Column Bryan Demain
- OPINION: 4 Gridley girls overcome the odds at state track meet
- By Bryan DeMain/Appeal-Democrat
- Mark Nielson had no fancy uniforms, no assistant coaches or even a selection process.
He scraped together four 9- and 10-year-old girls for the Hershey Nor Cal State Championships in San Jose on Saturday.
"It was like David vs. Goliath," he said.
... Full story
- OPINION: Yes, cycling is cool
- By Bryan DeMain/Appeal-Democrat
- My name is Bryan DeMain and I'm a cycling fan.
I forced my sons to wait 100 minutes for guys on bikes to whiz by them in less than 30 seconds. Then we left.
How could I do that to them? Here are a 3- and 5-year-old, sitting around Wheatland High, w... Full story
- Taking a minute to recognize a legend
- By Bryan DeMain/Appeal-Democrat
- He coached for more than 40 years.
The game was as big as it got as a profession, a close second to his family.
On Sept. 9, Frank "Bud" Van Deren enjoyed a home DVD of his family and then shortly after passed away at his home at age 85.
Those who ... Full story
- Are you ready for some football? We are
- Bryan Demain
- It's hot. The grass-to-skin combo makes for an itchy start, but it's nothing compared to the summer's first stinger.
The days of getting away with an easy hour of weights are long gone — it's hell week.
Two-a-days, cramps, jugs of water and s... Full story
- All-area: It was like pulling teeth
- Jim Stassi, Eric Lay, Dave Deniz, John Kukuruda, James Bowen, Jake Stassi — these are the names that were bouncing around the sports desk for weeks.
And not just at work ...
There were times when the all-area baseball conversation carried on ... Full story
- Father and son day at the racetrack
- There were not enough bottles of water to keep me satisfied. It simply didn't matter to the boy.
Bullets of sweat rolled down his baby face. His hair disheveled and cheeks nearing red, my 4-year-old son couldn't care less that it was the hottest day... Full story
- Pitching a case for pitchers
- By Bryan DeMain/Appeal-Democrat
- We're counting down the days until playoff time — with a spring season like this, why not?
After coming up empty in football and collecting just one basketball section title, the Mid-Valley area is enjoying an amazing year on the diamonds this... Full story
- Demain Event: Just let the man play golf
- By Bryan DeMain/Appeal-Democrat
- I never thought I'd miss the ridiculous amount of over-saturated NFL draft coverage.
You know, the fast-talking Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay batting it out, debating over whom the Bills are going to draft in the third round or which sixth-round off... Full story
- Maximus overrated, I think not
- It's funny how the sports desk used to receive calls regarding the talent level of Yuba City's Max Stassi.
"The guy is overrated, and you guys over there at the Appeal kiss his butt."
Of course, they were a bit more harsh with the language. Nice, r... Full story
