RealClearSports: Super Bowl Media Day: Senseless, Harmless

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- “Name the Kardashian sisters.’’ Was that an order? Or a request? Rob Gronkowski sat and thought. Maybe better than being asked what kind of tree he would be if he were a tree. But not by much.

Super Bowl media day, when 100 football players, if not all at once, and 100,000 journalists, cameramen and assorted mountebanks -- well, more like 3,000, but it seems like 100,000 -- gather to annoy each other.

“Kim,’’ began Gronkowski, the Patriots’ tight end. “Khloe ...“

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© RealClearSports 2012

Global Golf Post: Troubles Build for Mickelson

By Art Spander
For GlobalGolfPost.com

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA -- This wasn't what the Farmers Insurance Open needed, the hometown kid -- well, he's no longer a kid and maybe this is the issue -- missing the cut. And, because that Tiger guy wasn't around, other than around the world, it left a void in the superstar category.

Phil Mickelson had won the tournament, once known as the Buick Invitational, three times. He was the biggest name at Torrey Pines. What a site and sight it is, rambling along the bluffs above the breaking surf.

His participation, however...

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Copyright 2012 Global Golf Post

RealClearSports: Golfer Holmes Rebounds After Brain Surgery

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- There were no guarantees. The last of the six doctors J.B. Holmes saw told him brain surgery probably would help him. Probably.

"Difficulty-wise, he said for brain surgery, it was only about a 1 out of 10,'' Holmes said. "That made me feel better. But it was still brain surgery. Scary at first."

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 RealClearSports

SF Examiner: Niners' elevated expectations die hard

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The man understands how the 49ers feel. The team for which he played 30 years ago also came within a game of the Super Bowl.

"We were one dropped pass away," he said.

The man, who needs to remain anonymous...

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Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: For 49ers and Ravens, Timing Is All Wrong

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Something was going to happen. Eli Manning made that observation. Something always does happen. Football, like life, is about timing.

Football, like life, also is about accountability.

Eli and Tom Brady are going to another Super Bowl, verification of their skills and, on pass patterns, their timing.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012