NHL

Brent Burns and the San Jose Sharks are back, thank goodness. (Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

Hockey is back — and not a puck-drop too soon

Tired of politics with your sports, Bubba? The endless off-the-field problems?  In…

 

Sure, Jaromir Jagr is old. But he’s almost certainly good enough to play some minutes for the San Jose Sharks. (Courtesy Sarah A./Flickr)

Ageless Jaromir Jagr can help Sharks, right a wrong

He’s as good or better than half the players in his sport,…

 

Zach Randolph getting arrested for allgedly having two pounds of marijuana on him was dumb. But not as dumb as the way pro sports leagues treat the drug. (Courtesy Sean Davis/Flickr)

Pro sports leagues should learn to love marijuana legalization

Zach Randolph — formerly of the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies,…

 

With the Chase Center opening, bringing pro hockey back to San Francisco only makes sense. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

Warriors need a partner, and Seals would be a cool fit

The Warriors Victory Tour is on hold for the rest of the…

With the Chase Center opening, bringing pro hockey back to San Francisco only makes sense. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
It was simpler times last week when the biggest injury Kevin Durant was dealing with was a bruised pinky finger.

Here’s the plan for Warriors to finish strong without Kevin Durant

A lot of haters are thrilled that Kevin Durant has a sprained…

It was simpler times last week when the biggest injury Kevin Durant was dealing with was a bruised pinky finger.
San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) deflects a shot from St. Louis Blues' Robby Fabbri (15) as Sharks' Brent Burns (88) helps defend during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Saturday, May 21, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Runner-up Sharks head into offseason with few glaring needs

SAN JOSE — When general manager Doug Wilson entered last offseason he…

San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) deflects a shot from St. Louis Blues' Robby Fabbri (15) as Sharks' Brent Burns (88) helps defend during the first period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Saturday, May 21, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
The Warriors must hope their best chance to win a championship hasn’t passed. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

It’s Warriors’ series to lose, but hoops gods shouldn’t be tempted

The Warriors have been here before. In Cleveland for Game 6 of…

The Warriors must hope their best chance to win a championship hasn’t passed. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
This photo was posted on Instagram with the caption: Dick Mahoney: Pro slo-pitch softball player, circa 1987. (tiffcherie/Instagram)

The tale of an incognito rec league ringer

Everybody deals with retirement differently. Some tend to their gardens; others find…

This photo was posted on Instagram with the caption: Dick Mahoney: Pro slo-pitch softball player, circa 1987. (tiffcherie/Instagram)
The Sharks could only watch as the Penguins celebrated with the Stanley Cup. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Sharks’ dream run ends by watching Penguins celebrate

There’s only one winner. As we know so well. And so painfully,…

The Sharks could only watch as the Penguins celebrated with the Stanley Cup. (Eric Risberg/AP)
SAP Center in San Jose has received criticism throughout the Stanley Cup finals. But if the Sharks are able to win the cup, they owe credit to an Andrea Bocelli concert. (Eric Risberg/AP)

San Jose facility is big loser in Stanley Cup Final

There are a number of real hockey markets that deserve an NHL…

SAP Center in San Jose has received criticism throughout the Stanley Cup finals. But if the Sharks are able to win the cup, they owe credit to an Andrea Bocelli concert. (Eric Risberg/AP)
A man cheers after walking through an inflatable shark outside SAP Center before the start of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins in San Jose, Monday, June 6, 2016. (Eric Risberg/AP)

San Who-Dey Is Big Loser in Stanley Cup Final

CLEVELAND - There are a number of real hockey markets that deserve…

A man cheers after walking through an inflatable shark outside SAP Center before the start of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins in San Jose, Monday, June 6, 2016. (Eric Risberg/AP)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was a key player in Game 5 on Thursday. He will need to have a repeat performance in Game 6 on Sunday. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

Sharks know getting ahead early a key to survival

Throughout the Stanley Cup finals, San Jose Sharks players have made it…

San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was a key player in Game 5 on Thursday. He will need to have a repeat performance in Game 6 on Sunday. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)
Sidney Crosby (87) can’t get the puck past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Sharks aren’t done yet

PITTSBURGH — Martin Jones stopped everything. The seemingly endless barrage of shots…

Sidney Crosby (87) can’t get the puck past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Eric Fehr, left, scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images via AP, Pool)

Sharks in danger of being on wrong end of gentleman’s sweep

SAN JOSE — The task facing the San Jose Sharks is daunting:…

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Eric Fehr, left, scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images via AP, Pool)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cullen, left, moves the puck past San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns (88) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, June 6, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Ben Margot/AP)

Sharks in too deep

SAP CENTER — The San Jose Sharks fell apart Monday night at…

Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cullen, left, moves the puck past San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns (88) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, June 6, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Ben Margot/AP)
San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27), from Finland, scores the winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during overtime of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, June 4, 2016. The Sharks won 3-2. (Eric Risberg/AP)

With stars neutralized, unsung players step up in Cup final

SAN JOSE — This is a Stanley Cup Final filled with stars…

San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27), from Finland, scores the winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during overtime of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, June 4, 2016. The Sharks won 3-2. (Eric Risberg/AP)
San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is one of the leading scorers in the playoffs, but he hasn’t registered a goal or assist in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

Point-less Pavelski must lead Sharks in Game 3

After losing the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals to…

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is one of the leading scorers in the playoffs, but he hasn’t registered a goal or assist in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Goalie Matt Murray, right, rushes to join his teammates as they mob Conor Sheary after his game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first overtime period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday. The Penguins won 2-1 to take a 2-0 game lead in the series. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

Sharks fall into 2-0 hole in Stanley Cup finals

PITTSBURGH — Conor Sheary started the season in the minor leagues. Safe…

Goalie Matt Murray, right, rushes to join his teammates as they mob Conor Sheary after his game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first overtime period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday. The Penguins won 2-1 to take a 2-0 game lead in the series. (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Joe Pavelski skates past Pittsburgh Penguins’ Justin Schultz during the third period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Sharks look to rebound from poor start

PITTSBURGH — The nerves are gone. Spending your franchise’s first 20 minutes…

Joe Pavelski skates past Pittsburgh Penguins’ Justin Schultz during the third period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton talks to reporters during Stanley Cup Finals media day in Pittsburgh, Sunday May 29, 2016. The Sharks face off in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 30, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Long road to Cup Final ends for rebuilt Sharks and Penguins

PITTSBURGH — It wasn't supposed to take the San Jose Sharks this…

San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton talks to reporters during Stanley Cup Finals media day in Pittsburgh, Sunday May 29, 2016. The Sharks face off in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 30, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)