wide receivers Michael Crabtree (serving a one-game suspension) and Amari Cooper (out with a concussion and ankle injury), Lynch was the focal point for the Raiders Sunday rushing for 101 yards on 17 carries in a 24-17 win over the visiting New York Giants. Lynch’s 51-yard touchdown run up the middle of the Giants’ defense in the first quarter on Oakland’s first drive of the game was a classic “Beast Mode” run that the Silver and Black were expecting when Lynch came out of retirement in the offseason to play for his hometown Raiders.

It was Lynch’s first 100-yard rushing game since October 2015 when he was member of the Seattle Seahawks. The former Seahawk demolished the 49ers, rushing for 122 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in a 20-3 Seattle victory at San Francisco in Week 5 that season.

In Oakland’s 21-14 victory over the visiting Denver Broncos in Week 12, Lynch had 100 yards total from scrimmage, rushing for 67 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown, while also helping out in the passing game with three receptions for 43 yards.

By virtue of their win over Big Blue, culminating with Kansas City’s 38-31 loss to the Jets at MetLife Stadium in New York and the Chargers’ 19-10 home win over the helpless Browns Sunday, the Raiders find themselves in a three-way tie with the Chiefs and Chargers for first-place in the AFC West at 6-6 with four games to go.

Kansas City remains in first-place by holding a better division record as they are 2-1 inside of the division, while Oakland and Los Angeles are 2-2. Each team plays each other in the final month.

Oakland heads to Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday to face Kansas City with first place on the line in Week 14 and if you’re Raider Nation, you want to see Lynch run the ball more.  For the season, Lynch has 140 carries for 558 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games started this season.

The last time Lynch saw the Chiefs, he was being ejected from the game after racing off the Raiders’ sideline and making contact with an official while trying to defuse an altercation involving Lynch’s cousin, Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, and the Raiders’ offensive line. Oakland held on for a 31-30 victory over Kansas City in Week 7 at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Lynch finished the game with two carries for nine yards.

Kansas City has lost their last four straight games, and are just 1-4 in their last five games after starting the season 5-2 and holding down the top perch in the AFC West for most of the season.

Raiders’ playoffs still in sight after 24-17 win over Giants at Coliseum

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Oakland Raiders wide receiver Johnny Holton (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — Entering the game, the Oakland Raiders knew that a win over the New York Giants coupled with a loss by the Kansas City Chiefs would put them in the hunt for the AFC West crown.

Marshawn Lynch carried the ball 17 times for 101 yards, that included a season-long 51-yard touchdown run on the Raiders’ third play from scrimmage and the Raiders hung on to defeat the New York Giants 21-17 before a crowd of 54,994 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

“It was obviously an explosive play. I think it was the longest run of the year for him with us. It was a great job executing the play and him hitting it and taking t to the house. It was awesome for us to get that start,” said Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio.

With the victory, and the Chiefs loss to the New York Jets, the Raiders, the Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers are tied for the lead in the AFC West with four games remaining.

Lynch took the ball on all three plays of the Raiders’ initial drive that culminated with him finding a hole and scampering 51 yards to the end zone to give the Raiders a quick 7-0 lead just 1:31 after getting the ball from the Giants, who went three-and-out on the first drive of the game.

Without the services of the suspended Michael Crabtree and the injured Amari Cooper, who missed the game due to an ankle injury, Derek Carr found other weapons in his arsenal on the afternoon.

Carr ended the afternoon going 22-for-36 with 287 yards passing and a touchdown, as the Raiders stayed in the playoff hunt.

Seth Roberts led the Raiders in catches, as he caught five passes for 46 yards, while Cordarrelle Patterson caught four passes for a team-leading 97 yards.

Johnnie Holton caught three passes for 39 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown pass that gave the Raiders a 24-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

“I knew it was a touchdown. I took some steps I feel. I tried to make the defender miss, the ball ended up coming out, but I recovered it to make sure it was a touchdown for sure,” said Holton.

Just prior to the Holton touchdown pass, the Giants cut the Raiders’ lead down to 17-14, as Geno Smith found rookie Evan Engram for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Engram led the Giants with seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. The talented rookie also made a terrific one-handed catch to get the Giants into field goal on what ended up being their final drive of the afternoon.

After there was no scoring in the third quarter, the two teams scored on every possession in the fourth quarter.

DeAndre Washington gave the Raiders a 10-point lead, as he scampered in from nine yards out and then Engram got the Giants within three. Then, Holton essentially put the game with his 16-yard touchdown pass and then Aldrick Rosas closed the scoring with his 52-yard field goal.

In his first game as starter of the Giants, Smith went 21-for-34 for 212 yards passing and a touchdown.

Smith became the first quarterback not named Eli Manning to start a game for the Giants in the last 210 games, the second-longest streak in NFL history behind Brett Favre’s 297 consecutive game streak.

“I thought Geno competed at a high level. There were a couple fumbles, we’ll have to take a look at the tape. The one where he was throwing, trying to pull it back, and it got away from him. The one where the ball got ripped out of his hands there. That nice two-minute drive at the end of the ball game, he did something creative and threw a nice ball for the touchdown. I thought he competed,” said Giants head coach Ben McAdoo.

The Giants went right down the field following the Carr to Holton touchdown pass, and Rosas nailed a 52-yard field goal with 1:38 remaining; however, the Raiders recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Notes: Now the Raiders head back out on the road to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Chiefs, next Sunday afternoon. In their previous meeting, the Raiders edged the Chiefs 31-30, as Carr found Crabtree in the end zone with no time remaining and Giorgio Tavecchio nailed the extra point to give the Raiders that improbable victory. The Chiefs are heading home after a 38-31 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Jimmy Garoppolo is Difference Maker in 49ers’ 15-14 Victory over Bears

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San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks for an open man against the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (Mark Black/Daily Herald via AP)

By: Joe Lami

It came down to the last play of the game, but Jimmy Garoppolo’s debut start for the San Francisco 49ers was victorious as the hapless team defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 on Sunday afternoon.

“I thought it was a real good first start. He handled the offense well. [He] definitely moved the chains and the ball for us. It’ll be fun to get back and watch the tape and be able to coach him through what he did good and did bad,” said coach Kyle Shanahan.

Robbie Gould’s return to Chicago was perfect, as he nailed five field goals all within 35 yards in the victory.

Although the 49ers didn’t get into the end zone, Garoppolo was the difference as he was able to get San Francisco’s offense moving, throwing the ball down the field and reaching the red zone five times. He finished the day 26-of-37 for 293 yards and one interception, which had a completion stolen out of the hands from Louis Murphy Jr.

This season, San Francisco had five losses all decided by three points or less, but the difference on Sunday was Garoppolo and his ability to move the offense.

The biggest difference Garoppolo made came on third down, as the 49ers’ nearly doubled their efficiency with him on the field, converting 58% of their third downs.

Most impressively, he led the 49ers on their drive, going 86 yards on 14 plays in the last 5:23, setting up Gould’s 24-yard game-winning field goal.

The Bears’ offense was held to only one touchdown and 147 net yards as the 49ers’ defense showed up to play. Chicago’s first touchdown came out of the hands of rookie quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, who finished the day throwing just 102 yards.

Their second score came on special teams when Tarik Cohen returned a 62-yard punt return to the house.

The 49ers’ earn Shanahan’s second career win and up their record to 2-10 as Garoppolo makes this team look a lot better down the stretch of the season with four games to go.