Sports

Jason Kidd, Keena Turner Inducted into the BASHOF

Published

7 years ago

May 2, 2019

San Francisco – The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF) introduced their 2019 enshrinement class. Hall of Famer, Jason Kidd, Keena Turner, VP of Football Affairs for the 49ers, Hall of Famer, Tara Vanderveer, Former tennis pro, Brad Gilbert and former San Francisco Giants pitcher, Dave Dravecky.

A night to celebrate the best athletes to play sports at a high level in the Bay Area didn’t go unnoticed. Kidd did a complete sweep of honors over the past year. His former college, Cal Berkeley inducted him into their Hall of Fame last summer and a few months later Kidd was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The former NBA head coach who is looking to make a comeback on the bench, reached out to his former high school coach, Gordon Johnson to present him tonight. Johnson watched Kidd develop into a marquee athlete from childhood through his adult years. Kidd had a special talent that sent him to winning his first NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks.

“It’s a great honor to be inducted into Cal’s Hall of Fame as well as in Springfield,” said Kidd. But this is where it all started for me going to St. Paschal’s elementary, St. Joesph’s high school and Cal. It starts with a dream, I wanted to be a basketball player and watching guys like Magic Johnson really inspired me.

Gordie saw me develop from elementary through my coaching career, so I figured he was the best person to tell my story.”

“I’m so honored to be able to speak on behalf of Jason Kidd,” Gordon said. “It speaks volumes to our relationship. It was well deserved from the time I met him, we had a father-son, big brother type of relationship and its been special to go through his entire journey with him.”

Turner, who is a former 49er players and current Executive won four super bowl championships with the organization. A remarkable career as a player, an analyst and now as an Executive of the team. Turner who you’ll find on the sideline before and during the games, deserves to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canto, Ohio. Hopefully that day will come soon.

Eddie Debartolo Jr, Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott will present Turner tonight. His kept some good company on the field. Roger Craig was also present to watch Turner’s huge honor. A former Linebacker, Turner played eleven season with the 49ers before retiring and becoming an analyst for the team. He’s spent 22 years as a member of the team’s front office and currently serves as Vice President and Senior Advisor to the General Manager.

“It’s really overwhelming, I’ve been very fortunate when I played and who I played with, said Turner. “And to still be apart of the organization is humbling and overwhelming but I’m enjoying every minute of it.

Sometimes its about staying the course, I don’t know that I had a plan but when you stay focused, committed and not let the view get to long in front of you. You meet good people and have a good interaction and that’s remembered. But you have to put in the work and treat people fairly. I don’t know, I guess I was lucky to be with this organization for 33 years.”

Both Kidd and Turner had a long journey to become the legends they are today. But as they both said, with hard work, focus and networking with the right people anyone can live out their dream. While Turner mentioned he didn’t really have a plan, he had a vision of success that led him to establishing a successful football career. He is well respected and he looks to give that opportunity to others.

Kidd who took a year off is looking to get back into coaching. In the meantime, he enjoys golf and giving back to his community. This Saturday Kidd joins fellow Oakland native and former NBA player, Antonio Davis at Willie Keyes Recreation Center in West Oakland, where they will renovate the gymnasium, computer room and outside play area for the kids. Oakland Parks and Recreation Director, Nicholas Williams and Council member Lynette McElhaney will be key note speakers for the event.

Malaika Bobino

Posts by Malaika Bobino

Related Topics:Bay Area Hall of Fame (BASHOF)Cal Berkeley Jason Kidd Keena Turner Oakland Tara VanDerveer

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Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

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

Published

7 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

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

By Y’Anad Burrell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oakland Post

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Barbara Lee

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

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

Published

7 months 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

10 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.