Shots from Warriors Media Day 2010

The Golden State Warriors announced a new head coach and staff and a revamped roster, complete with tattoos as the NBA kicked-off its league-annual Media Day.

 Photos by Z'ma Wyatt



Newly appointed Warriors Coach Keith Smart and his staff



Guard Cheyne Gadson



Power forward David Lee



Center Dan Gadzuric

 

Guard Stephen Curry




Guard Jeremy Lin



RAIDERS MOURN PASSING OF GEORGE BLANDA

photo courtesy of espn

Sports in the Bay!

The Oakland Raiders have announced their sadness in the passing of QB/Kicker George Blanda.


When inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, Raiders owner Al Davis called Blanda the greatest clutch player the game of pro football has ever known.


The Miracle of George Blanda in 1970 will live for eternity in the history of the Raiders as well as all of professional football. That year, Blanda’s last-minute heroics as a quarterback and place kicker resulted in four victories and a last second tie for the Silver and Black. He became the oldest player in NFL history playing until he was 49-years old.

"Our heart goes out to his wife Betty and the Blanda family and we grieve with them for our great friend," said the Raiders organization.

The legend of George Blanda began on October 25, 1970 against Pittsburgh, Blanda came off the bench to throw three touchdowns and kicked a field goal to lead the Raiders to a 31-14 victory.

The next week in Kansas City, he kicked a 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to tie the Chiefs at 17. The following Sunday, Blanda came off the bench to throw a touchdown pass to tie Cleveland at 20, then kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to earn the Raiders a 23-20 win.


The magic continued the next week when Blanda threw a touchdown pass late in the game to defeat Denver, 24-19. The streak culminated with a 16-yard field goal with seconds remaining to beat San Diego, 20-17.


For his supreme efforts and accomplishments, Blanda was honored as the AFC Player of the Year in 1970.


A private funeral service will be held for the family. A memorial service will be held with the time and place to be announced at a later date.


This is the second lost for the organization in recent month. Jack Tatum lost his battle with diabetes nearly two months ago.

Warriors Name Keith Smart New Head Coach; Replaces Don Nelson

Former IU Star & Long-Time NBA Assistant Becomes 23rd Head Coach In Franchise History; adds Jerry Sichting, Calbert Cheaney, Robert Werdann and Mark Price to coaching staff


Sports in the Bay!

After leading the Warriors to the playoffs for the first time in 20-years, the Golden State Warriors have parted ways with twice-tenured head coach Don Nelson, replacing him with longtime assistant coach Keith Smart.

Smart, 46, will become the 23rd head coach in franchise history and the 18th since the team moved to the West Coast prior to the 1962-63 season.

“We feel that Keith Smart is ready for this challenge as we embark on a new season,” said General Manager Larry Riley. “He has a wealth of experience as a player and coach in this game and has been fortunate to be around some of the best minds in the business, including Don Nelson at the NBA level and Bobby Knight in college."

A favorite among the players, the personable Smart is considered a great communicator with extensive football knowledge. He has added fellow Indiana alum and former Warriors forward Calbert Cheaney, who served as an assistant for the organization last year.

No stranger to coaching, Smart filled in for Nelson on several occasions last season in addition to prior CBA coaching experience.

"In regard to Nellie, we simply felt it was the right time to make a change. He’s been a terrific coach for over three decades and has left a lasting legacy in this league as the winningest coach in the history of the NBA,” said Riley.

Smart, has spent nearly 10-years as an assistant with Golden State and has over 21-years of experience combined as a player and coach. The Lousiana native also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and was named the CBA's Coach of the Month five time as head coach of the Ft. Wayne Fury where he proudly cultivated the careers of 21 future NBA players.

Originally drafted by the Warriors in the second round (41st overall) in the 1998 draft Smart played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He brings to Golden State a wealth of basketball knowledge that is widespread.

His stellar collegiant career at Indiana University, included leading the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA Championship under colorful coach Bobby Knight. Named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1987 Final Four Smart is best known for his game-winning shot against Syracuse in the 1987 title game in New Orleans.

This is one of the first major decisions under new ownership the second would be the rumored possible trade of Carmelo Anthony.

The Golden State Warriors will open their 2010-2011 regular season at home on November 3rd versus Memphis.

COACHING BIOS:

Jerry Sichting - Has served as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves organization for 13 of the past 14 seasons, including 11 of those years as an assistant coach. Most recently, he served as the Timberwovles Director of Pro Player Personnel, during which time he was responsible for scouting and evaluating current NBA players. His lone season away from the T-Wolves in the last 14 years came in 2006-07 when he served as an assistant coach at Marquette University.

Calbert Cheaney - Known as a fundamentally-sound player during his 13-year NBA career, Cheaney re-joined the Warriors last year in a front office role. During his three-year stint with Golden State Cheaney will be reunited with Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, whom he played with 2003-2006.

Robert Werdann - Werdann has spent the last six seasons with the New Orleans Hornets, where he served as an assistant coach in 2009-10. For the five years prior, he served as an advance scout for the Hornets, and was the team’s Summer League coach at the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. As a player, Werdann was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 46th overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft out of St. John’s and appeared in 47 NBA games over three seasons with the Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets.

Mark Price - A sharp shooter during is playing days Price, the NBA’s all-time leader in free throw percentage in the regular season (.904) and in the postseason (.944), has served as a shooting consultant for the Atlanta Hawks in each of the last two seasons after spending the 2007-08 campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies in a similar position. During his 12-year NBA playing career, Price was named All-NBA First Team in 1992-93 and earned All-NBA Third Team honors three times.

The Warriors 2010-11 Coaching Staff will be listed as follows:

Head Coach - Keith Smart, Indiana

Assistant Coaches - Jerry Sichting, Purdue; Stephen Silas, Brown; Calbert Cheaney, Indiana; Rob Werdann, St. John’s.

Shooting Coach - Mark Price, Georgia Tech

For more information go to: http://www.warriors.com/

Post Game Press Conferences - Raiders vs. St. Louis



QB Bruce Gradkowski post-game




QB Jason Campbell

 



Photos by Willie Eashman


 



WR Louis Murphy

by Felicia and Eddrick

Check out complete post-game audio interviews from the Raider's home opener win over St. Louis with Coach Tom Cable, QB Bruce Gradkowski, QB Jason Campbell and second-year receivers Darius Heyward-Bey, and Louis Murphy.

Get the audio here:

Sports In The Bay!

Head coach Tom Cable

WR Darius Heyward-Bey

Felicia & Eddrick Recap Raider's Win

Sports In The Bay!

Felicia and Eddrick recap the Raider's 16 - 14 win over the St. Louis Rams.

Viewpoint on More Public Radio!

Sports In The Bay

by


Felicia and Eddrick




You can catch Felicia and Eddrick every Saturday morning at 9am on Viewpoint on More Public Radio! Each week, they'll chat about what's going on in Bay Area Sports. Check out this week's segment as they discuss tomorrow's opening of the 2010 NFL season.

NFL PREVIEW: Raiders Have a Newfound 'Swagger' in Preparation for the Titans

A lot is riding on the shoulders of Raiders QB Campbell to guide his new team to the post-season.

By Felicia
Sports in the Bay, Inc.

One good thing right now is the Raiders are undefeated, no wins or losses. But the best thing about the Raiders this year that fans would say is the quarterback season. Oakland got rid of some dead weight (literally) by releasing JaMarcus Russell, immediatelly thrusting QB Jason Campbell into the starting position.

However, back-up QB Bruce Gradkowski isn't shabby either, garnering a following of his own when he took over for a benched Russell last season.

Although the pocket presence of both the current Raiders QB's are much different than Russell's, Sunday will give all a better prespective of what lies ahead for the Silver and Black. Marred by injuries, head coach Tom Cable is concerned and anxious to be able to have all of his players healthy and on the field at once.

Much rides on the shoulders of off-season acquisition, quarterback Jason Campbell, running back Darren McFadden and wide receiver Louis Murphy; however, the Oakland Raiders are ready for the task after a solid pre-season (3-1) and a dismal 5-11 season last year.

Unlike recent years, the Raiders locker room was laid back and loose on the Thursday leading up to the kick-off of their 51st NFL season Sunday as they travel to face the Tennessee Titans.

The expectations to break their 7th year playoff slump is high and the Raiders have had a favorable schedule compared to previous years.

One less concern for Oakland is former Raider killer LaDanian Tomlinson who racked up career games against the Raiders as a San Diego Charger. Kansas City is in a rebuilding stage and the Denver Broncos are banged up so the AFC West are for the Raiders to claim.

Notable Injuries: RB Michael Bush (thumb surgery -out), WR Chaz Schillens (knee-out)

Raiders Wrap-Up W/Felicia

Tom Cable Postgame Press Conference