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Jason Kidd Restores Oakland Rec Center

Published

7 years ago

May 29, 2019

About 80 youth had the rare opportunity to shoot hoops with NBA basketball legend Jason Kidd at the Willie Keyes Recreation Center in West Oakland recently.

The extraordinary day featured a ribbon-cutting celebrating the center’s remodel, courtesy of the Jason Kidd Foundation and retired NBA player Antonio Davis. Coordinated via a partnership with the City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation, the nearly $200,000 remodel included interior paint, major improvements and furnishings to the gymnasium, entrance way, computer room, multipurpose room, and outside play areas.

“Kids need a safe place to learn, develop and call home so I’m happy to help make that happen in my hometown,” said Kidd.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank Jason Kidd and his team for working with us and providing a grant,” said City of Oakland Recreation Center Director, Vinzuela Bolden.

“It’s great to see the kids so happy and the people who grew up in the community walk in and say “’wow,’” said City of Oakland Project and Sports Coordinator Frederick Morris. “This is about building a home away from home.”

The newly renovated facility at 3131 Union St. will offer expanded community use to all ages and abilities, with the goal to enhance career opportunities, researching, and college exploration.

Kidd’s whirlwind weekend included being inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame in San Francisco on May 2. He was also the featured guest in a fireside chat for the launch of HipHopTV at Cliff Bar headquarters in Emeryville.

Before an audience of 300, Kidd discussed growing up in Oakland and how his passion for excellence powered him to legendary status as a student and then professional athlete.

Guests included his childhood friend, Chris Fortenberry, sisters Denise Taylor and Kimberly Kidd and his 4th grade elementary school teacher Lori Perenon, among others. “Were it not for the support of my parents, family, Ms. Perenon and great coaches, I would not be where I am today,” said Kidd.

“He was always a special child,” said Perenon.

Shawn Granberry, CEO of HipHopTV attended school with Kidd and said the extraordinary athlete had a game-changing attitude as a child. “Growing up with Jason you could tell he was going places, he is a prime example of what our youth can become.”

With Kidd’s help Granberry founded the Scholar Athletic Union and Bears Youth Basketball partnering with Stanford and UC Berkeley faculty to steer young athletes to college.

Jason Kidd just signed on as assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was previously a 10-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA First Team member, and a nine-time NBA All Defensive Team member.

He won an NBA Championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, and was a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner during his pro career, as part of Team USA in 2000 and 2008. He was inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kidd played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. He was named co- NBA Rookie of the Year co-NBA Rookie on his first season with the Mavericks.

Carla Thomas

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Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026

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2 days ago

September 27, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of September 16 – 22, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 16 – 22, 2026

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1 week ago

September 21, 2026

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.