After battling cancer, Alli DeFrancesco swam the English Channel to prove to herself that her life was again in her hands

Alli DeFrancesco was a college student and swimmer in New York City when her life was turned upside down by a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. For nearly two years she was in and out of hospitals and undergoing extensive treatments. Then, when doctors told her she was OK again, she felt lost. That's when she set her sights on swimming the English Channel, to put herself back on a high-energy, directed track once more. My story, for the U-T San Diego continuing series on "Courage through Cancer." http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/24/tp-swimming-back-to-normalcy-getting-back-on-her/

Niners' final Candlestick victory is a memorable one

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: One final, all-ground-attack drive for a touchdown and a dynamic defensive play elevate 49ers to the playoffs in the last regular-season NFL game for Candlestick Park. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Say-Goodbye-to-Stick-With-a-Victory-237112171.html

Annual Savage Seven marathon series -- seven races in seven days in Florida between Christmas and New Year's -- is just a nice "vacation" for some diehard runners

Seven marathons over seven days isn't a dream vacation for most people, but for some dedicated distance runners, the annual Savage Sevens series in Florida is a nice way to spend the holidays ... and certainly an effective way to keep off the holiday pounds. My story for ESPN.com's Endurance Sports section: http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/story/_/id/10171212/endurance-sports-savage-seven-marathons-bring-holiday-fun-florida

Dennis Allen says Raiders must "play smarter"

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Raiders head coach Dennis Allen laments 12 penalties his team committed in loss to Chargers and says his team must play "smarter" football. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Say-Penalties-a-Result-of-Pressing-237029301.html

Sloppiness, lack of discipline doom Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Raiders commit 12 penalties, many of them giving the Chargers extra chances, in 26-13 loss in San Diego. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Suffer-Ugly-Loss-in-San-Diego-236960231.html

49ers may be too strong for Falcons in Candlestick finale

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Atlanta, which has tumbled to 4-10 this season, may have too many holes on defense to stop the 49ers Monday night in Candlestick Park's final regular-season NFL game. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/49ers-Motivated-for-Candlestick-Finale-vs-Falcons-236740921.html

Raiders struggling 'D' will be challenged by Chargers

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Chargers have been on a roll lately with Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews, and they may be too strong for a weak Oakland defensive unit. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-May-Have-Trouble-Stopping-Chargers-Offense-236732491.html

Even without Miller, 49ers intend to run the ball

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers will miss fullback Bruce Miller, but quarterback Colin Kaepernick vows the team's personality won't change and it will continue to run the football. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Will-Continue-to-Run-the-Football-Even-Without-Miller-236572991.html

Charles Woodson wants to be a Raider in 2014, too

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Veteran safety Charles Woodson, at 37, wants to return to the Raiders next year. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Banged-up-Woodson-Hoping-to-Play-Sunday-236567821.html

Brock and Wright have strengthened 49ers at corner

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers wanted to get stronger at cornerback this season, but the players that helped them get there are a bit of a surprise. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Appear-Much-Stronger-at-Cornerback-236390831.html

Loss of fullback Bruce Miller is a big one for 49ers

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Bruce Miller has been lost for the season with a shoulder-blade injury, meaning the 49ers may turn to Anthony Dixon to step in at fullback, or shift toward alignments without a fullback. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Dixon-May-Get-Chance-to-Play-With-Miller-Out-236221871.html#comments

Does Raiders GM McKenzie have trouble judging QBs?

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Raiders appear to need a quarterback, but with Reggie McKenzie's recent track record as Oakland GM, can he be counted on to find a good one? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Recent-History-with-QBs-a-Cause-for-Concern-236215101.html

49ers' Vernon Davis gaining accolades across the NFL

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Vernon Davis' performance this season is causing some to call him the NFL's best tight end, even though other players at his position have better stats. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/49ers-Vernon-Davis-is-Having-a-Special-Season-236040601.html

Latest loss bound to turn up heat on Allen

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Losing 56-31 to the Chiefs is bound to turn up the heat on Raiders braintrust to fire Dennis Allen. It already has. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/After-Wipeout-Loss-Focus-is-on-Allen-236031631.html

Niners avoid 'trap," beat Bucs and march toward playoffs

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 49ers swept the Bucs aside for their fourth straight win to help strengthen playoff bid. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Charge-Toward-Playoffs-With-Fourth-Straight-Win-235945451.html

Chiefs run roughshod over overmatched Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Raiders' slide into NFL oblivion picked up speed in a crushing loss to Kansas City. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-are-Defenseless-in-Loss-to-Chiefs-235955251.html

American rugby team at South African tournament last week felt the spirit and impact of Nelson Mandela

When the U.S. rugby sevens team arrived in South Africa for an international tournament, it had no idea what was in store. Former president Nelson Mandela died the day after their arrival, but the tournament went on. Yet the scenes and interactions inside and outside the stadium will stay with the American players forever. My story for TeamUSA.org: http://www.teamusa.org/News/2013/December/14/Mandelas-Spirit-Alive-At-Rugby-Sevens-Tournament

For 49ers, mistakes could be costly vs. Bucs

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Niners QB Colin Kaepernick says Tampa Bay has a "high-pressure" defense that can force teams into mistakes. And, with San Francisco fighting for the playoffs, mistakes aren't an option.

Can Raiders' slumping defense stop Jamaal Charles?

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Oakland's defense has given up big chunks of yardage on the ground lately and now faces one of the NFL's top back in Jamaal Charles of the Chiefs. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Worn-Down-Defense-Will-be-Tested-235742821.html

Fantasy has become reality for San Diego blacksmith and artist, who makes ancient armor, weapons and other items for movies and TV

James "Jay" Secord wanted to be a knight when he was a boy. He was fascinated by fantasy. While he never actually became a knight, he became a blacksmith and artist and learned to make the weapons, armor and other items from the time of the Romans, Vikings and the imagination of authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien. Now Secord -- who operates his own gardening service -- is also contributing items to Hollywood productions. My story on Secord for U-T San Diego: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/12/love-of-fantasy-becomes-metalworkers-reality/