Golden State Warriors Bringing A Positive Light To Oakland
The Golden State Warriors 2014-15 NBA season has been filled with many monumental and historical moments. A winning franchise can not only uplift spirits people in the stands, it can have a strong effect on the overall outlook of an entire community.
Oakland, California, has a long and rich sports history. The city has seen its share of championships and championship moments. Eight championship banners have been raised between the three major sporting franchises that call Oakland home.
Pretty impressive for a city that on occasion can find itself in the shadow of its larger neighbor across the Bay Bridge.
Many Bay Area sports historians would agree the 1970’s were the golden years in Oakland sports history. The “City of Champions” became the monarch of this blue-collar town. The Oakland Athletics had built a dynasty and won three consecutive World Series titles.
The Raiders were a perennial powerhouse in the NFL, and if not for a juggernaut team laced with Hall of Famers in Pittsburgh, the Raiders could have easily hoisted multiple Lombardi Trophies. The Warriors 1975 NBA Championship also helped solidify their place in Oakland sports history. From 1972-76 Oakland was the home to five World Titles — Athletics 3, Raiders 1, Warriors 1.
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Oakland had come out the frigid shadows of San Francisco and established itself as a perennial sports power. The pride displayed by the residents was at an all-time high and the loyalty the teams built up would carry on for generations.
Oakland remained a very proud sports city through the 1980’s but the shine was beginning to wear off . The Athletics won another World Series in 1989, but the city was still trying to fill the void left by the Raiders departure in 1982.
The Warriors gave Oakland a breath of fresh air in the early 1990’s. After years of losing seasons and futile attempts at respectability, Golden State, was looking for a spark. That spark came in the form of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, better known as,”RUN-TMC.”
What the RUN-TMC era lacked in championship banners it made up for in excitement. Once again Oakland had a team to be proud of. The Warriors brand of “Small Ball” implemented by Head Coach, Don Nelson, seem to be a perfect fit for the city.
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Oakland has long embraced the image of being the outcast. The city that stands out and doesn’t conform to the normal rules and regulations. So embracing a team that went against traditional rules and strategies was part of its sports identity. The Raiders of the 70’s were the “Outlaws” of the NFL. Known for the “Us against the World” mentality. While the A’s won three consecutive titles with a team full of bearded, long-hair and brawling players, with a win at all costs mentality.
Don Nelson’s main objective was to attack size with speed. Now, this philosophy had its flaws. It often placed the Warriors on the losing end of high-scoring defeats. Golden State may not have been generating an abundance of wins, but they were generating an enormous amount of fanfare and energy.
The emergence of Run-TMC put a spark in “DubNation.” A spark that had been slowly dying out before the change in ownership. Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have helped restore the great sports tradition that once belonged in Oakland.
The Warriors rise to the top of the standings has finally shined a positive light on the city. A city in search of positivity and hope. The Warriors long playoff run has thrown Oakland into the national spotlight. It’s has allowed the nation to get a peek into what makes the residents of the East Bay proud.
The images of protesters breaking up store windows and vandalizing businesses have been replaced with the sunny views of Lake Merritt, and the family atmosphere of Jack London Square. Only time will tell how long these positive images will last. Let’s just hope instead of fading away they set in and become the norm.