Category Archives: Football

BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL – On Sale

April 9, 2019

In a rousing trip through the worlds of Basketball and Football, George Thomas Clark explores the professional basketball league in Mexico, the Herculean talents of Wilt Chamberlain, the difficulties and humor of attempting to play basketball in middle age, and observes that coaching at Caltech can be more painful than studying all night for a […]

Also posted in Basketball, Basketball and Football, George Thomas Clark, Kobe Bryant, O.J. Simpson, Wilt Chamberlain

Robert Kraft Explains

February 23, 2019

I don’t expect sympathy. I just want you to be reasonable. It should be irrelevant I’m worth six billions dollars and own the New England Patriots who’ve won six Super Bowl titles since I bought the team twenty years ago. I’m a man of seventy-seven who gets lonely more than you’d think. My wife died […]

Also posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Human Trafficking, New England Patriots, Prostitution, Robert Kraft, Sex, Slavery

Dwight Clark: The Catch

June 11, 2018

Entering training camp 1980 the San Francisco 49ers had lost fourteen games two straight seasons and weren’t generating much enthusiasm in central California or anywhere else. Still, even as a temporarily disengaged fan, I wanted to learn a little about the team and didn’t change channels when a Sacramento sportscaster interviewed one of the players. […]

Also posted in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Bill Walsh, Dwight Clark, Joe Montana, Lou Gehrig, Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers, Steve Young

Bill Walsh Calls Belichick

February 6, 2018

Of course I watched the Super Bowl. I’m an admirer of Bill Belichick. I enjoy watching him coach and assume he loved watching me guide the 49ers for ten seasons. Honestly, I don’t feel any competitive fire when I think about him. Oh, there is some tension, I suppose. I’m tired of all these young […]

Also posted in Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh, David Shaw, Joe Montana, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Pete Carroll, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Tom Brady, Vince Lombardi

5-Star Review for “Basketball and Football”

January 20, 2018

I would like to thank Lance Smith, the Sports Book Guy, one of the top reviewers of sports books in the nation, for his kind words about my most recent book, “Basketball and Football.” Sports Book Guy Lance Smith January 20, 2018 “With one of the simplest titles for a sports book, ‘Basketball and Football’ […]

Also posted in Basketball, Basketball and Football, George Thomas Clark, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, O.J. Simpson

Before Kickoff

September 27, 2017

on their knees players stand tall for nation

Also posted in Civil Rights, Donald Trump, NFL

“Basketball and Football” is Published

August 20, 2017

Also posted in Basketball, Basketball and Football, Bill Walsh, Donald Rogers, George Thomas Clark, John Wooden, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, O.J. Simpson, Stephen Curry, Wilt Chamberlain

Candlestick by the Bay

May 5, 2017

On a wet gray day late in December 2015 I was driving north on 101, telling my wife about great childhood adventures in the sixties when our family journeyed to Candlestick Park to watch the San Francisco Giants. We would come in the other way, from Sacramento through the city by the bay, and I […]

Also posted in Al Capone, Alcatraz, Baseball, Bay Area, Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Marin County, Ronnie Lott, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers

The People v. O.J. Simpson

February 20, 2017

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Johnnie Cochran, Los Angeles, Marcia Clark, Marriage, Murder, O.J. Simpson

Dream Football

November 26, 2016

This story is now in the collection “Tales of Romance”

Also posted in Dating, Romance

Northwest Catastrophe

October 23, 2016

seattle mourns seahawks move to bakersfield

Also posted in Bakersfield, Seattle

Bay Area Delights

October 3, 2016

Don’t you love the Bay Area? It’s the greatest megalopolis on earth, featuring the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay and wooded hills surrounding blue water and boats and ominous Alcatraz and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, and there are all the major league sports and concerts and countless museums and parks and universities […]

Also posted in Carmel, Central Valley, Clint Eastwood, Cypress Point, Gabby Douglas, Golf, Gymnastics, Homeless, Nastia Liukin, Painters, Pebble Beach, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Simone Biles, Spyglass Hill, Stanford University, Tom Hanks

The Rogers Brothers – Triumph and Tragedy

June 28, 2016

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, Cocaine, Depression, Donald Rogers, Reggie Rogers

Super D

February 8, 2016

best offense on field denver defense

Also posted in Charlotte, Denver, Super Bowl

Johnny Goes Vegas

January 20, 2016

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, Cleveland, Concussions, Johnny Manziel, Las Vegas, Movies

Objective, Atherton

December 29, 2015

Don’t misunderstand, I love the plains of Atherton but even more the hills where I can gaze over the Silicon Valley and dream I’ll someday be part of this. I know I’m not now. I live in a Section 8 studio in Modesto and can only drive to the Bay Area once a month for […]

Also posted in Atherton, Baseball, Bay Area, Computers, Joe Montana, Larry Ellison, Mental Health, Poverty, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays

Sober Up

November 27, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, Johnny Manziel

Stop Drinking

October 12, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, Pat Haden, Steve Sarkisian, USC

Rolling Hills Paradise

August 27, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, Los Angeles, Palos Verdes, Pat Haden, Steve Sarkisian, USC

Paraphrasing Sarkisian

August 26, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, Pat Haden, Steve Sarkisian, USC

Sarkisian Drunk at Rally

August 25, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Alcohol, John McKay, Lane Kiffin, Pat Haden, Pete Carroll, Steve Sarkisian

Faultless Frank Gifford

August 10, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Bakersfield, Don Meredith, Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, New York City, USC

Belichick Zaps Carroll

February 6, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Bill Belichick, Hallucinogens, Jimi Hendrix, Marshawn Lynch, Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, Super Bowl, Tom Brady

Pete Carroll Called What?

February 2, 2015

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, Super Bowl

A Real College Football Playoff

December 8, 2014

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in College, NCAA

Walsh Lectures Harbaugh and Kaepernick

October 6, 2014

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Bill Walsh, Colin Kaepernick, Deion Sanders, Jim Harbaugh, Joe Montana

Rhinos Battle Poachers

November 23, 2013

Thank you, humans, after centuries of slaughtering rhinos and driving many of our species into extinction and others to the brink, for trying to implant microchips in horns of all Kenyan white rhinos you can shoot with tranquilizers and thereby track poachers who kill us, and presumably arrest, prosecute, and convict the heathens who love […]

Also posted in Africa, Animals, Rhinos

Dolphin Brother Supports Incognito

November 9, 2013

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Bullies, Bullying, Jonathan Martin, Miami, Racism, Richie Incognito

Another Rogers Family Tragedy – Reggie Dies

October 26, 2013

This book is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Basketball, Cocaine, Donald Rogers, Drugs, Reggie Rogers, Sacramento, UCLA

Pat Haden’s Termination Plans

October 4, 2013

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Lane Kiffin, Pat Haden, USC

Women’s Football

March 13, 2013

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Women

Meet Johnny

December 6, 2012

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Internet, Johnny Manziel, Texas

Barack and Michelle Obama Audio Soars on Internet

September 17, 2012

This story is from the collection “Obama on Edge”

Also posted in Barack Obama, Campaign 2012, Marriage, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Sex, Theater

Executive Jack

July 7, 2012

Monday after high school graduation kid was required to become adult, moving long miles to Los Angeles and working in south central warehouse owned by gray parental friend named Jack who invited to dinner first night. In large Palos Verdes home south of city Jack and wife greeted kid and promised he’d have great summer. […]

Also posted in Alcohol, Families, George Allen, Los Angeles, Short Pieces - GTC

The Human Brain

June 9, 2012

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Brain, Depression, John Mackey, Junior Seau, Mental Health, San Diego, Suicide

Cruising O.J.’s House

April 6, 2012

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Crime, Marriage, Media, Murder, O.J. Simpson, Short Pieces - GTC

Madonna Teases Super Bowl Audience

February 7, 2012

hey some guy flipped off america during super bowl halftime show few noticed nonevent but bible busters protested when should’ve imagined madonna fifties fit in parked or moving cars on sofas in reading chairs on or under dining room tables planning to disappear in smoke revealing message world peace

Also posted in Conservatives, Dance, Madonna, Music, Poetry - GTC, Religion

Invitation to Brave Tweeters

January 24, 2012

brave men tweeting san francisco forty niner kyle williams should die should jump from golden gate should catch bullet should blow up in car because twice fumbled football are invited to next tweet at team headquarters Source: SFGate.com on January 23, 2012

Also posted in Golden Gate Bridge, Internet, Poetry - GTC, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers

Champions of Sleep

January 10, 2012

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in NCAA, Poetry - GTC

The NCAA Confesses

September 21, 2011

What’s in that syringe? Untie me. You’ll go to jail. This won’t work. I’m not talking. I hope I won’t. I know I shouldn’t say as a kid I was a white wimp and still am and therefore perfect to work for the NCAA. I loathe my athletic superiors and all the media and fan […]

Also posted in Basketball, Education, NCAA, Racism, Reggie Bush, Walter Byers

From Tennessee to California

November 17, 2010

In the summer of 1978 I lived in a small old room at the rear of a dreary house in north Sacramento, one of the worst parts of the Golden State’s capital city. Fortunately, I didn’t know I’d have to stay there several more years until a modest inheritance temporarily rescued me, and was delighted […]

Also posted in Albuquerque, Amarillo, Arizona, Arkansas, Asia, Bakersfield, Barry Switzer, Baseball, Basketball, Buck Owens, Cars & Driving, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dogs, Doug Atkins, Elvis Presley, George Thomas Clark, Johnny Bench, Memphis, Nashville, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pete Ranzany, Pipino Cuevas, Rivers, Sacramento, Southeast Asia, Tennessee, Texas, Travel, Vietnam

Time to Pay College Athletes

July 22, 2010

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Basketball, Golf, Heisman Trophy, Lebron James, Media, Michael Jackson, Movies, Music, NCAA, Newspapers, Racism, Radio, Reggie Bush, Shirley Temple, Stevie Wonder, Tiger Woods, USC

Cruising in My First Car

July 16, 2010

I wish I’d been more on the ball and returned to somehow punish the scoundrel who sold me my first car. The deed occurred on an ominous weeknight when my stepfather drove me east of Sacramento to a fine suburban home where a slender dorky old man at least forty-five opened the door and said, […]

Also posted in Alcohol, Babe Ruth, Baseball, Basketball, Cars & Driving, Civil War - American, Elvis Presley, George Thomas Clark, Grambling University, Grapevine, Highway 99, Jim Cleamons, Kentucky, Lebron James, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Luke Witte, Mississippi, New York City, Niagara Falls, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State University, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Racism, Roberto Clemente, Sacramento, Siege of Vicksburg, Tennessee, Texas, Travel, Ulysses S. Grant, Vanderbilt University, Western Kentucky University, Woody Hayes

Pete Carroll Departs

January 15, 2010

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Lane Kiffin, Los Angeles, Pete Carroll, USC

You’re O.J. Simpson

October 7, 2008

This story is in the collection “Basketball and Football”

Also posted in Murder, O.J. Simpson, USC

Ryan Mathews Demolishes the Bruins who Ignored Him

September 28, 2008

Two years ago this November I went to see a Bakersfield phenom who was rushing for about 300 yards and four touchdowns a game against good high school competition. I took notes and wrote an article and sent it to UCLA coach Karl Dorrell and three of his assistants, stressing Ryan Mathews wanted to attend […]

Also posted in Fresno, Pasadena, Ryan Mathews