Newsday (N.Y.): Giants 'D' outshone 49ers counterparts

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

SAN FRANCISCO -- The 49ers fans kept chanting "defense,'' and they got defense. From the Giants.

That's the way a team gets to the Super Bowl, by giving the opponent very little. When it counted, that was what the Giants gave San Francisco, controlling the line of scrimmage, controlling the clock. And getting a turnover that turned the game.

Ultimately, that turned the Giants...

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Newsday. All rights reserved.

SF Examiner: Thrilling 49ers season comes to sad end

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

What can we say? What should we say?

Remember that Adlai Stevenson remark, that “it hurts too much to laugh, but I’m too old to cry”?

It’s hard to hold back the tears after this one. As hard as it was for star-crossed Kyle Williams to hold the football.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

Newsday (N.Y.): San Fran finds its offensive man in Roman

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

SAN FRANCISCO -- When Greg Roman came to the lectern in the tent-like facility at Santa Clara that the San Francisco 49ers use for media interviews, he noticed a plastic bottle of water next to the microphone.

He reached for it, halted and then, with a smirk, asked, "Vic didn't drink from this, did he?''

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Newsday. All rights reserved.

RealClearSports: Harbaugh Keeps Everyone Off Balance

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There is a rhythm to Jim Harbaugh's words, if not exactly a pattern. After all, any football coach wants to keep the opponent guessing, make him feel off balance, and maybe nobody does that better than Harbaugh.

Maybe nobody coaches better either.

In his first season in charge, Harbaugh has the San Francisco 49ers...

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012

SF Examiner: New mindset looks right on 49ers Alex Smith

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

Now it's not an issue of redemption. Alex Smith has made it through the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, made it past the New Orleans Saints. Now it's not a matter of words, of arguing his worth.

Now it's getting to the Super Bowl.

He knows he's endured, knows he's survived, knows he's been called a bust...

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company