RealClearSports: Maria Is Just Fine; How's Serena?

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

STANFORD, Calif. -- It's easier to get information out of Washington than the WTA, which used to be called the Women's Tennis Association, an organization which keeps secrets with ways the White House only wishes it could.

The ladies are in Northern California this week, at the Bank of the West Classic on the Stanford campus, where if the importance doesn't quite equal that of Wimbledon or the upcoming U.S. Open, the setting is far more enticing.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Giants rookie busting out in a big way

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — We’re already down to a first-name only basis: “Buster.” That’s enough. For the Giants, for their fans, that’s plenty.

They’ve been waiting for this, waiting for a player like Buster Posey, a player who’s their own, a player who evokes memories even as he presents possibilities.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Exorbitant Salaries? Just Supply and Demand

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

In Britain, where austerity is in vogue and government budget cuts affect the health system, schools and other vital services, Liverpool of the Premier League signed free-agent soccer star Joe Cole for four years at $7.4 million a year. Hardly austere.

On this side of the Atlantic, the New Jersey Devils, based in Newark, a city with an unemployment rate of more than 13 percent, happily re-signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a 17-year, $102 million contract. Even though rejected by the National Hockey League, it disturbed many citizens.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: New ownership for Warriors a good place to start

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Coming from the entertainment industry, where he was the poobah of National General, the late Gene Klein was used to having things his own way, which is what happens when you are successful in business. In fact, that is what makes you successful in business.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Suddenly, Americans Can't Play Golf

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

It is an accepted premise the United States, until proven differently, isn't going to be a winner in soccer. From a parochial view, tennis is rather hopeless, other than Ms. Serena. Now we can't play golf, at least as well as the rest of the world.

Maybe provincialism is an outdated philosophy anyway. Borders are easily crossed. Maria Sharapova resides in Florida. So does Ernie Els. Ian Poulter, an Englishman who also spends much of the year in Florida, is sponsored by Mutual of Omaha, and it's hard to get much more American than that.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010