SF Examiner: Rangers inject doubt into Giants

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

One game, but one game too many. One game to emphasize the Giants’ vulnerabilities. One game to realize that in their own park with a designated hitter, the Texas Rangers are a different team.

One game to make us understand the direction of the 2010 World Series has made a turn — in the land of former Rangers president George W. Bush, a right turn of course.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: All the stars are aligning for Giants

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

It doesn’t get any better than this. Any more one-sided. Any louder. Any more entertaining. Any more unbelievable.

“When the lights go down in The City ...” That’s Journey’s song, which was sweeping through AT&T Park on Thursday night. That’s San Francisco’s song. And quite possibly, the way this World Series is blasting along, this is San Francisco’s time.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Giants Glad to Shout 'Oooh-Ree-Bay'

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- No scoreboard advisory is required. No message saying "Louder'' or "Make Noise.'' The chant is from the heart and in a way self-perpetuating. Also, to San Francisco Giants fans, historic.

Juan Uribe steps to the plate, and the cheer rolls through AT&T Park. "Oooh,'' they yell, and then after a pause, "Ree-Bay.'' Again and again. "Oooh-Ree-Bay. Oooh-Ree-Bay.''

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: A surprising offensive outburst on a magical night

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Those were the Giants? That was Cliff Lee? One thing’s for certain, that was a fifth inning, as wild and exhilarating as imaginable.

This wasn’t a game, it was a statement. It was a revelation. It was enough to make you think San Francisco’s time finally is about to arrive.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Cool San Francisco Warm to Giants

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Sure we're different. The great Rudyard Kipling, he of the road to Mandalay, he who declared "a woman is only a woman but a good cigar is a smoke," stopped by the city in the 19th Century and said all San Franciscans were mad.

And that was before the creation of the Exotic Erotic Ball on Halloween.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010