San Francisco Chronicle Sports - Spoken Edition

The San Francisco Chronicle Sports team covers the country’s most vibrant sports market, telling the story of the Bay Area’s teams and athletes, both on and off the field. We satisfy the hard-core sports fan, but extend our reach to the general reader with stories that examine the cultural zeitgeist surrounding sports. Our coverage surprises with unique takes on common refrains and provocative stories that influence or inspire the sporting world. A SpokenEdition transforms written content into human-read audio you can listen to anywhere. It's perfect for times when you can’t read - while driving, at the gym, doing chores, etc. Find more at www.spokenedition.com

When identifying our “local” Winter Olympians, who will begin competing this weekend in Pyeongchang, South Korea, we have to stretch our definition of the term.We have to head east to the mountains near Lake Tahoe, our nearest winter playground, where many of “our” athletes grew up.And we have to include those who spend most of their time far away.

Classic shot of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View, with El Capitan on left, Bridalveil Fall on right, Half Dome at foot of valley in center Classic shot of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View, with El Capitan on left, Bridalveil Fall on right, Half Dome at foot of valley in center The first weekend of February normally finds the Yosemite Valley firmly in the grasp of winter. Not so this year. Temperatures have been so warm that there isn’t even a hint of snow, ice or frost on the valley floor.

Clint Eastwood follows his shot from the 17th tee during the celebrity challenge event of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Pebble Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric ... more Clint Eastwood follows his shot from the 17th tee during the celebrity challenge event of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Scenes from Pebble Beach golf course, where celebrities, golfers and athletes from other sports will compete in the 2018 AT& Pebble Beach Pro-Am Tournament from Feb. 8-11, 2018. These photos, taken on Feb. 6, ... more Scenes from Pebble Beach golf course, where celebrities, golfers and athletes from other sports will compete in the 2018 AT& Pebble Beach Pro-Am Tournament from Feb. 8-11, 2018. These photos, taken on Feb.

Before Bill Belichick starts planning his Hall of Fame acceptance speech — which will not be a spoken speech, but rather 20 minutes of glowering at the audience — he should check in with Barry Bonds.Barry and Bill are frauds of a feather. Brothers, practically, considering:•Both are (were) great at what they do, but they decided their greatness needed an artificial and illegal boost.•Both are in denial.

Fort Point, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on the San Francisco shoreline, is a good place to start your walk or bike ride. You can park there or nearby at the old toll plaza at Vista Point. Fort Point, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on the San Francisco shoreline, is a good place to start your walk or bike ride. You can park there or nearby at the old toll plaza at Vista Point. What you see: Most mornings in the past week were pristine on San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Eric Kertzman snowboards with a full front view of Lake Tahoe covered with a bowl-like phenomenon of fog as sails down the Crystal Ridge at Diamond Peak Ski Area near Incline on the Nevada side of Tahoe. Eric Kertzman snowboards with a full front view of Lake Tahoe covered with a bowl-like phenomenon of fog as sails down the Crystal Ridge at Diamond Peak Ski Area near Incline on the Nevada side of Tahoe.

When’s Steph coming back?Soon. Very soon.Stephen Curry sprained an ankle on Dec. 4 against New Orleans and missed the next nine games, including Monday’s Christmas game against the Cavaliers.He will have the ankle re-evaluated Tuesday, and it’s possible he’ll be back in action Wednesday at home against the Jazz or Friday at home against Charlotte.

Omar Vizquel was the Ozzie Smith of his generation, or at least the closest facsimile. Omar Vizquel was the Ozzie Smith of his generation, or at least the closest facsimile. Omar Vizquel, in the last of his four seasons with the Giants, acknowledges an AT&T Park crowd in 2008 while honored for setting the all-time record for games played at shortstop. He surpassed Luis Aparicio, .

First person: One woman’s unlikely path to The Sporting Green Naomi Marcus used to never follow sports or look at The Sporting Green. Now, it is the first section of The Chronicle that she reads. Naomi Marcus used to never follow sports or look at The Sporting Green. Now, it is the first section of The Chronicle that she reads. If you had told me, when I was a young woman, that I would be married (happily) to a man who turned to the sports page first, I would have laughed and laughed.

Stephen Curry has a hell of a pit crew getting him back onto the NBA track.Curry is rehabbing a sprained ankle that will keep him out of action at least through Christmas. I’m not sure why the NBA doesn’t simply put its schedule on hold for a couple of weeks. All the players could use a blow, and the league isn’t as much fun without Curry.But Adam Silver is a stickler for schedules.

Don’t worry about Charles Barkley getting drunk with power and running for political office, after he played a small but significant role in Tuesday’s meaningful election in Alabama.For one thing, Barkley wouldn’t want to take the pay cut. He lives large.Also, he’s too honest.Mostly, though, I believe Barkley understands that his charm and intelligence are most effective in his current and expanding role as a free-range poop-disturber.

American figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, rear, skate through their routines during the practice session Tuesday, Feb. 22, 1994, at the Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre in Hamar, Norway. American figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, rear, skate through their routines during the practice session Tuesday, Feb. 22, 1994, at the Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre in Hamar, Norway.

Several members of the Half Moon Bay High football team have been playing together since they were in Pop Warner. Several members of the Half Moon Bay High football team have been playing together since they were in Pop Warner. Hayden Von Alem is a senior wide receiver for unbeaten Half Moon Bay, which will play for the state Division 3-A title on Saturday. Hayden Von Alem is a senior wide receiver for unbeaten Half Moon Bay, which will play for the state Division 3-A title on Saturday.