Sports Columnists

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr trying to get the defense set-up against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter at Chase Center on Oct. 24, 2019 in San Francisco. (Chris Victorio | Special to the S.F. Examiner)

Kolsky: The Warriors are fine

While mediocrity is a culture shock for some veterans and fans, this group is just fine

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr trying to get the defense set-up against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter at Chase Center on Oct. 24, 2019 in San Francisco. (Chris Victorio | Special to the S.F. Examiner)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) before playing the Cleveland Browns at Levi’s Stadium on October 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Chris Victorio | Special to the S.F. Examiner)

On Sports Media: Niners becoming ratings hit

San Francisco 49ers could see multiple games flexed into primetime if winning continues

  • Oct 27, 2019
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) before playing the Cleveland Browns at Levi’s Stadium on October 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Chris Victorio | Special to the S.F. Examiner)
TNT analyst Reggie Miller and play-by-play man Kevin Harlan call a game. (Courtesy / TNT)

On Sports Media: Warriors opening night is a national affair

TNT’s Reggie Miller talks about this season’s Golden State team and their new home

  • Oct 20, 2019
TNT analyst Reggie Miller and play-by-play man Kevin Harlan call a game. (Courtesy / TNT)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) at the end of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles. (Chris Victorio | Special to the S.F. Examiner)

Kolsky: 49ers undefeated start is for real

The picture-perfect offseason machinations have produced a team whose 5-0 start is unassailable

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) at the end of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles. (Chris Victorio | Special to the S.F. Examiner)
Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler before the Phillies played the Miami Marlins on Sept. 27, 2019. (Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

On Sports Media: Who’s predicting the next Giants manager?

National media handicaps who will be the next San Francisco Giants skipper

  • Oct 13, 2019
Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler before the Phillies played the Miami Marlins on Sept. 27, 2019. (Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi addresses the media in hist post-season press conference at Oracle Park on Oct. 1, 2019. (Ryan Gorcey / SF Examiner)

Kolsky: Giants back are in the business of selling hope

After a better-than-expected start to rebuild, San Francisco has a path forward

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi addresses the media in hist post-season press conference at Oracle Park on Oct. 1, 2019. (Ryan Gorcey / SF Examiner)
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball crew, including Bay Area native Matt Vasgersian (front), Stanford grad Jessica Mendoza and Alex Rodriguez. (Courtesy / ESPN)

For Vasgersian the A’s wild card game is a homecoming

Bay Area native Matt Vasgersian will be on the call for an AL wild card game involving the A’s

  • Sep 29, 2019
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball crew, including Bay Area native Matt Vasgersian (front), Stanford grad Jessica Mendoza and Alex Rodriguez. (Courtesy / ESPN)
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy waves his cap in salute to fans at the start of his final season before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening home game of the 2019 season at Oracle Park on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Giants aren’t going to the playoffs, but Bruce Bochy might

On Sports Media: Networks hoping retiring Bruce Bochy will lend voice to MLB playoffs

  • Sep 22, 2019
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy waves his cap in salute to fans at the start of his final season before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening home game of the 2019 season at Oracle Park on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks (16) reacts as Oakland Athletics short stop Marcus Semien (10) fields a ground ball hit by New York Yankees short stop Didi Gregorius (18) and the put out to Matt Olson (28) at first base as the A’s defeat the Yankees 6-4 at the Oakland Coliseum on August 21, 2019 in Oakland, Calif. (Chris Victorio | Special for S.F. Examiner)

Tale of Two Bay Area’s: A’s, Rays could be headed for a showdown

Networks want a piece of showdown between two small-market, big-success teams

  • Sep 15, 2019
Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks (16) reacts as Oakland Athletics short stop Marcus Semien (10) fields a ground ball hit by New York Yankees short stop Didi Gregorius (18) and the put out to Matt Olson (28) at first base as the A’s defeat the Yankees 6-4 at the Oakland Coliseum on August 21, 2019 in Oakland, Calif. (Chris Victorio | Special for S.F. Examiner)
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (23) intercepts a pass from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) during the third quarter on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Monica Herndon/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Kolsky: Little wins can add up to a big payoff for 49ers

Playoffs?! There’s a straight line there from 49ers’ Week 1 win

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (23) intercepts a pass from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) during the third quarter on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Monica Herndon/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan at Levi’s Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 29, 2019 in Santa Clara, California (Chris Victorio | Special to S.F. Examiner).

On Sports Media: 49ers fans have bevy of options

NFL kicks off on Sunday on various over-the-air and on-demand platforms

  • Sep 8, 2019
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan at Levi’s Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 29, 2019 in Santa Clara, California (Chris Victorio | Special to S.F. Examiner).
On Sports Media: KFOG no more: KNBR adds an FM station

On Sports Media: KFOG no more: KNBR adds an FM station

Longtime rock/alternative station KFOG will now be an FM simulcast of The Sports Leader

  • Sep 1, 2019
On Sports Media: KFOG no more: KNBR adds an FM station
A look at the court and scoreboard inside the Golden State Warriors’ new Chase Center arena during a media tour on Monday. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

A Chase Center sneak peek: Amenities to die for

Sure, parking’s going to be tight, and dual-game-night traffic may be the stuff of nightmares, but hey, look at all this stuff!

A look at the court and scoreboard inside the Golden State Warriors’ new Chase Center arena during a media tour on Monday. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
On Sports Media: Talking history with Mark Ibanez, Joe Fonzi

On Sports Media: Talking history with Mark Ibanez, Joe Fonzi

When it comes to Bay Area sports the Fox 2 duo of Mark Ibanez and Joe Fonzi have seen it all.

  • Aug 25, 2019
On Sports Media: Talking history with Mark Ibanez, Joe Fonzi
Washington football players pose on the school’s field in San Francisco. (Courtesy / Joe Shasky)

Butcher Boy delivering the bacon to Washington High School

Bay Area radio personality and San Francisco native Joe Shasky goes to bat for prep sports

Washington football players pose on the school’s field in San Francisco. (Courtesy / Joe Shasky)
Dave Flemming (right) calls a college football game with Joey Galloway (center) and Booger McFarland (left). (Courtesy / ESPN PR)

On Sports Media: Dave Flemming has the best of both worlds

Bay Area broadcaster Dave Flemming talks Giants, being a homer and his college football duties

  • Aug 18, 2019
Dave Flemming (right) calls a college football game with Joey Galloway (center) and Booger McFarland (left). (Courtesy / ESPN PR)
George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers gets the first down from a pass from quarterback Nick Mullens (4) against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Chris Victorio | Special to S.F. Examiner).

On Sports Media: Fantasty football kicks off

Which local NFL stars should you pick up in your fantasy football draft and when?

  • Aug 11, 2019
George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers gets the first down from a pass from quarterback Nick Mullens (4) against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Chris Victorio | Special to S.F. Examiner).
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann pressures San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the second half on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS)

On the 49ers, predictions and process

Prognosticating NFL football is hard. This is not presented as an excuse…

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann pressures San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the second half on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS)
One of Pac-12 Network’s five dedicated multi-cam control rooms, showing the producer and director working together. (Kelley L. Cox / Courtesy / Pac-12 Networks)

Pac-12 Network running remote broadcasts out of SF

Pac-12 Network is gearing up for fall in San Francisco nerve center

  • Aug 4, 2019
One of Pac-12 Network’s five dedicated multi-cam control rooms, showing the producer and director working together. (Kelley L. Cox / Courtesy / Pac-12 Networks)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addresses the media as the team introduces defensive end Dee Ford and linebacker Kwon Alexander in a press conference at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on March 13, 2019. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)

On Sports Media: Cable dispute endangers 49ers, Raiders broadcasts

Because of a tiff between CBS and AT&T, Bay Area may miss preseason, regular-season NFL games

  • Jul 28, 2019
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addresses the media as the team introduces defensive end Dee Ford and linebacker Kwon Alexander in a press conference at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on March 13, 2019. (Ryan Gorcey / S.F. Examiner)