Tiger, Phil, Peyton, Tom: $20 million and a ton of rain

By Art Spander

“Like throwing a little swing pass to the running back.” That was Phil Mickelson, coach Phil, giving advice to partner Tom Brady, before Brady had a little chip shot only a few people not named Phil Mickelson could hope to execute.

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Copyright 2020, The Maven

S.F. Examiner: Broncos win for Manning, send bouquet to Bowlen

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

“The best laid plans …” You know the rest, words from a poem by Bobby Burns, the Scot who more than a century ago wrote words of warning, words telling us that our hopes and dreams more often do not work out. Or as Burns wrote, “ ..gang oft a-gley,” or as we would say, go often astray.

But not the plans of John Elway. Or the hopes of Peyton Manning. Or the long-ago dreams of the family of Pat Bowlen.

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©2016 The San Francisco Examiner

S.F. Examiner: Defense, ball control can send Manning off in glory

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

It’s as if the game already has been played. As if the Carolina Panthers won the Super Bowl. When, in fact, the Denver Broncos will win it. Win it ugly, the way underdogs usually do. Win it by keeping the Panthers from winning it, with defense, with ball control, with the sort of breaks teams like Denver inevitably get in games like this, and thus are described as lucky rather than good.

But in football, luck is not so much bestowed as created.

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©2016 The San Francisco Examiner

S.F. Examiner: Peytongate places Manning under siege

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

A year ago it was Deflategate. This time it’s what, Peytongate? The NFL’s biggest stage, the Super Bowl. The NFL’s biggest nightmare, an intruding, negative story, a distraction, a question about a man who has been the sport’s ambassador, and until now without a hint of scandal.

It seems so perfect, Peyton Manning, 39, about to head through that one-way door toward retirement, receiving the chance of which every athlete dreams, to go out at the top. And yet, as the Broncos quarterback prepares for Super Bowl 50 next week at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where he’ll be under siege by the Carolina Panthers, Manning also is facing an investigation by the NFL and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

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©2016 The San Francisco Examiner

S.F. Examiner: Kubiak cools down Denver hot seat

By Art Spander
Special to the Examiner

Two seasons ago, Gary Kubiak collapsed while walking off a field at halftime. He was hospitalized with “a mini-stroke” yet was so dedicated to his craft that he resumed coaching the Houston Texans shortly afterward, only to be fired weeks later.

So he could handle any challenge, including the one presented this season by his good friend in Denver, John Elway.

Read the full story here.

©2016 The San Francisco Examiner