SF Examiner: Draft allows NFL to get back to football

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The commissioner, Roger Goodell, says the NFL Draft is one of his favorite events. “Because,” he told USA Today, “it’s all about football.” Apparently so is the honorable Susan Richard Nelson, who has decided people who play it for a living, well, ought to be able to play it for a living.

Nelson is the U.S. District judge in St. Paul, Minn., who ordered an end to the lockout declared last month by the owners against the players.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2011 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: Harbaugh just what the Niners needed

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

The confidence borders on arrogance, which is acceptable. “It ain’t bragging if you can back it up,” Muhammad Ali told us. And if what Jim Harbaugh offered in his comments isn’t bragging, it’s not distant. Now we find out if indeed he can back it up.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2011 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Big One hits Bay Area football

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- It was a 7.1. Not on the Richter scale, on the Goodell scale. The San Andreas and Hayward faults were silent. The football fault lines opened.

At Instability Central, it isn't only the land that moves, it's the people.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2011

RealClearSports: Stanford's Luck 'Best Player in Country'

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

BERKELEY, Calif. -- It's always been a quarterback school. Way back, there was Frankie Albert, and later John Brodie. Along came Jim Plunkett to win a Heisman. Then John Elway on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Now Stanford has Andrew Luck.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Tedford has had Stanford's number in Big Game

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

SAN FRANCISCO — The other guy is getting the attention. A huge article on Jim Harbaugh in Sports Illustrated. Why not? Stanford has lost only one game. Stanford is ranked No. 7 in the nation.

“I have a lot of respect for coach Harbaugh,” said Jeff Tedford.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company