Sports

49ers embarrass Raiders in final Battle of the Bay matchup

Published

7 years ago

November 1, 2018

Photo by 49ers
Santa Clara, CA – In the final Battle of the Bay, the 49ers showed no mercy for the struggling Raiders. In their last season in Oakland and under new head coach Jon Gruden, this Raiders team might be the worst in franchise history.
Tonight San Francisco demolished Oakland 34-3. The last time these two teams met was December 7, 2014 and the Raiders won 24-13. Nick Mullens was named the starting quarterback after C.J. Beathard was listed questionable due to an injury. And in Beathard’s absence Mullens was spectacular.
“We’ve just been keeping our secret weapon ready to go,” said Kyle Shanahan. “He did an awesome job today. The guys played real well around him. There’s a lot on his plate coming in and being his first time in a real NFL game, non-preseason, started off real well, was very poised. Got the guys in and out of the huddle and did a helluva job.”
Mullens was almost perfect in leading the 49ers to their second win of the season. He earned his first start and his first win despite, both teams coming into tonight’s game with the worst record in the NFL. Somebody had to lose but no one expect a one-sided game.
Derek Carr was almost perfect on opening drive, three plays took the Raiders offense to the red zone but San Francisco’s defense made the necessary stops to force Daniel Carlson’s 37-yard field goal to make it a 3-0 game. Mullens quickly responded with an impressive start leading the 49ers to his first touchdown on opening drive. Mullens 24-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon made it a 7-3 game.
Mullens and his offense began the second quarter with the ball and inches from the goal line. His 4-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne in the end zone extended San Francisco’s lead to 14-3. In the first two quarters, Mullens went 12-for-17 for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was a four-round fight,” Mullen said on the teams focus tonight. “The whole week we talked about finishing, finding a way to finish. You know, tonight, we did. It’s a four-round fight. Even in the fourth quarter, foot on the gas. It was the last round of the fight. Let’s finish this thing. So, that was kind of the emphasis for us tonight.”
Meanwhile Carr was sacked four times in the first half. Unable to move his offense except in the first series. Oakland didn’t look like a professional NFL team at all. Nothing went right on offense or defense and it makes you wonder if Jon Gruden was a worth the 100 million dollar investment. With .52 seconds left in the quarter, Mullens found Richie James Jr. for 53 yards and the first down. That setup Robbie Gould’s 39-yard field goal to end the half up 17-3.
“He’s a guy who’s athletic and he can throw the ball,” said Jon Gruden. “He had a couple of wide-open receivers early and inexcusable errors by us. But, when you can run the ball like the 49ers ran it tonight, it makes playing quarterback a whole lot easier.”
By the start of the third quarter, the 49ers picked up right where they left off. Mullens connected with George Kittle for a 4-yard touchdown extending their lead 24-3. On the next drive, with no huddle Mullens found Kittle again for a 17-yard touchdown to completely dominate this game and extend their lead 31-3.

Mullens tied a franchise record for touchdown passes (3) in their first start with team. He’s the first to do it since Tim Rattey recorded three touchdown passes vs St. Louis 11/2/03. Mullens averaged 11.9 yds. per attempts, the highest average yards by a 49ers QB in a single-game since 10/18/15 vs Baltimore (QB Colin Kaepernick – 12.9 yes per att.).
Gruden replaced Carr with backup AJ McCarron to finish the game. Carr has had no help vs the pass rush and despite what Gruden and the organization has said not signing Khalil Mack was the biggest mistake Oakland made this season. The Raiders offensive line gave up eight sacks. Carr was sacked 7 times and McCarron once.
Oakland season doesn’t look to get any better but the 49ers have hope. Both teams suffered numerous injuries however, San Francisco kept a secret weapon in Mullens who will more than likely finish the season as the starting quarterback.
“We just eliminated turnovers and penalties and just playing better football,” Matt Breida said. “We emphasized this week that everyone do their own job. Just do your job and things will get done. I believe that is what we did tonight.”

Malaika Bobino

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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

3 days 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.

Oakland Post

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

3 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.

Oakland Post

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Activism

OPINION: Politics, Football and Identity in Trump’s America

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

Published

3 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Emil Guillermo

Two Filipino American stories made headlines recently.

First, Nikko Remigio, the Filipino and African American kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, did not win Super Bowl LIX.

The other, Alameda’s Rob Bonta said no to running for governor. I don’t blame him. It’s not like a mass of people wanted him to run.

But I did.

Whenever there is a Filipino American in a place you don’t expect, I’m rooting for that person.

As California’s Attorney General, Bonta is probably the most active defender among Blue States pushing back against Trump’s Extreme-Right agenda.

I’d like to Bonta run for California’s top job, but he’s better off waiting in line. The Democrats need a spot for Kamala Harris, and Bonta not running obliges the hierarchy.

History can wait. Bonta’s just 52.

Harris has held off speculation of her next move, saying she just moved back to the state. But it seems governor is the path for her.

For now, Bonta needs to continue taking the fight to Trump in the courts.

Football and Identity Politics

My dad, whose birthday would have been Super Bowl weekend, came to the US in 1928 as a colonized Filipino, an “American National,” where he couldn’t be a citizen, vote, own property or even marry the person he wanted.

Not if they were White.

Still, he believed in America. He never gave up.

Sort of like Nikko Remigio.

My dad would have loved Nikko.

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

You want to get passionate about Eagles and Chiefs?

Let’s be passionate about our Founding Fathers, too.

Nikko didn’t change the game. He touched it three times and provided more yards than all of KC’s running backs.

That’s all I needed to see.

He’s our Filipino guy.

Detractors may call it “identity politics.”

People don’t seem to understand the fight for visibility. To be recognized. To be seen. It’s all wrapped up in the big idea of Civil Rights.

I was nowhere near as good as Nikko when I played. But when you are blessed to play football, you play your hardest.

For me, that was when I was 12 and 13 playing Pop Warner football in San Francisco. I was MVP for my team as a running back.

But I was ashamed of my dad. He wasn’t like the other dads. And I remember going to the team banquet to retrieve my trophy alone.

I didn’t realize it probably meant more to him than I thought.

I wish I had shared my MVP moment with him like Nikko shared his joy with his dad, Mark, born in Seattle to two Filipino immigrants, and his mom, whose mixture of Black and White made Nikko the picture of diversity.

Filipino American and Black and White at the Super Bowl.

But don’t forget, there is one game bigger.

The Super Bowl for Democracy. We’re battling for it every day Trump pushes a cockamamie idea that shakes the foundation of our Democracy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. Watch his micro-talk show “Emil Amok’s Takeout/What Does an Asian American Think?” on www.YouTube.com/emilamok1 Or join him on http://www.patreon.com/emilamok