(Photos) Cal's Hail Mary at Notre Dame falls on deaf ears in a 24-17 loss
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(Photos by Connor Buestad - Section925.com)
Trey goes down while the Niners defense steps up in a Week 2 win vs. Seattle
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Photo by Josie Lepe
By Will Schell
The 49ers did indeed βwrite backβ to Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday with a dominating 28-7 win at the home opener in Santa Clara. The 49ers defense looks to be where they were three years in 2019 when they ranked the best in the NFL. Defensive end Nick Bosa recorded two sacks in this game, dominating first year tackle Abraham Lucas, who the Seahawks drafted with their 72nd overall pick in this year's draft. Despite Pro Bowl caliber safety Jimmie Ward being placed on IR, this defensive backfield has not missed a beat. In the first two games, Talanoa Hufanga has been perhaps the best player for the 49ers. He took down Seahawks running back Rashad Penny in the backfield twice. He also tipped a pass that was intercepted by 49ers recent acquisition Tashaun Gipson. It was Gipson's 28th career interception.
The cornerbacks are even better than they were in 2019. Cornerback Mooney Ward, who the Niners got from the Chiefs in free agency, is performing very well, playing good defense on Tyler Lockett and Darnell Mooney. Ward also had an interception in this game, he picked off Seahawks running back Deejay Dallas. Yes you heard me right, he intercepted a running back⦠it was Ward's 5th career interception. But, the best corner on this team has been without a doubt, Emmanuel Moseley. He continued his feud with Seahawks standout receiver D.K. Metcalf this past Sunday. He followed Metcalf all game and held him to 4 receptions on only 35 yards receiving. He looks to be back to full strength to start the 2022-23 season.
All pro Linebacker Fred Warner, is doing βAll Pro Fredβ things to begin the campaign. Warner is being utilized in the pass rush more which helped the Niners rattle Geno Smith early in the first quarter. Warner looks like he will have another All Pro season like the past 2 years of his career.
While it seems the 49ers Defense allowed 7 points in this game, they did not, the special teams did. The Seahawksβ only points were on a blocked Robbie Gould field goal returned for a touchdown by Seahawks Corner Back Micheal Jackson. Jackson took it all the way to the house for a 91 yard touchdown. The 49ers were not phased by this and shut the Seahawks out from there. This defense may need to carry this team all year after second year Quarterback Trey Lance broke his ankle and will be out for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. This looks to be the 49ers best defense in years and will have their biggest test of the year on Sunday Night when they face longtime rival Rusell Wilson, who now leads the Broncos. They have struggled against Russ in the past, but they are looking to change that narrative. Iβm sure the 49ers want to please former all pro tackle Joe Staley who said βI hate Russβ on Greg Papa and John Lund's show on Monday.
(Photos) Jack Plummer's debut in Berkeley is a 34-13 win over UC Davis
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(Photos by Connor Buestad - Connor@Section925.com)
Section925 Visits Niners' Camp for "Dwight Clark 87 Day" on 8/7
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Photo by Terell Lloyd/49ers
Following a season in which the Niners made a unexpectedly deep playoff run that included gutsy road playoff victories at Dallas and Green Bay, 49er Faithful was sure to show up to training camp in good spirits this August. Couple this with Deebo Samuel signing a hefty contract to stay in The Bay and Trey Lance taking over the offense with a year under his belt and you have fans in the red and gold smelling Super Bowl once again.
βDwight Clark 87 Dayβ on August 7th began the same way as all of the other practices this week with 49ers second year safety Talanoa Hufanga coming out onto the practice field first at 9:41 AM. At this point, he looks to be their starting strong safety. Hufanga's second-year leadership has helped the 49ers defense dominate at camp. They pressured Trey Lance to throw over the middle which led to a Fred Warner pick on an attempted pass to 49ers tight end Tyler Kroft. Warner read the pass perfectly.
The 2022/23 49ers defense already looks better than last year, when they ranked ninth. Their star studded pass rush is a huge reason why. They selected another dominant edge rusher, Drake Jackson, out of USC to pair with Nick Bosa. Jackson suffered a minor injury to the βgroinβ at the beginning of practice but seemed to be fine shortly after. 49ers third year Defense Tackle Javon Kinlaw is finally living up to what the 49ers expected of him when he was drafted 13th in the 2020 draft. During 11 on 11βs he threw guard Aaron Banks to the side and sacked Lance. Kinlaw looks to be in the best shape of his life.
There were also some noticeable low moments within the defensive line. They gave up a big run to tailback Jeff Wilson Jr who broke free for 30+ yards, the longest run of the day. He extended the run by juking out safety Tayler Hawkins. Another player the defense can't seem to stop is new signing Ray-Ray McCloud, who seems to be the 49ers go-to deep threat at camp. The defense did seem to contain the Trey Lance/Brandon Aiyuk connection during practice though. Charvaruis Ward knocked down a pass intended for Aiyuk and seemed to think Ward interfered; no flag was thrown.
The 49ers secondary has improved drastically since last year when they ranked 18th. It looks like theyβll be back in the top 10 and repeat their 2019 defense after a great draft and free agency. 49ers longest tendered player, Jimmie Ward is looking like he will have the best season of his career after getting snubbed from the Pro Bowl last year. He is the 49ers main voice on defense along with All Pro linebacker Fred Warner. From Training Camp alone, it seems like this younger and hungrier defense is back to its 2019 form when they led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Getting to the 49ers practice isn't easy, but itβs worth it. You need to buy tickets in advance and get there pretty early to get yourself a seat. Seats are in the bleachers and, I can tell you from experience, that not all of us 49ers fans fit easily into bleacher seats. That being said, the experience was still awesome. Fans were interactive with the players and the players gladly reciprocated. At the end of practice 49ers All Pro tight end George Kittle, (who did not practice all day) seemed to appear out of thin air to sign autographs for the fans and smile for pictures. Jimmy G, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found β¦ he was not on the field for practice and not on it after. The 49ers look to have Nate Sudfeld back up Trey Lance all season and in the Green Bay game on Friday. Lance looks to play the 1st quarter with the offensive starters and then expect Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy to step in and get some time as the backups. The Niners look to take down the Packers just like they did in last year's playoffs. Despite it being a preseason game, the atmosphere shouldn't feel like one. 49er Faithful will be out in droves.
(Photos) Saint Mary's beats No. 1 Gonzaga 67-57
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(Photos by Connor Buestad - Connor@Section925.com)
(Photos) Cal starts 2022 with a 24-point win over Arizona State
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(Photos by Connor Buestad - Connor@Section925.com)
Don't consume "The Last Dance" without also watching the Luc Longley doc, "One Giant Leap"
/If you live in the Bay Area and follow college hoops even a minimal amount, you know how underrated Australians are at basketball. Seemingly every year, a new 18-year-old bloke shows up in Moraga, California and sings on at Saint Maryβs College for a few years, before ascending to the NBA and finding sustained success. From Patty Mills, to Matthew Dellavedova, to Jock Landale, the list goes on. Aussies love coming to America to play high level basketball and it seems like more and more players are succeeding every year.
One of the first Aussies to lay the foundation in the NBA for others to follow was Luc Longley, who came to the states in the 90βs to play for the University of New Mexico, before being drafted and eventually teaming up with Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr and Michael Jordan for the Bullsβ βRepeat Threepeatβ teams, including the βLast Danceβ team, which led to the now famous documentary.
In the recent Aussie documentary βOne Giant Leap,β (available for free on YouTube), Longley gives a fascinating glimpse into what it was like to be the starting center on those championship Bulls teams we now know so much about. Longley speaks candidly throughout the documentary, explaining in great detail what it was like to be drafted into the NBA, be traded to the Bulls, link up with MJ and embark on the wild ride that was.
Longley and Jordan himself give an honest account of their relationship and Longley explains in clear terms what it was like to play alongside Jordan and defend NBA titles versus all comers. Longley also goes on to explain how difficult it was for him to come down from the high of winning championships in Chicago and return to the monotony of suiting up for pedestrian NBA teams like the Suns and Knicks, and eventually, just trying to live everyday life.
With a fraction of the budget, resources and star power, βOne Giant Leap,β quietly provides a clear window into what it was like to be a part of the 1990βs Bulls. And not just as a fly on the wall either. But instead as a 7-foot center who somehow still flew under the radar low enough to be (almost) forgotten about completely.
Simply put, if you enjoyed βThe Last Dance,β make sure to check out βOne Giant Leapβ for a whole new perspective.
(Photos) The SMC Gaels blow out the UCSB Gauchos 80-59
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(Photos by Connor Buestad - Connor@Section925.com )
Top Safety and Health Tips for Sports Teams
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There are always so many challenges you may not know that players face while on the court or field. They are prone to injuries, especially when participating in sports such as basketball and football. It is easy to get injuries due to falls. Besides, you might get hit by an opponent during defense or counterattack, leading to injuries.
Some injuries could be mild, while others are severe. Such necessitates the team players being healthy and strong in the field to prevent severe cases. The severe cases could be as worse as a death in the field. Though not often, such instances have occurred before.
Good Diet
Every individual taking part in sports always has to be in good health. Having a balanced diet is thus crucial. It also helps in improving performance. When you have meals with adequate carbohydrates, your body gets more energy, thus improving your productivity during matches.
There are also cases where players fatigue easily during matches. Having a healthy meal helps reduce such cases. For such, whole grains should be a basic diet. Athletes burn a lot of energy during the exercise, and thus, a supply of energy to the body should be constant to ensure consistency.
Water is also among the most significant part of their diet. The athletes need to be hydrated because of dehydration during consistent exercise.
Regular Exercising
Regular exercise is necessary to keep one fit. Exercising helps in reducing cases of muscle tension during matches. This helps to improve the overall performance. It helps sharpen your skills more, making you get better every day.
Imposing Safety Rules
You all know prevention is better than cure, and it would be essential to take precautions in sports. It ensures the safety of the friends and family representing institutions and even states at large in sports competitions.
Safety rules are among the ways of preventing injuries. Thus, there are specific contact limits, and if you go beyond, you get penalized. And if it has caused severe injuries, it gets to a legal stage where the victim can claim a lawsuit for the injuries caused due to negligence.
At times it may be so severe that the injury might cause death. The family has all the rights of seeking compensation. In such a scenario, if you are the one on default, you will have to discuss your case with a wrongful death lawyer to be helped out during the court case.
Appropriate Sports Gear
The safety gears used in different sports include helmets, eye protection, mouth guards, and knee and elbow guards. These come in handy when playing contact sports where you might get hit.
Without such safety gear, you might get profound injuries when you fall. The helmets are meant to protect the skull. They can be used by those playing football, skating, and biking. The requirements are that the helmets have to be replaced afterward whenever there is an accident.
Conclusion
As a team coach or a team player, you need to keep the factors in mind. This will keep you and your team safe. Above all, make sure you report immediately and appropriately in case of an injury.
(Photos) UCLA beats Cal 42-14 inside the Rose Bowl
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(Photos by Connor Buestad, Section925.com)
(Photos) California falls to Nevada in Opening Night Border War
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(Photos by Connor Buestad, Section925.com)
Glenn Burke was the first Major Leaguer to ever come out as gay. The new book βSingled Outβ tells the life story of the Bay Area pioneer and his decorated life
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Portrait of Glenn Burke hanging at βTroupe429β in Norwalk, CT, painted by Carol Isler
(Get a copy of Singled Out β The True Story of Glenn Burke Here)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
As hard as it is to believe, there is still only one man in the four major American professional sports leagues to ever play in a regular season game after publicly declaring he was gay. Just one. That man is Stanford graduate Jason Collins, who bravely broke that barrier in 2014 playing for the Brooklyn Nets and coach Jason Kidd. Still to this day, no NFL player has played a regular season game after coming out as gay, and the same holds true for Major League Baseball and the NHL. Despite all of the progress that has been made in America in regards to the acceptance of the LGBTQ community, clearly there is still a long way to go.
Jason Collinsβ breakthrough, widely supported by essentially everyone around him in the NBA, would likely have never been possible if it wasnβt for a Berkeley High School graduate named Glenn Burke. Over 30 years before Collins came forward with the news that he was gay, Burke was playing for both the L.A. Dodgers and Oakland Aβs as a man who was known to be gay by teammates, coaches and management. Shortly after his career ended, he made it official and announced he was in fact a gay major professional athlete in America. Up to that point, nobody was able to come forward with those words. It took another three decades before they were ever uttered again.
In Andrew Maranissβ enlightening new book Singled Out β The True Story of Glenn Burke the reader is afforded a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary man whose story isnβt talked about nearly enough. Written in a straight forward manner that is designed to be enjoyed by both teens and adults, Maraniss not only teaches you about the incredible ups and downs that Burke went through as a person and as an athlete, but he also provides great context around what was happening in America during the 1970βs. Whatever preconceived notions you may have about what it was like to be gay in the Bay Area in the 70βs are sure to be challenged and altered upon finishing this thoroughly researched, entertaining and sometimes heartbreaking book.
The Bay Area reader will especially enjoy reading Singled Out, as the book gives you an all-access look into what it was like for Burke to grow up in Oakland and Berkeley in the 1960βs. Almost every chapter reminds you of a park you may have driven by, or venue you once saw a game at or a player from the Bay Area you havenβt heard from in a while. Maraniss laid the Bay Area nostalgia on thick, whether he meant to or not. Either way, itβs a joy to go back though the annals of Bay Area sports during that era when so many decorated athletes were in their formative years.
From the very first chapter of Singled Out, Maraniss wastes no time pulling at your heart strings, as he describes a heartbreaking non-fictional scene of a frail man found crying on a mattress, all alone, in a $10 Tenderloin hotel filled with homeless men and women struggling with drug addiction. Unfortunately, the man described is Glenn Burke, holding on to whatβs left of his life.
Fortunately, the book quickly reverts back to a more promising time of Burkeβs journey, growing up as a carefree boy on the streets of Oakland, blessed with an incredible set of athletic tools and personality that could light up any room. Bushrod Park in Oakland, around the way from Rockridge BART is where Burkeβs legendary athleticism first gained traction as he battled other neighborhood kids in basketball (his first love) as well as baseball. Even before Burke was six feet tall, he was dunking with ease.
As a high school student at Berkeley High, Burke spent many a weekend night sneaking into Calβs Harmon Gym to play midnight pickup games. The long hours on the court helped fuel a magical run for the Berkeley Yellow Jackets in 1970, when Burke led his team to a 32-0 record and a βTournament of Championsβ crown. Burke was named the Northern California player of the year. Even with baseball being his second sport, Burke still managed to dominate on the diamond as well, all the while cracking up the dugout with his signature Richard Pryor impersonations and constant imitations of anyone around him.
For college, the freewheeling Burke managed to attend five of them in total, including College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College. It was at Merritt that the Dodgers decided to sign Burke to a minor-league contract and send him to Ogden, Utah to start his professional baseball career.
After a long stint in the minors, Burke finally made his Big League debut at Candlestick Park in 1976, not far from the Castro District where Burke felt most comfortable. By that time, it was well known within the Dodgers organization that Burke was gay and the book does a wonderful job giving insight on how Burke was treated during those years playing for Tommy Lasorda (whose son is gay) and teammate Dusty Baker (who could not have been more supportive).
The book also goes into great depth about how Burke created the βhigh-fiveβ that is obviously ubiquitous around the world now. As if that wasnβt enough, the book also explains how Burke was the first MLB player to wear Nikeβs in a baseball game (he painted them Dodger Blue himself).
After being offered big cash sums by management to cover up his sexual orientation, Burke was eventually traded to the Oakland Aβs to play for owner Charlie Finley and fellow Berkeley High graduate and Aβs manager Billy Martin. How Burke was treated in Oakland during the late 70βs may surprise you, as Maraniss goes into detail about the harsh reception he received from Martin and even his own Aβs fans in the Coliseum bleachers.
After just two seasons in Oakland in 1978 and 1979, Burke was let go by the Aβs and his professional career was over at the age of 26. Sooner than expected, Burke was relegated to playing in San Franciscoβs Gay Softball League, something he loved promoting and a great place to dish out his signature high-five, but as the book does a great job of chronicling, Burke was left feeling empty after his career was cut short. Tragedy, in many forms, was barreling just around the corner, much too fast to stop.
Singled Out β The True Story of Glenn Burke is an important book for so many reasons. It gives an interesting perspective on Bay Area sports in the 1960βs and 70βs, it educates the reader on how individuals were really treated at the time and most importantly it sheds much deserved light on Glenn Burkeβs fearless journey through life.
Glenn Burke high-fiveβs teammate Dusty Baker at Dodger Stadium. Before then, handshakes were the norm.
Q & A with author Andrew Maraniss:
1. After reading this book, the reader learns a great deal about the "culture wars" of the 1970's. The book not only teaches you about Glenn Burke and his time playing Major League Baseball as a gay man, but the book also goes into detail about the struggle for gay rights in cities like Oakland and San Francisco. Was this your original intention? To write a book that goes into the general history of the struggle for gay rights?
Yes, with all my books I think it is important to place the character in the context of the place and times in which they operated. My first book, about the first Black basketball player in the SEC, deals a lot with the civil rights movement in the South during the 1960s. My second book, on the first US Olympic menβs basketball team, takes place in Nazi Germany in 1936, so the social and political context was incredibly important. With this biography of Glenn Burke, I wanted to show how his experience as a gay player in the Major Leagues was shaped by the attitudes, events, and people on both sides of the struggle for gay rights. Thereβs never been a baseball book that has done that before, so it was an opportunity to contribute to the baseball genre in a new way.
2. Glenn was faced with so much adversity during his short life. He not only had the stress of being a gay pro athlete, but his father also was not there for him at all, his sister was murdered, he was hit by a high-speed car and he was diagnosed with AIDS. Which of these events do you think were the toughest to overcome for Glenn, based on your interviews and research?
Well, the obvious answer is AIDS, since the disease killed him. But getting hit by the car was a very important turning point in Glennβs life. Prior to that accident, his identity had always been first and foremost as an athlete. He was a terrific high school basketball player and a good enough baseball player to make the Major Leagues and start in the World Series. Even after he was driven out of pro baseball by homophobic management of the Dodgers and Aβs, he continued to shine as an athlete on the gay softball circuit in San Francisco and during the first two Gay Games. But when his legs were broken in the accident, he lost his identity as an athlete and began to experiment with drugs more seriously as a way to ease the physical and emotional pain. This is when you see his life begin to spiral out of control.
3. In Chapter 10 you write "American psychiatrists had considered homosexuality a mental illness until 1973, and gay sex was still a criminal offense in most states." Is it crazy to you to think that's how it was in America so recently? It seems easy to forget how much Glenn had to deal with. Were there other laws that you encountered in your research for the book that were surprising to read in retrospect?
Itβs not crazy to me because we still see so much homophobia in our country today. Much has changed since then, but there is still a strong segment of conservative America that seeks to limit the rights of LGBTQ citizens by enacting outrageous, homophobic legislation. We just came out of a Trump administration that opposed LGBTQ rights at every turn. Where I live in Tennessee, the Republican legislature and Governor passed a law this year that gives parents the right to opt their children out of lessons dealing with LGBTQ issues or people. They also passed anti-transgender sports legislation and passed resolutions honoring homophobes Rush Limbaugh, Ben Shapiro, and Tomi Lahren. Given the level of anti-gay hate throughout American history, itβs not surprising to see examples of it in Glennβs day. Just as with overcoming racism and other forms of discrimination, it is a continual struggle to overcome; itβs never over.
4. The 1970βs seemed like such a βfree love anything goesβ time in America. After reading this book, you are reminded that it wasnβt quite that way. Did you have the same feeling?
We think of todayβs country as incredibly polarized, but we see a lot of that same polarization in the 1970s. While great strides were being made in the area of gay rights and womenβs rights, there was a strong backlash from people like Anita Bryant and other conservative evangelicals. This dichotomy was obvious to Glenn during his playing days. In the offseason he enjoyed living in the Castro in San Francisco, where he was a very popular figure and could live an open and free life without judgement. But during the baseball season, he found himself in one of the most homophobic environments there is, a professional sports locker room, constantly looking over his shoulder as he kept his secret. It was difficult to bounce back and forth between such freedom and such repression, especially when his livelihood depended on succeeding in the world that would not accept him.
5. Deep down, do you think Burke wanted to be a pioneer? Or just one of the guys? During his playing career he tried to keep his sexual identity quiet, but after his career ended, he spoke up about it. Do you think Burke wanted to talk about being gay during his playing days more than he did? He seemed very outgoing and excited to share who he was.
If society, and baseball in particular, had been more accepting of gay men, I think Glenn would not have attempted to hide it. As you say, he was an outgoing, fun-loving, funny, friendly guy β why would he want to hide an important part of his life? At one point as a minor leaguer, he introduces one of his teammates, an old friend from the Bay Area, to one of his boyfriends. So, you see an example of him testing the waters. And constantly having to make up excuses to avoid social situations with women was exhausting for Glenn. So, if he hadnβt had to worry that his sexuality would cost him his baseball career (which is what ended up happening in the end), I think he would have preferred to just live an honest and open life. But that was never going to happen, and he understood that. When some of his gay friends wanted him to come out of the closet during the 1977 World Series and at other points in his career, he resisted it, knowing it would cost him his career.
6. In Chapter 15, Burke mentions how when he was playing, he knew a lot of other gay major league players who "lived miserable lives" by covering up their sexuality and starting families with women. It seems like Burke was very brave to even continue to stay on his own during that time, with so much pressure to appear to be straight.
Yes, which is one of the reasons I admire his decision to turn down a bribe from Dodger general manager Al Campanis, who tried to pressure Glenn to get married after the 1977 season. Burke said he wasnβt going to do that, even when Campanis offered him a sizable amount of money for βa nice honeymoon.β Standing up for himself in that way cost Burke his career. The Dodgers didnβt want word to get out that they had a gay player, so they traded him to the Aβs. Billy Martin said he wasnβt going to let Glenn βcontaminateβ his team. Glenn was a proud man, and he wasnβt going to let the hate of others dictate the way he lived his life.
7. Overall, how well do you think Tommy Lasorda treated Burke? How did Tommy feel about having a gay son?
As he was coming up in the Dodger minor league system, Burke was highly regarded by Dodger management, including Lasorda. And when Burke first came up with the Dodgers, Lasorda seemed to like his sense of humor and the way he could hit left-handed pitching. But as you mention, Lasordaβs son, Tommy Jr., was gay. That was something Lasorda Sr. would never publicly acknowledge, and he resented Burkeβs friendship with his son. That led directly to Campanisβ βmarriage proposalβ and the trade to Oakland. And then Billy Martin arguably treated Burke worse, never even giving him a chance to play in the Majors.
8. In Chapter 20 you go into depth about Aβs owner Charlie Finley. He seems like a very complex man, would you agree? On the one hand we was so open to trying new things, having fun, and being unique. On the other hand, he was very cheap and conservative and tied to traditional values. Did you find this to be true?
Yes, indeed. He had a lot of ideas that were considered crazy at the time by baseball traditionalists that have now become an accepted and ordinary part of the game. He had a knack for identifying young talent, both on and off the field. But as you said, he was notoriously cheap and drove his staff crazy. He is certainly one of the most interesting characters in baseball history. We donβt really see these kinds of colorful characters in baseball anymore, for better and worse.
9. The Aβs won back-to-back-to-back titles in 72, 73, and 74, why do you think Finley was so cheap and the Aβs were so bad and attendance was so low just a couple years later? Werenβt the Aβs essentially a powerhouse in the 70βs?
It is interesting to see how quickly the Aβs went from being the most dominant team in the Major Leagues to a laughingstock. The arrival of free agency had a lot to do with that. Finley just wasnβt going to pay a lot to keep his stars, and at the time Burke was with the Aβs, he was trying to sell the team. It was assumed by many that they would be sold and move to Denver. At that point, he went from being an incredibly meddling figure (calling his managers at all hours, calling the clubhouse before games to demand certain uniform combinations) to an absentee owner who never came to see the team play. When Billy North was traded to the Dodgers for Burke, North had represented the last link to those successful teams of the early 70s. But even during those dark days of the late 70s, the Aβs were assembling some great young talent that Billy Martin inherited when he arrived in 1980.
10. What is the most interesting thing you learned about when researching βDisco Demolition Nightβ in Chicago? Overall, how significant do you think that night was for sports and gay rights?
Well, Disco Demolition Night wasnβt literally seen as a significant night for gay rights at the time, but what I try to do in the book is to show how an event like Disco Demolition fit into the larger cultural backlash. Disco and gay rights went hand-in-hand in the β70s, so the backlash to disco was intertwined with the cultural forces that resisted the gay rights movement. The people shouting βdisco sucksβ in many cases were the same kinds of people who resisted strides being made by women, African Americans, Latinos and gays and lesbians. Glenn was driven from the game right around the same time as Disco Demolition Night, so it made for an interesting way to talk about that in a larger social context. The promotion itself and the craziness on the field with smoke, explosions and flying discs is another one of those things that would never happen today.
11. How surprising was it for you to hear how manager Billy Martin treated Burke, considering their shared Berkeley High background and the βSwinging Aβsβ eccentric team mentality?
When I think of Billy Martin, I picture him arguing with umpires on the field, screaming at Reggie Jackson in the dugout, or getting fired by George Steinbrenner. Combative. A fighter. Controversial. (I admit that maybe thatβs not an entirely fair portrayal of him, because he certainly was a successful manager.) So, to hear that he treated Glenn Burke poorly was not really a surprise to me. But it was a surprise to Glenn. He thought that because they shared the Berkeley High connection and because of their scrappy personalities that they might click. But Martin made it clear from the outset that he was a homophobe, and that Burke had no place on his team.
12. It sounds like Burke was diagnosed with AIDS right after being hit by a car. Was this also the same period of time that Magic Johnson came out as HIV positive? How do you feel about how much positive praise Johnson received for his courage around HIV while gay men who tested positive were harshly stigmatized?
Yes, in the book I write about the difference in the way Magic was treated with empathy versus the way so many gay men with HIV/AIDS were treated with scorn. At one level, the hypocrisy was obvious. But at another level, Magicβs disclosure was an important turning point in the country. When it was more obvious that anyone could get the disease, not just gay men who βdeserved it,β as many Americans claimed at the time, many people began to take the disease more seriously. More people got tested, more people understood how HIV was transmitted, more resources were eventually devoted to treatments.
13. Were you surprised how long it took for the NBA and NFL to have openly gay players? Burke came out in 1982 and it wasn't until 2013 that Jason Collins came out in the NBA and 2014 that Michael Sam came out in the NFL as a practice squad player.
Well, in terms of former players who came out (like Glenn, who came out after he was retired), NFL player Dave Kopay came out in 1975 and NBA player John Amaechi came out in 2007. Whatβs more surprising to me is that there havenβt been more gay male athletes to come out since Collins and Sam. On his deathbed, Glenn said that he hoped his experience would make it easier for gay baseball players in the future. Only Billy Bean has come out since Glenn, and that was after Billy had retired from the Major Leagues. When more active players start to come out, it will be incredibly powerful, both for young gay kids who will see visible examples that they are not alone, and that anything is possible, and also for those straight fans who may need to be reminded that LGBTQ people are succeeding in every area of life, whether they know it or not. But with the continued levels of homophobia in sports and in some segments of society, itβs hard to be too surprised that more gay male athletes have not come out. I imagine that an active, gay Major Leaguer would at once become one of the most popular players in the game, probably leading the league in jersey sales, and at the same time would face resistance from some teammates, many fans, and a ton of hate on social media. Plus, there would be increased pressure to perform, both to satisfy supporters and to prove doubters wrong. Thatβs a lot to deal with.
14. It was great to learn more about Glenn Burke in your book, but he doesnβt seem to be talked about enough, considering the pioneer he was. Do you think his notoriety will grow in the future as more people learn of his story?
I sure hope so. Heβs an important figure in sports history. Itβs great that the Oakland Aβs are honoring Glenn by renaming their annual Pride Night after him. Thatβs a great first step. But I also think itβs important to tell the full story, and to understand that he wasnβt always a popular player in the organization. Same with the Dodgers. These teams are in positions to acknowledge the mistakes they made in the past and to lead important conversations about how gay players and fans experience baseball today. Thatβs what would truly be transformative, and it would have a much bigger impact beyond baseball. MLB and these teams should tell the truth, learn from it, and use their platforms to share that knowledge with others.
Burke living out his final days in the Bay Area
(Get a copy of Singled Out β The True Story of Glenn Burke Here)
Memorial Day Weekend brings us eight NBA Playoff series to enjoy, here's a preview
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Elsa/USA Today Sports, via Reuters
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
With the manufactured drama of the NBAβs first play-in tournament now behind us, the βrealβ playoffs have begun in full and are slated to hit high gear over Memorial Day weekend. Starting with three games on Friday night, NBA fans will get a full helping of hoops all weekend, complete with raucous fans in the stands and high intensity drama on the court. Of course, what better way to add stakes to your viewing pleasure than by sprinkling on some of your own cheddar. With that in mind, we preview all eight series below, as they hit their half-way marks. (All lines provided by SportsBettingDime.com)
Knicks at Hawks (series tied 1-1)
Atlanta heads back home after a emotional loss to the Knicks at MSG. The Hawks will be favored by 5 points in Game 3 and Trae Young figures to continue with his hot hand after scoring 30 in Game 2 in front of a very hostile crowd in NYC. Section925βs pick: Atlanta -5.
Nets at Celtics (Nets lead 2-0 in series)
Brooklyn and their star studded Big 3 are the odds on favorite to win the 2021 Finals, so you have to like them here as well. Despite being at home, Boston has been reeling for a while now. Brooklyn is favored by 8.5 in this one, but their extensive firepower should blow the Celtics out of the water. Section 925βs pick: Brooklyn -8.5.
Clippers at Mavericks (Clippers lead series 2-0)
The Clippers are favored by 2.5 in this one, despite dropping the first two games of the series to Luka Doncic and the Mavs. Luka has been magical through the first two games, including a 39-point performance in Game 2. You have to like the red-hot Mavs getting points at home in Game 3. Section925βs pick: Dallas +2.5.
Bucks at Heat (Bucks lead series 3-0)
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee look to complete a 4-game sweep of the defending Eastern Conference champions on Saturday. However, Jimmy Butler might have something to say about that on his home turf in Miami as a 4.5 point underdog. Section925βs pick: Miami +4.5.
Nuggets at Blazers (Nuggets lead series 2-1)
Potential MVP Nikola Jokic has proven too much for Damian Lillard and the Blazers thus far, despite Lillardβs customary big playoff performance in Game 3 (he had 37). Keep in mind that the Blazers are at home in Portland for this Game 4 tilt, and the 3.5 point underdog Nuggets are still without Jamal Murray. Section925βs pick: Portland -3.5.
76ers at Wizards (76ers lead series 2-0)
Despite the unwavering effort of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, Joel Embiid has been too dominant for Washington to handle as of late. That could change in Game 3, however, with Westbrook playing in front of his own crowd with something to prove as a 5.5 point underdog. Section925βs pick: Washington +5.5.
Jazz at Grizzlies (series tied 1-1)
#1 seed Utah has had to fight and claw to hold off Ja Morant and Memphis for the first two games. Game 1 went to the Grizz and the Game 2 went the way of the Jazz. Now the series moves back to Memphis where Ja Morant looks to stay red-hot (he erupted for 47 in Game 2). Utah will be favored by 5 in this one. Section925βs pick: Memphis +5.
Lakers at Suns (Lakers lead series 2-1)
Anthony Davis has been just too much for the Suns after three games. All the while, LeBron has been doing LeBron things and Devin Booker has started to show his frustration. Despite being on the road, the Lakers are favored by 6.5 in this one. Section925βs pick: Phoenix +6.5.
βFrom Seaside to The Hilltopβ - Jamaree Bouyeaβs steady rise to stardom at the University of San Francisco
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Bouyea is leading the Dons in both points (17.2) and assists (3.8) in his fourth year at USF. (Photo by Connor Buestad - Section925)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
University of San Franciscoβs Todd Golden couldnβt contain himself, and he didnβt care much to hide it. The 35-year-old had just secured his signature win as a college head coach, in just his second year at the helm of a Division 1 program. He had beaten defending national champion Virginia and ACC royalty Tony Bennett, at a neutral site, in front of a national ESPN audience. College baskekball fans were nursing a collective 2020 Thanksgiving hangover and thirsty for a feel-good moment.
After conducting a calm and clichΓ©d zoom call with media members discussing the biggest upset of the young college hoops season, Golden busted through the door of the Donsβ locker room, skyed for a mid-air first pump/leg kick and barreled into his players, setting off an onslaught of chest bumps, bear hugs and roars of raw jubilation. One of the few players not filming the celebration on their iPhone quickly found a bucket of water to douse their coach with. By nightβs end, the scene had gone viral, airing on loop during that nightβs episodes of SportsCenter.
The only person that somehow kept this cool in that crazed USF locker room after beating UVA that day was senior point guard Jamaree Bouyea. His #1 jersey already removed, with a towel around his neck and his trusted Kobeβs on his feet, Bouyea was seemingly in a zen state the entire time, seated with two feet flat on the floor in the corner of the room. His head bowed and his face grinning with contentment, Bouyea couldnβt help but sit and contemplate the long road that got him to that moment and wonder quietly what was about to come next.
βTo tell you the truth I wasnβt too surprised when I saw all that,β explains Bouyeaβs notoriously supportive mom, Janine. βItβs been that way since he was little. Heβs always been focused on whatβs next in life, and how heβs going to get there. Thatβs just kind of been his style.β
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After starting a total of 11 games in his first two seasons at USF, Bouyea is now leading the Dons in minutes played for the second straight year. (Photo courtesy of USF Dons Athletics - Christina Leung)
Itβs no exaggeration to say that nothing has been given to Bouyea over the course of his basketball journey, only earned. In his most recent trip to play at top ranked Gonzaga inside an empty Kennel in Spokane, the announcing crew wondered aloud how and why Bouyea only received one D1 scholarship offer out of Palma High School in Salinas, as he dropped 16 first-half points against heralded freshman Jalen Suggs, a consensus NBA lottery pick for 2021. The suspicions grew with every buttery pull-up three pointer, every calculated slice through the lane, every thoughtful set-up pass to an unsuspecting teammate for an easy bucket. βHow do you pass up on such a complete player like this?β they kept asking.
To his credit, Jason Hieb knew all along that βJamaree was just special.β When you talk to Hieb, the head of Seasideβs Finest AAU basketball program on the Monterey Peninsula, he uses the term special when describing Bouyea at an alarming rate. The word is used constantly when he tries to describe the quiet kid from Seaside that put his basketball program on the map for good. Other adjectives pop up during the course of conversation, yes. But eventually, Hieb will give up and say βI donβt know what to tell you man, the kid is just special. Thatβs the best way I can describe it.β
Jamaree was just 3-years-old when he first met Hieb inside Seaside High Schoolβs gym. Hieb was busy coaching Jamareeβs older brother Jonquis, who was the star guard on Hiebβs under-8 Seaside team, alongside Hiebβs own son Kyle of the same age. As Hieb tried and failed to convince a group of 7-year-olds to pass and screen away on offense and maybe come to a two-foot jump stop once in a while, he couldnβt help but notice the toddler on the sideline, laser focused on what was happening on the court out in front of him. βHe would just watch, man. Watch for hours. One of the most focused and observant kids Iβve seen walk into my gym. Eventually we gave him a ball to bounce around on the sideline, but even after that he would spend a lot of time watching the older kids, just learning on his own. For a kid that young, it was kinda special, to be honest.β
Growing up in a household that included his father Stan, eldest brother Keevin and his middle brother Jonquis, Jamaree developed a passion for sports at a very young age. Whether it be baseball, soccer, or basketball; you name it, if it was happening, Jamaree was desperate to be involved and emulate his older brothers. βI remember I had this old beat up truck at the time,β explains Hieb. βThere was really no room for Jamaree, but he insisted that we let him lay down on the floor of the truck if I was ever driving to a game. He could care less if there was a seat for him. He was just always around, no matter what.β
By the time Jamaree was in middle school, basketball became his main focus, as his dream to play college basketball began to crystalize. His entire weekends were spent solely at the Monterey Sports Center, where his mom bought him a membership. βI never really saw him on the weekends during those years, he was just always there playing basketball with his friends,β says Janine.
When he wasnβt at the Sports Center, Jamaree was with Coach Jason at an AAU tournament somewhere across the western United States. Jonquis, who later played at Cal State Monterey Bay, had helped pave the way and set the tone for the Seasideβs Finest program, but Jamaree was waiting in the wings to take it to a whole new level. βJamaree was always a bit shy, always kind of a nice kid who didnβt want to step on anyoneβs toes in my program. For instance, he didnβt necessarily want to play up in age group, he was always willing to wait his turn, wait for his time to shine,β says Hieb. Eventually, that time arrived.
Traditionally relegated to the back courts of the prestigious AAU tournaments of L.A., Georgia and Las Vegas, with Bouyea as his point guard and the requisite clout under his belt as a coach, Hieb started to demand prime time slots for his Seasideβs Finest team. It was time to play the best players from around the country, in front of the big time coaches, no matter the results. βI got us in these games we might have had no business being in. Jamaree would be getting pressed by some of the best teams in the county and he would just look at me sweating it out and say βI got you coachβ and just take care of it. He always had a way of taking control of a chaotic situation in a cool manner,β remembers Hieb.
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Like his older brother Jonquis, Jamaree spent countless hours playing for his local AAU team, Seasideβs Finest. (Photo courtesy of Seasideβs Finest)
Despite years under his belt putting Seasideβs Finest on the map at the time and Hiebβs role as JV coach at Seaside High School, when it came time to pick a high school to attend, the choice was solely Jamareeβs. After much deliberation, Bouyea chose to be the first member of his family to attend Palma High School, a private school in Salinas, known in the county for its athletic excellence and its varsity basketball coach at the time, Paul Alioto. βIt was really tough to leave all my middle school friends and go to Palma, but I knew this was my best shot to make college basketball happen for myself, so I took the opportunity and tried to make the most of it,β said Bouyea.
After arriving on campus as a freshman, Bouyea was still largely undersized and still in dire need of a serious growth spurt if his dreams of D1 basketball had any hope of working out. After tryouts, Jamaree was relegated to the freshman team, deemed not even good enough for a 6th man role on the JVβs. Moreover, the freshman team implemented an βeveryone playsβ type rotation where Jamareeβs starting group had just five minutes on the court before the next substitution cycle. The slice of humble pie was larger than Jamaree could have expected.
Still, his calm and poised demeanor prevailed and Bouyea sought out every opportunity to prove himself and capitalized on it. During a holiday tournament as a freshman, his coach half-jokingly guaranteed the team a free meal at Fosterβs Freeze if the team won the championship. Jamaree went ahead and won it. By January of his freshman year, he was finally bumped up to JV and his new team never lost a game for the rest of the season. Still, the year ended on a bittersweet note, as coach Alioto announced he was leaving the school at the end of the year.
Alioto was replaced by Kelley Lopez and the Bouyea family welcomed him with open arms. In his first three years with the program, Lopez and Bouyea teamed up to go 76-16, never losing a league game in three years, twice making the NorCal Finals and once making the State Championship game at Arco Arena in Sacramento as a junior, only to fall short to Dukeβs Cassius Stanley of Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles.
Even while compiling one of the greatest high school basketball careers in Palma HS history and starring for Seasideβs Finest formidable AAU program, the D1 offers didnβt exactly start pouring in for Bouyea as he put together league MVP seasons and runs to the state title game in the capital. In fact, not one offer came in. βTo be honest, I canβt tell you exactly why,β says Bouyea, days after his 18-point performance at Gonzaga. βWhen I would go to summer camps at places like Stanford and UOP, I would just kind of play my role on the team. Everyone would tell me to try to take over more and score as much as possible, but that just wasnβt my style as a point guard.β
By the time Bouyeaβs senior year of school rolled around, Hieb started to wonder if it was too late to be thinking D1 any longer. βThereβs a certain point where you just need to go where you are wanted. You canβt wait forever,β he explained.
It was the eleventh hour of the recruiting process when the USF coach at the time, Kyle Smith, invited Jamaree to the Hilltop to take an official recruiting visit. Smith had coached Palma graduate E.J. Rowland during his days as an assistant at Saint Maryβs College and figured Bouyea could be built from the same mold, so he took a flyer on a player so many others didnβt even bother to look at. Less than a week later, Jamaree interrupted one of his pickup games at the Monterey Sports Center to take a cell phone call from a number he had recently saved in his phone. It was Coach Smith, offering Jamaree his only D1 scholarship. The answer was an immediate βYES,β followed by a call to his parents, then finally a return to his pickup game with his friends to finish what he had started.
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In three varsity years at Palma High School in Salinas, Bouyea never lost a league game. (photo by Ted Walker - MaxPeps.com)
Much like in high school, Bouyea arrived as a freshman on campus in San Francisco ready to play for an accomplished coach, with hopes of being an impact player, catapulting him to a new level of basketball. But just as was the case at Palma, Bouyea found himself at the fork of a longer road than he had imagined. While the elite freshmen of his class around the country were starting right away, getting almost all the shots they wanted and counting down the days to NBA pre-draft workouts, Bouyea was relegated to the bench on a middle-of-the-pack WCC team. He only averaged 2 points and 13 minutes played per game, stuck behind his freshman roommate Souley Boum from Oakland Tech HS as well as star junior PG Frankie Ferrari. By the end of the year the Dons were 9-9 in league play and Boum had decided to transfer out of USF. His best friend on campus was gone.
After a sophomore year in which Bouyea mustered just 6 points per game as a backup, the one major college basketball coach who gave him a scholarship offer was headed out the door as well, headed for a job in the Pac-12. Still, Bouyea never thought about leaving himself. βUSF was the first school to believe in me and I knew if I kept improving every year I could become a starter here. I knew Coach Golden would run a similar program to Coach Smith. It didnβt make much sense to me to start over somewhere else where the coaches didnβt know me,β said Bouyea.
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Bouyeaβs assist/turnover ratio as a senior is 1.5, while Gonzagaβs Jalen Suggs has a 1.6. (photo courtesy of USF Dons Athletics - Christina Leung)
Now in his senior year as a Don, Bouyea is the face of a program that is on the rise, in a conference that has never been better, averaging a team-high 17 points a game. Sadly, players like him in college basketball are nearly extinct. As much as Bill Walton, Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas would hate to admit it, the 4-year senior who stays at the same school, getting better every year and improving himself into an all-league player is no longer the rule, but rather the exception. And with a new ruling stemming from Covid-19, Bouyea even has a free fifth year of eligibility on the table at USF waiting for him if he wants it. In so many ways, heβs the last of a dying breed of basketball players: one AAU program, one high school, one college, all for four (maybe five) years.
You wonβt find Bouyea on any NBA mock-draft boards, but you didnβt see Matthew Dellavedova or Patty Mills on many draft boards either and theyβve each cut out long NBA careers for themselves after shaping their skills in WCC gyms such as War Memorial in SF. Even the prospect of playing overseas is something few thought possible for Bouyea when he struggled to get a sniff from college coaches coming up through the ranks. His most valuable skill might be finding out whatβs next and figuring out how heβs going to get there.
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USF has been to three Final Fourβs, but itβs been 23 years since the Dons last went dancing. (photo courtesy of USF Dons Athletics - Christina Leung)
Despite 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament and two National Championship titles in the 1950βs led by K.C. Jones and Bill Russell, San Francisco hasnβt been to the Big Dance since 1998. They find themselves in a precarious position. In a league that is rarely granted more than two tournament bids, Gonzaga and their current #1 national ranking always takes one bid, leaving BYU, Saint Maryβs and the rest to scramble for seconds. For the fourth straight year, Bouyea finds himself on a team trying to keep tournament hopes alive in a league filled with elite recruits from both stateside and around the world. Despite the odds, Bouyeaβs trusted youth coach still believes he can somehow sneak the Dons back into a March Madness bracket before his time on The Hilltop is complete.
βIt obviously would be really special for our program if we could get back into the tournament after all these years,β says Bouyea as he discusses the ups and downs of his basketball career. βI remember being driven to the Sacramento Kings arena when I was in 8th grade I think. There werenβt too many people in the stands, but Mater Dei was playing for the state title with Stanley Johnson. It was an awesome atmosphere. I remember Coach Jason (Hieb) gave me some popcorn to share and I just sat there staring at the game, watching Stanley, hoping one day Iβd play in games like that. I ended up eating the entire thing of popcorn by myself,β he explains with a smile. βYeah,β he continues. βI definitely still owe Jason a whole bucket of popcorn to this day.β
Bouyea skies for a dunk in recent game at War Memorial Gym in San Francisco. (photo courtesy of USF Dons Athletics - Christina Leung)
E-mail section925: connor@section925.com
San Jose State's wild season will conclude on NYE 2020 with Nick Starkel behind the wheel
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SJSU QB Nick Starkel will be a sixth-year-senior in 2021. (photo by Neville E. Guard)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
San Jose State football might be the most 2020 team ever.
With their shortened season not starting until October 24th, the Spartans werenβt allowed to practice on or around their campus due to Coronavirus, so they set up shop in Humboldt County for their training camp. The Humboldt prep paid off immediately as the Spartans began the year with a win over Air Force and never looked back. Playing in a talented Mountain West Conference that theyβve never won, SJSU went 7-0 on the year with notable wins over Hawaii, Nevada and Boise State. Their last two βhomeβ games on their schedule were played in Honolulu and Las Vegas, as they continued to follow state and local pandemic guidelines.
For their Arizona Bowl matchup with Ball State, however, San Jose State has decided to politely ignore Santa Clara Countyβs ten day quarantine policy and fly to Tucson in time for their New Yearβs Eve matchup. The Spartans won the Mountain West Championship game on December 19th in Vegas and could have stayed in Nevada, but they elected to come back home to San Jose so the players could see their families for Christmas. Less than ten days later, they were back in a plane headed to Arizona. County Executive Dr. Jeff Smith told the Mercury News, βWe canβt stop them.β
After finishing 1-11 in 2018 under current head coach Brent Brennan, the born again Spartans will be looking to complete their first undefeated season since 1939 on Thursday. They will be led by journeyman quarterback Nick Starkel, who has been in college for five years already and is completing his fourth year on the field. Somehow, he will be back yet again next year, as the NCAA has granted all 2020 players an extra year of eligibility. Anytime you can go to college for six years and play QB the whole time, you have to do it, right?
College Football might be tired of me, but Iβm not tired of College Football! pic.twitter.com/aNlvspqTk8
— Nicholas Starkel (@NickStarkel) December 29, 2020
Growing up in a military household, Starkel moved around a bunch as a kid until finally settling in to Texas life during his high school years where he made a name for himself as a big time recruit with heavy interest from SEC schools. But once Starkel reached his first college campus, he adopted his fatherβs transient ways quite quickly. After completing 138 passes over the course of two years playing for Texas A&M, Starkel found himself with a new coach and a new role as backup QB, so he wasted no time moving on to find a home as a starter. That led him to Fayetteville to play for the Hogs of Arkansas where he played eight games and experienced a nightmare season. Arkansas finished 2-10 in 2019, which included a home loss to San Jose State no less. Starkel threw more interceptions than he did touchdown passes, but Coach Brennan still saw some potential in him. If he ever got tired of the SEC, the MWC was always waiting.
Starkel took Brennan up on his offer and pulled the trigger on his third college in as many years and it couldnβt have turned out any better. While running an offense heβs only known for a few months, Starkel has reeled off 16 touchdowns in this shortened seasoned while throwing just four interceptions. Even with a prototypical NFL frame of 6β3β, 215 and a big arm to match, Starkel apparently canβt resist the chance to spend one more year on campus. Picture it now, the year is 2021, the Pandemic is in the rear view and College Gameday is set up under a palm tree on the SJSU campus. Indoor dining is legal and encouraged. Second year Senior Nick Starkel is being interviewed by Kirk Herbstreit on national television. Surely, stranger things have happened.
The Van Wilder comparison is uncanny. (Photo by Joe Scarnici)
(Photos) Cal upsets Oregon for their first win of 2020
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(Photos by Section925βs Connor Buestad)
