Talking Sports, Hillary Clinton and making a difference

The two things don't typically go together: women and sports, but there I was, Kathy's Sports Korner Blogger at the Lead On Watermark Silicon Valley Conference for Women. Hillary Clinton headlined the list of remarkable speakers, each a superstar in their respective fields. Be it politics, technology, manufacturing, marketing, engineering, literature, science, health, medicine or numerous other fields, the women  were outstanding examples of what today's workforce truly looks like.  And the theme in the massive room of more than five thousand women was clearly one of hope.

I was there supporting an amazing woman, Celia Tejada, who not only heads the design division of Restoration Hardware, is the owner of Tejada Wines but also finds time to give back to her community. As the President of the Board of Directors for the Imagine Bus Project, Tejada is enabling incarcerated youth to express themselves through art. It is a passion for creativity she nurtured in her native village of Ruerrero, Spain. Tejada is spreading her love as wings of freedom for those who don't have them.
How this relates to sports is through another panel member in the session, Joanne Pasternack. In her eight season as the director of the 49ers Foundation, she is among those who put athletes in positions where they can use their influence to help others. In 2014, the foundation donated $4.6 million to Bay area charities. But even more impressive than the funds, are the stories Pasternack shared of 49er players suiting up in pink cleats to support Breast Cancer and actually going to the Juvenile Hall and speaking to the troubled youth. Hearing it from the source, from well known players who have encountered their own troubles with the law and chose to work hard instead of taking the easy route and made something of their lives. That is how athletes can turn their fame and influence into success that is measured beyond money and awards. Tejada and Pasternack and the hundreds of speakers who shared the day in hopes of inspiring others are doing their part and encouraging us all to do the same.  They aren't just talking about it, they are doing it.
Yesterday, Stephen Curry visited the White House, not as the NBA's three point champion or potential MVP, but for his work in the fight against Malaria. His foundation donates nets for every three-point shot. He also encourages other players to make similar donations.  And in doing so hopes to also influence others to become involved, and that is yet another reason why he is becoming the face of the NBA.

The changing of the guard in sight as Warriors beat up on San Antonio

The Warriors own the best record in the NBA, but against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs they haven't won since the playoffs in 2013, until Friday night. The past met the present and possibly the future head on before a sold out crowd in Oakland and there was no question who was faster and better after the All-Star break. Golden State lead by the Splash brothers took over in the third quarter and finished 110-99 redeeming their previous loss at home against the Spurs in November.
That seemed like a lifetime ago to first year Coach Steve Kerr and his squad who are focusing on his winning formula tribeca: defense, ball movement and taking care of the ball.

"We're trying to be good for the next decade," said Kerr after the game, when asked to compare the team's accomplishments. "We are just getting started. we have a long way to go, but this is fun."
As for the importance of his first win against his mentor, the great Gregg Popovich, Kerr had nothing but praise for his former coach.
"I'm probably going to go have a glass of wine with him after this," explained Kerr. "He's always the same. Win or loose. He's one of the most amazing human beings I've ever met. He's got a great perspective on the game and life.  Win or loose, Pop is Pop."
Humility and perspective, much like Kerr  and his players.
After winning the 3-point contest during the All-Star festivities, Stephen Curry lead all scorers with 25 points and an even more impressive 11 assists.  Curry was fueled by a controversial foul call in the second quarter that evoked a heated response from both number 30 and Kerr who received consecutive technicals.  Klay Thompson added 20 points and four other Warriors scored in double figures, while contributing a total of 29 assists, showcasing the ball movement and unselfish play of the league's best team.
"It's great. You have to be focused," said Thompson. "You can't relax on defense.  Everybody's gotta come to the ball and be aggressive. "
The aggressive defensive play by the Dubs shut down the Spur's top three players with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili sitting the entire fourth quarter after scoring just 26 points between them. Age seems to be slowing down the champs who played and lost last night to the Clippers in Los Angeles. While the win is a huge boost as the Warriors hit the road for another long 6 game stretch away from home, Andrew Bogut wants to keep the focus clear.
"We're in for the long haul now," said Bogut. "We have to take care of ourselves and keep getting  wins."
Spoken like a true Warrior, with the NBA championship trophy in sight and a league best 43-9 record with 30 games remaining.

Venus Williams fighting her way back with win in Dubai

2015 is proving to be a very good year for Venus Williams. At 34, the defending champion took care of 17 year old Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-1, 6-2 Monday in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championship. This win is her 16th straight in the United Arab Emirates, having taken the title in 2009, 2010 and 2014. She skipped the event for three years while fighting a debilitating autoimmune disease known as Sjogren's syndrome.

For those of us who remember the fierce teenager who changed the look and feel of American Women's tennis almost 20 years ago, Venus' story is beyond inspirational. The former number one is proving that anything is possible.
"I'm happy to be back, and get this win," said a smiling Williams after the match. "At 34, I'm hitting a little bit harder than most people and playing some offense on the run and hitting the ball just as hard. When I was 17, I didn't think about what the age was of someone across the net. All you think of is is I want to beat them."
That competitiveness knows no age barrier and Venus who is 11-1 for the year is proving that she deserves to be back in the top 20, already at No. 11. On the court she is moving with ease and commanding her shots.
 Her sister top ranked Serena had to withdraw from this week's Dubai tournament due to illness, but Venus is ready to carry the torch, although the heavy travel schedule had her flying from New Zealand where she won the year's first title to the Australian Open where she reached the quarterfinals to Argentina for Fed Cup where she also racked up two victories to Dubai where the crowd showed its appreciation after her triumphant return.
"I'm a little discombobulated," said Venus. "It's definitely a lot. I usually don't travel that much. But I'm happy. I love the shopping here. I'll get some rest and be ready for the next round."
 Meanwhile her legions of fans across the world will be rooting for her to continue her quest to return to the top of women's tennis and add to her impressive 46 career singles titles. Queen V as her fans affectionally refer to her is back.

Warriors limp into All-Star game with another ugly win but reward Splash Brothers

Winning is contagious, yet lately the victories for Golden State haven't been pretty. On an exhausting stretch of the schedule, the Warriors squeaked a 94-91 victory in Minnesota. Luckily, a win is a win and the first half of the record breaking season ends with the Dubs owning a league and franchise best 42-9 record.
First year Coach Steve Kerr, acknowledged the shaky play of the last four games joking: "I'm limping into the All-Star break like my team!" But seriously, he had nothing but praise for his players.
"I'm really proud of the guys," said Kerr. "I've never seen a group that needs the break more than these guys. We're so out of whack, but if you're a good team, you find a way to win even when your'e not at your best."

As impressive is the announcement that both Splash brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will start in the All-Start game in New York Sunday. The two led the team in scoring tonight. Curry with 25 points along with 8 assists and Thompson adding 14 on another  off shooting night.
"We're not playing to our standards but we're figuring out a way to win," explained Curry. "It's confidence. We're a great team, every piece of the puzzle is here. We get the win and that's hard to do in this league.You have to enjoy the moment."
For Thompson, the start is recognition for his outstanding play from the start of the season.
"It's exciting," said a humble Thompson. "It's great for me and my family. My family in the Northwest, and my family in the Bahamas. It's going to be one awesome moment to start the game on such a big stage."
Thompson will also compete in the 3-point challenge with Curry and perhaps hoping to change his image, number 11 will participate in the eight player fashion show.
"I'm going to try and get as much rest as possible," said Thompson. "But it's going to be an awesome experience. i'm really excited for it"
Warriors fans are equally thrilled to watch Kerr, his entire coaching staff and the Splash Brothers  show the country what the Bay Area has been witnessing all season; times they are changing.
"It's an honor for our whole organization," said Kerr. "It's a great show of how far we've come as an organization and reward for all the great moves that have been made. The sell-out after sell-out, the team awards it's all a reward for winning."
And to those who feel the last few games signal a dangerous pattern, Kerr has reassuring words.
"Our offense is suffering because were not getting the rhythm and flow that is part of our ball movement game," explained Kerr. "I feel like we know what we have to do. But our guys need a rest and to be re-charged."
Rest is on the agenda for all but two Warriors who tonight are on their way to New York, but they're not complaining.

Serena Williams shines as champion on and off the court

Serena Williams is the undisputed face of American tennis. The world's number one player collected her 19th Grand Slam title winning the Australian Open for the sixth time five days ago. Her all around career victories record stands at a remarkable 85%, and the Queen of the Court has earned more than $66 million, highest among women athletes. However, Serena's  true status as a champion hails from her decision to rise above racial injustice and return to Indian Wells where she won her first-ever professional match in 1997.

The controversy stemmed from the crowd's reaction to Serena and her family during the finals against Kim Clijsters in 2001. Serena was booed and jeered because Venus Williams pulled out of the semifinals against Serena due to an injury. Although Serena won the match, she felt a heartbreaking deep loss.

"It has been difficult for me to forget spending hours crying in the Indian Wells locker room after winning in 2001," Serena wrote in her exclusive response for TIME. "Driving back to Los Angeles, feeling as if I had lost the biggest game ever, not a mere tennis game, but a bigger fight for equality."

Fourteen years later, Serena will have not the last word but a chance to show how much she has grown and the revelation comes from something very dear to her heart.

"I'm fortunate to be at a point in my career where I have nothing to prove," explains Williams. "I play for the love of the game. And it is with that love in mind, and a new understand of the true meaning of forgiveness, that I will proudly return to Indian Wells in 2015."

But she isn't doing it just for the publicity or recognition. Serena Williams is using this very public platform to call attention to others who are wronged. Williams is partnering with the Equal Justice Initiative, or EJI, an organization that provides legal representation to individuals who have been denied fair and just treatment in the legal system. Fans who donate $10 or more to the cause will be entered in a draw and the winner will be her personal guest at the BNP Paribas Open. Serena makes her appeal in a video, not just asking for money, but sharing her deep and personal thoughts on how she was wronged but has evolved as a person and player and how EJI helps achieve a better, safer world. Go to  0maze.com/Serena for more information.

As an avid tennis player, I admit, I'm in awe of Serena's skills on the court. Today, while playing in San Francisco, the talk was about Serena's impressive personal growth off the court.

"Thirteen years and a lifetime in tennis later, things feel different," Serena writes in TIME. "A few months ago, when Russian official Shamil Tarpischev made racist and sexist remarks about Venus and me, the WTA and USTA immediately condemned him. It reminded me how far the sport has come, and how far I've come too."

 

Warriors and Stephen Curry winning games and new fans

At one point in the first quarter Golden State was down by 22 points to Dallas at Oracle Arena. No problem. Before the end of the half, Stephen Curry found his three point shot to cut the deficit to four. By the end of the game, the home crowd was on its feet and for the first time in his career, Curry scored 51 points in Oakland having made ten 3-pointers to beat the Mavericks 128 to 114. After the game, Curry shared the credit once again. "Everyone on the roster did something to impact the game," said Curry."You can't have a defeatist attitude no matter what's happening in the game. Once you get going,confidence is high. It was fun out there. We just found a way to win the game. It's what we've done all season." The way the Warriors are playing and winning is also contributing to much talk around town. My good friend Beverly raved about how much fun it is to watch the team because of the way they share the ball and are so unselfish. On the tennis courts, more people are wearing Golden State t-shirts. And on Facebook, Janice continues to defend the Dubs from friends in Atlanta who claim they are: "Overrated." Janice's reply: "No way. We are #1!" Indeed, Golden State owns the best record in the NBA at 39 and 8. And they rule the league at home with 23 wins and only two losses. For first year coach Steve Kerr, it continues to be about defense and team play.

"A lot of guys contributed," explained Kerr. "We didn't get into much of a rhythm early. Sometimes Steph plays his best when were down big and he puts his super man cape on and brings us back."
While Curry did lead the team in scoring, there were as usual a number of great contributions, Klay Thompson added 18 points, Marreese Speights and Leandro Barbosa came off the bench again and each finished with 14 and Harrison Barnes added 12 points. But it was on the defensive end where Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala held the second leading scoring team in the NBA to  just 41% after the red hot first quarter.
"They were destroying us," said Kerr. "I  told them it's a long game. We let our guard down. That's partly my fault. I didn't have us emotionally ready to play."
But as any championship team does, they adjust. As a team, the Warriors fought their way back. Never doubting they have the personnel to win.
"I take pride in finding different ways to impact the game every night," added Curry."But it's not just me making shots. I need everybody. It says a lot about the resiliency of this team to come back tonight. We had the confidence to turn it around."
And they did it as a team, making fun to watch and root for them all.

Warriors bench steals the show in Sacramento

In their last two losses, Golden State didn't get much production from its deep bench. All that changed tonight as the reserves lead the way in a 121-96 rout of Sacramento outscoring the starters 61 to 60.  The NBA's best team is now 38-8, setting a franchise record through 48 games. The Dubs have the Kings' number sweeping all four games this season and owning an eight game win streak against their I-80 rivals. The beauty of watching this Warrior team is how unselfishly they are all playing for each other, their coaches and their fans even on the road. From day one, first year coach Steve Kerr sold his players on defense, ball movement and taking care of the ball. Against Sacramento, the Warriors had 33 assists to 11 turnovers while holding their opponent to just 44% shooting.

All anyone has to do is look at Andrew Bogut's face and see just how much fun it is to be a Warrior. Having Bogut on the floor is a key to this team's success. While his numbers may not  show it, just 6 points, 5 rebounds and two blocks, what doesn't make the box score is his ability to distribute the ball and change how those facing him play. All-Star bound DeMarcus Cousins scored 26 points but nothing came easy. While Stephen Curry finished with a team high 23 points it was the Warriors bench which shinned brightly outscoring the Kings' bench 61-12. Led by 17 points from both Marreese Speights and Andre Iguadala. Coach Kerr had nothing but praise for his reserves.
"The biggest thing is the guys off the bench came in and just took over," said Kerr. "I told Mo (Speights) how proud I was of him. Mo's had a terrific season. And Andre was special.
David Lee did a great job. I could just go down the list. It was an amazing effort off the bench."
The timing couldn't have been better, with a tough seven game schedule prior to the All-Star Break. No  Warrior played more than 29 minutes, leaving everyone fresh for tomorrow's game at home against Dallas.