"Torture" Does Not Fit the San Francisco Giants Anymore

Manny Burriss had just stolen second base and reached third in the 11th inning of a 3-3 game in San Diego on Sunday. Catcher Chris Stewart came to the plate, got the sign and proceeded to squeeze home the sprinting Burriss for the lead and eventual win.

However, as I watched this rare and nerve-racking event unfold before my eyes, I could not help but think for a second.

I expected that to happen.

NFL Free Agency 2011: 5 Realistic Options for the San Francisco 49ers

If there was a team hurt by the NFL Lockout the most, it would be the San Francisco 49ers. A new head coach with zero NFL coaching experience and only one quarterback signed on the roster would seem to imply trouble for the 49ers next season.

One good thing that did come from this lockout for the 49ers was the leadership of free agent QB Alex Smith.

Smith is not signed by San Francisco, yet he organized a training camp-like workout for all players on the roster this past month that seemed to signify another year of the 2005 No. 1 overall pick under center.

San Jose Sharks: Breaking Down the Projected Starting Lines in 2011-12

It is no secret that the San Jose Sharks have been active this offseason. The black and teal traded wingers Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley in exchange for All-Stars Brent Burns and Martin Havlat in two separate deals with the Minnesota Wild.

Why attempt to fix something that is not considered broken?

Ask Sharks GM Doug Wilson, who seems determined to put together the exact pieces for yet another Stanley Cup run next season.

'The Franchise' Is Entertaining If You Are A San Francisco Giants Fan

The Franchise: A Season With the San Francisco Giants premiered on Showtime this past Wednesday to a national audience anticipating the fun and quirky World Series champions.

Of course, the main attraction to the Showtime series was, and will forever be, Brian Wilson. His outrageous act is impossible not to give at least a wry smile at when seeing him in a spandex tuxedo on national television.

Surprisingly, Wilson was not the main character in Episode 2 this past Wednesday. They did have to sneak in

The ESPY Awards Need A Dose of Reality

We must understand that the ESPY Awards are about having fun and entertaining an audience, while bridging the gap between sports and entertainment, but let's at least keep a little bit of our sanity through it all.

For that matter, let ESPN keep some of their dignity, as well.

For those who could not tell from the revealing of the winners of every category, the ESPY Awards are based on fan voting.

San Jose Sharks Rumors: J.P. Dumont, Chris Drury Are Real Possibilities

It is hard to say what kind of an offseason the San Jose Sharks are having. Active would be a nice way to put it. However, the second word to describe it is a matter of opinion.

Is it bold? Confident? Stupid?

Has Sharks GM Doug Wilson shot his team in the foot, or is he just a genius?

The answers to these questions will come sooner than we think.

San Francisco 49ers: 10 Questions to be Answered Once the Lockout is Over

As much as there has been an absence of football news since the NFL Lockout, the San Francisco 49ers have been one of those teams that have made their presence felt throughout the Bay Area despite no gameplay.

Whether that was beat writers making something out of nothing or not, it is news - some good and some bad.

The best news for the 49ers since the lockout was Alex Smith's leadership in organizing a mini-camp event at San Jose State.

The worst news was the hostility shown by wide receiver Michael Crabtree towards Smith as the 49ers' starter next season.

Jim Harbaugh Vs. Mark Jackson: Which Bay Area Coach Has the Brightest Future?

Two of the Bay Area's professional sports teams have jumped on the phenomenon of hiring young, hip coaches to run their teams. They did so in hopes of jumping the gun on the next big thing in coaching. In the case of these two coaches, the San Francisco 49ers and Golden State Warriors may have struck it rich.

Jim Harbaugh played 14 seasons in the NFL, most notable for the Chicago Bears, but his new chapter as a head coach may be the highlight of his NFL career.

NHL Rumors: Should the San Jose Sharks Continue Shopping?

It seems as though someone whispered into San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson's ear after last season and told him that back-to-back Western Conference Final losses are just not enough.

So Wilson re-tooled.

Making the biggest splash of the 2011 free agency period, Wilson and the Sharks sent young scorer Devin Setoguchi and talented sniper Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for All-Star defenceman Brent Burns and All-Star winger Martin Havlat in two separate deals just 10 days apart.

San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson Is Doing Work This Offseason

I ran into San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson the other day. No, I do not personally know him. I am not quite that far along in my journalistic career as of yet. However, I do work at the country club that he is a member at. So, yes, we're best friends.

Of course, I tried to sneak several peaks at him.

Can you blame me or anyone with a love for the Sharks?

This was the mastermind behind the Sharks' success year in and year out. He was the man with the power to do what he pleased with this team.

Rory McIlroy: 15 Bold Predictions for the Next 15 Years

The phenomenon that is Irishman Rory McIlroy has taken flight, and the golf world is abuzz with the possibility that we are witnessing the start of a career that could go down as one of the best ever.

However, before we anoint the 22-year-old the Second Coming, let us take a step back and realize how lucky we truly are to potentially witness two of the greatest golfers to ever live.

As soon as McIlroy broke Tiger Woods' record of the lowest score at the 2011 U.S. Open, we started comparing the two.

NBA Rumors: Tyson Chandler and 10 Young Players Set For A Payday

Around this time last year, the nation was captivated by one of the greatest free agent offseasons the NBA will ever see. Lebron James, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh headlined the list of free agents set to earn big contracts with their new respective teams.

On July 8, 2010, James made his decision to "take his talents to South Beach," and the all hell broke loose.

A year later, with an NBA Lockout looming, basketball has given us a list of free agents that cannot even hold a candle to the cast highlighted last year.

NHL Draft: Despite No Notable Picks, the San Jose Sharks Still Had A Productive Draft

The San Jose Sharks went out on a limb on Draft Day 2011 and acquired defenseman Brent Burns from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for winger Devin Setoguchi, top forward prospect Charlie Coyle and their 28th overall draft pick.

Heading into the 2011 NHL Draft, the focus for the Sharks was centered around building for the future.

That is exactly what the Sharks achieved without even owning a first-round pick at the end of the day.

The Golden State Warriors Selected Two NBA-Ready Players

Remember all those NBA Drafts where the Golden State Warriors would select absolute projects whose talent levels would not be NBA standard for the next few years?

Kiss those days goodbye thanks to two names: Jerry West and Joe Lacob.

In just a short stint with the Warriors, Lacob has already taken this team from seemingly zero draft knowledge to knowingly brilliant draft picks.

Remember projects like Patrick O'Bryant or Ike Diogu, even Andris Biedrins?

2011 NBA Draft Grades: Grading the Teams and Picks of the NBA Draft Live

The overwhelming consensus of the 2011 NBA Draft is that the talent level is shallow at best. Of course, the years to come will decide that, but with so many unknown players in this draft, it would be hard to know much about who that 18-year-old European player is.

What we do know is that Kyrie Irving will be selected No. 1 overall and Derrick Williams will be selected No. 2, barring something out of this world happening. However, it would be hard to say that both of those players will be All-Stars one day.

Though the talent level is dull, what will make this draft exciting is everything around it.