![Dieter Kurtenbach](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Dieter-Kurtenbach.jpg?w=85)
Sports Columnist
Dieter Kurtenbach
Sports columnist Dieter Kurtenbach analyzes the amazing and roasts the absurd in the world of sports for the Bay Area News Group. He was previously a national sports columnist for Fox Sports and a staff writer at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can also be heard on KNBR (104.5-FM, 680-AM). He graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., with a BA degree in journalism.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Expertise: Golden State Warriors; San Francisco 49ers; San Francisco Giants; Oakland A's; San Jose Sharks; developing trends in modern sports and the people who propel them.
All Stories
![Enough talk about Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams. Enough talk about Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BNG-L-49ERS-0530-13.jpg?w=132)
Kurtenbach: Three under-the-radar 49ers camp battles
Enough talk about Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams.
![Amid a great seller's market, the Giants dumped salary and picked a player off the scrap heap. Amid a great seller's market, the Giants dumped salary and picked a player off the scrap heap.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BNG-L-GIANTS-0611-8.jpg?w=123)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Kurtenbach: The SF Giants showed their true colors at the MLB trade deadline
Amid a great seller's market, the Giants dumped salary and picked a player off the scrap heap.
![The Giants are 2-5 since the All-Star break and going nowhere fast. This team can't afford to wait until the trade deadline to make a call on the season. The Giants are 2-5 since the All-Star break and going nowhere fast. This team can't afford to wait until the trade deadline to make a call on the season.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BNG-Giants-Rockies-Baseball_200315646.jpg?w=132)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Kurtenbach: The SF Giants are cooked, leaving Farhan Zaidi with a big decision
The Giants are 2-5 since the All-Star break and going nowhere fast. This team can't afford to wait until the trade deadline to make a call on the season.
![Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams are holding out (and in) for new contracts. Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams are holding out (and in) for new contracts.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BNG-L-49ERS-0203-1.jpg?w=113)
Kurtenbach: Why Brandon Aiyuk’s absence matters for the 49ers, and why Trent Williams’ doesn’t
Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams are holding out (and in) for new contracts.
![Making Brandin Podziemski untouchable is unserious stuff. Making Brandin Podziemski untouchable is unserious stuff.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BNG-L-WARRIORS-0224-17.jpg?w=132)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Kurtenbach: The Warriors look poised to make the two-timelines mistake again
Making Brandin Podziemski untouchable is unserious stuff.
![The San Francisco Giants need to go on a run to make the playoffs. These guys could spark that streak. The San Francisco Giants need to go on a run to make the playoffs. These guys could spark that streak.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BNG-L-GIANTS-0712-11.jpg?w=132)
Kurtenbach: 3 SF Giants poised for post-All-Star explosions
The San Francisco Giants need to go on a run to make the playoffs. These guys could spark that streak.
![The 49ers hold all the leverage in contract negotiations and Aiyuk is only wasting his own time. The 49ers hold all the leverage in contract negotiations and Aiyuk is only wasting his own time.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BNG-L-49ERS-0912.jpg?w=132)
Kurtenbach: Brandon Aiyuk’s trade request is yet another unserious move by the 49ers star
The 49ers hold all the leverage in contract negotiations and Aiyuk is only wasting his own time.
![The Dubs have failed to answer the defining issue of last season. That could convince the franchise's defining player, Steph Curry, to re-evaluate his future. The Dubs have failed to answer the defining issue of last season. That could convince the franchise's defining player, Steph Curry, to re-evaluate his future.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BNG-L-WARRIORS-0417-60.jpg?w=123)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Kurtenbach: If this is all the Warriors can do, it’s not good enough for Steph Curry
The Dubs have failed to answer the defining issue of last season. That could convince the franchise's defining player, Steph Curry, to re-evaluate his future.
![Baseball is providing a seller's market that's too good for the Giants to pass up. Baseball is providing a seller's market that's too good for the Giants to pass up.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BNG-L-GIANTS-0219-11.jpg?w=132)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Kurtenbach: The SF Giants are playing good baseball. That means it’s time to sell
Baseball is providing a seller's market that's too good for the Giants to pass up.
![The Warriors have left themselves without any choice — they have to go all-in. The Warriors have left themselves without any choice — they have to go all-in.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/202304021854TMS_____MNGTRPUB_SPORTS-NETS-WIN-THIRD-STRAIGHT-WITH-VICTORY-1-NY5.jpg?w=115)
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Kurtenbach: It’s Lauri Markkanen or bust for the Warriors
The Warriors have left themselves without any choice — they have to go all-in.