As sports world turns, 49ers and Colin Kaepernick continue uneasy dance

Enter the Warzone, top of the first.

▪ It was Opening Day across most of MLB. North Carolina and Villanova tussled for the national title. The Warriors keep nipping at Michael Jordan’s high-topped heels.

Yet there we were, transfixed over whether Colin Kaepernick would get traded to the Broncos before the 49ers began offseason workouts.

▪ Because Kaepernick won’t take a $4.9 million pay cut, the deal is reportedly on hold.

Selfish? Hardly. Why should he hand back 41 percent of his salary simply to do the 49ers a favor?

▪ The 49ers (despite their mumbo-jumbo to the contrary) don’t want Kaepernick around, and Kaepernick doesn’t want to be there.

Sounds like a marriage made in purgatory.

▪ Why would Rodney Terry have interest in Alabama-Birmingham? For starters, UAB spends about $1.5 million more on men’s basketball than Fresno State does. Also, the Blazers’ last coach took home a $1 million annual salary.

Terry’s base is $411,216, plus performance bonuses. Why wouldn’t he?

▪ If Terry keeps building on this season and adds another NCAA Tournament or two to his résumé, he’ll have suitors with significantly deeper pockets.

▪ With Bulldogs men’s basketball at a 15-year high, you’d think Athletic Director Jim Bartko could raise enough money to bring Terry’s salary and the program’s budget more in line with the upper half of the Mountain West with a few phone calls.

Bartko probably could. Problem is, he’s already asking those same boosters for help with wrestling and women’s water polo, cost-of-attendance stipends, Bulldog Stadium renovations and a bunch of other stuff.

▪ Been a few years (2012) since the Fresno State baseball and softball teams reached the NCAAs in the same season.

Even longer (1991) since both made trips to their respective College World Series. If you’re the type who dreams big.

▪ After hitting town with a .343 team batting average, Air Force managed five measly runs in a three-game sweep at Beiden Field.

When you play home games at 6,000 feet elevation, the rest of the world is a giant humidor.

▪ Good to see former coach Bob Bennett back at the stadium that’ll soon be named after him.

More accurately, hear him on the radio with Paul Loeffler.

▪ Someone has to be the accuracy stickler: Of the Giants’ homegrown infield, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Joe Panik and Brandon Crawford played for Triple-A Fresno.

Matt Duffy did not. Unless you’re talking about the guy who plays for the Astros.

▪ Interesting to see Bruce Bochy join the bat-the-pitcher-eighth movement. Wonder how long until Madison Bumgarner bats cleanup …

▪ Fairly useless MLB picks: Giants in N.L. West, Cubs in N.L. Central, Nationals in N.L. East, with Dodgers and Mets as wild cards. Astros in A.L. West, Indians in A.L. Central, Blue Jays in A.L. East. Royals and Red Sox as wild cards. Cubs over Astros in World Series.

You read right. This is next year.

▪ Three weeks shy of his 22nd birthday, Corey Seager is the Dodgers’ youngest Opening Day shortstop since 1944.

So long ago, even Vin Scully is drawing a blank.

▪ Worthy goal for the A’s: Keep the sewage off the diamond and in the clubhouse where it belongs.

▪ Suppose Steve Kerr pulled a Gregg Popovich and didn’t let the Warriors go for the 72-win record. His players would be resentful.

They’re better off being a little tired.

▪ For no particular reason: Mike LaCoss

▪ For about 24 hours last week, the D’Angelo Russell-Nick Young video fiasco was the Most Important Story On Earth.

Now you could care less. Funny how that works.

▪ Just when you thought ballpark food couldn’t get any more unhealthy, the Atlanta Braves introduced Burgerizza: a 20-ounce bacon cheeseburger with 8-inch pepperoni pizzas for buns.

Each one costs $26, angioplasty not included.

This story was originally published April 4, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "As sports world turns, 49ers and Colin Kaepernick continue uneasy dance."