RealClearSports: No. 24 Reaches Birthday No. 80

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO — He described his skills in such clear, unpretentious terms. "They throw the ball,'' Willie Mays once said. "I hit it. They hit it. I catch it."

What he hits today is a milestone. Number 24 has reached birthday Number 80. And if we actually needed another reason to revel in the glory of arguably the finest baseball player ever, well, there it is.

"There have been only two geniuses in the world, Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare,'' said ...

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© RealClearSports 2011

SF Examiner: Giants, A’s sharing same woes at the plate

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

At least A’s manager Bob Geren hasn’t felt the need to say of his team, “We’re awful,” which is specifically what Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his team’s offense of late, even though they are not.

What they are is disappointing. So are the A’s.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2011 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Death of Bin Laden Through Prism of Sports

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

So I'm listening to Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo on their ESPN radio show Tuesday talking about what they know very well, the NBA, then switch to a topic maybe none of us really know — but still can't stop discussing — the death of Osama bin Laden.

They weren't alone, the sports talk guys. From Ground Zero to a hideaway in Pakistan, everything seemed viewed through a sporting prism.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2011