It's insanely accurate symmetry that the San Jose Giants are in town tonight to close out the home portion of the Modesto Nuts' regular season.

It looked and sounded like a routine hard-hit line drive toward shortstop, struck by a member of the Modesto Nuts during a game last Tuesday against Bakersfield.

To use the old line, Jerry Weinstein has forgotten more about baseball than I will ever know, and despite covering more than 1,000 professional games over the years, I am certain such is the case.

The Colorado Rockies do something in their minor league camp at spring training that sets them apart from most organizations.

The Oakland A's were wearing their white uniforms. Either that, or my eyes were too tired and bloodshot to be able to tell the difference.

Depending on where you live, spring emerges in stages.

Eleven years ago this week, the inaugural roster of the Stanislaus County Cruisers was taking form. Still two weeks removed from its official debut, Modesto's first professional soccer team was poised to offer a new affordable entertainment option for local fans -- playing a style that players, coaches and owners alike believed would catch on and be a long-term success.

I have to admit that I rarely do well in NCAA Tournament pools.

My wife and I have been blessed with two talented sons.

TURLOCK -- It seems basketball season came and went with nary a word nor whimper from the corner of Monte Vista Avenue and Geer Road.

There's no record of when this modern, curious ritual began that now starts every high school basketball game.

Chuck Hoag arrived at the gym early enough to grab his favorite seat.

There are 395 hairpin turns on the road that traverses the western face of Mount Hamilton, but it took only the first 40 to realize bicycle racers are a different breed.

TURLOCK -- When Merced High and Pitman meet on the basketball court, the high level of guard play makes it a game of high-stakes poker.

There are no darker days on a sports fan's calendar than the two-week lag between the NFL's conference championship games and the Super Bowl.