RealClearSports: Washington and the West Gain Respect

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- We're all witnesses. Lorenzo Romar said that. After his Washington team upset New Mexico. After he heard Northern Iowa upset Kansas.

After he reminded us in this lunacy of a college basketball tournament "anyone can beat anyone.''

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Bay Area schools step into the spotlight

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Montgomery’s supposition was impossible to argue: “No matter how good you think you are,” the Cal coach said, “you’re playing other people who have won games.”

Then again, those other people are playing you, because you’ve also won games.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: Monty has helped make Cal relevant again

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

BERKELEY — The Warriors years have been erased. Imagine they never happened. Think of Mike Montgomery going from a successful career at Stanford to a successful career at Cal. That’s what has happened in the Golden Bears’ media guide.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Stanford Finds Out How Physical Cal Can Be

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

STANFORD, Calif. -- It was won on the ground. And between the ears. It was all the physical battle everyone predicted and maybe every bit the mental one no one suspected.

Stanford was on a roll. "The hottest team in the country,'' insisted Cal coach Jeff Tedford. But in this 112th Big Game, Cal was hotter, more efficient, and considerably more effective.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2009

SF Examiner: Heisman hype has shifted from Best to Gerhart

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — The Heisman Trophy often seems less a reward than a promotion. To be considered, you have to have talent, but you also have to have publicity, Hollywood-type stuff which catches the public’s imagination and schools hope catches the voters’ attention.

Cal went about it the right way with Jahvid Best, a superb running back, who played the hype game every bit as well as he played football, until he came crashing onto his head a couple of weeks ago, incurring a concussion which cost him not only any chance at the trophy, but also a chance at getting back on the field this season.

Now, it’s the guy across the Bay, Toby Gerhart of Stanford, who’s getting noticed, and while he won’t win it either, the shame is that two legitimate Heisman candidates could have been competing in the 112th Big Game on Saturday at Stanford Stadium.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2009 SF Newspaper Company