Sports

Hometown Eager to Celebrate Super Bowl Hero Malcolm Butler

Published

10 years ago

February 20, 2015

The sign for the city of Vicksburg, Miss., visitor’s center shares space with a newer sign touting Super Bowl hero and New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler as a hometown hero, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. The city is holding a parade in Butler’s honor on Saturday, Feb. 21. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

DAVID BRANDT, AP Sports Writer

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) — The day before the Super Bowl that would change Malcolm Butler’s life, he posted a picture of the Vicksburg city seal on his Facebook page, thanking family and friends for supporting him during his journey to football’s biggest stage.

It was clear Butler loves his hometown.

Now Vicksburg — a town of about 25,000 people perched above the Mississippi River — gets a chance to love him back.

“His story is phenomenal,” said Mayor George Flaggs Jr. “Just like the play he made in the Super Bowl.”

The reason for Butler’s instant fame is now well known: In the final seconds, the undrafted rookie defensive back intercepted Russell Wilson’s pass at the goal line to seal the Super Bowl victory for the New England Patriots over the Seattle Seahawks.

Since then he’s appeared on the “Today Show” and “Tonight Show” and even “intercepted” an envelope at the Grammy Awards.

Now, he’ll be honored in a setting that’s a little more familiar.

Vicksburg has declared this “Malcolm Butler Week” and will have a parade in his honor on Saturday. It’ll be another hard-to-fathom moment for the 24-year-old, who said his life has gone from “zero to 100” in the past three weeks.

“It took me a couple days to realize what I did,” Butler said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “I’m enjoying it and embracing it. I know (the fame is) not going to last forever, but that play will be remembered forever.”

Butler said he was back in Vicksburg for a few days earlier this week, spending time with family and close friends. He said he’s trying to keep a low profile because public appearances cause a commotion.

That won’t be possible on Saturday.

Butler’s high school football coach Alonzo Stevens said part of the player’s popularity comes from his unlikely rise to fame. The people in the town can relate to him and his imperfect past.

Stevens said Butler showed promise during his freshman season at Vicksburg High, but he missed the next two because of academic problems.

“What I loved him about him more than anything is when he messed up on the football field or in life, he owned up to it,” Stevens said. “He never passed the buck. He’s a hard worker and a fairy-tale story.”

The coach admits Butler was off his radar by his senior season until a surprise turnaround.

“He told me he had his grades right and he wanted to play football again,” Stevens said. “I figured, ‘Well, he could hold the practice dummies or play special teams.'”

It wasn’t the last time Butler would be underestimated.

He quickly became one of the stars for Vicksburg, but his success came so late that colleges barely knew he existed. He ended up at Hinds Community College, just outside of Jackson, where he played as a freshman before he said he was kicked off the team following a scuffle with a campus security guard.

Then it was back to Vicksburg, where Butler worked part time at the fast-food restaurant Popeyes to earn some extra money while he took classes at nearby Alcorn State University. Eventually, he earned his way back onto the Hinds football team and then played two seasons at West Alabama, a NCAA Division II school.

“As I look back now, I kind of enjoyed the getting back on track,” Butler said. “I had a lot of doubters.”

Not anymore. Vicksburg’s principal Deowarski McDonald, who was a teacher and assistant principal when Butler attended, said the story can inspire. On Wednesday afternoon, a handful of students were working on building a giant football that would be part of a float during the parade.

“What you see is what you get with Malcolm,” McDonald said. “He’s very humble, very respectful, mild-mannered and considerate. That’s why I think people are so interested in knowing more about him.”

McDonald said Butler had an interest in his hometown school long before he became a Super Bowl hero. During the Patriots’ bye week, Butler returned to talk to the football team and offer a few words of encouragement.

Flaggs said it’s one of the many reasons Butler will be presented with a key to the city.

“How many people can say I want to be an NFL player while wearing a Popeyes uniform, and then actually become the Super Bowl hero?” Flaggs said. “That’s phenomenal. That won’t happen again in our lifetime.”

_____

Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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

1 month 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.

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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

4 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.

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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

4 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