When Beane told the Contra Costa Times “I was wondering who was going to be the first guy to think I produced, wrote or directed this movie. Now I have my answer. (Howe’s) comments are completely misguided,” he:

a) sounded suspiciously like a guy who didn’t mind in the least that Howe was portrayed as such a jack-wagon.

And he b) missed the point.  When you’ve been played by Brad Pitt – when most of the American public is going to believe that dazzling cinematic version of both you and of 2002 green-and-gold events – then you’ve won.  You can afford to be gracious.

Howe has talked to several Bay Area media outlets and is understandably troubled by how Moneyball’s script and Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s performance portray him.

In the movie, he’s a churlish, oafish villain.  In real life, Howe was amiable and gracious, well-liked by most of his players and others in and out of baseball.

We all understand that the movie is pretend, that it’s a Hollywood version of a pseudo-baseball story and an entertaining one at that. The movie needed a villain and created one out of Howe.

But understanding that logic as an onlooker and seeing oneself portrayed as the anti-Christ on the screen are two different things and Howe’s horrified reaction – he’s called it “character assassination” – is probably how any sane person would react.

Howe allowed his name to be used, so he probably doesn’t have much for a complaint, legal or otherwise. Paul DePodesta is the only real-life person who opted out of letting his name be used, saying, “once I read the script and realized it was a piece of fiction, I saw no reason for my name to be attached to it.”

See, that Jonah Hill character was pretty darn smart.

There are plenty of factual errors throughout the movie and Howe’s character is not exempted. Howe was not angling for a contract extension that season. He – not Beane- was the one who had to release Mike Magnante. But the biggest problem with the Howe portrayal is not in the factual minutiae but with the general portrayal of Howe.

The audience walks away thinking, “what a jerk.” That’s exactly the one word that those of us who know Howe and worked with him would never, ever use to describe him.

In the “Moneyball” book, Howe is mostly portrayed as a boob, a clueless old-school baseball guy who didn’t have any understanding of Beane’s brilliance and whose authority was completely overshadowed by Beane. And there’s some truth to the details.

But the bigger reality was that Howe had been around for years – Beane inherited him from Sandy Alderson – and had helped the A’s grow from irrelevance to importance. Yes, he had Beane’s players – but all field managers have their general manager’s players. Howe’s job was to get those players to perform and – for several years – he did just that.

One plot line surrounding Howe did seem to be accurate. As the A’s put together their 20-game winning streak and turned their season around, the national media lauded Howe for his calm demeanor and his competence in getting his team to jell.  As the Beane character heard those comments, he seethed.  It is true that Howe received credit for his ability with that team – as he should have. It’s true, also and always, that Beane received much more of the credit.

Nine years later, Beane is getting virtually 100 percent of the credit. Howe is a footnote to the A’s success and now a deranged, angry one at that.

Beane has both the credit and Pitt – who will possibly win awards for his portrayal of Beane.  It doesn’t get much better for a guy whose team hasn’t made the playoffs in five seasons.

So graciousness – perhaps even a disingenuous overture and apology – would have been the kinder response.  That’s probably what Pitt’s character would have done. But that’s Hollywood.

A Giant Leap

He shepherded Microsoft through its stormiest period and helped bring a World Series title to San Francisco. In both cases, says Bill Neukom, it was all about the team.

BY ANN KILLION

So it was nice to be back. I’ve been to Phoenix for other reasons – namely football – during my spring training absence. But I’m always surprised at how much the area changes with every visit: more than any other American city. Sprawl and grid and identical strip malls as far as the eye can see. The area is still beautiful at dusk, brick-red rocks against purple sky, and early in the mornin. But, in between, it’s a grating symbol of thoughtless development, water waste and mind-numbing monotony.

The crowds this year were insane. It might be because the Giants won the World Series, it might be because of spring break, it might be because of harsh winters in the Midwest.    Whatever the reason – it was wall-to-wall people last weekend. And the crowds in Scottsdale at night were the same – highly inebriated, sunburned and loud. I saw one barefoot 40ish woman stumble out of the Pink Pony, punch her male companion in the face several times, scream at him and then run away down an alley.  She wasn’t the only one who was overserved – people kept wanting to buy Ray Ratto drinks and take his picture!  Scottsdale is one big, loud – often sloppy – party – you can see why the teams want their players to report at 7:30 or 8 a.m. most mornings.  They need incentive to get to bed early.

The baseball part was enjoyable.  The A’s are making news. Billy Beane has rebuilt them, and the talent will put manager Bob Geren to the test. Beane has also gone to lengths to make sure the A’s stay healthy. And Hideki Matsui’s presence brings a bigtime star quality.

Over at the Giants, things are relatively peaceful for a reigning World Champion.  I enjoyed my conversations with Madison Bumgarner, Miguel Tejada, Aubrey Huff and others. Brian Wilson was advertised as not being able to answer a question seriously, but I found him insightful. And Tim Lincecum looked to be in Cy Young form.

It was a quick trip. The next time I see the local teams will be back in the Bay Area, for the real thing.

Last week, he didn’t shake the hand of Atlanta coach Mike Smith after the game. Singletary conceded that it was “poor sportsmanship” on his part. That’s troubling on a fundamental level.

Singletary is all about leadership, values, motivation. All those things that go into sportsmanship. Without that, what does he have? A yellow Hall of Fame jacket, but in terms of coaching credentials, not too much.

Other coaches skip the handshake on rare occasions. Bill Belichick comes to mind. But Belichick is a brilliant coach. His calling card isn’t leadership, its Xs and Os. Pretty much no one would want him to come talk to room of boy scouts. But everyone would like him diagramming plays late in a tense game.

Singletary, as we are learning, is not a brilliant coach. He’s not even a very good coach at this point. He may be at some point – though that is becoming increasingly doubtful with every week. Singletary’s strength is his leadership.  But he keeps poking holes in his leadership credentials. Being a leader is more than just spouting inspirational words in a deep voice. It has to do with walking the talk.  Being a good sport. Handling adversity.

So far this season, Singletary has been coming up short on that.

On another, somewhat embarrassing note, some media members received a DVD in the mail this week.  It’s title?

“Get Coached by Mike Singletary: Inspiration, Motivation, Action.”

On the back of the case, we are told – in oddly religious and military terms –  that “Life is a game you want to win. Get Coached –  no longer just for the chosen few.”  Mike is going to teach us about “Success – How badly do you want it?” Mike will deliver his “arsenal of powerful messages.”  Among the topics covered: Leadership, Foundation of Integrity, Relationships, Loyalty (perhaps Jimmy Raye would like to take a look at those last two sections).  Not sure if the postgame handshake blowoff or the media interview meltdown are covered.

Perhaps the distributor should have waited to release the DVD until the 49ers had actually won a football game they want to win.

My first takeaway  will, of course, be Tim Lincecum’s look. He was locked into the kind of zone that only elite athletes at the top of their craft can penetrate.  Overmatching professional baseball players, who were  whiffing away at his stuff like minor leaguers. It was something to witness.

But my other takeaway moment is the postgame press conference. Buster Posey and Lincecum sat side-by-side at a table. Two All-American kids – one cut from an old-school cloth with his short hair and Captain America looks, the other a scruffy new generation skater dude. The fresh faces of the Giants. On a truly historic night.

It’s hard not to view what’s happening now at the ballpark through the prism of the past. Maybe it’s a function of working in the area where I grew up, watching the local teams evolve and shift through different eras. Nothing happens just in the moment. The last era was fascinating and frustrating, a daily lesson in ego and hubris and denial. It was historic. We were told that on a daily basis, with tickers and banners all over the ballpark and regular, exhaustive celebrations. But it was a forced, manufactured form of history, that didn’t have a lot to do with the intrigue and beauty of baseball.

What Lincecum and Posey accomplished together was a game for the ages, the best pitching performance in the 127-year history of the franchise and one of the best ever in postseason play. Real, heat of October, history.  Two kids collaborating on on  of the most aesthetically pleasing creations in sports – a dominating pitching performance.

The dark cloud that hung around the Giants for years has dissipated. Cleared away by two young fresh faces. The Giants are pretty lucky to have them.

* If you sit down for a scheduled interview with a TV camera, expect the interviewer to ask relevant questions about what’s going on with the team. Don’t have a hissy fit when someone is simply doing their job.

* This wasn’t exactly the toughest media moment Singletary could face. Pretty soft, actually. But he seemed to crack.

* Singletary sure likes to talk when he chooses to talk. But as the face of the team, he needs to have a better way of answering questions than blustering “I don’t want to talk about that.”

* Singletary said the Yahoo story that started the firestorm about the communications problems on the team was “not factual,” but then went off on a rant about a “rat” and a “coward” in the locker room. If there wasn’t any truth to the story, why the name-calling over the leak?

* I know football coaches are notoriously blindered but it’s a bad look for two men operating in the heart of Silicon Valley – for a team looking to sell corporate naming rights – to have no idea who or what Yahoo is. I’m guessing we won’t see Yahoo Stadium going up in the Great America parking lot.

* Did he really say “We will not try to stop Drew Brees. We will stop Drew Brees. Next question.” ? Is that a guarantee? Take note Who Dat nation…

No. Of course not. Back then we were spoiled. A bad season meant losing to Dallas in the championship game. An unthinkable season meant getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Not making the playoffs for SEVEN SEASONS?? Never entered anyone’s mind back then.

This anniversary is a special day for me.

I was at that Super Bowl. No big deal normally – right? After all, I had covered the team for six years. But the difference with that season was that I was pregnant through it, giving birth to my daughter on Dec. 29th. I was on my couch, infant in arms, when Steve Young beat Dallas and did his victory lap around Candlestick. Within hours, my phone rang and my editor was asking if I thought I could make it to the Super Bowl.

Sure, I said. It’ll take some maneuvering but I’m game.

I bought a ticket to the game. I got an extra press pass from the NFL offices. Those two pathways of entry meant that my husband could bring my baby to me in the press box. My in-laws watched our son, and off we went to Miami: Mom, Dad and infant.  We even made it to Leigh Steinberg’s big pre-Super Bowl party.

At the game, my hubby and baby sat in the stands (even infants need a ticket or a pass to get into any NFL game). At halftime, they came to the press box to get me and I went out to the luxury suite area to nurse the baby (having to fight our way past Tom Arnold at one point). Since this wasn’t normal sportswriter behavior – then or now- word circulated in the press box and my unusual halftime activity even made the early notebooks of some East Coast papers.

In the final minutes of the game, Mike Silver and I somehow ended up on the field (strictly forbidden) and watched Steve Young and Jerry Rice film their Disneyland commercial and celebrate like crazy.  Later on, when I was walking through the 49ers locker room, I ran into George Seifert. He was still soaked with champagne and looking blissful – after all this was the biggest moment of his career. This was really HIS Super Bowl, not Bill’s. I said “Congratulations George!” He looked at me with a big smile and said, “Congratulations to you! How’s your baby?”

That’s what normal people do in real life. But I must point out that this is definitely NOT what NFL coaches do in the aftermath of the biggest moment of their career. Seifert confirmed then that he was the most down to earth NFL coach around. Nothing I’ve seen since has changed my opinion.

In the wee hours of the morning, I made it back to the hotel room where Dad and baby were fast asleep. My little measuring stick of 49ers futility is now a freshman in high school and can’t remember the 49ers as a Super Bowl champion.

But I am happy about one move: bringing back Bengie Molina. I was in favor of giving him more than one year to keep him around. But the Giants were able to get him for just a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

It was kind of an afterthought transaction, born out of Molina’s willingness to turn down more money with the Mets. But it may prove to be the Giants most important move for 2010.

I like Bengie’s bat, obviously. “Big Money” has been the Giants best hitter for the past two years -before Pablo Sandoval started to develop. He’s had the best numbers in the post-Bonds era. And if he can hit lower in the order, it will only help him and the Giants.

But what I really, really like is Bengie’s presence in the clubhouse, his influence on the young players and his mastery behind the plate with the talented pitching staff. I found it troubling that the Giants – at one point – seemed so willing to part with a player of so much influence, while admitting that Buster Posey wasn’t ready to be a full-time catcher.

Now they have the best of both worlds – a very good catcher to mentor Posey (and while Bengie seemed, at times last year, reluctant to be shoved out the door in favor of a novice, he seems to have come to peace with that and has already reached out to Posey to start the partnership in the transition of power behind the plate). Meanwhile, the best part of the Giants team – the stellar pitching staff – will be able to rely on Molina’s experience. And the Giants young players – particularly, though not exclusively, the Latin players – will retain their mentor. Molina was instrumental in Sandoval’s emergence last year (and Sandoval has been instrumental in bringing joy to Molina’s late career years: Bengie told me last year that Sandoval was the most inspirational young player he had ever been around).

Molina is a classy veteran, who works hard, respects the game and is eager and willing to impart his knowledge and experience to younger players.

Of all the Giants moves, this afterthought of a deal is the best one.

My prediction is that Lincecum wins arbitration. Ryan Howard set the record with a $10 million arbitration victory after winning the NL MVP.  But Lincecum has won back-to-back Cy Youngs. Isn’t that even more impressive, for such a young player?

I wrote about Lincecum for SI.com today. Here is a link to that column. Howard and Lincecum have been linked before: the Giants played the Phillies the day of Lincecum’s debut and Lincecum was cruising until the third inning, when Howard hit a two-run bomb.

Which makes me wonder if LaRussa views the big slugger the same way – as a helpless creature who needs a loving home.

Even if it’s a really bad idea for his baseball team.

No, it’s not against the rules for LaRussa to hire McGwire as the Cardinals hitting coach, not like it would be for – say  – the Giants to hire Pete Rose. That would be against the rules of baseball though I’m betting Rose would be a far better hitting coach, because he was a far better player.

And it’s not illegal for LaRussa to hire McGwire. As far as I know, no one has criminalized stupidity in the past 24 hours.

But this is stupid. Because it will create a circus for the Cardinals. Every town McGwire goes to, someone will want to talk about steorids. Someone will be there to talk about the past. It’s not going to be a spring training-and-done story, no matter how much LaRussa plans for it to be that way. 

A batting coach is supposed to just blend in with the landscape (and also to have learned his art without involving needles). But McGwire isn’t going to be blending in. No way.

He’s being rewarded with a plum baseball job after hiding from his sport and failing to tell the truth in front of the United States Congress. But he has advice on the low fastball?

Why is LaRussa so determined to do this? I think it’s more for selfish reasons than any altruistic need to rehabilitate McGwire. LaRussa is, first and foremost, about LaRussa. The taint on McGwire equals a taint on LaRussa and much of what he has achieved in his managing career. I’ve often said if there was an All-Steroid team (Bonds in left, ARod at short, Clemens on the mound – who else?), LaRussa would be the hands-down favorite to manage the squad.   

If he can somehow just get the issue to go away – or better yet to get everyone to believe what he has insisted for years, that McGwire’s productivity was the result of work in the weight room – LaRussa will end up being the better for it.

In truth, the only way it goes away is if McGwire admits the truth, deals with the fallout for a few months then lets things fade away, normally. Having watched McGwire over the years, and knowing LaRussa’s penchant for blaming the messenger, I don’t see that happening. I could be wrong but I predict more evasiveness.

LaRussa went crazy when Jose Canseco came out with his tell-all book. He went on every radio and television station ripping Canseco a new one. Well, so did everyone else, but LaRussa’s anger seemed to have a distinctly personal edge to it.

The ridiculous thing is that he said he knew Canseco was on steroids while he was the manager of the A’s but he didn’t do anything about it, because of the system. Yet he has insisted for years that McGwire is the greatest guy on the planet. LaRussa may be a great baseball manager but in my experience, he’s an incredibly self-righteous hypocrite.

(Speaking of hypocrites, Bud Selig is thrilled to have McGwire back in baseball. He said he was a ”very, very fine man.” Just one that refused to testify in front of congress, hasn’t shed any light or truth on baseball’s black era and hid with his tail between his legs for years. Selig – the man who kept his hands in his pockets while watching Bonds – is just thrilled. It couldn’t be ….? Naawww).

Now LaRussa has coaxed Big Mac out of the corner in the back of the closet where he’s been hiding for seven years. A few treats. The catnip of a potential rejuvenation of his Hall of Fame bid.

Maybe McGwire will even get a scratching post out of the deal.