Beyond GSV

It's more than basketball

It has been said that “Life is a lot like baseball. You don’t know if you’ll get a curveball, a fastball, or a changeup— you just have to keep swinging.”

Or the Yogi Berra ( not to be confused with Yogi the Bear) classic: “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.”

Let’s not forget Babe Ruth: “ Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

And Satchel Paige said “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you” and “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”

And finally, from Jackie Robinson: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

I love baseball, watching it in person especially.

But my love for basketball surpasses my love for baseball. I grew up playing basketball in my neighborhood and in high school.

Title IX was implemented after I graduated high school so I never dreamed of playing college or professional basketball. But I have attained my dream of being a writer. n

Thirty years ago the WNBA emerged and now the Golden State Valkyries (GSV) have brought Ballhalla to the Chase Center in San Francisco for the second year.

Now young girls can dream of playing pro basketball in or out of the United States.

I’m 69 and have the privilege of having a season seat ticket and a season media credential to said GSV.

GSV in their inaugural season made it to the first round of the playoffs. That wasn’t anticipated and the Chase Center was booked so they played in San Jose where the defunct San Jose Lasers of the American Basketball League played from 1996-1998 and the San Jose Sharks currently play.

There are 22 home games and I will attend the majority of them. I enjoy watching the games, I am not a strategist, haven’t asked a question yet in the press conferences, but I appreciate good ball movement, strong defense, and a good drive to the hole.

But more I appreciate the ethos of GSV. Lead by the first Asian-American coach in the WNBA, Natalie Nakase. These women can ball, work hard, have fun, and appreciate the energy of the sixth “man” the fans in Ballhalla. Win or lose these fans have sold out every home game.

The fans bring the love, the enthusiasm, the gratitude, and appreciation.

And since purple is my favorite color, I attended the opener on May 10th in purple shoes, a purple shirt, and a purple tie.

Yes, I know that GSV won, that at one point they lead by 18 points, I have the stats for the turnovers, three-pointers, etc.

But for me, it’s beyond basketball. It’s the energy, the excitement, the feel around, during, and after the game. It’s who comes to the games, at the opener Tara VanDerveer, Brandi Chastain, and Paul Gasol were in the sold out house. And Sheila E. performed at half-time.

It was Mother’s Day and I had tears of joy witnessing Ari Waller and her mother on the “Dance like your Mom cam”. Listening to Jamie Coffee the public address announcer. And the music by DJ LadyRyan and DJShellheart the resident DJs.

I went to the pre-season game and the opener and saw folks I hadn’t seen in more than a decade: most notable Sherry Hu (my former colleague at KPIX) and Helen Zia (my journalist goddess and mentor) and their spouses.

I meet fans and was introduced to the ValQueeries and am a member.

‘ValQueeries Community Commitment: This group is created for all members of our LGBTQIAA+ community. As a member of this community, I will actively work to ensure that I do not enact, perpetuate, or uphold racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, ageism, fatphobia, homophobia, islamaphobia, antisemitism, classism, and/or TERF attitudes and behaviors. I commit to disrupting expressions of phobic, discriminatory, or exclusionary behaviors in service of a thriving ValQueeries community.’

And the GSV press, proud also to be part of that family. To hang with folks I have known for decades like Y’Anad Burrell of the Post News Group, Ann Killion of the SF Chronicle, Beth Schnitzer of the SF Bay Times, and Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard. And new folks like Matt Lively, currently at KPIX where I worked for 16 years, my press bestie, Eric Apricot of Valkyrie Nation, l I earned how to use my gimbal from Kenzo Fukuda of ClutchPoints.

And to be interviewed by Maya Goldberg-Safir of KALW about my purple nails and purple tie.

Also reuniting familiar faces on the beat like John Dickinson of KNBR, John Wong of Bay Area Sports Wrap, and Janie McCauley of the AP.

And new to me: Conrado Pasqual of Podium Finish, Jordan Kames of KALW, Oluwafemi Adefeso of NewsCentralTV, Erin Wilson of KRON, and Raina and Vanessa of “GSV Say Less”.

And you never know who is going to be in the press room, on Mother’s Day it was Ann Meyers!

Like I said, it’s more than basketball. It is a vibrant life and community.

Thanks for joining me in the journey. The WNBA and GSV are having an impact on lives beyond the teams.