CBSSports.com: Venus lone woman to carry Stripes at U.S. Open

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

NEW YORK -- Not so very long ago, Venus Williams was a tennis ingenue, the kid with beads in her hair and fire in her serve. Now, as U.S. women's tennis sinks to levels once unimagined, she has become the savior.

It's hard to believe that with her younger sister Serena, the world's top player, missing because of an injury, Venus is the only American among the 32 seeded women in the U.S. Open.

Read the full story here.

© 2010 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved.

RealClearSports: Tiger Woods Is Anything But Finished

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

Tiger Woods is finished. That's not me talking, That's Drew Magary, who writes for several Internet sites, including Deadspin and according to one admirer, "possesses a keen insight into pro sports' unyielding loads of,'' well, we paraphrase and use "garbage."

Which one might consider Magary's prediction about Woods.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: New year, new message for Raiders

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

NAPA — Slogans they got. You’re familiar with “Commitment to Excellence,” the words if not the results. Now the Raiders are presenting players T-shirts that in effect sneer at the derision the team unfortunately has earned in recent years.

“The Affirmation, Champions,” one motto begins, on the front and then switches to the back. “We are going to win the AFC West and then after the Super Bowl.” My, my.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Leaking Baseball's Worst-Kept Secret

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

You mean it took secret information to confirm the Pittsburgh Pirates haven't spent for talent? No one could figure that out when the Buccos are waddling through an 18th consecutive losing season?

We needed a leak from the inner sanctums about the financial statements of this team and other teams? Sure. And please put a video on YouTube.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Favre-vs.-Childress Show Goes West

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The star system is unbeatable. No "I'' in team, the coaches advise. But there is I in "ratings.'' And "interest.'' Roger Clemens virtually everywhere Thursday. Brett Favre almost everywhere else, including the front page of USA Today.

We felt rejected out here in the State of Confusion, a.k.a California. All the lunacy involving New York, Darrelle Revis, Clemens, Carmelo Anthony, K-Rod.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010