49ers Fumbling On Search For A New Head Coach

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(Photo by Ezra Shaw)

By Devin Wright | @TheRealReno

My head hurts and it's swimming with questions right now. Unfortunately, the Niners abysmal coaching search is to blame for all of this, I'm afraid. One moment they seem to have a coach locked up, the next they are interviewing someone's grandfather for the position. By now, I'm having a hard time keeping up with Ian Rapoport, Tim Kawikami, and Mike Silver. With things still very much up in the air, lets take a minute to unpack how we got to where we are today with the 49ers search for a new team leader. 

The Monday after the last game of the season, hermit owner Jed York finally spoke with the local media. Jed announced that he was firing rent-a-coach Jim Tomsula after a nightmare 5-11 season, and that the Niners would spare no cost in conducting a search to hire a new coach. One that would return the Niners back to their glory years...of two years ago.

Jed said that he would step aside and allow Trent Baalke and his staff to conduct this search. Odd thing was, the guy running this search was not even at the presser. Hermit doesn't even begin to describe Trent Baalke, but not having the guy who is running the latest disastrous coaching search is beyond odd. Unfortunately, it's how things get done in Niners Land these days. 

Quick side note: Trent was later made available to the media that day. When asked about his contract he said he had no idea when the last time he had signed one, or when the contract expired. Local beat reporter Ann Killion was quick to point out that he signed an extension last year that ran until 2018. Trent said he didn't know that. Needless to say this is a total lie to the face of local writers and the public. I point this out because this is the kind of guy the team has placed trust in to make possibly the biggest hire in team history.

The 49ers first spoke with Chip Kelly, the hot name on the market and I believe the coach the fans want the most. Fans like the idea of Chip, his innovative offense, and what he might be able to do with Colin Kapernick. Of course, this meeting didn't go well and I'll make a few assumptions as to why. 

1. Chip is known as an odd duck, and as we know, Baalke is a really odd duck. The two of them together seems flammable. 

2. Chip had a lot of say in the roster in Philly. Needless to say his moves were terrible, but I believe he still thinks they were the right moves. When a coach gets roster power, it's tough to give it up in his next job. It is doubtful that Baalke would budge. 

3. Chip probably mentioned that he wanted to keep Kap on the roster and thinks he could turn Kap back into a star. That is the last thing York and Baalke want to hear. After blaming Kap for the way this season went (first the benching, then not allowing him on the sidelines after shoulder surgery), the 49ers seem to want nothing to do with Kap or his salary. 

Next the team talked with Hue Jackson of the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday after the Bengals gut wrenching loss to the Steelers. After a 5 hour meeting, reports came out that Hue was the Niners' number one choice. This was odd considering that Jed, in his press conference, had mentioned that he did not know any sources of leaks to the national media. Just another example of how things work in Santa Clara. Say one thing, do another. Always lie with a bold face. 

After texting with a few Niner faithful, people seemed really excited about Jackson. He led an explosive offense in Cincy (even though they were mediocre just last season), and coached Andy Dalton to his most productive season ever. All signs were pointing to our next coach being signed soon. 

Of course like most things with this front office, nothing goes according plan, and scramble mode typically goes into effect. Jackson interviewed with Cleveland, and agreed to another meeting with the New York Giants, which is viewed as the most desirable vacancy right now. 

So Jed and Trent went to plan B, C, or even D, which was to interview 69 year-old former Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Now Coughlin is indeed a great coach. He has won two Super Bowls, players love him, and he gets a lot out of them. But age is certainly a factor here. Why hire a coach just to have to go through all of this again in a few years? Again, this is York and Baalke only seeing what is right in front of them and and failing to take the more prudent longview. 

...(looks at Twitter)

Well now the 49ers are claiming they are slow playing Hue Jackson and are willing to hire others if he does not make a decision soon. 

Again, the 49ers Faithful are left to scratch their heads during all of this. It just seems like ownership cannot make a plan that works or one that they can stick to. It should be noted that so far, only one coaching vacancy has been filled up to this point, and that owner meeting about the Rams/Raiders/Chargers move to LA has slowed things down a bit (congrats Raiders fans for one more year in Oakland). 

I do not think anyone has any idea how this process is going to turn out. The only thing we do know is that it isn't going to go smooth and a bumpy ride should be expected. One day I hope to wake up from this nightmare. Hopefully sooner than later.  

*Note: As of this (Wednesday) morning Hue Jackson has been hired by Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Niners have said that are done interviewing candidates for the time being. Ugh.

Hello, World!

FIFA Crowns The World's Best Footballers of 2015

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Carli Lloyd and Lionel Messi clutch some FIFA hardware (photo by Philipp Schmidli)

By Bryan Maag | @HalfBAM

The international soccer calendar is officially in the books, and tonight at Congress Hall in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA handed out its end of the year awards in a relatively toned down black-tie affair. The three male BALLON D’OR invitees were Lionel Messi (F.C. Barcelona), Christiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), and Neymar De Silva (F.C. Barcelona). The female nominees included Aya Miyama (Japan), Carli Lloyd (United States), and Celia Sasic (Germany).

The FIFA awards are always a bit awkward due to the vast amounts of nationalities and languages that are thrown together in one room. Everyone in the audience is outfitted with an earpiece while the British hosts deliver slow pre-approved jokes to a reception of awkward laughter.

This year was a tough one for the powers that rule over soccer, and the usual pomp and circumstance was missing in this year’s awards. The biggest news has been the indictments handed down to FIFA members for corruption and greed. Due to these criminal proceedings we are seeing a glimpse into the lives of the men behind the scenes of soccer. Unsurprisingly, Sepp Blatter and Michael Platini were two notable figureheads that were not in attendance this year.

The 2015 soccer campaign brought us various record breaking performances. Chile showed some amazing fortitude in defending their home soil to take home their first Copa America crown in the tournament’s 99 year history. Barcelona became the first European team to successfully win two European trebles which included the Copa America, La Liga and Champions League trophies. They topped off their season with a club world cup championship. The United States won a fantastic Women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial turf. Other notable moments were Chelsea securing the Premier League Crown, Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga and Juventus retained their Serie A trophy.

Today’s FIFA winners were well deserved. Carli Lloyd took home her first Women’s trophy and the first U.S. women since Abby Wambach in 2012. Lionel Messi took home his record fifth trophy after his stellar club team wins, yet still had to deal with another Argentina national team disappointment, losing in the Copa America final over the summer. 

The 2016 soccer calendar is packed and Section925 is ecstatic to help bring it to light. Some notable competitions to follow this year will be the British Premier League (NBC Sports), La Liga (BeIn TV), Champions League (Fox), European Championships (ESPN), Olympics (NBC), MLS, and the Copa America Centennial, which will be hosted here in the United States. 

From Avaya Stadium in San Jose to pitches across the pond and throughout the rest of the world, the coming year surely will not disappoint. 

Section925 Podcast Ep 89 - Theo Robertson

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Golden State Warriors' Video Coordinator Theo Robertson stops by the Section925 Podcenter to talk with Tripper. Raised in Pittsburgh, California, Theo's basketball journey led him to De La Salle High School to play for Brian Sullivan and Frank Allocco. The Excel Basketball Camp Hall of Fame inductee then starred at CAL for four years, making multiple NCAA tournament appearances. Today, he is a member of the Warriors' championship coaching staff...

"The Magic Theory" - Is Draymond Green a Forgotten Son of the Showtime Lakers?

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Father and son? Or nah?

(A letter to the editor):

It's obvious that there are similarities in their games.  Beyond the high hoops IQ, both Magic Johnson and Draymond Green can/could guard 1-5, play 1-5, run the "showtime" fast break, talk trash in a colorful and funny way, rack up triple-doubles, and generally be the most likable person on and off the court.  They're both leaders, talkers, and dynamic tone-setters. It's been noted over and over that their personalities and games have serious parallels that can't be ignored.  

But it doesn't stop there. They both have the Michigan State connection, philanthropy ties, and several instances where Magic has called Draymond "mini-Magic".  Let's also note that there really isn't a father figure in Draymond's life.  His MSU bio references some guy Wallace Davis, but we never see him or hear about him at all.  And now it gets weird: 

Draymond was conceived between June 1 and June 7, 1989.  And where was Magic during that time?  In Detroit, Michigan, pre-HIV diagnosis, getting swept by the Pistons in the '89 finals.  MAGIC WAS IN TOWN WHEN DRAYMOND WAS CONCEIVED! And we know he was getting down with everyone at that time in his life.

Of course I realize how strange this theory is, but I can't shake the idea that it might be true.  Add to the craziness that I "friended" Mary Tootoo Babers on FB, and I've been commenting on her posts in passively suggestive ways about her son's true paternity.  It's time to take it off the social media angles and give Section925 this hot take to run with.  Let me know how I can help...

- Chris Norton, San Francisco

Research credits to: Devin Wright, Ardian Zagari, Beau Delmore, Jason Friedman.

Section925 Podcast Ep 87 - The Roguecast is Back

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Josh (@jphunsucker) brings back his one-man pod and talks misplaced outrage at the Stanford Band, Jed York's press conference, Draymond Green's back-to-back-to-back triple doubles, the No. 4 women's basketball recruit in America aka Miramonte's Sabrina Ionescu, the re-booted running man celebration in college football, and opens the text line to take on obscure questions like what to do in an armed robbery and who to blame tent farts on. 

Josh (@jphunsucker) brings back his one-man pod and talks misplaced outrage at the Stanford Band, Jed York's press conference, Draymond Green's back-to-back-to-back triple doubles, the No. 4 womens basketball recruit in America aka Miramonte's Sabrina Ionescu, the re-booted running man celebration in college football, and opens the text line to take on obscure questions like what to do in an armed robbery and who to blame tent farts on.

Oakland Great Dave Henderson Passes Away at 57

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By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

If one was forced to sum up Dave Henderson’s life in one sentence, perhaps his custom autograph signature would be a good place to start: “Hendu, still having fun.”

Henderson enjoyed a 14-year Major League career playing for five teams, but in just six seasons as an Athletic, Hendu was able to win over a fan base forever in Oakland.

Surely, the love for Hendu can be traced back to his performance on the field, as the center fielder helped lead the A’s to three straight World Series appearances and a 1989 sweep of SF in the Bay Bridge Series. But the deeper strains of love for Hendu can be attributed to the way he approached the game of baseball. How he never played without a smile on his face, how he engaged the fans in the outfield bleachers, how he quietly helped shepherd the Bash Brother’s through all the ups and downs.

As most A’s fans would admit, Hendu’s most indelible mark on a baseball field was made in 1986 in a Boston Red Sox uniform. It was the ALCS and Boston was on the road, down 3-1 in the series to the California Angels. With two outs, Hendu strode to the plate against shut-down closer Donnie Moore. With two strikes, Hendu somehow slugged a two-run homer to send the game into extra innings, where Boston would win both the game and eventually the series.

The homer still is alive and well in baseball lore, considered widely as one of the most clutch swings of the bat in the game’s history. There was Hendu, with the weight of the Curse of the Bambino square on his shoulders, swinging for the fences with two-strikes in the ninth. His post homer celebration was not a modern day “pimp-job” popular today. Instead Hendu leapt as high as he could, spinning in the air like a little leaguer. Smiling the whole time. Announcer Al Michaels’ television call was perfect, “You’re looking at one for the ages here,” he proclaimed. 

After a short 15-game pit-stop in San Francisco, Henderson arrived across the bay in Oakland, where it didn’t take long for him to become a fan favorite. Number 42 wasn’t your prototypical speedster in center field, but Hendu and his large-frame still managed to cover all the necessary real estate in the expansive Coliseum outfield.

Oakland bleacher creatures quickly took kindly to Hendu and his positive outfield vibes. Multiple fan clubs adorned the Oakland-Alameda County Colisuem including “HENDULAND” and “Hendu’s Bad Boy Club.” After catching the final out of an inning, you could always count on Hendu to feed his fans with a souvenir baseball, accompanied by his signature gap-toothed smile.

“The thing that stood out was his attitude. There wasn’t a stadium we went to where he didn’t have the center field fans going crazy. He really had respect and appreciation for the game. People talk about all the big hits and the World Series, but to me, it was that great attitude he brought every day. He would instantly pick you up, put you in the right frame of mind, get you going.”
— Terry Steinbach (speaking with The Chronicle)

During the A’s heyday, Hendu often hit second. Hitting behind the likes of Rickey Henderson and in front of Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, Henderson was left happily “hitting cookies” as he described it. For three straight seasons (1988-1990) Hendu helped take the A’s to the Fall Classic. On the biggest stage, Hendu was clutch. Proving that his famous Boston homer wasn’t a fluke, Henderson hit .298 during his postseason appearances, well above his career average. In the A’s World Series sweep of the Giants, Hendu blasted two homers in one game at Candlestick. Again, all with a smile on his face.

Hendu was not only a terrific player and teammate, he was also a family man who cared for his son Chase who suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a neuro-genetic disorder. “Hendu’s Bad Boy Club for Angleman Syndrome” was one of Henderson’s charity events to help support his son and the larger community affected.

There will never be another Hendu, and there will never be another team like the 1989 Oakland A’s. It is a shame that arguably the most uplifting and positive person from that championship team was one of the first to pass away. Even though Hendu is gone, he leaves behind a legacy in Oakland that won’t soon be forgotten. Thank you for the memories, Hendu. 

Ken Rosenthal’s Hall of Fame Ballot Changeup

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Barry Bonds is hoping his alleged steroid use won't keep him out of Cooperstown

By LeAnne Harris

It's the dead of the off-season, and while the stove is cooling, we're still months away from Opening Day. There is no baseball to watch, and if you're anything like me, you've got the iconic Rangers-Jays Seventh Inning playing in the background while you're refreshing your twitter feed every eleven seconds, giving yourself enough time to read an A's beat writer's response to a quirky fan comment and an article on a Barry Bonds vote to the Hall of Fame by Ken Rosenthal.

Wait, Ken Rosenthal did what?

That's right. Kenny Bowties did the unthinkable. For the first time in their three years of eligibility, Rosenthal included Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in his Hall of Fame Ballot.

Rosenthal outlined several excellent points in this article released last night, discussing his recent motion to include the two players. Along the thoughts of cheating and authenticity, Rosenthal states: "I no longer could justify snubbing two of the greatest players of this era." Rosenthal then explains that if a player has faced accusations yet was still inducted to the Hall of Fame, there is still no proof that they did not engage in PED use. So why is it considered a crime for Bonds and Clemens to be elected?

The morality behind inducting possible PED users is more so an argument of authenticity. As Rosenthal wrote, "suspicion alone is not enough to withhold a vote from a player who hasn't admitted to PED use, never tested positive to public knowledge, never been the subject of a government investigation." And though we may be fully aware that both Bonds and Clemens were subjects in government trials, does that give them less of a right to be inducted if the charges were dropped?

Whether you agree that both players should be in the HOF or that they are cheaters and should be recognized as cheaters, having Ken Rosenthal's votes are just as important in the long run as other voters. We see and hear Ken Rosenthal everywhere, and one could only imagine the impact he may have on his voting brethren.

Rosenthal is the main, credible source we have for trades and news, and his ability to report such news allows for us baseball fans to see him as a familiar, comforting face when it comes to baseball. He made such a substantial decision on reversing his previous statements on adding both Bonds and Clemens to his ballot, which can be either judged as noble or cowardly among fans and other players. Both Bonds and Clemens have names that are tarnished for the rest of their lives, regardless of the numbers they put up during their careers; and while Rosenthal still feels conflicted after submitting his ballot, he understands the frustrating and contradictory point.

With such a big, influential reporter admitting his uncertainty on one of the biggest baseball scandals of the decade, it may show other voters in the future, if he is not inducted from the 2016 ballot, that it is okay to place a vote for him. We could possibly have one of the best, biggest, and baddest entertainers in the history of baseball inducted into the Hall of Fame, and for that, I am juiced.

Section925 Podcast Episode 85 – J Torchio and Chris Hawkins

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Christian Mccaffrey finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. (Photo  Michael Macor)

Christian Mccaffrey finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. (Photo  Michael Macor)

Insider J Torchio and repeat pod offender Chris Hawkins break down the Armed Forces and Rose Bowl and toast Josh from the 209 in this final college football pod of the season.

 

Insider J Torchio and repeat pod offender Chris Hawkins break down the Armed Forces and Rose Bowl and toast Josh from the 209 in this final college football pod of the season.

CAL Hoops Heads to Virginia to Face the ACC's Elite

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Redshirt Senior Malcolm Brogdon and head coach Tony Bennett have the Cavaliers ranked 5th in the nation through ten games. (photo by Mitch Stringer)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

For anyone who has been around Cuonzo Martin, heard him talk in a press conference, or even just watched him patrol the sidelines on television, he certainly has never come across as a man who is risk adverse or afraid of a challenge. The East St. Louis native and cancer survivor seems to radiate confidence and a killer instinct whenever he sets foot in the gym. On Tuesday night in Virginia, Coach Martin will have himself one of the biggest challenges he could expect to find in regular season major college basketball. And he couldn’t be happier to accept it.

Surely, when Coach Martin circled December 22nd on his calendar, he expected his Bears would be flying out to Virginia as a ranked team. Unfortunately, CAL’s nationally hyped, high-flying attack has weathered some turbulence through the first third of the season. Largely due to an inability to break down zone defenses with dependable outside shooting options, the Bears find themselves south of the top-25, without a victory against a ranked opponent.

Tuesday night in front of a nationally televised audience (ESPN2, 6pm) will be just the kind of resume building opportunity coach Martin is searching for at this point in the year. It will come against a top-5 team in Virginia. A team many are expecting to win the stacked ACC and have a good shot at reaching the Final Four in Houston. Vegas experts are expecting the home Cavaliers to win by a comfortable 12-point margin.

It should be interesting to see CAL play the role of underdog for the first time this season. At least on paper, the Bears have one of the most talented teams in the country and were granted a top 15 ranking to begin the year. But with losses to San Diego State and Richmond, as well as close calls against Wyoming, St. Mary’s and even the University of the Incarnate Word, CAL has been humbled early. Now with less than 12 weeks until Selection Sunday, it’s about time the Bears put the engine into high gear if they expect to do any sort of damage come March.

As mentioned, CAL’s woes have largely stemmed from a lack of shooting touch. For starters, freshman phenom Jaylen Brown has only managed to knock down nine 3-pointers during the first 11 games. Senior Tyrone Wallace leads the team in scoring with 16ppg, but has only made 60% of his free throws. As a whole, against a soft schedule, CAL has only shot 33% from three point land. By now, teams are consistently sitting back in zone defenses, forcing the Bears to slow down and prove their ability to knock down shots from distance.  

On the bright side, Coach Martin’s team has proven they can get stops on defense and their offense has been spread out among many weapons, with all five starters routinely finishing in double figures. On top of that, CAL’s overall speed and athleticism has been spectacular to watch at times. The Bears will need to tap into this raw talent when they take the floor on Tuesday night.  

Cuonzo Martin is in his second season in Berkeley after finding success at both Missouri State and the University of Tennessee. (photo by Ezra Shaw)

In a somewhat quiet, methodical way, University of Virginia head coach Tony Bennett has turned the Cavaliers into a basketball power. Traditionally an also-ran in the ACC, Bennett has lead UVA to back-to-back 30-win seasons in Charlottesville. This is an eye-popping accomplishment when you consider Bennett’s league schedule consists of Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Louisville. Somehow, Bennett was able to guide his squad to a 16-2 record in the ACC last year, all without one McDonald’s All-American on his roster (CAL currently sports three).

Before moving east, Tony Bennett took over for his dad Dick Bennett at Washington State. Challenged with the task of recruiting and winning in Pullman, Bennett was still able to find success and was eventually courted by an ACC school. Fast forward seven years and Bennett is one of the hottest young coaches in basketball, making more than $2 million a year and challenging the likes of Krzyzewski, Boeheim, Pitino, and Williams year in and year out.

Bennett’s 2015-16 Cavaliers are extremely skilled and experienced, led primarily by senior guard Malcolm Brogdon and senior forward Anthony Gill. Brogdon, who goes by the nickname “Humble Moses” leads the team in scoring with 17-a-game while shooting above 40% from 3-point land.

Athletic, skilled and well coached, the Cavaliers will pose the toughest challenge for Coach Martin’s Bears so far this season, if not all year. Will this road test expose CAL as an over-hyped team who doesn’t quite know how to utilize its widespread talent? Or, perhaps the Bears will use the opportunity to show the Andy Katz’s and Joe Lundardi’s of the world that Berkeley hoops is deserving of some hype after all. One has to believe Coach Martin will have his team ready for the bright lights and the big challenge that awaits in ACC country. 

Jabari Bird and the rest of the CAL Bears must connect from distance if they expect to beat fifth ranked UVA. (photo by Ezra Shaw)

Proposed Warriors' SF Arena Presents Various Obstacles

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This new Mission Bay arena next to UCSF medical center would potentially open for the Warriors' 2018-19 season. (Photo via MANICA Architecture)

By Julian O’Donnell (Sec925 High School Correspondent)

When I first heard about the Golden State Warriors’ plan to build a new state-of-the-art arena in downtown San Francisco, I was ecstatic. They were finally going to be moving back under the bright lights of San Francisco, inside a brand new building that could help attract the best free agents in the NBA.

This arena, which will seat 18,000 fans, will be built a few blocks south of AT&T Park in the Mission Bay district, a rapidly developing area of San Francisco. On paper, it looks like an illustrious plan and seems like the right move for an organization that deserves to put arguably the best team in the NBA into a potentially top-of-the-line arena.

Yet, as the plan gained more traction, critics began to condemn the proposed plan. Although I originally looked at these protests as attempts to prevent my favorite team from moving to San Francisco, I soon came to consider these questions as actual problems that would arise in building this new arena.

The most important issue that stands in the way of this project is the concern of traffic, and the added congestion it will bring to San Francisco. I drive into San Francisco often, and the traffic is suffocating, especially on the freeways you merge into one once you hit downtown. One of the many reasons for this sudden influx of people in the city is because of new businesses, mainly tech companies that are moving their offices into the downtown district of San Francisco.

On one hand, the rush of workers into the city is beneficial as it generates economic and structural development. Yet, when you are bringing a business, such as the Golden State Warriors, into San Francisco, you are adding more people to the second most densely populated city in America behind New York City. It has a capacity limit that it is drawing closer every year.

Another problematic reason for building this arena is the loss of loyal fans from the East Bay who have supported the team through thick and thin. The congestion that a new arena brings to a city repels fans from the East Bay who are trying to get into a city that is gridlocked. Two hours to get into San Francisco? Not many fans would be willing to do that.

Will the Warriors be able to duplicate the energy inside "Roaracle" if and when they move to SF? (photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant)

With a loss of fans who have become synonymous with the Warriors brand, the team might play differently with a new fan base. So why change an arrangement that has worked out so well in recent years? The answer lies in economic growth.

Despite the negatives of building this arena, it will promote even more growth for an economy that changes everyday with the influx of businesses. The monetary benefits will trickle down and benefit many, just as it did with the Giants and AT&T Park up the street. 

Before the Giants moved into their present ballpark, that area was lifeless. It was used as a dump, and served no purpose in the city. Building the ballpark in this “dead area” let businesses grow in the surrounding plots of land, which were deemed desolate as well.

Now looking at that area, you would never guess it was once a ignored corner of the city. With restaurants, housing, and places of business, the area surrounding AT&T Park is booming and that is what the owners of the Warriors want to happen, a stadium that will grow the area surrounding it.

So where does that leave us?

The Golden State Warriors have just bought the piece of land that will be used to build the arena. We can all assume construction will begin shortly. Now, a countdown to the end of Oracle Arena will have to begin.

I think it is worthy to note that the initial drawings of the new arena, although very modern and sleek, remind me very much of a toilet. Could this be a sign of things to come for this project? Maybe.

In spite of all my critiques of the new arena, I have to welcome the project with an open mind. The best team in the NBA will be moving into the one of the smallest cities in America. For the sake of everybody, I hope this turns out all right.


Julian O'Donnell is a staff writer for The Acalanes Blueprint in Lafayette, California. Find more of his work here.

Campolindo Football State Championship Media Day

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Section925's Tripper Ortman caught up with members of the Campolindo Cougars at their 2015 State Championship Media Day. Campo is headed back to the title game looking to repeat as champs versus a favored La Mirada team from outside of Los Angeles.

OT Sterling Strother, assistant coach Matt Keeperman, RB/LB Jack Cassidy, head coach Kevin Macy, and DB Devin Regan all appear on the show. Campo vs. La Mirada will take place on Saturday night at 6pm at a southern California stadium to be determined.

Section925 Podcast Episode 81 - Basketball Insider Jon Wheeler

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Steph Curry poured in 40 points in the Warriors' 20th consecutive win on Wednesday night in Charlotte. (photo by Nell Redmond)

Former CAL basketball player and coach and current Section925 Insider Jon Wheeler comes inside the Hoop Cave to talk Dubs, Bears and Saint Mary's Gaels early season roundball.

NCS Final Four Football – A Preview

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Antioch junior Najee Harris will play his college ball at Alabama, but first he'd like a shot at De La Salle in the NCS Championship. (Doug Duran)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

Thanksgiving has arrived and with it comes copious amounts of food and football to consume over the next few days. Starting with your backyard game with Uncle Larry, to the Cam Newton Show in Dallas, to rivalry week in the college ranks, this long weekend is about as close as one gets to a pigskin paradise.

Fortunately for Bay Area football junkies, there will be more to talk about over your Turkey Day spread than the Raiders three game losing streak or CAL’s disappointing second half of the season in Berkeley. Instead, feel free to read below and get up to speed on the high school football scene. The North Coast Section playoffs are in full swing, with teams all over the area providing enticing final four matchups both tomorrow and Saturday at a field near you.   

Oakland Section Playoffs -- Silver Bowl Championship No. 1 McClymonds (11-0) vs. No. 2 Fremont (6-5) 3pm Friday at Laney College

Well let’s call an audible from the jump here and discuss a game that is neither a final four tilt, nor an NCS game. Instead, it’s the Silver Bowl, which crowns the champion of the Oakland Athletic League. These OAL teams don’t participate in the traditional NCS bracket, but the winner will likely earn a spot in the state championship bracket that culminates at Sacramento State this year.

As one can imagine, the Silver Bowl has quite the rich history. A game that traditionally was played at the Oakland Coliseum saw the likes of Marshawn Lynch enjoy coming out parties in front of East Bay faithful. Today, some argue that OAL football has lost a step, and the Silver Bowl now is played in more humble digs at Laney College, north of the Coliseum.

Mack comes into this game riding an impressive five game Silver Bowl winning streak, so the safe money is certainly on the Warriors in this one. That said, Mack only beat Fremont 7-0 earlier this season, so an upset isn't out of the question.

McClymonds has been no stranger to controversy over the last two seasons. Last year, Danville native Kevin Davidson decided to commute to West Oakland to play for Mack, where he put up staggering numbers and earned a scholarship to UC Davis. It wasn’t long, however, that he was ruled ineligible due to zoning issues and had to return to San Ramon Valley for his senior season.

This year, Mack assistant coach De’Carlos Anderson was filmed on a team bus getting into a heated altercation with a player. Even still, head coach Michael Peters has guided his team to a perfect record in 2015 and they seem poised for their sixth Silver Bowl victory. 

NCS Playoffs Division 1 Semifinal: No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-2) at No. 1 De La Salle (10-1) 7pm Friday in Concord

So now to the North Coast Section and who better to start with than De La Salle? The Spartans began the year ranked number 1 in the entire nation, only to lose their first game. Granted, it was on the road in Texas versus powerhouse Trinity, but De La certainly doesn’t accept any kind of losing. Young coach Justin Alumbaugh quickly circled the wagons and the Spartans easily reeled off 10 impressive wins in a row, including a 52-6 drubbing of Long Beach Poly, a team dripping with D1 and even NFL prospects.

On the other side of the ball is Pittsburg, a team all too accustomed to the top-to-bottom strength of De La Salle. This would be a monumental upset for Pitt to pull off, especially considering their losses to Monte Viste and Antioch already this year. If Pittsburgh expects to have a chance, running back Montaz Thompson and wideout Jordan Parker must have career days in Concord.

NCS Playoffs Division 1 Semifinal: No. 3 Foothill (11-0) at No. 2 Antioch (11-0) 7pm Saturday at Antioch HS

On the other side of the Division 1 bracket, we have a very enticing matchup of two 11-0 teams in Foothill and Antioch.

The player to watch in this one is Antioch’s junior running back Najee Harris, owner of 33 touchdowns already this year. Just like current Alabama Crimson Tide star Derrick Henry, the gifted Antioch running back also wears number 2 and lets dreads flow out the back of his helmet. At 6’2” – 222lbs, Harris is a can’t-miss back that seamlessly mixes speed and power. Surely, it would be a treat to see him face off with De La Salle’s heralded defense in the D1 NCS final.

NCS Playoffs Division 2 Semifinal: No. 3 Concord (8-4) at No. 2 Miramonte (11-1) 7pm Saturday in Orinda

Jack Schram’s Miramonte Matadors have put together an impressive 11-1 season, their only blemish coming to defending state champion Campolindo. Traditionally speaking, the Mats wouldn’t think twice about beating Concord, but this is not your father’s Minutemen. Concord has been red-hot as of late, with Harold Tidwell leading the way from the running back position. In three of their last four games, the Minutemen have managed to put up 50 points or more. It will be up to Miramonte’s Tim Tague (QB) and Clayton Stehr (RB) to keep the Concord offense off the field.

NCS Playoffs Division 2 Semifinal: No. 4 Granada (6-6) at No. 1 Clayton Valley Charter (10-1) 7pm Friday at Clayton Valley

The Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles lost in the State Championship game last year at the StubHub Center and are eager to get back. Their offense has been bit by the injury bug, but a strong defense should propel them past a six loss Granada team.

NCS Playoffs Division 3 Semifinal: No. 4 Bishop O’ Dowd (7-5) at No. 1 Campolindo (11-1) 7pm Friday in Moraga

Campolindo’s dramatic, come-from-behind victory in last year’s State Title game over El Capitan will go down as one of the best amateur football games in Bay Area history. Just ask 49ers veteran beat writer Matt Maiocco, who watched the heroics from the bowels of Levi’s Stadium.

Kevin Macy has a hungry team back for another championship run in 2015, their only loss coming on the road at Napa 21-14. Their next test will be the Dragons of O’ Dowd, the private school in Oakland more known for their basketball program as of late. Jacob Westphal leads the Campo offense under center, flanked by junior running backs Matt Ringquist and Nikki Moore. The Cougar defense is anchored by Jack Cassiday and Devin Regan. The winner of this one will meet either Analy (Sebastapol) or Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) in the NCS D3 final.

NCS Playoffs Division 4 Semifinal: No. 4 Moreau Catholic (11-1) at No. 1 Marin Catholic (10-1) 1pm Saturday in Kentfield

Even with the success of NFL prospect Jared Goff, the Wildcats of Marin Catholic are still keeping it old school and playing afternoon playoff games in Kentfield. Even without Friday night lights, Marin Catholic continues to churn out great quarterbacks. Their current QB is Darius Peterson, who unlike Goff, is just as comfortable running the ball as he is sitting in the pocket. Just like O’ Dowd, Moreau is more known for their basketball prowess, but running back Jullen Ison’s six TD’s in last weekend’s playoff game has the Mariners thinking ‘Ship. The winner of this one will face Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) or Fortuna in the D4 Final.

 

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Unblemished CAL Heads to Las Vegas for Two Thanksgiving Tests

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Jabari Bird is one of five Golden Bears averaging double figures (photo by Tony Avelar)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

In keeping with preseason hype and expectations, the 2015-2016 Golden Bears basketball team has not disappointed through the first four games. They’ve played a cupcake schedule thus far no doubt, but reassuringly, the Bears have yet to show any chinks in their armor en route to a flawless start in Berkeley.

Still yet to play on the road, Cuonzo Martin’s collection of youthful talent has breezed through the likes of Rice, Santa Barbara, East Carolina and Sam Houston State, none of which ever seemed to pose much of a threat. Martin’s starting five of Tyrone Wallace, Jordan Mathews, Jabari Bird, Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown have shared the ball beautifully thus far with each of the starters averaging double figures.

Wallace has led the Bears in scoring with 20-a-game, followed by future first rounder Brown. Wallace has racked up the assists as well, mostly due to the fact that weapons constantly seem to be open for the senior guard to pick and chose from.

Now with time under their belts to take off the training wheels, the ultra-competitive Martin is chomping at the bit to put his team up against some formidable competition. He’ll get to do so on Thanksgiving night at the Orleans Casino-Arena in Las Vegas versus San Diego State.

Thursday night’s Turkey Day special will air on Fox Sports 1, and pit upstart Coach Martin against 70-year-old Steve Fisher. Fisher has been at San Diego State for well over a decade now, but still is best known for his Fab-5 teams during his days in Ann Arbor. The Aztecs were picked to win the Mountain West a few weeks ago, but losses at Utah and at home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) have some wondering if Fisher is finally losing his edge. Regardless, Martin insists he’s seen SDSU play (see interview below) and expects them to be “physical, athletic, and long,” especially on defense. Malik Pope and his signature flat-top seems to be a sure-fire first round pick. Expect more than a few dunks in this one to accompany your pumpkin pie.

Assuming the Bears win on Thursday, CAL will match up with Bob “Huggy Bear” Huggins a day later in the two day tourney’s championship game (assuming WVU beats Richmond). A member of the very tough Big-12, the Mountaineers have nobody on their roster over 6’9." It’s safe to expect a run-and-gun affair in this one against the Bears’ equally small lineup, so take the over if you’re in Sin City giving thanks over the weekend.

“Press Virginia” as people like to call Huggy’s squad made it to the Sweet 16 last year, before bowing out to Kentucky. Devin Williams in an inside-outside threat, Jevon Carter is a pest on defense and Esa Ahmad was Ohio’s High School Player of the Year. Perhaps most importantly, Huggins will feel right at home screaming his head off on a Las Vegas sideline.

Expect the Bears to return to the East Bay with a 6-0 record, along with a Las Vegas trophy to add to the case. Enjoy Thanksgiving, but save some room for the Bears.