Up on SFGate right now: Niner Fans, This is Partially on You

I have a question for the foolish faction of the 49er Faithful who finally spit out the Kool-Aid when Mike Singletary got fired last week.

Do you still want winners?

The team has now missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year, going 45-82 (.354) during that stretch. Despite their efforts, Patrick Willis and Frank Gore’s best years are going to waste.

Wait, I have a second question.

Do you still believe that Jed York is going to seriously consider uncle Eddie DeBartolo's blueprint on how to successfully run a professional football franchise?

With a sweetheart stadium deal in place after exploiting the residents of Santa Clara, and profit margins on the up-and-up thanks to season ticket sales and merchandising revenue, there is no incentive for the Yorks to change their ways.

And with in-house Trent Baalke all but a formality to be hired as the new general manager (and on the cheap, might I add), I think I can tell you their next move.

LINK: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/557842-niner-fans-this-is-partially-on-you

For the Love of the Sport...and the Community

Two of the best fighters to ever come out of Sacramento met in the ring a couple weeks ago in nearby Elk Grove as former three-time world champion Tony “The Tiger” Lopez edged a four-round decision victory over former California State champion Richard “Trino” Savala in a charity bout.

The longtime friends teamed up with the Shotgun Boxing Crew and the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, an organization that provides a sanctuary for the area’s abused and neglected children, most of whom are in foster care.

“Christmas was coming around,” said Savala, who was also known as “Mr. KO” during his heyday for his potent displays of power. “Me and Tony do a lot of volunteer work. Because of the budget cuts, a lot of foster kids were going to go without [gifts]. I had a connection to the Children’s Receiving Home where they take the kids where they get taken from their parents, so I called them up. We didn’t expect it to be this full-blown of a success, however.”

Lopez and Savala ensured that these kids would see that the community cared, with about $4,000 going to CRH along with over 100 presents, a figure big enough for each child to receive something special for Christmas.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/for-the-love-of-the-sportand-the-community

Barry Tompkins: Broadcast Basics and Words of Wisdom

BERKELEY, CA -- A boxing fan is appreciative of the foundation that has been laid over the years by the cumulative contributors to the sport. Compared with following other sports, being an aficionado of the “Sweet Science” often requires looking through a historian’s lens.

With that said, I was fortunate to recently run into someone who’s seen it all. Announcer Barry Tompkins is one of the best to ever do it. Over a 42-year career in broadcast television, the versatile Tompkins has earned six CableACE awards, four Emmys, a Press Club Award, and the Sam Taub Award for boxing commentator of the year. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 for his trendsetting work on HBO, ESPN, and Fox Sports Net, among other channels.

It’s Christmas here at Maxboxing as the resident of nearby Marin County imparted a few insightful comments and shared some of the secrets that have kept him a standard-bearer in the broadcasting industry for the last four decades.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/main-lead/barry-tompkins-broadcast-basics-and-words-of-wisdom

Is Humberto Soto in No-Man’s Land? How HBO Can Change That

If the cancellation of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s fight last Saturday deterred you from ponying up the $44.95 to pay for the rest of the Top Rank-promoted card, you missed a hell of a show.

After Nonito Donaire reassured the boxing world he was worthy of his spot among the top five fighters in the sport with a dominant stoppage of Wladimir Sidorenko, WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto defeated Urbano Antillon in a hellacious battle of attrition that many appreciative fans have pegged “Fight of the Year.”

Following the victory, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum proposed a two-stage, single-elimination lightweight tournament where Soto, 54-7-2 (32), would defend his title against Brandon Rios, 26-0-1 (19), with the other semifinal featuring Antillon challenging IBF 135-pound titlist Miguel Vazquez.

While in theory, such fights would be barnburners to the hardcore fan’s delight, the question remains whether they would be worth the warrior’s time at this stage of his career. Honestly, if he were to beat Rios and face the winner of Vazquez-Antillon, how much money could Soto really make from those two bouts when compared to the other options at 135 and up?

Having been passed over for a shot against Manny Pacquiao in the past, Soto’s current prospects for bigger paydays lie in a unification bout with Juan Manuel Marquez or television-friendly names like Michael Katsidis, Robert Guerrero, or even Juan Diaz. So what’s stopping these fights from airing on Home Box Office?

LINK TO FULL STORY: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/is-humberto-soto-in-no-mans-land-how-hbo-can-change-that

Kayode Powers Through Perry; Franco Beats Hunter

Santa Ynez, CA – NABO/NABF cruiserweight holder Lateef Kayode extended his impressive knockout streak to 14 with a sixth–round stoppage of Ed Perry in the main event of last night’s edition of “ShoBox: The New Generation” from the Chumash Casino Resort.

In the co-feature, Luis Franco remained unbeaten after an eighth-round disqualification victory against Eric Hunter for the vacant NABO featherweight title.

LINK: http://bit.ly/gtfKEr

Coming Up Short? Giants Replace Uribe with Tejada

Juan Uribe’s departure to Los Angeles through free agency yesterday left a chasm at shortstop the size of Chavez Ravine for the defending world champion Giants.

Enter Miguel Tejada.

After the playoff hero signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Dodgers, San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean moved quickly and nabbed Tejada, formerly of the Padres, with a one-year deal that will eventually add up to $7 million.


LINK: http://sportsdivision.ning.com/profiles/blogs/coming-up-short

My debut on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area!

Hi everyone,

Comcast Sports Net Bay Area has published my latest article about Oakland's super middleweight champion Andre Ward on the front page of their website.

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/12/01/10/Bay-Area-fight-focus-Whats-next-for-Ward/landing.html?blockID=364221&feedID=2497

Check it out, and if you like it, feel free to share the link or recommend it!