If you are a sports fan and on Twitter you may already follow these sports teams/networks/people. If not, consider following those of interest. List is not inclusive.

@annkillion — Ann Killion
Sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle

@susanslusser — Susan Slusser
SF Chronicle’s Oakland A’s beat writer

@JaneMLB — Jane Lee
Oakland A’s beat reporter for MLB.com

@KLongworthCSN — Kate Longworth
Comcast SportsNet reporter/anchor

@MBachCSN — Mindi Bach
Comcast SportsNet reporter/anchor

@AmyGGiants — Amy Gutierrez
Comcast SportsNet reporter – SF Giants

@ALawRadio — Amy Lawrence
Sports Radio Host on CBS Sports Radio

@MichelleSturino — Michelle Sturino
Sports Radio Host on NHL Network Radio (SiriusXM)

@DanRusanowsky — Dan Rusanowsky
Radio play-by-play broadcaster for the SJ Sharks

@BretHedican — Bret Hedican
Radio analyst for the SJ Sharks

@sharkvoice — Randy Hahn
TV play-by-play broadcaster for the SJ Sharks

@Bakes_Jamie13 — Jamie Baker
TV analyst for the SJ Sharks

@FlemmingDave — Dave Flemming
Sports broadcaster – SF Giants, ESPN

@warriorsvox — Tim Roye
Voice of the Golden State Warriors

@vincebaseball — Vince Cotroneo
Broadcaster – Oakland A’s

@brodiebrazilCSN — Brodie Brazil
Host of A’s, Sharks Pre & Postgame

@DamonBruce — Damon Bruce
Host on 95.7 The Game

@townsendradio — Chris Townsend
Host on 95.7 The Game

@baseballmarty — Marty Lurie
Talks baseball on KNBR

@timkawakami — Tim Kawakami
Mercury News sports columnist

@SanJoseSharks — San Jose Sharks
The official twitter of the #SJSharks

@SJEarthquakes — San Jose Earthquakes
Official account of San Jose’s Major League Soccer club

@Athletics — Oakland Athletics
The Official Twitter of the Oakland A’s

@SFGiants — San Francisco Giants
Official Twitter home of the #SFGiants

@warriors — Golden State Warriors
The Official Twitter of the Golden St. Warriors

@SacramentoKings — Sacramento Kings
The Official Twitter of the Sacramento Kings

@SJSUAthletics — Spartan Athletics
Official Twitter of San Jose State Athletics

@SCUBroncos  —  Santa Clara Broncos
The official Twitter Account of the Santa Clara Broncos

@CalFootball  —  Cal Football
Official Twitter Account for the University of California Football team

@GoStanford — Stanford Athletics
Official Twitter of Stanford Athletics

@StanfordFball — Stanford Football
The official Twitter home of Stanford Football

@957thegame — 95.7 The GAME
Sports radio

@KNBR — KNBR
Sports radio

@CSNAuthentic — Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and Comcast SportsNet California

@CBSSportsRadio — CBS Sports Radio
National sports coverage and programming

@SiriusXMNHL — NHL Network Radio
NHL sports radio

Let’s do full disclosure first, shall we?

1)      My interest in baseball on a scale of 1-10 is 0.

2)      My knowledge of baseball is maybe a 6.

3)      My interest and knowledge in fantasy leagues is 0.

Please don’t run me out of town or take away my citizenship.  I’ll happily cook up party food for every night of the World Series if you like, just please let me read a book during the game.

And I promise not to serve you bugs.  Or DO I????

That said, baseball fans think Game On is a home run.  Set in an upper class home in Los Altos (is there any other kind?) the story is framed by a televised game between the San Francisco Giants and the LA Dodgers.  Local fans are so serious about baseball that I heard several in the audience exclaim they were having panic attacks during the play by play for the game.  But the main storyline is about two men who desperately need financing for their new venture, the use of insects as a protein. This is a real thing, and I actually know more about the trend towards eating insects than I do about baseball.  But in real life as in the show, the hard part is convincing the American public that insects are good for you and tasty too.

They actually had samples of (deep fried?) insects in the lobby before the show started.  I did not try them.  I said I had knowledge of the idea, not that I had ingested any bugs.  However, my guest did try one of each of the four samples, and she said one of them definitely tasted “just like corn nuts.”  So there ya go.

Back to the show.

At just 90 minutes with no intermission, it is a fast paced show with only a few characters but non-stop conversation.  It starts out with tons of laughs about the game, the players, and their fantasy league, but due to my lack of knowledge I had a difficult time following much of it.  Eventually we hear about the company the two main characters are trying to get funded.  And finally we realize that while the buddies really believe in their cause, they also desperately need the financing for their own personal reasons, and the show’s tone gets a little darker.

There are a lot of laughs about the bugs, and there is a fantastic food fight later in the show that released a lot of the building tension and got the comedy back on track.  There are many references to local areas, but using “South Bay”, “Menlo Park” and “Redwood City” as punch-lines will not likely work outside of Silicon Valley.  This local audience was privy to the inside jokes however, and appreciated all the humor.

It felt a little to me like the playwright had a few too many ideas he was trying to cram all into one show, and the dependence on a local audience will prevent the show from being a national hit. But this local audience certainly appreciated and related to all the ideas and situations presented and everyone appeared to be having a fantastic time.  I definitely recommend the show if you are a baseball fan, and if they are still serving insects at the Rep, I heard the toffee mealworms over ice cream are delicious.  YOU should totally try them.

GAME ON
San Jose Repertory Theatre
Through April 19

Don Bugito’s edible insects

Want to see past, present and future skating legends in action? Lake Cunningham Regional Skatepark will be hosting Tony Hawk and members of the Birdhouse team this Sunday, July 15. Demonstration from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. The event is free but the standard Lake Cunningham parking fee of $10 applies.

See skating demonstrations by Tony Hawk, Kevin Staab and Willy Santos, members of the Birdhouse team, including Aaron “Jaws” Homoki, Shawn Hale, Clint Walker, David Loy, Shaun Gregoire, Clive Dixon, Michael Davis and Elliot Sloan.

Also, a halfpipe event will also feature guest appearances by Mitchie Brusco, Neal Hendrix, and Lincoln Ueda.

Lake Cunningham Skatepark
2305 S. White Road
San Jose, California 95148

Sunday, July 15. 2:00pm to 3:30pm.
The event is free but the Lake Cunningham Regional Park parking fee of $10 applies.

A 119-year-old tradition continues this week as Cal and Stanford’s football teams face off in the annual Big Game. The two teams will play for The Axe, awarded as the trophy of the game since 1933 (and exchanged between the schools by more nefarious means since 1899).

For Cal fans and alums like me, this is not the most promising year. Stanford has only lost once so far this year and is ranked in the top 10 nationally. Their quarterback, Andrew Luck, is a contender for the Heisman trophy. And they will be looking to recover strongly from their defeat by Oregon last week. Cal on the other hand has achieved a bowl-qualifying 6-4 record so far this year, but hasn’t shown any evidence of being able to punch above its weight when facing the strongest teams.

However, this is the Big Game, where anything can happen. The band may get into the play. The fans may get into the play. “The most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling” things can happen in the Big Game.

Of course, beyond football there are other sports options. Water polo’s Big Splash (at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center, Saturday at 5:15 pm) features two top-10-ranked teams, with Stanford at #4 and Cal at #3. This year’s Big Spike isn’t being held during Big Game week, but next Wednesday’s game (7 pm, at Stanford) is another strong match-up between Cal’s #4 and Stanford’s #5-ranked volleyball squads.

I’ll be hoping for “anything” to happen at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, and also rooting for Cal’s water polo and volleyball teams as they represent the Blue and Gold against Stanford in the next week.

• What: Cal-Stanford Big Game
• When: Saturday, November 19, 7:15 pm
• Where: Stanford Stadium or televised on ESPN
• How Much: If you have to ask…

Photo: ©HairOfTheBear, CC-BY-NC-ND

This weekend The California Billiard Club will host a show featuring cues, and cue makers. This will be fun for all pool enthusiasts, and cue collectors.

Enjoy watching the 8-Ball Barbox Tournament.

Also, a good time to pick up a ‘Play The Game’ T-Shirt by, Frank ‘Baby Frank’ Nordmann.

The 4th Annual West Coast Cue Show

Where: The California Billiard Club
881 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA
Telephone: (650) 965-3100

When: Saturday, November 12th – 12 to 6pm and Sunday, November 13th – 12 to 4

The Show is Admission Free

We stopped by REI at El Paseo De Saratoga for the first time this morning. They do carry impressive sports equipment, and classes are offered on how to best use some of it.

Also, there are events in which to participate, volunteer opportunities, and much more. I recommend a visit.

While there we noticed breathtaking photography on display. Any one of which would make a beautiful gift for any occasion.

Mark Wiens Photography

 

 
Note: When visiting the photography site click on the first photo etc. – to view more.

400 El Paseo De Saratoga
San Jose, CA 95130

(408) 871-8765

Hours: Sun 11am–7pm; Mon-Fri 10am–9pm; Sat 10am–7pm
REI facebook

I have had the opportunity to watch Jeff Gregory in action at California Billiard Club. Jeff is highly respected by his fellow pool players, and makes One Pocket and 9-Ball look effortless.

Jeff has recently undergone open heart surgery. He is now recovering, but he could use help with his medical bills.

Chris Swart, owner California Billiard Club, is hosting a 9-Ball tournament this weekend. $10 of each entry fee will go to the Jeff Gregory Heart Surgery Fund. Also, California Billiard Club will donate $5 for every entry received.

Even if you do not enter the tournament, come out – watch some expert pool and show your support with a donation.

If you can’t make it call California Billiard Club ask for Chris Swart for donation information.

California Billiard Club (on facebook)

August 20th and 21st, 2011
The tournament: Doors open at 11Am – Play Starts at Noon
881 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA
Telephone: (650) 965-3100

My husband (The Bear) and I try to practice at California Billiard Club as often as possible. In our opinion it is the best room in northern California. It has a good atmosphere and the tables are well maintained. We also enjoy seeing some top players like Rafael Martinez in action.

Just days ago Allison Fisher won her 5th WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championship, and now California Billiard Club is offering an opportunity to learn from this legendary pool and snooker player.

The Allison Fisher Clinic
Featuring: Two Hours of Hands On Instruction; detailed analysis of fundamentals, shot selection, strategy, training drills, and Q & A.

Only a few spots left (8 people per session groups) Register Now.

Cost – $100. per person.

Contact Kristi @ 704-989-4109
or afteam@allisonfisher.com

When: Tuesday June 28th and Wednesday June 29th

Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Where: California Billiard Club
881 E. El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA

If you’re looking for an unusual Father’s Day gift this year, the San Jose Repertory Theatre has an answer for you.  They’ve brought a show that is great fun for any dad or sports lover in the family.  Reduced Shakespeare Company returns to the Rep with The Complete World of Sports (Abridged), playing through Sunday, with an extra matinee show on Saturday.

The whacky show is not polished, perfect, or politically correct, but it’s a non-stop laugh fest that won’t leave you bored for one second.  Three comedians explain the origins, rules and reasons for every sport, around the world, since the dawn of time.  Amazingly, I wasn’t able to come up with a single sport that wasn’t included: they even cover rhythmic gymnastics, curling, rock/paper/scissors, and a very long list of foreign sports that I could never hope to pronounce, much less remember.  Presented as a sports information show, there is skit after hilarious skit; singing, dancing and reenactments; and special appearances by characters such as Homer, Karl Marx and even Michael Moore.  Oh, and let’s not forget the Neanderthals.  There is even some hilarious and fun audience participation that everyone enjoyed.

This show has nothing to do with Shakespeare (well, maybe for a minute), and you don’t have to love or understand sports to enjoy it.  You just have to be ready to laugh until your cheek muscles hurt.  “This is completely ridiculous,” said my guest Paul Robinson halfway through the show, yet he also claimed it was one of the most enjoyable shows he had seen this year.  It’s a fast-paced race through sports history with a lot of current events and local references sprinkled in, and if you want to please Dad, this is the place to take him.

Stop by The Loft Bar & Bistro for dinner before the show on Sunday and enjoy no corkage fee and complimentary dessert with the purchase of two entrees.

What better gift for the Dad in your life than a great dinner and time spent with the entire family enjoying sports?  Because even family members who don’t enjoy sports are sure to have a great time at The Complete World of Sports (abridged).

And if you can’t make this show, buy Dad advance tickets to see One Man Star Wars Trilogy, playing July 14 – 17th!

The Complete World of Sports
San Jose Repertory Theatre
Through June 19

Following close in the slipstream of Bike to Work Day, the Amgen Tour of California bike race will once again visit San Jose next week. Wednesday’s stage 4 will be a mountain finish on Sierra Road, technically within San Jose city limits, rather than the downtown location that’s been used for stage starts in a couple of past tours.

Aside from moving the San Jose site outside the core of the city, there are a few other changes for the tour route this year. Instead of an opening day time trial, the tour will start tomorrow with a regular road stage on a mountainous route from South Lake Tahoe, making 1-1/2 laps around the lake and ending at Northstar on the lake’s north shore. Previous northern California stage sites like Davis and Santa Rosa will be bypassed, though the tour will still visit Sacramento, Livermore, and Modesto before hopping south to Seaside to begin its four final days in the southern half of the state. As in years past, the tour will finish in sponsor Amgen’s home city of Thousand Oaks, in Ventura County, on Sunday, May 22.

Wednesday’s stage 4 begins just before noon in Livermore and wends through the hills to the east of us before coming to San Jose sometime around 3 pm. The tour includes two major climbs, the hors catagorie backside of Mount Hamilton, and the final class 1 climb up Sierra Road to the finish, 3-1/2 miles at grades topping 9%.

Having a mountain finish in San Jose will add some great excitement to our spot in the tour, although it will also take quite a bit more dedication for spectators to get to a place on the course than it has in the past.