Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008

We have to wait for Hasselhoff!

Reading time, two minutes:

• The bowl season begins today, and I can't wait for David Hasselhoff to sing the National Anthem in Las Vegas.
• And, at halftime: Danny Gans' Greatest Hits!

The New York Giants probably could have dodged the loss of Plaxico Burress, but they're weakened without Burress and Brandon Jacobs.

• Watch 49ers coach Mike Singletary on the sideline. He still wants to hit somebody.
• After viewing old film of the late Sammy Baugh: He mastered passing and kicking that huge rugby-like ball.
• He's not Brett Favre so it didn't make headlines but: The Patriots' Matt Cassel showed true grit by throwing four touchdown passes on the week his father died.
• Think about it: Cassel in a 49ers uniform next season.
• Evander Holyfield, 46, will fight a freakish 7-footer. Park the ambulance at ringside with the motor running.
• Why San Jose State (3-3) might become a story on the hardwood: The debut of Washington transfer of Adrian Oliver (Modesto Christian) in the same backcourt with Justin Graham (Ripon) today against Northern Colorado.
• More promising news: Stillwater media reporting that the Achilles tendon injury of Oklahoma State freshman star German Fernandez (Riverbank) may not be serious.
• Why Tyler Hansbrough is college basketball's best player: Because he stayed at North Carolina all four years.
• Whether or not Kevin Martin was healthy: The Kings didn't bother with defense under banished coach Reggie Theus.
• Proven, boldfaced and underlined: Firing Rick Adelman was a bad idea.

Ex-49ers Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton reportedly owe Silicon Valley Bank $69 million. I guess buying the Niners is not in play.

• Reading into Tiger Woods' words and body language: Steve Williams is lucky he still has Woods' bag.
• Has reached the I'm-ready-to-vomit saturation point: The Cowboys' weekly circus.
• Rising quickly on the list: Michael Phelps.
• Already missing his wit and personality at Modesto Quarterback Club meetings that he attended for three decades: The late Bob Louis.
• As Fresno State's Tom Brandstater (Turlock) waves goodbye, another quarterback says hello: Davis graduate Jake Laudenslayer, on the way to Marshall.
• Bowl games are decided by which team cares more about the game, not strength of conference.
• The only reason there still is no football championship bracket: Thirty-four bowl winners.

Bee sports columnist Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.