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Tim Kawakami

49ers linebacker Willis draws comparisons to baseball great Willie Mays

Last updated Monday, October 17, 2011 - 2:18pm

Jim Harbaugh tossed out the first mongo superlative of his 49ers career Wednesday, which was notable mostly because Harbaugh's hyperbole didn't seem exaggerated.

It sounded deadly accurate.

Harbaugh can't stop talking about inside linebacker Patrick Willis, credited with 18 tackles in Sunday's victory over Tampa Bay.

And Willis deserves every bit of praise and glory, even to the Harbaugh extreme.

Pro Football, NFL Football, Sports Read more Comments

Alex Smith could have run, but he stuck with 49ers

San Jose Mercury News, Tim Kawakami

Last updated Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - 4:12pm

Alex Smith will not be known as a cut-and-runner, that much is guaranteed, which is the only thing that is guaranteed about his career so far.

It takes a certain wellspring of character to stick it out through thin and thin.

And it speaks to Smith's stubbornness and fateful timing that he has blossomed as the 49ers' singular leader now, precisely when they have selected another quarterback to replace him.

NFL, NFL Football, Sports, Football Read more Comments

Different job but same Jim Harbaugh

San Jose Mercury News, Tim Kawakami

Last updated Saturday, February 26, 2011 - 4:52pm

Jim Harbaugh still bows to no man or team, though he is being a little quieter about it now that he has the keys to the 49ers kingdom.

Slightly quieter. Or just more subtle about it.

"Probably the smarter thing to do is just lay in the weeds here, sharpen our swords," Harbaugh said with a grin during a long interview in his office last week.

NFL, Sports, Football Read more Comments

(DAVE MARTIN/The Associated Press) San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith goes to the ground in the second half of a 16-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome.

Fate of Singletary is tied to 49er QB Smith

San Jose Mercury News, Tim Kawakami

Last updated Tuesday, October 5, 2010 - 6:09pm

They bet the house on Alex Smith in 2010, and there's no turning back from it now. Even if the 49ers really wish they could.

NFL, Pro Football, Sports, Football Read more Comments

Woods looks like player in decline

The Associated Press, Tim Kawakami San Jose Mercury News

Last updated Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 6:03pm

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. --Ten years ago was the spring, five years ago high summer, and now we are here, at the 2010 U.S. Open, in the autumn glow of Tiger Woods' golfing dominance.

Golf, Sports Read more Comments

PGA not the same without Tiger, won't be the same with him

Tim Kawakami San Jose Mercury News

Last updated Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 7:08pm

Any day now, we'll stop talking about cheating in golf -- either by groove or by groom.

Golf, Sports Read more Comments

Don Nelson's work-for-free gesture not too bad

Tim Kawakami San Jose Mercury News

Last updated Monday, September 28, 2009 - 10:38pm

It's quite a rebate: Buy two extraneous years of Don Nelson, get the third one free!

Actually, as far as harmless grand gestures go, this one wasn't too bad.

Sports, Basketball, NBA Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) holds off Oakland Raiders defensive end Tommy Kelly (93)

49ers' Smith passes the durability test but not the passing test

Tim Kawakami San Jose Mercury News

Last updated Monday, August 24, 2009 - 9:18pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- As a chase-down tackler, Alex Smith has never been better. As a blocker, Smith was in all-time, all-pile-drive form.
As Joe Smash-mouth, Smith was all over the field Saturday night in his one hurly-burly quarter of exhibition action in the 49ers' 21-20 victory over the Raiders.
"It shows he's not afraid," coach Mike Singletary said of Smith's one-man wrangling show.
But as a quarterback? That was different.

Pro Football, Sports, Football Read more Comments