Sorry For Dissapearing!

Hey sports fans! Hope you’re having a great week! Just wanted to hit you with a quick update on why I’ve been slacking on blogging and podcasting as of late. The reason being that my schedule has been turned on its head. I went from working the 3-11pm shift to waking up at 3am to fill-in on the 5am-noon shift on KNBR! I’m having an absolute blast, but have had to put the TWSS blog and podcast on the back burner as a result. So, I – and Nick too! – just wanted to say that we promise to resume our regularly scheduled rants as soon as I get some sort of routine figured out. Until then, enjoy the rest of the NBA and NHL Finals and take a look and a listen to the best college sports call in a loooooong time.

Cal baseball. Regionals. Danny Fry at the mic. Two words: GO BEARS!

TWSS Podcast: April 29, 2011

Kate and Nick are back! The duo’s talking Sharks v. Red Wings, Giants and A’s baseball, the NFL Draft, and the Warriors letting Keith Smart go after just one season. Happy Friday, all!

Click here to listen!

Cal’s Donovan Edwards Impresses Raiders, Niners

With the NFL Draft just hours away, Cameron Jordan isn’t the only ex-Cal lineman whose stock is on the rise. Donovan Edwards worked out for the Raiders last week and a source close to the team tells me that the Silver and Black love him as a player and a person and see the Pinole Valley product as an ideal center candidate. The former Bear met with the Niners a few days later and a league source says that San Francisco also liked him at center, but worked him at tackle as well.

Wanna know more about the big man? Well, you’re in luck. California Golden Blogs chatted with Edwards earlier in the week and posted the exchange to their site.

Here’s wishing a guy that’s been humble and hilarious every time we’ve talked the best of luck wherever he ends up!

10 Former Cal Bears Compete at 49ers Pro Day

Which is taking place today at Niners headquarters in Santa Clara. The former Bears set to show their stuff include OLB Keith Browner, C Donovan Edwards, G Richard Fisher, C Chris Guarnero, CB Darian Hagan, NT Derrick Hill, DE Cameron Jordan, QB Kevin Riley, WR Jeremy Ross and RB Shane Vereen. Check back next week for info on the day as well as a wrap of Edwards workout with the Raiders.

Cal’s Donovan Edwards to Work Out For Oakland Raiders

The former Cal offensive lineman will work out for the Raiders new assistant O-line coach, Steve Wisniewski, on Monday. According to a source, the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars – who shocked a lot of folks by taking former Cal D-lineman, Tyson Alualu, with the 10th pick in last year’s draft – have also expressed interest.

During his two year tenure with the Bears, the Pinole Valley product played in 34 games with 18 starts at right tackle. Listed at 6’5″, 280 lbs coming into last season, Edwards is working hard to add strength and reach 300 lbs. by draft day. Check back next week for details on his workout with the Silver and Black and as always…Go Bears!

CORRECTION: Edwards played three years at Cal, not two. Thanks to Felicia for pointing out my mistake!

TWSS Podcast: Monday, April 4, 2011

On this gorgeous Monday in the Bay Area, Kate and Nick are talking MLB’s opening weekend, Stanford’s heartbreak, Cal baseball’s latest hope and most importantly, the proper way to apply a congratulatory butt slap. Click here to listen to today’s show!

TWSS Podcast: Monday, March 28, 2011

Kate and Nick can barely contain their excitement. Sure, no Bay Area men’s team made it to the dance this year, but the Stanford women are in the Elite Eight, the Santa Clara men are in the CIT Championship, and opening day is just three days away! So put down that busted bracket and get excited, dammit.

It’s time for another edition of That’s What She Said! Click here to listen.

Cal’s Scott Fujita, Stanford’s Candice Wiggins Among All-Star Supporters of New “Changing the Game” GLSEN Project

I’m smiling this morning, thanks to two former Bay Area athletes with the courage to stand up for what is right. Full disclosure, I’m gay, so hearing about the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) new “Changing the Game” project hits close to home. The project’s mission is as follows:

To assist K-12 schools in creating and maintaining an athletic and physical education climate that is based on the core principles of respect, safety and equal access for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Though I didn’t come out until college, I had friends who I believe would have in high school, if the support and respect that this new project aims to bring had already been in place. So while I know it’ll take time for this campaign to make a difference, I’m hopeful that eventually it will help create a positive environment in which numerous young LGBT athletes – who may shy away from sports fraught with homophobia today – are able to excel.

In addition to Fujita and Wiggins, other supporters and members of the Project’s advisory board include: Hall of Fame tennis players Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova; ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com columnist LZ Granderson; Olympic softball medalists Jessica Mendoza and Lauren Lappin; Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke; three-time All-American wrestler Hudson Taylor; Rugby player Ben Cohen; former MLB player Billy Bean; and former NBA player John Amaechi.

For a full write-up on the project, click here.

Cal Alum Conor Jackson Hopes to Make a Comeback With the A’s

After a massive 2008 season, during which Jackson hit .300, scored 85 runs and knocked in 75 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the former Cal star fell victim to a nasty foe … the disabled list. Valley fever took away Jackson’s 2009 season and a hernia and strained hammy ruined his 2010 campaign. So, instead of working on something baseball related this offseason, Jackson instead focused on improving his karma.

Hey, you gotta love a guy that worries about his positive energy, right? Especially one that’s a former Bear and current Oakland Athletic. Click here to read the full story.

East Bay Native Tyson Ross Takes Aim at A’s Final Spot

Great news from down in the desert! Inside Bay Area is reporting that Bishop O’Dowd alum, Tyson Ross, is in the mix to be the Oakland Athletics fifth starter this season. The 6’6″ fireballer was a 2nd round draft choice of the A’s back in 2008, which had to be pretty exciting, seeing as Ross was born in Berkeley and played college ball at Cal.

I had the chance to interview the big man during his time with the Bears and he seemed like a great kid. Polite, humble, and one hell of an athlete. Here’s hoping he’s able to parlay a great spring into a regular spot in the Oakland rotation!