HBO bought the rights to Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO and the Steroids Scandal That Rocked Professional Sport, the infamous book penned by Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams. According to a sister over at Variety, in it Bonds is "painted in 'Game of Shadows' as a gifted player who made a Faustian bargain to increase his power." (Might we suggest Damn Giants as a working title, then?)

Ron Shelton -- auteur of such testosterone-enriched films as Bull Durham, Tin Cup, Ty Cobb biopic Cobb, and White Men Can't Jump -- is tapped to direct the film once the WGA strike ends.

We hope that this picture ends up more about the man that is Barry Bonds, not about the heroic reporters who broke the story. We don't want to have to sit through another one of these. And no word yet on who will play Bonds. Any suggestions?

In the 49ers' final game of the 2006 regular season, the team will have something more important on their mind than football.

* San Francisco vs. Denver
Sunday, December 31, 2006. 1:00 PM, PST.
Week 17
The Battle Of Remembering #72

Last time the Niners were in Denver was Week 2 of the 2005 preseason.

At the end of the game, 49er offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the visitor's locker room after running off the field with the team. He died from a heart ailment: Ischaemic heart disease.

This game is San Francisco's first at Mile High since that day.

The team will head to storm-swept Denver, pay their respects to Herrion, and then play the Broncos.

Sport seems insignificant in light of a life ended early.

The 49ers have begun an annual award to recognize a young player who embodies Herrion's ebullient spirit.

His locker still sits undisturbed in the 49ers' practice facility.

He may have left too soon, but the big man from Utah with the fine singing voice won't soon be forgotten by the team.

Expect the 49ers to come out fighting in Denver today in his name.