By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com
The Thursday morning ESPN special devoted to the man was acceptable. The AOL article that his winning touchdown pass was illegal was understandable. But when a writer for the Jerusalem Post feels compelled to point out Jews shouldn’t be afraid of Tim Tebow’s displays of Christianity, …
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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner
They get one shot. That was the reminder from the man who has helped enable them to gain that shot, Jim Harbaugh.
“It’s special being in the playoffs,” said Harbaugh, the 49ers rookie coach.
Special because they haven’t been there for years. Special because six months ago…
Read the full story here.
Copyright 2011 …
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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com
OAKLAND – The little analysis of Hue Jackson by Al Davis is right there in the Oakland Raiders media guide. “The fire in Hue,’’ said Davis, “will set a flame that will burn for a long time in the hearts and minds of the Raider football team and Raider …
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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner
This is what makes it appear hopeless for the 49ers in the NFC divisional playoff game Saturday at the ’Stick. Their opponent, the New Orleans Saints, scored 45 points each of their past three games, including Saturday’s wild-card win over the Detroit Lions.
This is what makes it …
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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com
John Madden, who coached a Super Bowl winner before becoming an announcer, had a favorite phrase about team sports, to wit: “Winning is a great deodorant.” As we are learning this week from a team that lost, the New York Jets.
Beneath the surface, there is always tension, division, sometimes …
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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner
The 49ers have gone beyond expectations and predictions. Who imagined, after eight consecutive losing seasons, they’d finish the regular season with the second-best record in the NFL? Who dared think they would have the top defense against the rush?
A bye in the first round of the playoffs? …
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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com
PASADENA, Calif. — Playoffs? Not to sound like Jim Mora, so let’s paraphrase him. In college football, who needs playoffs?
We have bowl games. We have the BCS. We had an overload of overtime. An abundance of suspense. What else do we need?
You think LSU-Alabama will be any better than Oregon-Wisconsin…
Read the full …
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By Art Spander
Special to Newsday
PASADENA, Calif. — Oregon’s “Quack Attack” offense of rapid-fire plays, so effective until the postseason, finally showed up in one of the wildest Rose Bowl games ever, one that broke scoring records and in the end broke Wisconsin’s heart.
The Ducks had the ball 11 minutes less than the …
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By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com
OAKLAND, Calif. – She didn’t mean what we thought she meant. Gertrude Stein’s infamous quote about this town, “There is no there there,’’ was misinterpreted. The intent of teams that, like Stein, called Oakland home is well understood, however.
They can’t wait to get out.
Stein, the poet, author and art …
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By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner
Oh, those Raiders. So many penalties. “After the flags, guys come up to me on the sidelines, and say, that’s what happens when you play for the Raiders,”  mused quarterback Carson Palmer.
Oh those Raiders, blown out by Green Bay, giving up a late lead to Detroit, ranked fourth-worst …
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