Waves of vehicles streamed up Third Street from AT&T Park, honking horns at the screaming Giants fans who walked, ran and staggered down the street, many holding beers and yelling, “Let’s go Giants!” as homeless people weaved among them. Marty Stack stood at the corner of Third and Market with his girlfriend, Brittany Robertson. Robertson wore a T-shirt that read, “Torture: Baseball Never Felt So Good.” A baseball fan his entire ......

In a 136-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Wednesday that Proposition 8, California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, violates the U.S. Constitution.  His decision was highly critical of the measure. "Proposition 8 singles out gays and lesbians and legitimates their unequal treatment," he wrote. "Proposition 8 perpetuates the stereotype that gays and lesbians are incapable of forming long-term loving relationships and that gays and lesbians are not good parents." Walker ......

The NFL’s glacial movement to address growing concerns about the effects of concussions and other head injuries apparently is having little resonance in the Bay Area. The 49ers open camp in earnest today, with head coach Mike Singletary vowing to bring back the infamous “nutcracker” drill that last year took out three of his players, including All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis. The drill, as the Chron’s David White notes, is not ......

For important dates in San Francisco Giants history, it might be appropriate to add May 29, 2010. It was on that day the team recalled Buster Posey, the baby-faced 23-year-old catcher, from Triple-A Fresno. It is difficult to recall a more transformative moment for the franchise, but already people are taking stabs at it. On Monday, Scott Ostler, in the Chronicle (link available Wednesday under the Chron’s strategic embargo policy), ......

Police are putting on gas masks, apparently preparing to fire tear gas into crowds at 13th Street and Broadway in Oakland. Tensions have been mounting between protesters and roughly 250 Oakland police officers since a gathering of roughly 1,000 people dispersed at about 8 p.m. Some protesters have thrown rocks and a bottle at police. Officers are declaring over a bullhorn that the area is an "unlawful assembly" and will ......