Thomas Gase Guide: Don't take life, great games for granted
May 25-It's been almost exactly a year since I wrote the first Thomas Gase Guide, and believe me when I say this, I know I'm lucky to write every single one of them.
I often think of what I've done in my life since I was around 21. That includes enjoying time with my family and friends, listening to the Clash and Soundgarden, reading multiple Tana French and David Halberstam books, and visiting 30 Major League baseball ballparks, with Wrigley Field, PNC Park, Oracle Park, and Dodger Stadium my favorites, and Candlestick my least desired.
I've also enjoyed studying journalism at San Francisco State, and building a career that is halfway into its third decade.
But I often take a deep breath and wonder what it would be like if everything I've done since the age of 21 ... never happened.
I especially think of that on Memorial Day. Yeah, as Robert DeNiro says in "Heat," he's not all about "BBQs and bowl games."
Instead, the day is really about remembering all the people who don't get that chance.
For example, of the more than 58,000 U.S. personnel who died in Vietnam, approximately 35,000 were younger than 21, and about 11,400 were younger than 20. Thousands of teenagers died in World War I and II.
So whenever I even think of complaining about covering a game going to extra innings or trying to write football stats in a game being played in the rain, I just close my eyes for a half a second and realize that despite the harsh (can you even call it that?) conditions, I'm damn lucky.
So this week, when you're watching your local sports games, or your favorite teams in the NHL and NBA playoffs, or just that MLB team you root for, remember, you too have it lucky. Even if you're an Angels or Giants fan.
So open your eyes back up, and let's get you going in the right direction for the weekly Thomas Gase Guide.
Tuesday
Okay, I'll admit that lately I've said that the NBA playoffs stink. But I'll also admit, the San Antonio Spurs' semifinals series against the Oklahoma Thunder has been stellar. Even if some of the fouls have been weaker than a feather.
I know Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again the NBA MVP, but when he gives his speech this year, there is a part of me that believes he'll open it by saying, "I'd like to thank the academy." I know the Thunder are good, but this team flops more than a soccer player or Crystal Pepsi. I know that other players like LeBron, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant also faked being injured to get fouls in the past, but what the Thunder are doing just seems over the top. These are supposed to be the best athletes in the world, but touch them, and they turn into Ben Stiller near the end of "Tropic Thunder."
Anyways, the Spurs and Thunder play Game 5 on Tuesday, and if you can get past the flops, it's a good series. It's currently tied at 2, with the Thunder hosting two of the next three games if needed.
What's not a good series is the Las Vegas Golden Knights against the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado, what happened? Vegas will look for the sweep on Tuesday night with the puck dropping at 6 p.m. in Sin City. Colorado had the best record during the regular season, but nobody remembers how you did in January.
Locally, there is some action this week. The Vallejo Seaweed are back, kind of? They will play the majority of their home games in Martinez this year, thanks to facility issues at Wilson Park, and tonight they play against the Sturgeon. The game starts at 6 p.m. at the ballpark found at 1204 Joe DiMaggio Drive in Martinez. It's about a 20-minute drive from downtown Vallejo, so not too far.
If you want to make about a 50-minute drive to Santa Rosa, then you can catch the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High baseball team play in the North Coast Section Division 5 semifinals at 4:30 p.m. St. Pat's is the No. 13 seed in the bracket, but has won two games on the road so far. This game will be the toughest test for the Bruins with Montgomery being the No. 1 seed.
For Major League Baseball, check out the Giants and Athletics at home. Each plays the second of a three-game series on Tuesday, with the Giants hosting Arizona and the A's matching up against the Seattle Mariners.
Wednesday
To watch some matinee baseball, check out the Giants and A's ending their three-game series at home. The Giants' game begins at 12:45, while the A's game starts at 12:05.
Other MLB games to watch on Wednesday are St. Louis at Milwaukee in a 1982 World Series rematch and Atlanta at Boston, the Cubs at Pittsburgh, and the Phillies at the Padres.
The Knicks and Cavaliers would play Game 5 on Wednesday night if the Knicks didn't sweep the series on Monday night, but the NHL playoffs continue with Game 4 of the Montreal-Carolina series. The matchup was tied at 1-1 heading into Monday night.
Locally, head to Martinez once again to watch the Seaweed, who play the Austin Weirdos (yes, that's their official name) at 6 p.m.
Thursday
There is not a whole lot going on, so stay home and watch the NHL playoffs if the series between Vegas and Colorado goes to a fifth game. San Antonio will also host Game 6 in the NBA playoffs during the night, so tune into that game against Oklahoma City.
The Giants and A's are both off today, and the Seaweed are on the road, so to get your baseball fix, watch the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros on ESPN at 5 p.m., or watch the finale of the Cubs and Pittsburgh.
Friday
If St. Pat's baseball wins on Tuesday, the Bruins would play in the section championship on either Friday or Saturday. The North Coast Section hasn't given an exact date yet, but St. Pat's would face either Sonoma Valley or Concord. If Concord and St. Pat's win the semifinal games, the title will be between a No. 13 and a No. 14 seed.
Didn't see that one coming, did you?
If local track and field is your sport, head on down to Buchanan High in Clovis on Friday and Saturday to watch the 106th CIF State Track and Field Championships. Madeline Cuellar, a junior shot put athlete, is competing on the girls' side for Benicia High School.
For MLB, watch the Sacramento Athletics host the New York Yankees for the start of a three-game series. Yankee fans travel well, so get your tickets quickly for this one. The San Francisco Giants are on the road, taking on the Colorado Rockies.
In the NHL playoffs, Montreal will play on the road against Carolina in Game 5, but it is unknown where that series will stand. It could be tied up at 2, or one team could be looking to clinch. Montreal is the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup, way back in 1993.
There are likely to be no NBA games this night, unless Cleveland magically forces a Game 6 against the Knicks.
The weekend
The St. Pat's baseball team could be playing Saturday, but another local baseball squad to watch is the Seaweed playing Dublin.
The NHL and NBA playoffs are set to end their semifinal series this weekend. Carolina and Montreal would play Game 6 if needed in Montreal on Sunday, while Colorado and Las Vegas would play Game 6 if needed on Saturday. Game 7 of the Oklahoma City-San Antonio series would be Sunday night.
The Athletics' game against the Yankees on Saturday is at night, with the Sunday game slated for 1 p.m. The Giants play the Rockies at 12:10 p.m. on Sunday, while the NBC Sunday night game of the week is the Cubs at the Cardinals in one of baseball's best rivalries.
Read
"The Game Must Go On" by John Klima (to read about WWII heroes like Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg and many more coming back from WWII)
"Three Nights in August" by Buzz Bissinger (to read while watching the Cubs-Cardinals' series)
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.