Sports

49ers Shine On Monday Night Amid Controversy

Published

10 years ago

September 13, 2016

Santa Clara, CA – Something that started as a simple protest became bigger than football. Backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem sparked a nationwide conversation for the last two weeks.

But tonight the Forty-Niners adumbrated the outside noise for four quarters. The focus was back to football as San Francisco hosted the Los Angeles Rams in their season opener.

The 49ers made it look to easy when they used their running game to shutout the Rams 28-0. It was San Francisco’s first season-opening shutout in franchise history. Running back Carlos Hyde rushed for 88 yards with two touchdowns while Blaine Gabbert who beat out Kaepernick for the starting went 22-of-35 for 170 yards with one touchdown to Vance McDonald in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers running game was outstanding throughout the game. By halftime Hyde had 11 carries for 65 yards while Gabbert had 7 carries for 40 yards. Gabbert did a lot of running in the first series and by the second series, San Francisco controlled the tempo of the game. In the first quarter, Hyde had an 11-yard touchdown to complete ten plays on 52 yards in 3 minutes.

Photo by Eric Taylor

“I tell him all the time, Blaine this is me and you,” Hyde said. “We have to work together. And, if we are on the same page, we will kill teams with this read option. I’m like, you can run it just as good as I can run it. So, don’t be afraid to pull it and go make a play. Before the game I told him [Gabbert], if you feel like you can go beat the defensive end to the sideline then go make a play. It’s a two-man game with us when we run the read option.”

By the second quarter, the 49ers forced a turnover when Case Keenum’s pass intended for Todd Gurley was tipped and recovered by NaVorro Bowman. The replay official reviewed the pass interception ruling, and the play was upheld. Gabbert led his team down field to setup Shaun Draughn’s 3-yard touchdown to extend San Francisco’s lead 14-0.

LA’s defense couldn’t stop a fly or the 49ers running game. The Rams offense struggled behind Keenum. He went 22-of-35, 170 yards with two interceptions. It was 2013 when LA won their arbitration to begin the move to Los Angeles. The team had high expectations for this season, but based on their performance tonight, they look like a team rebuilding.

Photo by Eric Taylor

Keenum just looked awful. Top running back Todd Gurley was held to 47 yards on 17 carries. And to make matters worse, LDT Aaron Donald was ejected from the game in the second half. They punted ten times and only had ten first downs through the game. Converting on third down was their biggest challenge. The Rams couldn’t get close enough to attempt a field goal.

“They did a good job of mixing it up,” said Keenum. “San Francisco did a good job with coverage over the top and mixing it up with the single I. You have to give them a lot of credit. They did a really good job especially on third down with a lot of looks that we haven’t seen before, but it’s not an excuse though. We still have to convert. There were some chances to convert, but it was tough.”

Tavon Austin returned the ball for 28 yards giving LA their best field position of the night. Keenum completed a pass to Austin for a gain of 5 yards. And the Rams were in the red zone. But outstanding defense by the 49ers thwarted any hopes of them scoring. Keenum threw his second interception and it landed in the hands of Ray Ray Armstrong.

Gabbert who struggled with the passing game connected with Quinton Patton for 35 yards to setup Gabbert’s 8-yard touchdown pass to McDonald giving San Francisco a 21-0 lead. The frustration mounted for LA, McDonald got into a tussle with Patton and ripped his helmet off charging him with a personal foul penalty, unsportsmanlike penalty and an ejection from the game.

“I just let my emotions get the best of me,” Donald said. “There’s no excuse. I can’t make mistakes like that and hurt my team. I saw Tre [Trumaine Johnson] being surrounded by some guys and tried to help him by breaking up the situation. But the way I did it, I went over there pushing and I shouldn’t have done that.”

The 49ers didn’t play their best football but faired much better than their opponent. They capped off the fourth with another rushing touchdown by Hyde, this time for 1-yard. Kaepernick even saw some action when he came in for one series under 2 minutes. San Francisco had dealt with so much negativity since last season and wanted to come out strong to shut up their naysayers.

“We started off as the underdogs,” said Bowman. “Nobody expected us to win a game this year, or something crazy. And I say to the guys, it’s not what anyone outside the organization says about us, it’s about what we say about us. If we keep that mindset and understand we’re the ones out there contributing and playing together and understand we are a strong-knit team, we can accomplish anything.”

Kaepernick who kneeled along with teammate Eric Reid, came into the game with 2:33 remaining. He handed off the ball on three snaps before the 49ers punted. But after the game Kaepernick was surrounded by media who wanted his reaction to how players around the league were supporting him. In addition, Kaepernick also addressed Owner Jed York’s $1 million donation in the video below.

“That’s huge,” said Kaepernick. “It was amazing. I had a great conversation with Jed. He went out of his way and reached out to me and I got to talk with him and talk these things through. He wanted to know, ‘How can I help? I see these things as well.’ To have that support from an owner, someone that has that position and also is running an organization like this, that’s huge. It says a lot about what people mean to him and how much he truly cares about them.”

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Sale of Coliseum to African American Developers Moves Toward Completion

The deal includes the sale of the Oakland Arena to an unidentified third-party buyer for no less than $100 million, which Bobbitt said was one of the most important aspects of the site’s future redevelopment.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 16, 2026

bpusa-syndication

The deal includes the sale of the Oakland Arena to an unidentified third-party buyer for no less than $100 million, which Bobbitt said was one of the most important aspects of the site’s future redevelopment.

‘This is on the precipice of actually occurring,’ said Ray Bobbitt, buyers’ representative

By Post Staff

After many months of complex negotiations, the Oakland Coliseum development deal is finally nearing an agreement that will open the way for new owners – the African Americans Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) – to revitalize the sports complex and the Hegenberger Corridor in East Oakland.

On May 28, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a non-binding agreement to dispose of the County’s portion of the complex for $115 million in a deal with AASEG, with a closing date set for June 30.

“People are seeing that this is on the precipice of actually occurring,” said Ray Bobbitt, founder of the AASEG and an East Oakland native. “People feel that this needs to happen for Oakland, for East Oakland in particular,” Bobbitt said, as reported in the East Bay Times.

The agreement would transfer ownership of the 112-acre Coliseum complex property, which was owned 50-50 by Alameda County and the City of Oakland, to Oakland Acquisition Company, which is AASEG’s real estate wing.

The County’s approval marks an important step in the sale of the property, even though concerns about environmental liability remain. Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, the county will pay $115 million to Coliseum Way Partners, the corporate entity of the Oakland Athletics that had previously purchased the county’s half of the property for $85 million.

AASEG will then pay $115 million to the County in three annual payments, with 5% annual interest paid on any outstanding balance, according to the term sheet.

AASEG already negotiated a purchase of the city’s half of the property for $125 million in 2025, awaiting the sale of the county’s half.

A strong supporter of the sale, Supervisor Nate Miley said he was not “breaking out the champagne” until the sale was final. This is not perfect, but it is good.

“It’s good because the County ends up with more money,” Miley continued. “It’s good because an African American team takes ownership of the property, and they’ve got a lot of potential in terms of what they want to do with the property.”

A remaining disagreement between Alameda County and the AASEG involves environmental concerns.

AASEG wanted a “carve-out” for environmental concerns so that it would not face liability for the release of groundwater into San Francisco Bay without a permit. Obtaining a permit could be time-consuming and expensive, requiring the need for consultants, studies, and an oversight process by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

County supervisors unanimously supported the non-binding agreement without the carve-out, though Bobbitt said delaying or excluding the carve-out creates timing risks for the project.

“The motion is to accept the terms as presented, excluding the carve-out,” Board of Supervisors President David Haubert said. “Noting that it’s a non-binding term sheet and terms can always be discussed going forward. It’s been pointed out that that could affect the deal, timing, which we’ve been at this for nine years, but what’s a little more time?”

“The arena represents an anchor of the site,” said Babbitt. “This arena … has become a pop culture mecca, and the opportunity to enhance that and expand that is critical to the overall process.”

Speaking at the Board of Supervisors meeting, Miley explained the County’s reasoning behind some of the complex negotiations. He asked interim County Counsel Andrea Weddle:

“In layman’s term’s who’s on the hook for the environmental (cleanup)” under the current deal with the Oakland A’s?

“When the county with a former board entered in the deal with the (A’s), we took on all of the environmental obligations,” Miley said. “Since then, we’ve learned a lot more about the environmental conditions of the Coliseum.”

“If we do a deal with Coliseum Way Partners (the A’s), we remain on the hook,” she said. “If we do a deal as we’ve currently structured with OAC (AASEG), we have eliminated some or hopefully all (or) as much as we can of that liability and aligned our deal with the terms of the city.”

Bobbitt, despite his concerns, supported the nonbinding agreement. He said the public has waited nearly a decade to come to this point.

“The community support has been overwhelming,” he said. “We’ve used a lot of P-words: patience, perseverance, persistence. And we’ve just had to do it, and we understand how complex this has been.”

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Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

7 months ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

1 year ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.