When Saratoga High School beat Palma in the 1996 CCS Championship Game, coach Mike Machado knew that that would be his last as the Falcons coach. Although Saratoga's program was thriving in just his second year as the varsity head coach, Machado knew that he could never replace his predecessor, Benny Pierce, whose 269 wins, 16 league titles and four CCS championship triumphs from 1961 through 1994 still echo'd in Saratoga's hallways. Mike Machado knew that although he could s

Football is a gritty game where some of its biggest contributors almost never touch the ball. Back in the single wing days of the game, Nello Falaschi stood out as one of the very best blocking quarterbacks in the game. Although he only scored three touchdowns in 14 years as a prep, collegian and pro, his stout blocking and relentless pursuit of the opposing ball carriers set the tone for Santa Clara's unlikely and historic run towards the 1937 Sugar Bowl. This is his story.

Phil Smith used basketball to get out of the San Francisco projects. Along the way, the shooting guard for the 1975 world champion Golden State Warriors paved the way for future stars coming out of his neighborhood. This is his story. The Early Years Phil Smith was born on April 22, 1952 in San Francisco's Filmore District. The second of nine children, he quickly found basketball and used it as a vessel to get out of the projects. He starred in basketball and football at Geor

Ernie Lombardi was one of the best catchers of his era. Hailing from the Oakland Oaks of the PCL, he made a name for himself in Cincinnati and was even named NL MVP in 1938. While his play was stout, his massive hands may have been even more memorable. This is his story. The Early Years Ernesto "Ernie" Natali Lombardi was born in Oakland, California on April 6, 1908. Brought up in an immigrant household, Lombardi knew the value of hard work from the day he was born. His fathe

The 1951 University of San Francisco football team is one of the most legendary in all of the Bay Area. Nine members of that team went on to play in the NFL with three earning their places in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Even their publicist, Pete Rozelle, would serve as the NFL's commissioner for decades. That team was untied, unbeaten and never went to a bowl game. In the face of racism, they elected to stay home rather than play in the Orange Bowl. While many of the memb

Sal Taormina guided the Santa Clara University Broncos to unprecedented heights for 15 years. In that stretch, his teams won the conference title six times and sent a dozen players to the pro's while winning a school record 511 games. Although his time on this earth was cut short, his impact on the school's baseball program still looms large within its rich history. Background Salvadore "Sal" Taormina was born in San Jose, California on June 10, 1922. Very little is known abo

Marv Owen was a baseball lifer. While he did very little statistically, he contributed in some very memorable ways in two World Series. After spending a nearly decade playing in the major leagues with the Tigers, White Sox and Red Sox, he returned home to the Bay Area where the Santa Clara College graduate dedicated the rest of his life to serving others. This is his story. The Early Years Marvin "Marv" Eugene Owen was born just seven miles northwest of San Jose in the tiny c

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Compton High School has enjoyed a long illustrious history of athletic excellence and it all began with the class of 1944. That year, two...

Craig Morton had always dreamed of the spotlight. Ever since his days starring on the baseball diamond and the football field at Campbell...

Ever since their season ended, the San Francisco Giants have searched vigorously for their new manager. For weeks, numerous names have...

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When the movie Cinderella Man came out in the Summer of 2005, audiences from all over the world were introduced to boxer Maz Baer, a...