RealClearSports: Lakers-Suns: As Good As It Gets

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

Remember the film from a few years back, “As Good as it Gets’’? Jack Nicholson was in that one. Nicholson, who as always, was courtside Thursday night when the Lakers and Suns played a game that was, yes, as good as it gets.

Maybe it wasn’t for Suns fans. Not when they look at the scoreboard. But if they are able to see the big picture, if they judge a sporting event for what it can offer in excitement and drama and irony, even they grudgingly might concede.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Only Journalists Whine About NY Super Bowl

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

“Whatever can go to New York, will,’’ wrote the late, great Jim Murray. “Whatever can’t will go to Philadelphia.’’

Jim must be smiling up there, laughing if you will, gleeful about his prescience.

Gleeful he won’t have to cover Super Bowl XLVIII, the one scheduled for February 2014, the one in New York.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Spring unkind to Bay Area teams

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The San Jose Sharks — they’re not to be confused with the San Jose A’s. The A’s still are playing. So are the San Francisco Giants, unfortunately.

If it weren’t for the Houston Astros, the Giants would have a losing record. If it weren’t for the Giants, the A’s would have a losing record. If it weren’t for the Sharks, we’d have to rely on the Warriors’ lottery selection for the story that never ends.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Landis Goes the Full Cycle

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

Life is one disillusionment after another. We learn Tiger Woods is guilty of infidelities, and as we recover from the shock, we are told by Floyd Landis he indeed used illegal performance-enhancing drugs when he won the Tour de France in 2006. Oh, my.

After Landis a couple of years ago spent 300 pages insisting he was innocent of doping charges in his biography "Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour,'' one understands why the book originally priced at $24.95 is now available on Amazon for 45 cents.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

RealClearSports: Sharks: Smoke, Fire and More Disappointment

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

Steve Jobs, the poo-bah from Apple, has invented a new sport. He and his wealthy pals from down here in Silicon Valley buy those Segway machines, the ones that look part scooter, part cycle and cost a cool $5,000. Then they use them to play polo.

Cheaper than a string of ponies, is their contention.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010