One by one, they have left Oakland.

First, the Warriors headed back across the bay to San Francisco in 2019, a return for a basketball franchise whose recent championship reign has been defined more by glitz than grit. Then, a year later, it was the itinerant Raiders heading to Las Vegas, the eye patch on their gridiron bandit logo obscuring an apparently wandering eye.

On Thursday, the final departure became all but official: Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved a move to Las Vegas by the Athletics, who not long ago used the marketing catch phrase “rooted in Oakland.”

There is still much for the ball club to sort out. The Athletics have another year on their lease in Oakland and their new stadium — a $1.5 billion, 30,000-seat ballpark with a retractable roof for which the Nevada Legislature approved public financing — won’t be ready until 2028. Where they will play in between is an open question. The Nevada teacher’s union is angling to put the subsidy on the ballot for voters.

But the A’s impending move, as inevitable as it has seemed, landed in Oakland like a fastball to the ribs.

“I don’t want this to sound hyperbolic, but for me it’s not only the death of the A’s, and of professional sports in the East Bay,” said Jim Zelinski, who more than a decade ago co-founded Save Oakland Sports, one of several groups that sprouted up over the years to keep teams from leaving the East Bay. “What this vote symbolizes for me is, this is really the death of the common, everyday fan.”

The working man has long been a central figure in American sports, attracted to the games as a diversion from the 9-to-5 grind and viewing them as a more level playing field than other societal arenas, the workplace among them.

As professional sports began to expand west in the late 1950s, Oakland — anchored by ship building, automobile manufacturing and its port — became an obvious landing spot.

Within little more than a decade, Oakland became home to the Raiders of the upstart American Football League, the Athletics, the Warriors and, briefly, the California Golden Seals of the National Hockey League, who for a time played in unfashionable white skates.

All the teams played at a complex centered on a vast asphalt lot, flanked by a major freeway and a rail line.

Soon, the lot will be vacant. This is not because Oakland has changed; it has largely retained a working-class ethos, albeit with California rents. Rather, the business calculus for teams has evolved.

Franchise revenue is now driven more by television deals and sponsorships than ticket sales, though those prices have skyrocketed. The transformation of sports into media products has relegated cities to backdrops and fans to props — a point that was driven home during the coronavirus pandemic when the games went on in vacant or mostly empty stadiums.

If it is baffling why the Athletics are leaving the Bay Area, which is the 10th biggest market, according to the Nielsen Company, for Las Vegas, which is the 40th largest market, there is another factor at play, according to Roger Noll, a Stanford sports economist emeritus.

Sports gambling.

As regional sports networks, a cash cow for sports teams, have begun to teeter — and in some cases collapse — Mr. Noll says sports gambling via streaming broadcasts is “the next golden goose” for sports franchises.

While Nevada has predictably welcomed internet gambling, California has not: Two measures, one of which was backed by M.L.B., were trounced last year in what was the country’s most expensive ballot campaign, with more than $450 million raised by both sides.

“If this is the next big thing, California sports teams are disadvantaged,” Mr. Noll said. “The old big-market, small-market dynamic is no longer going to favor the Bay Area and Los Angeles teams if a primary source of new revenue is unavailable to them.”

The Athletics have sought a new stadium for decades, under at least three different owners. They have tried to build a new ballpark south in Fremont and San Jose, downtown at Laney College or by the water at Howard Terminal, as well as at their current site.

Building new stadiums in California is its own contact sport, given the high cost of labor, stringent environmental standards and taxpayers’ aversion to subsidies for sports franchises. But it’s not impossible, as the Clippers’ new arena, scheduled to open next year in Inglewood, is the latest to demonstrate.

In Oakland, now may have been the most challenging time, thanks to a record $360 million budget deficit — and long memories of when the city lured the Raiders owner Al Davis back from Los Angeles in 1995 with a sweetheart loan deal that turned into a boondoggle for the city. Also, a towering bank of suites — christened Mount Davis — were built in the outfield, opening a revenue stream for the Raiders but closing off superb views of the Oakland Hills.

Over the years, the old Coliseum showed its age.

It had the concrete charm of a Soviet-era housing block, its plumbing regularly backed up — prompting a tweaking of the Raiders’ mantra to “Commitment to Excrement” — and the arrival of food trucks were a culinary life raft for fans who no longer had to settle for concession offerings that tasted distinctly like cardboard.

Still, the Athletics continued to be competitive, reinventing themselves by shrewdly using data to assess undervalued skills, a process that became known as “Moneyball,” after the best-selling book. The A’s have not reached the World Series since 1990, but they’ve been in the playoffs 11 times since 2000 — more than the Mets and the San Francisco Giants, and just as often as the Boston Red Sox.

Attendance had lingered in the lower third, though drum-pounding fans in right field causing a nightly ruckus added a degree of atmosphere. But when the team began its latest tear down, trading away its best players for prospects rather than paying their accelerating salaries, fans finally had enough of John Fisher, the owner, who before last season had raised ticket prices in what many sensed was a ploy to suppress attendance as a pretext for moving.

The A’s averaged 10,276 fans last season, the fewest in baseball. They finished 50-112, threatening for a while the record for futility set by the expansion Mets in 1962.

Fans who did turn up at the Coliseum often wore T-shirts or carried banners urging Mr. Fisher to sell the team.

Those who miss the Athletics most might be people like Matthias Haas.

He grew up a few miles from the Coliseum, steeped in the city’s rich baseball history that traces from Frank Robinson to Rickey Henderson to Dave Stewart to Jimmy Rollins, all of whom matriculated from Oakland sandlots to stardom in the big leagues. He learned the game’s finer points on the diamonds down the street at 66th and International in leagues that the Athletics helped bankroll. He has an enduring memory of sitting in the stands during the 2012 playoffs when the old mausoleum was rocking.

“There’s a certain pride in being an Oakland Athletics fan,” said Mr. Haas, who played baseball last season at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, plucking the adjectives “gritty” and “tough” to define his tribe. “People from Oakland say that they are from Oakland, not the Bay Area. That’s how it felt to be an A’s fan.”

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HOVER has received the prestigious 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award within the Networking and Technology category.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — HOVER, the technology company building the largest, most comprehensive spatial data model used to connect the homeowner and construction professional in order to transform the home improvement process, has received the prestigious 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award within the Networking and Technology category. In its eleventh year, the Pro Tool Innovation Awards brought to light an impressive assortment of pioneering power tools, hand tools, technology solutions, and tool accessories.

According to PTIA’s panel of judges, composed of contractors, construction business owners, tradespeople, and media professionals, HOVER solves several challenges for contractors. They state the following:

“Visualizing what the final results will be is a challenge for every home contractor and client relationship. HOVER can help bridge that gap with its design functions, and give your clients more confidence that they’re getting the home of their dream before the groundwork even starts. When it’s time to crunch numbers, HOVER can help you build your estimates more quickly and even order materials once the contract is signed. There are even applications for homeowners, such as help with insurance claims and brainstorming future upgrades. When it comes to exterior design, HOVER is a high-tech solution in a high-tech world.”

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the Pro Tool Innovation committee. This recognition validates our commitment to helping construction professionals provide the best experience to homeowners – enabling transparent, interactive, and collaborative experiences that transform home improvement,” said Kevin Sturm, Head of Product and Customer Marketing at HOVER.

“Innovation comes in many forms. Pro Tool Innovation Award Winners push boundaries. They typically introduce features no one has ever seen, create new battery-powered solutions, redefine what compact tools can do, or even design products at a lower price than you would otherwise expect for the performance they deliver,” said Kenny Koehler, Editor-in-Chief. “The work of teams and individuals who dare to think outside the box can be seen all over the Pro Tool Innovation Awards.”

The awarded products stood out for their innovative features, superior power delivery, revolutionary ergonomics, technological advancements, improvements in jobsite safety, or exceptional value. The 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award winners are a testament to the companies and products that propel the construction, landscaping, automotive, and manufacturing industries forward. These industry-leading products merit recognition for their role in driving progress within their respective fields.

This year, 99 different manufacturers and brands submitted over 465 products in dozens of categories for a chance to take home a 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award.

In a statement reflecting on the 11th annual Pro Tool Innovation Awards, Executive Director Clint DeBoer expressed admiration for the ongoing innovation in the industry.

“This marks our 11th year of hosting the PTIA Awards, and each year we witness an increasing level of innovation from both large and small companies.” DeBoer added, “Every Pro Tool Innovation Award celebrates a product developed by people who really believe that the standard we’re used to is no longer good enough.”

For further information about HOVER, please contact:
Noelie LeBlanc
[email protected]
225 Bush St
San Francisco, CA 94104
Ph: 805-276-8340

About HOVER

HOVER, the technology company building the largest, most comprehensive spatial data model to unlock interactive and engaging digital experiences for home improvement. Used by contractors, insurance adjusters and homeowners alike, HOVER drives efficiencies with a mobile app that measures, designs, and estimates costs all in one place; smartphone photos or blueprints of unbuilt structures transform into beautifully rendered, fully-measured 3D models of any home. Known for industry-leading measurements, 3D visualizations, and precise project estimates, HOVER offers contractors easy-to-use tools and customizable automation for any exterior trade, job type or team – all in one place. For more information, visit hover.to.

About the Pro Tool Innovation Awards

The annual Pro Tool Innovation Awards (PTIA) began in 2013 and are judged by a panel of professional tradesmen and trade media representatives in the electrical, plumbing, MRO, and concrete fields as well as landscaping professionals, general contractors, mechanics, and builders. The Pro Tool Innovation Awards seek to discover and recognize the most innovative tools, accessories, and products across a wide variety of industries and categories. Learn more at protoolinnovationawards.com

Media Contact
Noelie LeBlanc, HOVER, 805-276-8340, [email protected], https://hover.to; The Key PR, The Key PR, 415-377-3158, [email protected]

SOURCE HOVER

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Ballet is the oldest ballet company and school in the country. This year it is celebrating its 90th anniversary and next week its students will take the stage for a very special presentation called the Spring Festival.

18-year-old trainee Jacey Gailliard has been preparing for the big presentation since the start of the school year in August.

She spends six days a week, nearly eight hours a day, perfecting her moves at the San Francisco Ballet School.

The Pennsylvania native said she dreamed of attending school since she was 12 after completing a summer program here.

When she turned 15, her mother finally agreed to let her make the move on her own.

“It’s really been a part of my life since I was three years old. I always knew I loved to dance and just wanted to be on stage,” Gailliard said. “I think a lot of people don’t realize how many sacrifices that requires.”

One of her biggest challenges is taking classes in the evening after a full day of ballet school and moving away from her parents.

This year, Gailliard applied to join the company as an apprentice, and she made it. Only half of the twelve trials were accepted.

“Ultimately, my dream is to inspire young girls — especially African-American ballet dancers, who aren’t as represented in the ballet world as other ethnic groups,” she said. “And just being able to dance as many works and styles as I can as long as my body allows me to.”

Gailliard is among dozens of SF Ballet School students whose year’s work culminates in this year’s 30th Spring Festival.

It will be the final performance for SF Ballet School and incoming program director Patrick Armand, who joined the company in 2010. In 2012 he became deputy director of the school.

“As an artist, I’ve always wanted people to be moved and then let themselves be carried away like we do on stage,” said Armand. “The Spring Festival is even more emotional because it’s younger people. They’re not adults yet, but they’re absolutely amazing dancers already.”

Armand aims to make the art form more inclusive and accessible.

One of his achievements was the development of a special dance program for people with Parkinson’s disease. Armand said his mother had Parkinson’s disease and that he wanted to create a space in the community in her honor.

“Ballet is for everyone. Ballet can be therapeutic, it can just be life-changing,” he said.

During his tenure, more than 70 percent of the school’s students became professional dancers with SF Ballet.

“I love the work of getting on stage and you can really feel the preparation and the blood, sweat and tears that these dancers went through to show you something really beautiful,” Gailliard said.

The Spring Festival will feature performances over three nights May 24-26 at the Blue Shield Theater at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

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Betty Yu

Betty Yu joined KPIX 5 in November 2013 as a general assignments reporter. She spent two years as a reporter at WTVJ, NBC’s Miami-based network, before relocating to San Francisco.

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If you take some time to organize coffee mugs—with a bit of rearranging and maybe a new organizer or two—they always look tidy and easy to reach.

A well-organized kitchen cabinet looks and functions far better than one cluttered with mismatched cups, and it’s also easy to clean. So what are the best ways to do this?

Organizing by color and size is a good start, but there are more space-saving solutions than you might think. Gone are the days of cramming unsteadily balanced mugs in the cupboard.

How to organize coffee cups

We asked a former barista and home organization expert for the space-saving tips and tricks they actually use in their own homes. Here are 7 clever ways to organize coffee mugs for a smooth morning routine.

1. Keep them in a low drawer

(Photo credit: John Lewis of Hungerford)

Laura Honey, ecommerce editor at Homes & Gardens and former barista, recommends moving haphazardly stacked cups to a low drawer for practicality and convenience.

“Before caffeine, reaching for triple-stacked cups can be a bit risky.” It’s almost inevitable that your favorite item will break. “In my house, I keep all my cups in a low drawer,” she begins.

“I have a grip liner from Amazon.” (opens in new tab) at the bottom of the drawer so that the cups do not slip when opening. I’m lucky because I usually buy the same size and shape so they look neatly tessellated. I also hold them upside down so no dust or stagnant water gets trapped inside. “I’m biased but I think it’s the best option because you don’t have to reach up and you can see all the space available.”

If you want to store large travel mugs, try Amazon’s bamboo drawer dividers (opens in new tab)so they don’t fall over when you open the drawer.

Laura darling

Ecommerce Editor

As a device lover and language lover, Laura is at home in the e-commerce sector. Whether she’s cathartic cleaning, mass baking, or gardening outside, she’s always thinking about what products would be useful and helpful.

2. Use a cup stand

However, it is a shame not to exhibit our coffee mug collections. Eliminate dead space by hanging a wall shelf in the kitchen, creating a relaxed and functional aesthetic.

“Our mugs have such characters and stories behind them, so my next favorite option is a mug rack, also on Amazon.” (opens in new tab)says Laura Honey. “It’s a simple organizer, keeps your cups safe and large cups don’t clutter up your entire stacking system.” This makes it easy to reach for your favorite cups and doesn’t limit how much you can store on each hook.

For extensive collections, there is this six-tier cup rack on Amazon (opens in new tab) keeps things tidy and frees up space in cupboards, shelves or other kitchen storage spaces that you use for mugs.

3. Create a coffee station

(Image credit: Spiffy Chicks)

Professional home organizer Amy Berryhill (opens in new tab) says that if coffee is part of your morning ritual, it pays to make your storage space something you enjoy seeing and using every day. Setting up a small coffee station near your best coffee maker is a practical option for coffee lovers, provided you have the space.

“Put coffee mugs, travel mugs, and anything you need to make your coffee in this area,” says Amy. “Arranging the cups in the same direction (meaning all handles point to the right) creates a clean and calm appearance when the cabinet is opened.”

Amy Berryhill

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Professional organizer

Amy is a professional home organizer based in the San Francisco Bay Area and has organized hundreds of kitchens. She founded Spiffy Chicks Organizing in 2007 with the goal of helping people struggling with the stress and anxiety of cluttered spaces.

4. View and rotate favorites

(Photo credit: John Lewis of Hungerford)

“A great way to organize your coffee mugs is to alternate displaying your favorite mugs and tucking the others in a cabinet,” says home organizer Laura Price (opens in new tab). “Having too many things outside, especially in a smaller space, can make your kitchen feel cluttered and cluttered.

So she suggests you revise and only select 4-8 cups to display at a time on an exposed shelf or in a display case. You can then decide which cups you want depending on the style and season.

Laura Price

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Professional organizer

Laura Price’s goal is to help others experience the benefits of an organized life, having discovered that an organized home brings her peace while raising three children in a busy home. Hence the birth of The Home Organization, a dedicated team of professional organizers.

5. Try shelf risers

If you have a lot of mugs and want to store them that way, shelf risers could be the solution. Make the most of the height of your kitchen cabinets by using shelf risers. This way you avoid creating a lot of empty space directly above your cup collection. If you have deep cupboard shelves, you can use space more efficiently by just attaching one at the back without having to stack cups directly on top of each other.

Interior designer Chantelle Hartman Malarkey (opens in new tab) agrees that stands are a good option, especially in small kitchens, as they allow you to store more cups and keep everyone in view.

Chantelle Malarkey

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interior design

Chantelle Malarkey is an interior designer and photographer who inspires others to follow their dreams and transform any space into its most beautiful version.

6. Go retro with a mug tree

“I know it’s a bit dated, but I also love mug trees.” They have all the advantages of a mug rack: easy access, careful storage, and they’re not an eyesore, either,” Laura Honey continues. “Cup trees are great because you can put them almost anywhere.” “You don’t need a wall and they’re easy to move.”

7. Arrange on shelves with rails and barriers

Wood and brass display rack at Magnolia (opens in new tab)

(Image credit: Magnolia)

Professional organizer Laura Price is a big proponent of adding extra kitchen shelves to help organize coffee mugs.

“This is especially useful for small kitchens that need cabinet storage for appliances and items that you don’t want to display,” she says. “Using shelves with a rail or barrier can also help you keep your cups safe without fear of breaking them.”

What is the best way to put coffee cups in a cupboard?

“The best way to store coffee cups depends on the size and arrangement of the closet,” says Laura Price. “While some cabinets may already be perfect for storing mugs, others may need extra help.” If there’s a lot of space between shelves, add shelf risers so you can store as many mugs as possible. Likewise, screwing hooks to the bottom of the shelves to hang your cups can avoid wasting space.”

By using kitchen organizers that either wall mount or fit in cabinets, you can keep kitchen countertops free to maximize food prep space and maintain a degree of tranquility. And those sentimental mugs you can’t part with? “Consider using this mug elsewhere in your home as a pen holder, a toothbrush holder, or even a bud vase,” says Homes & Gardens expert Caroline Roberts.

The post How you can set up espresso mugs, based on professional organizers | appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

By Emilie Ruscoe (October 20, 2022, 4:06 PM EDT) — Reed Smith LLP has added a partner who spent three years in enforcement at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during the agency’s earliest days, the firm has announced….

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JASON WILDE For the State Journal

GREEN BAY — In a 2021 Green Bay Packers season filled with feel-good stories — inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell going from on-the-street free agent to first-team All-Pro, cornerback Rasul Douglas intercepting a team-high five passes while finding a home with his sixth team in two years — Yosh Nijman might’ve been the best of the bunch.

Until the end, anyway. That was anything but storybook.

During the regular season, the Packers little-known gentle giant offensive lineman had been a godsend, stepping in at left tackle when five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari developed problems with the surgically repaired ACL in his left knee, and Pro Bowl left guard -turned-left tackle Elgton Jenkins missed time with an ankle injury and then was lost for the season to a torn ACL in his left knee in November.

Nijman, who’d played only 14 career offensive snaps before last year, wound up starting eight regular-season games and playing 590 offensive snaps (52.9%), blocking some of the NFL’s best edge rushers (Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa , Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and the Los Angeles Rams’ Von Miller among them) while giving up three sacks and 20 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus.

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While his PFF grade (63.6) wasn’t elite like those of Bakhtiari and Jenkins in past years, Nijman more than held his own while protecting the blindside of quarterback Aaron Rodgerswho would go on to win his second straight and fourth overall NFL MVP award.

And, Nijman’s PFF grade was still higher than three of his linemates who started games — center Josh Myers (54.9), guard Royce Newman (55.7), center/guard Lucas Patrick (57.2) — and slightly below those of guard Jon Runyan (64.6 ) and right tackle Billy Turner (66.2).

But leading into the team’s NFC divisional round game against the 49ers, Adam Stenavich — now the team’s offensive coordinator, but the offensive line coach at the time — decided to reshuffle the line instead of keeping the status quo with Nijman at left tackle.

With Turner returning from a knee injury, Stenavich opted to shift Turner to left tackle and start veteran Dennis Kelly, who’d played well in 4½ games in Turner’s place at right tackle, on the right side.

Turner struggled, Rodgers absorbed five sacks and was under pressure most of the game, and the Packers’ season ended with a 13-10 loss to the 49ers at Lambeau Field.

“I think (it was a matter of) just going with the most experienced guys,” Stenavich explained earlier this offseason. “My perspective on the whole thing was just going with the most experienced, toughest, hard-nosed guys for that kind of a game.

“Just the kind of game it was going to be, I thought it was going to be a pretty good slugfest. That was my decision as an offensive line coach at the time and I think everyone was on board with it.”

Then, after a pause Stenavich added, “It is what it is.”

As the Packers got ready to kick off their second week of organized team activity practices on Tuesday, Nijman hadn’t shown any signs of lingering frustration or bitterness.

The same guy who had to correct coach Matt LaFleur on his name as an undrafted free agent in 2019, who told All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams what a “blessing” it was just to be on the field when Jenkins was injured and entertained teammates with his “giant robot” celebration doesn’t seem to have let last season’s disappointment affect him.

“Everything,” Nijman replied last week when asked in what ways he’s different from this time last year. “This is my fourth year now. As a rookie three years ago, scrambling into meetings and all around the building, for me, it’s more so being a helping hand for those (younger) guys now. … At this point I know most things.”

He also knows the opportunity he has in front of him. With Bakhtiari and Jenkins both still relegated to spectators at OTAs, the No. 1 group that lined up in front of backup quarterback Jordan Love (with Rodgers not attending the first week of OTAs) had Nijman at left tackle, Runyan at left guard, Myers at center, Newman at right guard and Cole Van Lanen at right tackle.

“With Yosh, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit through the last three years, just his work ethic and his consistency working. I think he just needed an opportunity,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “It’s probably as much my fault as anybody. We kept bringing in veteran guys at tackle to shore up that third tackle spot, which never really gave him the opportunity. Once he got the opportunity, he certainly performed exceptionally well.”

With last year’s game experience, Nijman should be the leading candidate to start at right tackle in the Sept. 11 season opener at Minnesota if Bakhtiari finally returns to the lineup but Jenkins isn’t ready and starts out on the physically unable to perform list — especially with Turner, Kelly and Patrick playing with new teams this season.

Once Jenkins is healthy, the Packers will have to decide whether to play him at his previous position (left guard) or move him to right tackle and keep Runyan at left guard, leaving Nijman as the swing tackle backing up both spots.

“We’ll figure all that stuff out. I think if Yosh works at it, Yosh can do whatever he wants,” new line coach Luke Butkus said. “He’s going to have an opportunity.”

With Stenavich having challenged Nijman to take “the next step forward” and prove to the coaches that they can “count on him to be a reliable starter,” Nijman understands nothing will be given to him and that training camp and preseason games will be his proving ground — especially with Gutekunst having picked nine offensive linemen in the past three drafts to elevate the line competition significantly.

“Yosh, he’s a great human being. And then seeing how hard he works (was impressive),” Butkus said. “Every day after practice, I was given the opportunity to work with the young guys. And to see how far he’s come in the last three years is really cool.

“I’m excited, and I think he’s got a huge upside.”

Photos: Green Bay Packers put in offseason work during organized team activities

Linebacker Ellis Brooks stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebacker Caliph Brice stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Backup quarterback Jordan Love stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Backup quarterback Jordan Love runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie running back Tyler Goodson runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Defensive lineman TJ Slaton runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Running back Aaron Jones runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur throws a pass during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie defensive lineman Jonathan Ford runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebacker Ty Summers runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Safety Shawn Davis runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Safety Vernon Scott runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur throws a pass during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cornerback Eric Stokes runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie cornerback Raleigh Texada runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tight end Alizé Mack runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tight end Tyler Davis runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wide receiver Randall Cobb runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebackers Ray Wilborn and Ty Summers run a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tight end Dominique Dafney runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wide receiver Malik Taylor runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wide receiver Juwann Winfree runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie linebacker Caliph Brice stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Center Jake Hanson stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Running back AJ Dillon runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

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After a strong start to his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Hickory resident Matt DiBenedetto went through some struggles before finding his way again in May. The 30-year-old Californian came in 11th during a race at South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway on May 6 before finishing seventh at Kansas Speedway on May 14 and 10th at Texas Motor Speedway last Friday.

Over the past three races, DiBenedetto has moved up from 15th in the Truck Series playoff standings to 13th. He has tallied 193 points thus far and has four top-10 finishes in nine races.

The top 10 drivers qualify for the playoffs, so DiBenedetto will look to continue his ascent up the standings when the Truck Series invades Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday. The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 begins at 8:30 pm and will be televised on FS1.

Here’s a look at how other professional athletes with local ties have fared over the past month or so:

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JT Poston, PGA Tour competitor

After tying for third during the RBC Heritage in mid-April, Hickory native Poston missed the cut at both the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Mexico Open at Vidanta. But he bounced back with a tie for ninth during the Wells Fargo Championship May 5-8 at Maryland’s TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.

Poston and five others — Stewart Cink, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Schenk, Brian Harman and James Hahn — tied for ninth with four-round totals of 278 (2-under-par). After firing a 68 in the opening round, Poston shot a 69 in Round 2, a 74 in the third round and a 67 in the final round.

A 28-year-old Hickory High alumnus, Poston is in the field for this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Golf Channel and CBS will share TV coverage of the event, which begins on Thursday and continues through Sunday.

Kyle Troup, Professional Bowlers Association competitor

Taylorsville native Troup collected his second straight Kia PBA Tour Playoffs championship this past Sunday, defeating Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina, in the finals. The 30-year-old is the first player to win back-to-back playoff titles, with his victory pushing him over the $1 million mark in career PBA earnings.

Seeded ninth out of 16 total competitors in the PBA playoffs, Troup knocked off Sean Rash, Bill O’Neill and Kris Prather over the first three rounds before facing Jones in a best-of-five match on Sunday at Bowlero Jupiter in Jupiter, Florida . Troup won the opening game by a 217-184 score and the second game by a 276-257 final before falling 279-201 in the third game, but he rebounded with a 288-222 win in the fourth game to win the title.

Troup’s ninth career PBA win surpasses the eight won by his father, Guppy.

“It just shows, keep fighting and keep willing your way through because good things will happen,” Troup told FloBowling.com after the win. “It’s been a rough year physically and mentally a little bit, but I never gave up.

“I am the man of the household now,” he added of surpassing his dad in career titles. “If he wants another belt, he can have it. We will have some fun with the tag team belts come Thursday night league back home.”

Caleb Farley, Tennessee Titans cornerback

After his rookie season in the NFL ended prematurely due to a torn ACL, Maiden native Farley has been working his way back and will attempt to earn a starting spot in 2022. The 23-year-old was showing improvement before suffering the season-ending injury.

Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Farley is scheduled to return to his alma mater, Maiden High, on July 15 to host a free football camp. The camp, which is for children ages 8-14 and will last from 9 am to 1 pm, has already sold out.

Tennessee’s first preseason game will be a road contest against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 11, while the Titans’ regular-season opener will see them host the New York Giants on Sept. 11.

JaQuan Artis, Northern Arizona Wranglers defensive end

The Wranglers have won four straight games and seven of their past eight since dropping their season opener. Since the last Local Pro Roundup was published on April 20, former Lenoir-Rhyne standout Artis has 22 tackles (14 solo), seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

A 24-year-old Kinston native, Artis has helped the Wranglers win their past four contests by a combined total of 98 points. Northern Arizona is tied with the Arizona Rattlers and the Frisco Fighters for the top spot in the IFL standings entering Saturday’s road game against the Tucson Sugar Skulls, which begins at 6:05 pm

Madison Bumgarner, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher

Although he’s only 2-2 in 2022, Hickory native Bumgarner has won two of his last three decisions. In nine starts this season, the 32-year-old left-hander has totaled 28 strikeouts against 14 walks in 42 1/3 innings.

The South Caldwell High alum also has a 2.76 ERA, which would be his lowest mark since posting a 2.74 ERA with the San Francisco Giants in 2016. Arizona entered Tuesday’s home game against the Kansas City Royals with a record of 22-22 after finishing 52 -110 last year.

Hunter Harvey, Washington Nationals pitcher

Harvey has been on the injured list since April 21 after making four appearances out of the Nationals’ bullpen. The 27-year-old right-hander, who graduated from Bandys High and grew up in Catawba, posted a 0.00 ERA with three strikeouts, one walk and one hit allowed in 2 2/3 innings before being placed on the IL with a pronator strain in his pitching arm.

Harvey could return as early as this week. Washington, which hosts the Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series today at 4:05 pm, is currently in last place in the National League East.

Hayden Deal, Mississippi Braves pitcher

Another Bandys High alum, Deal has made 11 relief appearances for the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A affiliate in 2022. The 27-year-old southpaw from Newton has a 1-0 record with a 1.88 ERA and 23 strikeouts against nine walks in 24 innings.

Batters are hitting .200 against Deal, who has recorded more than three outs on nine occasions. In 11 road innings, he has a 0.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts, one walk and a .105 batting average against.

Deal’s statistics were compiled prior to Tuesday’s road game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, who entered the contest 3 1/2 games ahead of both Mississippi and the Biloxi Shuckers for first place in the Southern League’s South Division.

Justin Dean, Mississippi Braves outfielder

After hitting .204 in 19 games with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, Dean was sent back to the Double-A level, where he is batting .222 with six hits including two doubles and a triple in eight games. The former Lenoir-Rhyne standout, who is now 25 years old, is currently on the seven-day injured list.

Prior to his injury, Dean had seven total stolen bases in 2022 (two with Mississippi) and nine RBIs (four with Mississippi). He is a native of Mauldin, South Carolina.

Julian Smith, Great Lakes Loons pitcher

Smith has enjoyed a solid start to the season, entering 13 games out of the bullpen for the Dodgers’ High-A affiliate. The left-hander, who previously pitched at Catawba Valley Community College and is now 24 years old, has a 2-0 record and a 3.72 ERA in 19 1/3 innings.

Additionally, Smith has 20 strikeouts, 10 walks, three holds and one save. Great Lakes is currently in the midst of a six-game road series with the South Bend Cubs that began on Tuesday.

Josh McKinney is the sports editor for the Hickory Daily Record.

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The post LOCAL PRO ROUNDUP: DiBenedetto shifting up the NASCAR Truck Sequence standings | Sports activities Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore celebrated his 39th birthday by knocking out Yaya Olorunsola in his debut as a professional boxer.

He knocked down Olorunsola to the canvas unconscious in the fourth round with a powerful right hook in the co-main event of Gamebred Boxing in Jackson, Mississippi.

Frank Gore’s notable NFL numbers

The former rusher, who holds the NFL record for the most games played by a running back (241), participated in an exhibition fight as part of the undercard of the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley showdown in December. He lost via split decision.

Gore is an NFL veteran who played for five teams in 16 seasons. He last played with the New York Jets 2020. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round in 2005, and stayed with the team until 2014. All his Pro Bowl selections were made during his time with the Niners.

Frank Gore: NFL fixture for 16 seasons

He played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2015 to 2017, for the Miami Dolphins in 2018, the Buffalo Bills in 2019, before moving to the Jets in 2020.

The 39-year-old is known for the longevity of his career, which is particularly noteworthy given the position that he plays. He has tallied a total of 16,000 rushing yards in his entire stint with professional football, a number that ranks third in the history of the NFL, trailing only Emmitt Smith who recorded 18,355 yards, and Walter Payton, who racked up 16,726.

Gore recently announced that he would hang up his cleats up soon, and that he intends to sign a one-day contract with San Francisco so that he could formally retire as a 49er.

The post San Francisco 49ers Professional Bowl operating again Frank Gore wins professional boxing debut by KO appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore celebrated his 39th birthday by knocking out Yaya Olorunsola in his debut as a professional boxer.

He knocked down Olorunsola to the canvas unconscious in the fourth round with a powerful right hook in the co-main event of Gamebred Boxing in Jackson, Mississippi.

Frank Gore’s notable NFL numbers

The former rusher, who holds the NFL record for the most games played by a running back (241), participated in an exhibition fight as part of the undercard of the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley showdown in December. He lost via split decision.

Gore is an NFL veteran who played for five teams in 16 seasons. He last played with the New York Jets 2020. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round in 2005, and stayed with the team until 2014. All his Pro Bowl selections were made during his time with the Niners.

Frank Gore: NFL fixture for 16 seasons

He played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2015 to 2017, for the Miami Dolphins in 2018, the Buffalo Bills in 2019, before moving to the Jets in 2020.

The 39-year-old is known for the longevity of his career, which is particularly noteworthy given the position that he plays. He has tallied a total of 16,000 rushing yards in his entire stint with professional football, a number that ranks third in the history of the NFL, trailing only Emmitt Smith who recorded 18,355 yards, and Walter Payton, who racked up 16,726.

Gore recently announced that he would hang up his cleats up soon, and that he intends to sign a one-day contract with San Francisco so that he could formally retire as a 49er.

The post San Francisco 49ers Professional Bowl operating again Frank Gore wins professional boxing debut by KO appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson on Thursday reiterated his hopes of keeping star AJ Brown on the team for years to come amid an eventful offseason surrounding wide receivers.

The market at the position has skyrocketed over the last month, with a slew of elite receivers – Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams among them – receiving megadeals. And Deebo Samuel’s trade request from the San Francisco 49ers added another ripple in the discussion. If he’s dealt and immediately signs a new deal with the trading team, it could set a new bar for Brown’s extension.

Brown and Samuel are both represented by CAA’s Tory Dandy, who negotiated three-year deals worth $60 million earlier this offseason for two other big-name receivers: Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers).

At the Titans’ pre-draft news conference, Robinson shut down any speculation that Tennessee could trade their star receiver before next week’s draft.

“I don’t foresee that happening,” he said.

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It falls in line with comments Robinson has previously made. He said at the NFL owners meeting last month that he wanted to keep Brown with the Titans for a “long time” and wanted to extend him “this offseason, or whenever that manifests itself.”

Brown, who’s entering the last year of his rookie deal, has 185 receptions for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns in 43 games with the Titans. He was named a Pro Bowler after the 2020 season.

Brown could command at least $20 million per year in a new deal, contracts expert Joel Corry told The Tennessean earlier this month.

“We’ve had some discussions with his reps,” Robinson said of contract negotiations with Brown. “He was here a couple weeks ago. I talked to him. We’re working through that. Not going to get into any details with contract negotiations; never really done that. But we’ve made it public about how we feel about AJ and how we want him to be apart of this football team.”

“AJ knows how we feel about him and how much he means to this football team.”

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