In their early years, the burgeoning city of Oakland didn't have a stadium for their professional football team. So the Raiders traveled...

If ever a man were recognized as the ultimate tragic hero in sports, Dick Butkus would have earned it handily. As a player, he stood out on bad teams in Chicago, only enjoying a single winning season and never sniffing the postseason. He was often misunderstood as a bully, but wouldn't you be perpetually angry if you were a star on lousy teams? Arguably his greatest accomplishment on the gridiron happened in the bleakest year in Chicago sports history. As the team began the

Oftentimes, a coach can be an excellent teacher coaching a specific position or unit, but falls flat on his face as a head coach. In...

From very early in his life, Russ Francis had always been a maverick, often taking to the air to get away from life's struggles. On...

Jersey numbers hold a special place in the hearts of sports fans all over the world. When you think of the number 99, more often than not, you think of Wayne Gretzky. When you think of numbers 23 or 80, you would most likely think of Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice. Jersey numbers are not just numerical, they carry an identity earned through the blood sweat and tears of hard work. While the San Francisco 49ers are the only team in the NFL to be named after a number, a select fe

Even with the advent of the pitch clock, would you believe that a major league game -let alone a baseball game in general- was once...

Last week, I went to my first 49ers game. As I walked the streets of Inglewood, I couldn't help but notice the discrepancies in the vibrant town. While I resided on the poorer side of town, surrounded by memories of a smaller environment, just feet away resided opulence and grandeur, with massive stadiums dedicated to showcasing this country's most storied athletic moments. As I traversed those streets, I wondered what it must have looked like as it grew from a sleepy little

Often regarded as one of the most polarizing figures in NFL history, Deion Sanders truly possessed a unique blend of athletic grace and...

A little more than a year ago, I drove across the country looking for adventure and discovery. While in Ohio, I stumbled upon a ginormous high school stadium, much larger than what I am used to in California. Standing in front of Tiger Stadium resides a statue depicting Paul Brown, the legendary coach of the Cleveland Browns who had singlehandedly modernized the NFL. Since then, I've often. wondered just how good his teams were in high school. After all, Massillon built that

9/5/1994- On this date, 29 years ago, Jerry Rice broke Jim Brown's career touchdown record. With the 49ers coming within a game from the...

Widely regarded as the founder of American football, Walter Camp is an institution all unto himself. In his lifetime, he won three...

Before he became one of the game's great innovators, Bill Walsh coached football at Washington Union High School in what was then known...

Since the event first began in 1947, California has reached the Little League World Series final 24 times, winning seven times. Tomorrow,...

Balboa Stadium was originally built in 1915 as part of the Panama-California Exposition. Residing next to San Diego High School, the athletic field featured two sets of concrete bleachers on either side of the field that could hold up to 15,000 spectators. Its first foray into the national consciousness was in September 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson spoke in front of 50,000 spectators, preaching the virtues of the League of Nations. As the years went by and the high sc

It is a well-known fact that most expansion teams run on local flavors. Whether they come from the local high school or starred in the local collegiate program, all that the infant team cares about is getting rumps in the seats in hopes that they can attract an audience and reap the financial benefits for the afternoon. The 1960 Boston Patriots had eight players that hailed from the Boston area. These are their stories. Jim Colclough Jim Colclough was born on March 31, 1936

Through much of its first three decades of existence, the NFL saw 49 teams go under, never to be heard from again. Nary a fan has heard of teams such as the Brooklyn Tigers, the Columbus Panhandles, or the Rock Island Independents. Interestingly, just one team, the Boston Yanks, represents the epicenter of New England. This is their story. The Yanks It was in the middle of World War II and Ted Collins had an idea. After spending the past few years managing famed singer Kate

Everyone enjoys a good comeback story. No matter how long the comeback takes or how long it lasts, there's something about overcoming...

Often regarded as one of the great quarterback whisperers of his time, two of Bill Walsh's quarterbacks are often forgotten. Ironically,...

Every great slugger needs a battery mate. Tremendous duos such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Mark McGwire...

On July 16, 1941, Joe DiMaggio stepped to the plate with history on his side. He had already hit safely in 55 consecutive games, winning...