Golden State Warriors #FBF: 2017 Parade Stirs Feelings Over Move to SF

Former Blue Man Hoop writer and avid Bay Area sports fan Segun Giwa shares his experience talking to Oakland-natives at the Golden State Warriors Championship Parade and Rally.

By: Segun Giwa

OAKLAND, Calif. — On June 19, 2015, the Golden State Warriors and their fans celebrated their first championship in roughly 40 years in downtown Oakland.

After a one-year hiatus, the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy returned to its rightful place, and the organization and its incredibly charismatic fan base celebrated yet another title in the streets of The Town.

"“Winning two championships in three years is just crazy,” said 60-year-old Warriors fan and Oakland resident Larry Jackson. “I can’t wait to turn up with y’all tonight.”"

Warriors fans like Jackson lined up earlier than 5 a.m. to guarantee easy access to the rally alongside Lake Merritt. Some diehards camped out over night, braving the freezing cold to get the first glimpses of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and the rest of the world champion Warriors.

As the sun rose, so did the excitement of the fans around the rally site.

Chants of “WARRIORS” broke out. Young people were milly rocking to the hottest songs of 2017. Old people were drinking from their beverages, alcoholic and not.

Air horns and megaphones filled the airwaves. Marijuana smoke evaporated to the sun. Fans were growing anxious hours before the team was supposed to come on stage.

"“I’m loving the atmosphere right now,” Jackson said. “Everybody’s so happy and excited for the Bay’s team.”"

The Warriors are universally known as the Bay’s team due to the fact that they are the lone basketball team in the San Francisco Bay Area, contrary to football and baseball franchises. This was one of the biggest themes at the rally:

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With the Warriors on a dynastic pace, how would Warriors fans feel about possible future parades in San Francisco?

And will the Warriors get the same support in San Francisco when they move?

Although the Warriors played in San Francisco from 1962-1971, many East Bay residents may denounce their Warriors’ fandom when they make the move in 2019.

As a matter of fact, 32-year-old lifetime Oakland resident Lamont James already does.

"“Personally, I could never root for a team based in San Francisco,”  James said. “But I’m going to enjoy this parade, and the next couple years.”"

Many Oakland/East Bay natives have complaints about how the Warriors never seemed to embrace the city of Oakland. After the move to Oakland, the franchise changed their name from San Francisco to Golden State, rather than Oakland.

In a way, it was kind of ironic when the crowd roared as owner Joe Jacob announced the organization would pick up the city’s tab for the parade.

But as the championship banner on the Alameda County Courthouse blew in the wind, it was difficult not to ponder how different things might be in two years for the Warriors.

For now, though, let’s all be like Lamont James and just enjoy this parade…and the next couple years.

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Segun Giwa

Congratulations to Segun Giwa on his recent internship at the Bay Area’s flagship sports radio station, 95.7 THE GAME. On behalf of the staff at Blue Man Hoop, we thank you for efforts helping to build BMH to where it is today, and we wish you the best moving forward. – A.M.