BearTerritory10

It’s a team that this summer alone has taken leads against Italy, Spain, Brazil and Mexico in games that matter, a cause for optimism among U.S. soccer fans. But it’s also a team that has gone only 1-3 in those contests, a sign that while these Americans are improving on the world stage, they’re still not yet at a level where they have the poise and maturity required to slam the door on a quality opponent once it’s down.

Juan Uribe approached the batter’s box in the bottom of the 10th inning Wednesday, riding the crest of what had been a memorable day.

A highly placed NFL source said the contract stalemate between the 49ers and first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree is likely to drag on until at least shortly before the season opener at Arizona.

Waiting well past midnight for a clutch hit — any hit, really — Alex Rodriguez provided a big one.

If the octagon is a classroom for learning the realities of fighting, one of this year’s biggest lessons was the B.J. Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre fight in January.

They are cruising past the cornfields in droves, as evidenced by the estimated 8,000 fans who flocked to Olivet Nazarene University to see the Chicago Bears practice Thursday night, most of them drawn to the man with the golden arm.