Niners now control destiny, but must avoid traps

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Yes, the win over the Seahawks was big. But the 49ers, now tied for the lead in wild-card race, have to avoid stumbling over Bucs this Sunday. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Control-Destiny-but-Must-be-Aware-of-Bucs-235591031.html

Jennings showing Raiders he's worth another year

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Rashad Jennings has been cleared to play vs. the Chiefs after a concussion, which is good news for the Raiders, who've gotten a good season out of the veteran pick-up. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Jennings-Cleared-to-Play-vs-Chiefs-235583311.html

Dual-QB system can be dicey, as Raiders' McGloin knows

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: At Penn State, Matt McGloin had to share quarterback duties for two years. Now with the Raiders and giving way to Terrelle Pryor for some series, McGloin knows the pitfalls. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Plan-for-McGloin-Pryor-to-Share-Time-is-Dicey-235243391.html

Crabtree's impact for 49ers goes beyond catch totals

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The presence of Michael Crabtree in the lineup has been a boon to the San Francisco offense the past two games. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Michael-Crabtree-Return-Has-Helped-49ers-235249661.html

Ex-Marine Clay Treska has survived war and cancer; now he's determined to help others negotiate through the battles he had to fight

Clay Treska never wanted to be a Marine. But when he made a mistake as an 18-year-old, he was forced to enlist in the Corps, launching him on a journey through war, two battles with cancer and a struggle to train for the Ironman triathlon while considered a terminal patient. Now in remission, the iron-willed Treska is determined to spend his life helping others who had to go through what he did. My story on Treska for U-T San Diego's Health section, as part of a new series on "triumph stories." http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/10/tp-terminal-diagnosis-inspires-iron-will/

Niners getting big results from special teams

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Kassim Osgood, Phil Dawson, Bubba Ventrone and Co. are big hits this season. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Osgood-and-Special-Teams-Have-Been-Winners-for-49ers-235081441.html

Raiders' defense continues its late-season slide

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Oakland defense collapses yet again, and could be a sign of things to come. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Defense-Continues-to-Crumble-235071151.html

Can you hear us now? 49ers make loud statement

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers proved they still belong in the NFC playoff conversation with a rugged win over the Seahawks at Candlestick Park. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Indeed-Make-a-Statement-in-Win-over-Seahawks-234983771.html

Raiders fall to sinking Jets on East Coast

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Instead of getting Win No. 5, the Raiders play horribly in a loss to the Jets, their 13th straight loss in the Eastern time zone. http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/105698/woodson-were-like-the-bad-news-bears

Niners face huge task in beating Seahawks in rematch

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Niners safety Donte Whitner says his team was "embarrassed" in first go-round with Seattle. So how do 49ers turn things around? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/49ers-Embarrassed-by-Seattle-in-Week-2-Hope-for-Turnaround-234762141.html

Sinking Jets present good opportunity for Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: In their quest for Win No. 5, Raiders have a good opportunity in Jets and struggling Geno Smith this Sunday. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Have-Good-Opportunity-vs-Sinking-Jets-234753031.html

Can Crabtree make a difference in Seahawks rematch?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Seattle pounded the 49ers in their earlier matchup this season. Can Michael Crabtree make any difference in Round 2? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Hope-Crabtree-Can-Make-a-Difference-vs-Seattle-234598041.html

Raiders-Jets is a tale of two quarterbacks

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Matt McGloin and Geno Smith are both rookie QBs, but their stories are very different. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Jets-Features-a-Tale-of-Two-Quarterbacks-234596181.html

As an ultra runner in his 40s, Mike Morton -- an Army Green Beret -- shows a resolve and toughness that is unique even among the die-hard ultra-running community

From the very first time he ran an ultra marathon, Mike Morton showed a relentless resolve to keep churning and to keep pushing himself to his limits. Now in his 40s after having to take several years off from distance running because of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as one of the Army's Green Berets, Morton has been a dominant force in races of 100 miles and longer. My story for ESPN.com's Endurance Sports section: http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/10072374/endurance-sports-combat-lessons-transfer-ultra-running-green-beret-mike-morton

Division race is over, but 49ers need win vs. Seahawks

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers won't catch the 11-1 Seahawks in the NFC West, but a San Francisco win over their rivals Sunday could go a long way in their quest for the playoffs. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/49ers-Win-Over-Seattle-Would-be-Huge-234253501.html

Will Raiders bring back Dennis Allen in 2014?

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Will Dennis Allen be given a third year as head coach? The final four games of 2013 may play a big part in the decision. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Dennis-Allen-Raiders-Future-Uncertain-234246591.html

Staley injury adds to cracks in 49ers' offensive line

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers' offensive line, once so stable, now only has two players at the positions where they started the 2013 season, and the extent of the injury to LT Joe Staley is still to be determined. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Once-Durable-Offensive-Line-Falling-Apart-234085161.html

Raiders' Veldheer survives return game, feels good

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Left tackle Jared Veldheer feels great after playing the entire game vs. the Cowboys in first game of 2013 season. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Veldheers-Healthy-Return-a-Boost-for-Raiders-234078651.html

Return of Crabtree, Davis and defense highlight 49ers win

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Defense is dominating in win over Rams, and Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree give Colin Kaepernick reason to smile. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-234011511.html

New book "The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams," is a splendid look at one of baseball's greatest hitters and a very complex personality

Ben Bradlee Jr. has done a masterful job with his new book, "The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams." Through more than 600 interviews and 10 years of research -- getting access to Williams' private papers for the first time -- Bradlee has written the definitive biography of perhaps the greatest hitter ever. Sometimes, though, the picture Bradlee paints of Williams isn't always pretty. My review of the book for U-T San Diego: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/01/tp-a-truly-splendid-biography/