BERNIE WILSON
FILE - Four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Al Unser, poses with the Borg-Warner Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Al Unser was the third member of one of America’s most-accomplished racing families to die in 2021, following his older brother Bobby, a three-time Indy champion, and Bobby Unser Jr. Al Unser was one of four drivers who won the Indy 500 a record four times, with victories in 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)
Aaron, Elder overcame hate to achieve records, milestones

By Bernie Wilson Dec. 27, 2021 03:41 PM EST
Henry Aaron made history with one swing of his bat. A year later and on the other

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, right, is congratulated by Fernando Tatis Jr. after Cronenworth hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, June 21, 2021, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Darvish fans 11, Padres get 2 big homers to beat Dodgers 6-2

By Bernie Wilson Jun. 22, 2021 02:00 AM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Yu Darvish said he never envisioned himself as an ace until

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Agents see caution in free agency after 8% salary cap drop

By Bernie Wilson Mar. 13, 2021 02:54 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Don't look for the usual frenetic

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 1996, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer yells instructions to his team as they play against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. Marty Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football but regularly fell short in the playoffs, has died. He was 77. Schottenheimer died Monday night, Feb. 8, 2021, at a hospice in Charlotte, North Carolina, his family said through Bob Moore, former Kansas City Chiefs publicist. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet, File)
Marty Schottenheimer, NFL coach with 200 wins, dies at 77

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 09, 2021 09:37 AM EST
Marty Schottenheimer’s NFL coaching career was as remarkable as it was

FILE - In this October 1984 file photo, a groundskeeper at Jack Murphy Stadium paints the logo for the 1984 World Series between San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers in San Diego. The biggest piece of San Diego's sports history is slowly being knocked down and ground to bits. Now the stadium is coming to an unceremonious end, leaving generations of fans feeling melancholy because, due to the coronavirus pandemic, they didn't get to say a proper goodbye to the place where they tailgated with gusto in the massive parking lot before cheering on the Chargers, Padres and Aztecs, or watched myriad other events and concerts. (AP Photo,File)
San Diegans left feeling sad as 'The Murph' comes down

By Bernie Wilson Dec. 22, 2020 05:24 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The biggest piece of San Diego’s sports history is slowly

Sports agent Leigh Steinberg poses for a picture at his office Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Newport Beach, Calif. A decade after his personal and professional life bottomed out, Steinberg has another Super Bowl MVP client, saw another former client be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and could have yet another first-round draft pick in the spring. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Steinberg's comeback continues with Super Bowl MVP Mahomes

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 13, 2020 05:31 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The real-life "Jerry Maguire" is riding a nice comeback wave.

FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2015, file photo, Oakland Raiders fans watch during the second half of an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals in Oakland, Calif. The south end zone sections, called The Black Hole, of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum are known to have some of the rowdiest fans in American sports, face painters who dress up in evil costumes, often with spike-covered shoulder pads. The slow, agonizing demise of the Oakland Raiders will continue for at least one more season. There will be one more "final" home game at the Oakland Coliseum, Dec. 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. There have been possible "final" home games for a few years now because the Raiders have essentially had one foot out the door since 2015, when they joined with the AFC West rival Chargers in a failed attempt to build a stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
NFL At 100: Raiders' slow exit from Oakland painful for fans

By Bernie Wilson Aug. 11, 2019 10:29 AM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The slow, agonizing demise of the Oakland Raiders will continue for

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2017, file photo, Oakland Raiders fans watch from the Black Hole section of Oakland Alameda County Coliseum during the first half of an NFL preseason football game between the Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks in Oakland, Calif. The slow, agonizing demise of the Oakland Raiders will continue for at least one more season. There will be one more "final" home game at the Oakland Coliseum, Dec. 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. There have been possible "final" home games for a few years now because the Raiders have essentially had one foot out the door since 2015, when they joined with the AFC West rival Chargers in a failed attempt to build a stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
NFL At 100: Raiders' slow exit from Oakland painful for fans

By Bernie Wilson Aug. 09, 2019 04:25 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The slow, agonizing demise of the Oakland Raiders will continue for

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi works against an Atlanta Braves batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 13, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Donaldson homers, scores go-ahead run in Braves' 7-5 win

By Bernie Wilson Jul. 14, 2019 12:56 AM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Josh Donaldson and the Atlanta Braves have opened the second half at

The San Diego Padres' Manny Machado runs the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, May 4, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Verdugo's bases-loaded walk lifts Dodgers over Padres

By Bernie Wilson May. 05, 2019 01:02 AM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have scored more runs off Kirby Yates in two

FILE - In this March 17, 2019, file photo, San Diego Fleet head coach Mike Martz talks to the media in San Diego. The Alliance of American Football is suspending operations eight games into its first season. A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the eight-team spring football league is not folding, but games will not be played this weekend. The decision was made by majority owner Tom Dundon. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because league officials were still working through details of the suspension. An announcement from the league is expected later Tuesday, April 2, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)
Alliance of American Football ends first season prematurely

By Bernie Wilson Apr. 02, 2019 07:09 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Alliance of American Football has ended its first season

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2018, file photo, then-Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Machado celebrates his two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series, in Los Angeles. A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that infielder Manny Machado has agreed to a $300 million, 10-year deal with the rebuilding San Diego Padres, the biggest contract ever for a free agent. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, because the agreement was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
AP source: Machado, Padres agree to $300M, 10-year deal

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 19, 2019 08:17 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — With their city's long-suffering fans desperate for a winner, the

Pro football returns to San Diego, along with tailgating

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 17, 2019 10:38 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Two years after the Chargers left their home of 56 seasons, pro

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2019, photo released by the Alliance of American Football, San Diego Fleet head coach Mike Martz walks on a field as players stretch in San Antonio. Nearly 51 years ago, Martz took his future wife, Julie, on their first date to watch Don Coryell’s San Diego State Aztecs at what was then called San Diego Stadium. On Sunday night, he’ll be back at the aging stadium, coaching the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football. (Alliance of American Football via AP, File)
With Martz in charge, pro football returns to San Diego

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 15, 2019 03:35 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Nearly 51 years ago, Mike Martz took his future wife, Julie, on

AAF kicks off without kickoffs, but with SkyJudge

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 05, 2019 07:32 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — When the fledgling Alliance of American Football held four

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers warms up before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. Rivers fought back tears as he accepted an award from the San Diego Sports Association at its annual Salute to the Champions dinner Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Emotional Philip Rivers thanks San Diego for its support

By Bernie Wilson Feb. 01, 2019 03:47 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Philip Rivers simply wanted to say thanks to San Diego for the way

Agent Yee, McCaffrey to lead Pacific Pro Football league

By Bernie Wilson Jan. 07, 2019 04:23 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Don Yee, the agent for Tom Brady and other NFL stars, and three-time