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  • Instant Warriors analysis: What happened when Golden State went big against Blazers

    SAN FRANCISCO – With one deft change to the starting lineup, Warriors coach Steve Kerr demonstrated the biggest difference between this season’s roster and this year’s iteration.

    Out went the returning 6-foot-4, 205-pound Brandin Podziemski, and in went the 6-9, 260lb newcomer Al Horford.

    The new lineup saw Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler moved to guard and wing respectively, and Draymond Green shifted to his more natural power forward position and away from guarding 7-0 giant Donovan Clingan.

    There was plenty to analyze in Golden State’s 129-123 victory over the Blazers at Chase Center on Wednesday night.

    Butler scored 12, while Curry put in 10 and Buddy Hield scored 13. Moses Moody scored 10.

    Quinten Post put up 20 points and LJ Cryer had 14 while leading a thrilling fourth quarter comeback alongside Pat Spencer. The Warriors outscored the Blazers 51-26 in the fourth, putting up the most points in a quarter in preseason franchise history.

    Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    On the first possession, Green showed his chemistry with his new frontcourt partner, lasering a pass to Horford for a layup, albeit one not converted.

    However, over the first 6:47, the lineup produced mixed results, as it fell behind 18-12 and forced Kerr to call a timeout.

    The interior defense was sensational in allowing just four points in the paint. But with a slower frontcourt, the Blazers peppered Golden State from behind the arc, starting 4 of 6 on wide-open looks.

    Green was surprisingly effective as a shooter, nailing a couple of open triples, and though Horford began 0 of 3, he did make a nifty pass to Butler while leading the fastbreak.

    That was all the spectators at Chase Center got to see of the starting unit, with that combination not playing together again in the first half. To start the second, Curry, Butler, Green and Horford were not on the bench.

    The Warriors were down 73-57 at halftime, and Kerr did not mince words.

    “We weren’t ready, we were not,” Kerr said. “We were careless with the ball, and they were flying by us every play.”

    Same amount of minutes for starters

    After playing around 15 minutes each in Sunday’s preseason opener, the Golden State vets – Horford, Curry, Butler and Green – were expected to play more minutes.

    “We usually ramp them up a little bit each game,” Kerr said after a recent practice. “I imagine it will be  a little bit more than the other night.”

    In reality, the ramp-up was minimal. Butler played 17 minutes while Green and Curry each played 16 apiece. Horford actually saw a decrease in playing time, seeing the floor for just 11 minutes while going 0 of 4.

    Moody and Post were the only Warriors players to crack 20 minutes.

    Podziemski … point guard?

    Golden State Warriors' Brandin Podziemski (2) drives past Portland Trail Blazers' Blake Wesley (1) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) drives past Portland Trail Blazers’ Blake Wesley (1) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Kerr put starting shooting guard Podziemski in the role of floor general in the first quarter.

    The results were … not pretty. Portland ended the first quarter on a 13-0 run, with Golden State struggling to generate open looks with only one natural ballhandler on the floor.

    Butler returned to start the second quarter and took over de facto point guard duties. It also saw Jonathan Kuminga spend time with Horford and Butler, which produced five quick points to begin the second quarter.

    Podziemski finished the game with five points and three assists, and appeared much more effective when playing off either Butler or Curry. Kuminga, who had two assists, once again played the part of a willing passer against the Blazers. He repeatedly made the extra pass, including a couple of dishes to Curry that did not show up in the stat sheet.

    The Warriors will play their first road game of the season at the Lakers on Sunday.

    Other notables

    • Oakland native Damian Lillard did not make the trip back to the Bay Area. He tore his Achilles in the first round of the playoffs for Milwaukee and is still rehabbing in Portland.
    • After using 18 players in the opener, Kerr slightly cut the rotation down on Wednesday. He played 17, with Marques Bolden not entering.
    • Seth Curry was healthy but did not play. Because he entered training camp a few days later than the rest of the team, Kerr said he is “ramping up” his activity.
    • Summer League sensation Hansen Yang was unable to recreate the magical passing and interior scoring he flashed against the Warriors in Las Vegas. He fouled out, and only had four points and one assist while looking a tad bit frazzled against real NBA competition.
    •  Golden State Valkyries center Iliana Rupert’s younger brother, Rayan, suited up for Portland.
    Portland Trail Blazers' Yang Hansen (16) looks to pass against the Golden State Warriors' Quinten Post (21) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Portland Trail Blazers’ Yang Hansen (16) looks to pass against the Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga (1) lays up a shot against Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan (23) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1) lays up a shot against Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan (23) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Jimmy Butler III (10) lays up a shot against Portland Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday (5) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) lays up a shot against Portland Trail Blazers’ Jrue Holiday (5) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga (1), Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) look on in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1), Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) look on in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Al Horford (20) dribbles as he looks to pass against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Al Horford (20) dribbles as he looks to pass against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Moses Moody (4) drives past Portland Trail Blazers' Blake Wesley (1) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) drives past Portland Trail Blazers’ Blake Wesley (1) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga (1) drives past Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija (8) as Golden State Warriors' Brandin Podziemski (2) and Golden State Warriors' Al Horford (20) move over in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (1) drives past Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija (8) as Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) and Golden State Warriors’ Al Horford (20) move over in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Portland Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday (5) gains a rebound against the Golden State Warriors' Gary Payton II (0) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Portland Trail Blazers’ Jrue Holiday (5) gains a rebound against the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) in the second quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) lays up a three point basket and draws a foul against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) lays up a three point basket and draws a foul against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of an NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Originally Published:

    Joseph Dycus

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  • Inmate’s death at Redwood City jail investigated as homicide

    REDWOOD CITY – An inmate’s death last week at a Redwood City jail is being investigated as a drug-related homicide, authorities said.

    Jason Green

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  • Jimmy Butler, Warriors dealing with injuries to start preseason

    SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors should have all of their stars available for their preseason opener against the Lakers at Chase Center on Sunday.

    Jimmy Butler “tweaked” his ankle during training camp practice on Thursday, and coach Steve Kerr and the medical staff held Butler out during the next two days. A few hours before tipoff, Kerr said the 36-year-old forward should be healthy enough to play.

    “I think he’s gonna play,” Kerr said. “The vets won’t play in the second half. So Steph, Al, Jimmy  and Draymond, first half only, maybe 15 minutes.”

    New signing De’Anthony Melton was also ruled unavailable for Sunday, as the guard is still rehabbing from a torn ACL that ended his 2024-25 season after just six games.

    Rookie forward Alex Toohey’s debut was also delayed by at least one game as the Australian second-round pick is still dealing with tendinitis in his right knee. Seth Curry, Steph’s younger brother, was also a scratch.

    “It’s because he came in late and hasn’t been cleared by the training staff,” Kerr said, noting that Seth Curry is completely healthy. He added that Kuminga is expected to play.

    Third-year center Trayce Jackson-Davis, whom Kerr has praised during training camp after Jackson-Davis entered the preseason having slimmed down to 245 pounds, was questionable with a thumb injury.

    Joseph Dycus

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  • Bay Area high school football roundup 2025: Best of Week 6 action

    Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football roundup.

    Here, you’ll find all the details from the weekend’s action in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses teams that play in leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

    Check back every Saturday during the season for scores, highlights and top performers, updated throughout the day.

    If you have not already, please subscribe here for complete digital access all season long. Your contributions keep us going.

    On to the roundup …

    Ranked teams

    No. 1 De La Salle 35, Cathedral Catholic 14

    Quarterback Brayden Knight rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns as host De La Salle dominated San Diego powerhouse Cathedral Catholic. The Spartans ended the night with 250 rushing yards. Nathan Canilao was in Concord and has the story here.

    No. 3 Pittsburg 30, No. 5 Los Gatos 27

    Pittsburg made the long trip down to the South Bay and beat Los Gatos on Luis Rodriguez’s 43-yard field goal with less than 20 seconds to play. It was Rodriguez’s second clutch kick of the fourth quarter after he nailed a 37-yarder to tie the game. Christian Babcock has the recap from Los Gatos here.

    No. 6 San Ramon Valley 49, Granada 13

    Owen Power’s 30-yard pick-six set the tone as SRV routed visiting Granada. Quarterback Cole Dawes had five touchdown passes to five receivers. Power also added a 10-yard rushing score. “Overall it was a great team win in all three phases of the game,” SRV coach Aaron Becker said. SRV (4-2) will begin East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division play next week at Amador Valley. Granada dropped to 3-3. – Nathan Canilao

    No. 8 California 40, Livermore 22

    Luke Taylor remains on a roll for California as the Grizzlies’ all-purpose player scored three touchdowns against previously unbeaten Livermore. Taylor caught two TD passes and ran one in for Cal, which is 6-0. Arjun Banerjee ran in a TD and tossed two scores. Jordan Lee had a rushing TD, and Henry Dupin snatched a pick-six. Livermore fell to 5-1. — Christian Babcock

    No. 10 Archbishop Mitty 32, No. 12 Valley Christian 7

    Mitty stretched its winning streak to four games as Joseph Engin passed for two touchdowns and ran for one to lead the Monarchs over Valley Christian in a WCAL game at Foothill College. Engin threw an 11-yard TD pass to Marquis Marshall and a 7-yard scoring pass to Kai Sniffen. Lazaro Faraj-Washington’s 6-yard run capped the scoring for Mitty, which also had field goals by Chase Graff from 53 and 32 yards out. Graff also contributed eight tackles, including a sack. Faraj-Washington accounted for 122 yards, and Engin passed for 163. Rome Leota-Pritchard’s 66-yard TD pass to Riley McElvane gave Valley an early 7-0 lead. Mitty improved to 4-1, 2-0 heading into a league game next Friday at St. Francis. Valley fell to 2-3, 0-2. – Darren Sabedra

    No. 11 Campolindo 35, Alhambra 6

    Campolindo scored the first 28 points, rolling to a nonleague victory at home over Alhambra to improve to 5-0. Everett Zellmer (12-yard reception), Jacob Gocobachi (5-yard dive), Rai Marchetti (21-yard fade) and Ryan Erickson (5-yard out) scored first-half touchdowns for Campo. Colton Nakano’s TD reception in the third quarter cut the margin to 28-6 for Alhambra, which also got strong defensive play from free safety Calvin Spellman. Erickson’s 62-yard jet sweep completed the scoring. Alhambra fell to 2-3. – Darren Sabedra

    No. 20 Salesian 51, Ygnacio Valley 8

    Sophomore quarterback Izeah Buchanan threw two long touchdown passes, one apiece to Carlton Perrilliat and Joseph Tarin in the first quarter to set the tone for Salesian’s rout. Four running backs scored touchdowns for The Pride as longtime coach Chad Nightengale subbed in his JV and deep varsity reserves by the middle of the second quarter. Salesian led 37-0 at halftime. Roberto Mora made a 43-yard field goal for the Richmond school, while Micheal Johnson connected with Isaiah Moala-Robson for Ygnacio Valley’s only  touchdown. Salesian (5-0) travels to Vallejo to start TCAL Rock play on Friday, while Ygnacio Valley (0-5) will take on Berean Christian in DAL Mountain play. — Joseph Dycus

    No. 22 Wilcox 49, Capuchino 0

    Wilcox finished its nonleague slate by routing Capuchino at home in Santa Clara. The Chargers (3-2) got three touchdowns from Santino Barragon, two on the ground and one on a fumble return. Jeremiah Arevalos added another defensive score, returning an interception for a TD. Freshman Myles Cheney caught three passes and scored on one. QB Kai Imahara ran in a TD and threw another to Cheney. Wilcox begins Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division play at home against Palo Alto next week. Capuchino (1-4) will start league action next Friday at Carlmont. — Christian Babcock

    East Bay

    Amador Valley 17, Dublin 14

    Oliver De La Torre kicked a 47-yard field goal with under a minute left to lift Amador Valley over Dublin at home. The Dons held a 14-3 lead at halftime, but Dublin stormed back with three points in the third quarter and eight in the fourth. Andre Armendariz 1-yard rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion tied the score with eight minutes left. With a minute left, Amador Valley marched down the field to give De La Torre a chance to win it. The senior delivered. Amador Valley’s Vincent Maiorana had a rushing score and quarterback Nicco Kovacs threw a touchdown pass to Anthony Harrington. Dublin’s Isaiah Kelley threw a touchdown score to Tiras Campbell. – Nathan Canilao 

    Bishop O’Dowd 54, Castro Valley 42

    Lamar Ellis rushed for five touchdowns to lead O’Dowd to a comeback victory over Castro Valley in a battle of WACC Foothill Division teams. The Dragons entered the fourth quarter down eight, but exploded for 34 points in the final period to escape a Castro Valley upset. Isaiah Latu was a standout on defense, intercepting two passes. O’Dowd (3-3, 2-0) will host Berkeley on Friday. Castro Valley (0-6, 0-2) will travel to Moreau Catholic for its next game. – Nathan Canilao

    Concord 42, Encinal 14

    Juan Gonzalez passed for four touchdowns and ran for one as Concord rolled to a nonleague win over Encinal in Alameda. Erik Madayag caught two of Gonzalez’s TD passes. The others went to Max Dashner and Andrew Lopez. Jacari Gibson added a 65-yard touchdown run. Aiden Cunningham, Isaiah Singleton and Emmanuel Owens stood out on defense for the visitors. Concord improved to 4-2. Encinal dropped to 1-4. – Darren Sabedra

    Miramonte 38, College Park 14

    Used as only a kicker last season, Miramonte senior James Rogers told his coaches he could do more for the team this year. Friday, he intercepted three passes, was on the receiving end of two touchdowns and kicked a 43-yard field goal that was partially blocked to lead Miramonte to a nonleague victory at College Park. David Roman and George Gilbert each added an interception and a touchdown reception. Carson Blair threw for about 220 yards and Jonah Imberg and Charlie Hwang combined to run for about 100 yards, including a TD by Hwang. Wyatt Strand had a sack and Harrison Feusier contributed six tackles as Miramonte improved to 4-2. Jayden Auld and Demorian McCray caught TD passes from Ethan Havens for College Park (1-5). – Darren Sabedra

    Oakland 54, Dougherty Valley 3

    Oakland routed Dougherty Valley in its final nonleague game of the regular season behind a monster game from Colorado State commit Yasser Jackson. Jackson caught five passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 27 yards and a score. Jackson was also a force on defense, racking up nine tackles – three of which were behind the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Lenox Colvin completed 9-of-11 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Running back DK Hicks had 189 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. – Nathan Canilao

    Redwood Christian 27, Kennedy-Richmond 0

    Elijah Simmons scored on touchdown runs of 5, 33 and 7 yards to lead undefeated Redwood Christian to a nonleague victory on the road over Kennedy. The second-year program from San Lorenzo improved to 6-0 while dropping Kennedy to 0-3-1. Landon Devoe-Krowicki’s 9-yard touchdown run opened the scoring for Redwood Christian, which led 20-0 at halftime. – Darren Sabedra

    South Bay/Peninsula

    Leland 15, Oak Grove 14

    Leland, down 14-0 in the fourth quarter, mounted a stirring comeback to steal this one on the road. Sam McFarland cut into the initial deficit with a 5-yard TD run, then Ian Qi scored the two-point conversion to make it 14-8. With four minutes to play, Cole Markos caught a TD pass on a deep ball from Phil Arsintescu. David Ahlgren converted the game-winning PAT for the Chargers. Leland picked up its first win and is now 1-4. Oak Grove dropped to 0-5.  — Christian Babcock  

    MacDonald 44, Cupertino 7

    MacDonald remained perfect in its second season of varsity football, getting started from the get-go as Pablo Guzman returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a TD in a PAL Lake rout of Cupertino. Wideout Ethan Bugarin had three catches for 100 yards and two TDs. Nate Pullickial had a 75-yard pick-six and a rush TD. Kush Patel had five touchbacks, went 5-5 on PATs and kicked a 39-yard field goal. MacDonald is 5-0, 2-0, Cupertino is 0-5, 0-2.  — Christian Babcock

    Silver Creek 17, Gilroy 7

    Senior Jordan Thompson rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Raiders to a win on the road over Gilroy on Thursday. Silver Creek rushed for 260 yards as a team, with seven runners touching the ball. Senior Tyler Nguyen led Silver Creek’s defense with seven tackles while junior Marvin Saldivar had two hurries and a pass deflection. Silver Creek (3-2) will open league play at Pioneer on Friday. Gilroy dropped to 1-4. – Nathan Canilao

    Darren Sabedra, Nathan Canilao, Christian Babcock

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  • Two men wounded in West Oakland shooting

    OAKLAND — Two men were wounded, one at least twice, in a Thursday night shooting at a West Oakland parking lot, authorities said.

    Both men, one a 47-year-old Oakland man who was wounded in the head and leg and a 31-year-old San Francisco man who was hit in the leg, were in stable condition Friday at a hospital, authorities said.

    Harry Harris

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  • Three men arrested on suspicion of child sex crimes following Menlo Park undercover operation

    MENLO PARK — Three men were charged this week with meeting with a minor with the intent of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior after an undercover police officer posed as a 13-year-old girl on online dating websites, prosecutors said.

    The operation was aimed at combatting child exploitation, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. All three men allegedly arrived at a location where they believed they would be meeting the fake 13-year-old girl.

    “It is never ceases to amaze me … how many predators there are out there who are more than willing to reach out, develop contact with juvenile girls — juvenile boys too — and to try and set up a time to get together to engage in illegal sexual conduct,” said San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. “What Menlo Park has chosen to do is to, by using an undercover (officer), … basically, it’s almost like throwing a hook in the water to see: Does anything catch on?”

    Yony Sifredo Trochez Martinez, a 33-year-old resident of San Jose, and Jefferson Aldair Martinez Hernadez, a 26-year-old resident of San Leandro, were each charged with three counts of communicating with a minor with the intent of committing lewd and lascivious behavior, one count of meeting with a minor for the purposes of lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of distribution of harmful material to children with the intent of sexual intercourse, prosecutors said.

    Arunkumar Kizhakkedath Unnikrishnan, a 45-year-old resident of Mountain View, was charged with two counts of communicating with a minor with the intent of committing lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of meeting with a child for the purposes of lewd or lascivious behavior, prosecutors added.

    All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    On Sept. 24, a Menlo Park Police Department officer represented himself as a 13-year-old girl on WhatsApp and dating website Badoo, prosecutors said. Three men independently reached out to the undercover officer, and spoke to the fake girl despite being explicitly told she was 13.

    The three men texted with the girl to set up a meeting for sex, prosecutors said. They also sent graphic photos and videos and discussed “the sex they would engage in.”

    The officers arranged for meetings with the fake 13-year-old girl on Gilbert Street in Menlo Park, prosecutors added. When each of the men showed up at their separate meeting times, they were arrested.

    Wagstaffe added the that charges were chosen specifically in anticipation of certain defenses the defendants may use.

    Caelyn Pender

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  • Is it better to rent or own in California? That depends.

    The debate over renting vs. owning has long posed a challenge for households in California. Arguments have morphed in recent years as home prices and mortgage rates soared beyond the increasing rents. To illustrate the complexities, we’ve created a hypothetical rent vs. buy scenario to track housing finances over a 30-year period. However, the math doesn’t account for the intangibles: the flexibility of renting compared to the stability of owning.

    HOW MONTHLY COSTS COMPARE

    Key in any housing calculation is monthly cost. Our example estimates California house rent today at $4,000 a month vs. buying a $900,000 house with a 10% down mortgage at 6.5% plus property taxes, insurance, association fees, and repairs. The scenario assumes costs grow with historical inflation and the mortgage rate is lowered twice by a half-point through refinancing.

     

    RUNNING THE TAB

    Homeowners need to repay their mortgage plus cover a range of additional costs. So renting’s total costs run cheaper for nearly two decades. But owning ends up costing slightly less over time. Here’s cumulative costs by year, in thousands of dollars.

    THE BOUNTY: Ownership’s edge

    Owning’s true financial benefit arises from the increasing value of the home. Assuming historical gains of 5% per year, the owners gets a $3.8 million asset after 30 years. The renter, who hypothetically invested the $90,000 down payment in the stock market, would accumulate $929,000. Here’s investment value by year, in thousands of dollars.

    WHERE IT GOES

    Look at the slices of 30 years of housing expenditures, rent vs. own. The renter just pays the landlord. Owner costs go to principal and interest on the mortgage, property taxes, home insurance, association fees, and repair and maintenance costs. Note: Interest payments and property taxes can be tax deductible.

    A HISTORY LESSON

    Look at the past 30 years of historical returns for three key factors in this rent vs. buy calculation, using 10-year moving averages for rent (California Consumer Price Indexes); home values (federal California index) and stocks (Standard & Poor’s 500).

    Unfathomable, unaffordable

    California’s long-running and steep affordability crunch makes the rent vs. buy debate a moot argument for many people. Housing costs throttle numerous California family budgets. The state’s flock of high- paying jobs pushes up housing costs well past what more typical paychecks can easily afford. That’s true for households considering renting or buying.

    Stagnant ownership

    Stubbornly high ownership costs have kept California’s share of people living in homes they own relatively stable, except for a temporary surge in the early 2000s when mortgages were too easily obtained. Those risky loans played a key role in the Great Recession, as borrowers defaulted in huge numbers.

    Housing afforability index

    It’s tough to be a California homebuyer. The estimated number of Californians earning the statewide median income who could comfortably purchase a single-family home is falling sharply, according to a California Association of Realtors index. The Golden State share of qualified buyers is significantly below the national norm.

    Housing-cost stresses

    The 2024 edition of Census housing data details how California’s cost of shelter varies between renters and homeowners — with or without mortgages on the property.

    But because renters typically earn less than owners, it’s more likely that their housing costs exceed 50% of their household incomes, an extreme level of financial stress.

    Big housing worries

    A statewide survey last year asked “How often do you worry about the cost of housing for you and your family?” Those who said “every day” or “almost every day” …

     

     

     

    Jeff Goertzen1, Jonathan Lansner

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  • Heartbreaker: San Jose State’s hopes of second straight win over Stanford dashed in final seconds

    STANFORD — Walker Eget passed for 473 yards and three touchdowns, including a score early in the fourth quarter that gave San Jose State a 12-point lead, but the Spartans’ hopes of defeating Stanford for the second year in a row were dashed in a 30-29 loss on Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.

    It was the third time in four games SJSU’s fate was decided in the final seconds. The Spartans (1-3) missed a pair of field goal attempts in the final 90 seconds of their season-opening 16-14 loss to Central Michigan, and held off Idaho 31-28 a week ago on Denis Lynch’s field goal as time expired.

    San Jose State Spartans’ Leland Smith (1) catches a long pass against the Stanford Cardinal’s Collin Wright (6) in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Saturday night, the Spartans allowed nine points in the final 5:54 in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, including Stanford’s go-ahead touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.

    SJSU led 29-21 on Lynch’s 31-yard field goal with 7:51 remaining and had a chance to hold off the Cardinal on the final drive. The Spartans had the Cardinal stalled near mid-field on 4th and 10, but allowed a 34-yard pass to keep the drive alive. Stanford’s go-ahead score came four plays later.

    San Jose State had just enough time to run three plays but didn’t get beyond it’s own 46 yard line.

    SJSU has a chance to defeat Stanford in back-to-back seasons for the first time since they won three three in a row from 1998-2000. The Spartans won 34-31 last year in San Jose.

    Saturday night, SJSU almost entirely abandoned the run against Stanford, running just 12 designed run attempts for 32 yards. Eget had 19 yards on scrambles.

    San Jose State Spartans' Kyri Shoels (4) celebrates his touchdown with a teammate afteer scoring against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    San Jose State Spartans’ Kyri Shoels (4) celebrates his touchdown with a teammate afteer scoring against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a football game at Statanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    The gameplan coming in was to attack the Cardinal secondary that has struggled against the pass and it allowed for the Spartans to have three receivers over 100 receiving yards: Danny Scudero (135 yards on 11 catches), Kyri Shoels (147 yards on 10 catches) and Leland Smith (101 yards on six catches).

    Lynch, coming off his winning kick the previous week against Idaho, made his first two attempts against Stanford, but then missed attempts from 28 yards and 22 yards before converting his fourth-quarter kick.

    The Spartans led 20-14 at halftime and had sacked Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson four times by intermission, but were unable to stop the Cardinal from scoring on its final three drives of the game. Gulbranson passed for 444 yards and two touchdowns.

    The Spartans open Mountain West play on Friday night against New Mexico (3-1, 0-0 MW) at CEFCU Stadium.

    Aaron Johnson

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  • SF Giants’ Willy Adames named 2025 Willie Mac Award winner

    SAN FRANCISCO — In his first season as a San Francisco Giant, shortstop Willy Adames has been named the 2025 Willie Mac Award winner.

    Since its inception in 1980, the Willie Mac Award, named after Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, goes to the most inspirational Giant in a given season. The award is voted on by players, coaches, fans, training staff and clubhouse staff.

    The past winners who were in attendance on Friday included third baseman Matt Chapman (2024), designated hitter/first baseman Wilmer Flores (2022) and former catcher and current president of baseball operations Buster Posey (2012).

    “He’s the same guy every day,” said manager Bob Melvin. “He loves playing baseball. Even now, he doesn’t want days off. He wants to keep playing. It’s enthusiasm, it’s support for his teammates, it’s energetic, it’s every day — almost as advertised from what I’ve heard before (he signed).

    “And now you look up and you see the numbers, too, the numbers are there as well after a slow start, which can be difficult in a new place. I’m very impressed with Willy Adames.”

    Entering Friday, Adames led all Giants in FanGraphs’ WAR (3.7). Over a team-high 157 games, Adames was hitting .225/.318/.415 with 28 home runs, 84 RBIs, 91 runs scored and 12 steals.

    Adames had a rocky start to his tenure in San Francisco after signing a seven-year, $182 million deal this offseason, the largest contract in franchise history at the time. By the end of May, Adames’ .620 OPS was the lowest mark among the Giants’ qualified hitters. Adames also rated out as a below-average defender as well, worth -3 outs above average through two months.

    The turning point of Adames’ season arrived in early June. On June 8, Adames was given his first off day of the season. On June 9, Adames spent the Giants’ team off day meditating in the mountains of Colorado, which “made me go back to my roots.”

    “That (day) put me in a better spot mentally. Since that day, I was like, ‘Just be yourself,’ ” Adames said. “It’s been better. It’s been going in the right direction even though we haven’t been playing the best ball as a team. We’re moving forward.”

    Adames has been one of the best players in baseball since receiving that mental respite. Since June 10, Adames ranks 10th among all players in the majors in FanGraphs’ WAR, posting an .840 OPS with 23 homers and 58 RBIs during that span.

    The 30-year-old shortstop entered Friday two homers away from becoming the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. His 28 home runs as a shortstop are the second-most in the majors, trailing only the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor (31).

    “He took it hard that the offensive numbers weren’t there early on, but again, he’s picked it up and he’s on the verge of hitting 30 homers,” Melvin said.

    Worth noting

    Justice delos Santos

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  • Map: Starbucks in the Bay Area that are on the closure list

    After Starbucks announced it would be shutting hundreds of stores, its website is listing dozens in the Bay Area as being closed as of Sunday, Sept. 28.

    Bay Area News Group

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  • Caller threatens to ‘shoot up’ East Palo Alto school

    EAST PALO ALTO – A private East Palo Alto school was locked down and searched Tuesday after a caller threatened to “shoot up” the campus, according to authorities.

    Jason Green

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  • SF Giants inch closer to elimination as Cardinals rough up Verlander

    SAN FRANCISCO — One game closer to elimination.

    Justin Verlander allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings as the Giants (77-80) lost 6-5 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night at Oracle Park, falling 3.5 games behind the Mets and Reds for the final NL wild card spot with five games remaining.

    San Francisco can be mathematically eliminated on Tuesday if they lose and the Mets win. New York currently owns an 80-76 record and is tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final NL wild card spot. If the Giants lose on Tuesday, the best they could finish 81-81. If San Francisco and New York both finish with 81 wins, the Mets own the tiebreaker after taking four of six games.

    For Verlander, this outing was a departure from his recent run of excellence. Over his last five starts entering play, Verlander allowed just three runs over 31 innings (0.87 ERA) with 28 strikeouts. When Verlander faced the Cardinals earlier this month, he tossed six shutout innings with six strikeouts to no walks in a no decision.

    Verlander’s four-seam fastball velocity was noticeably down against the Cardinals. On the season, Verlander’s average four-seam clocks in at 94.0 mph. On Monday, Verlander was down to 92.3 mph. Melvin said the 42-year-old might be “a little bit on fumes right now,” and Verlander agreed that he felt “a little lethargic on the mound.”

    San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 rubs up a new ball after giving up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera, #48 scoring Lars Nootbaar #21 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 

    “We’ve been cracking the whip pretty hard,” Verlander said. “It’s been that time of the year. That takes its toll. Generally, I’ve been feeling pretty good. This is the first one where I felt like I was a little lethargic. Just have to make sure I focus on my recovery this next time through and hopefully refresh.”

    Verlander added: “Today, for whatever reason, went out to the bullpen and started doing my stuff and just kind of feel like you’re moving underwater a little bit. It just doesn’t feel as fresh as it does sometimes. It’s not the only time that ever happens. It’s one of those things you go out there and try to grind and make the best of it. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen for me today.”

    Verlander would be in line to start against the Colorado Rockies in the final series of the year, and the right-hander said he would want to make a start regardless of whether the Giants are still in contention.

    “As long as I feel okay physically — which I have,” Verlander said. “It’s my job.”

    Heliot Ramos began the scoring in the bottom of the first with his fifth leadoff home run of the season, joining Bobby Bonds as the only right-handed hitter in Giants franchise history to have at least five leadoff homers in a single season. Rafael Devers also hit his 33rd home run of the season, a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.

    San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos #17 gestures as he crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
    San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos #17 gestures as he crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy #36 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Cardinals scored a run apiece in the third and fourth following Ramos’ homer, but the Giants scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead on an RBI single from Patrick Bailey and a two-run single from Ramos. St. Louis responded to San Francisco’s three-run fourth with a four-run fifth, knocking Verlander out of the game in the process.

    Two of those runs were the product of Iván Herrera’s two-run shot that landed in the Giants’ bullpen. The two other runs followed an error by second baseman Casey Schmitt, who fumbled the transfer on a softly-hit grounder from Pedro Pagés with the infield in and a runner on third.

    If Schmitt made the throw and recorded the out at the plate, Verlander would’ve had an opportunity to finish the fifth inning. Instead, Melvin went to his bullpen and Verlander’s night was over.

    “I’ll tell you what, he still competes,” Melvin said. “He’s on his way to potentially pitching his way out of that inning. We ended up making an error, and at that point in time, it was time to go get him with the pitches he had. You could see he was ratcheting it up another level like we’ve seen him a bunch here, and then unfortunately, we let a run in.”

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  • Is that a great horned owl making un-owl like sounds in San Jose?

    DEAR JOAN: We live in an urban area of San Jose, and sometimes at night hear the hooting of an owl of some sort. Recently we heard that repeated hooting, but interspersed with a call that I can only describe as more like a peacock!

    Several hoots, followed by a sort of “waahh” then more hoots. I checked on Bird.net, which told me it’s a great horned owl and that females can make more unusual calls such as the one we heard. Is that true? And, we didn’t know that great horned owls live in urban areas!

    — Malcolm Smith, San Jose

    DEAR MALCOLM: That’s absolutely true. Great horned owls don’t have the repertoire of a song bird, but they do have some range.

    The call of the great horned owl is described as hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo, and the female will often add in a one syllable call that is more guttural.

    Young owls make a high-pitched demanding squawk when telling their parents they’re hungry. When angry or threatened, the owls make a rapid clicking sound with their beaks.

    We have all sorts of wildlife living largely unnoticed in our suburban jungle, which is why it’s important to not do things that might harm them.

    DEAR JOAN: One of our cats is a challenge to pill and I have found a different solution that works for us. We have a pill syringe.

    We place a pill in the syringe and open our cat’s mouth and with the syringe shoot the pill to the back of the mouth. If you get the pill past the hump of the tongue, the cat has to swallow the pill.  The plus to this method is you can’t accidentally put your fingers between the cat’s teeth.

    — Scott Gerken, Bay Area

    DEAR SCOTT: I’m all for avoiding a cat’s teeth. Thanks for the tip.

    DEAR JOAN: Your recent column on a cat not willing to allow flea medication resonated with me.

    I needed to figure out a way to trim my cat’s claws without taking her to the vet every time. My cat loves wet food so I put her food into her bowl and immediately grab the trimmer and get to work. I pick up each paw, separate the toes and nip off the sharp ends.

    I had to acclimate her to this by rubbing her toes while she scarfed her tasty food. I then started gently getting the trimmer near the claws until I had success. It took about a week but now it’s pretty easy to do.

    The wary cat in your column might also benefit from having very tasty kibbles while “mom” gently rubs the spot where flea medication will eventually be applied.

    — Celia (and Mimi the cat), Santa Cruz

    DEAR CELIA AND MIMI: What a great tip. Thank you.

    DEAR JOAN: My technique with my dog is to grind the pill with a mortar and pestle until it is broken down, like fine sand. Then I mix it into wet pet food really well. Usually works really well.

    — Steve Kessler, Bay Area

    DEAR STEVE: Excellent idea, although I’d check with my vet to see that it’s OK to do that. Some medications are supposed to be given whole.

    The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.

    Joan Morris, Correspondent

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  • Laver Cup Night 2: Taylor Fritz upsets Carlos Alcaraz in San Francisco

    The most highly anticipated player matchup of the 2025 Laver Cup — world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz vs. top-ranked American Taylor Fritz — kicked off the night session on Saturday in front of a jam-packed house of tennis fans at Chase Center in San Francisco.

    Despite being the world No. 5, Fritz was the heavy underdog in this match, given his head-to-head record with the Spaniard — 0-3, with just one set won — plus Alcaraz having won six majors, including the U.S. Open earlier in September.

    Yet, somehow, Fritz managed to pull off the big upset — and notch one of the signature victories of his career — as he beat Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 and pushed Team World to a 7-3 lead in this Laver Cup competition. (The first team to score 13 points wins the cup.)

    The match definitely lived up to the advance hype, with these two top 5-ranked right-handers drawing huge rounds of applause from the crowd for their numerous circus shots, thunderous forehands and stellar court coverage.

    Yet, there was one moment when the crowd was louder than at any other point in the evening — and, for that matter, the whole tournament thus far — and it didn’t actually occur during the Alcaraz-Fritz match. Instead, it happened during the pre-match warmups/introductions segment, when the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry and Laver Cup co-founder Roger Federer — two of the most beloved athletes in the history of professional sport — walked out onto the court to do the coin toss.

    As Fritz kicked off the match on serve, it initially looked like the same old script might play out. In the three previous matches that they’ve played (all victories for Alcaraz), the Spaniard would break the big American in his first service game. So, really, it was no surprise when Alcaraz had two chances to break in that first game.

    Yet, Fritz then began writing a whole new script — erasing a 15-40 deficit — to capture the game. Alcaraz then won game 2, with an ace down the “T,” with Fritz returning the favor to take game 3.

    Fritz had two break chances in game 4 — up 15-40 — but he’d only need one, as he mixed power forehands with a soft dropshot and, finally, an overhead lob that Alcaraz could only sail back into the net.

    Both players would then hold their serves, taking the match to 5-2, leaving Fritz the opportunity to serve out the set in the ninth game. At that point, the crowd seemed firmly in Alcaraz’s corner, chanting “Let’s go Carlos” in a fashion that would make you think that this Laver Cup was being held in Barcelona rather than Fritz’s home state. Yet, none of that derailed Fritz as he closed out the set 6-4.

    The two players — who also squared off on Friday night in a doubles match that went in Team Europe’s favor — kept up the high level of tennis early in the second set. Then, at 2-2, Fritz would make his move and secure three chances to break in the fifth game. An Alcaraz ace erased the first chance, but Fritz broke through on the second try, following a furious rally and a dropper from Alcaraz that fell short.

    Fritz would solidify the break in a tense service game, which ended with an overhead smash, and then go on to break the Spaniard yet again during a surprisingly loose, un-Alcaraz-like service game.

    Then Fritz was suddenly — and most would say surprisingly — serving for the match at 5-2. And he’d get the job done in 1 hour and 11 minutes, not only collecting up a true statement win for himself but also putting Team World in the driver seat to perhaps win the Laver Cup on Sunday.

    Team World 7, Team Europe 3.

    The Laver Cup continues through Sunday. For more information, visit lavercup.com.

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    Jim Harrington

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  • How to watch the 49ers’ home opener against the Cardinals on Sunday

    The San Francisco 49ers battle the Arizona Cardinals in their home opener at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1:25 p.m. PDT.

    The Niners are coming off consecutive road victories to open the season, including a 26-21 win in New Orleans with backup quarterback Mac Jones directing the offense.

    Pueng Vongs

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  • Win or go home: Valkyries face monumental Game 2 vs. Lynx

    SAN JOSE — The Valkyries’ season hangs in the balance. 

    Down 1-0 in their first-round series against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, Golden State faces a win-or-go-home Game 2 at SAP Center on Wednesday. 

    The expansion team has lost each of its last five games against the Lynx, and most recently suffered one of their worst losses of the season in Game 1 on Sunday in a 29-point defeat

    But while the Valkyries will be clear underdogs playing in an arena they haven’t called home, the gritty first-year team is confident anything can happen in front of their favorable crowd.

    “It’s win or die time,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said after Tuesday’s practice. “We understand that, but we’ve been approaching it every game since the time we played the L.A. Sparks (Aug. 9) and we made it a thing. In order to make the playoffs, it’s a must win mentality.

    “We don’t think of it potentially being our last, we just think it’s a must win. And then we got to do our job. Minnesota did their job at home and we got to take care of doing our job here at home. It’s a must win.”

    Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, right, drives past Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig) 

    With the season on the line, the Valkyries will be playing in front of a sold out crowd on Wednesday night. Golden State opted to stay in San Jose and held practice at SAP Center on Tuesday.

    Here are three keys for the Valkyries going into Game 2:

    Stopping guard penetration 

    While Napheesa Collier is the driving force of Minnesota’s offense, it’s been the guard duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the viral steaming pair called the StudBudz, that have given Golden State’s vaunted defense problems. 

    Williams, the steady floor general, has a knack for finding a way to get into the paint to score or dish to shooters. The veteran point guard is a threat to pull up from the 3-point line or in the mid-range as she has averaged 13.2 points per game on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.1% from the 3-point line. 

    Point guard Natisha Hiedeman has torched the Valkyries coming off the bench. The sixth woman of the year candidate has scored 24, 21, and 18 points in the last three games against the Valkyries and has routinely been the spark plug for Minnesota in stopping the Golden State’s runs. 

    Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) reacts after making a three point shot against the Golden State Valkyries during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
    Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) reacts after making a three point shot against the Golden State Valkyries during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig) 

    On Sunday, Hiedeman posted the second-highest plus-minus rating in Lynx postseason history with a +32. 

    “We really need to try to be more solid on defense, but as a unit,” Valkyries center Iliana Rupert said. “Be more aware when to shift and try to help more. Even if there’s a lot of rotations, at least not letting them get easy buckets. So we saw all of that on the video, and hopefully tomorrow will get even better.”

    Make open looks

    This one is simple. The Valkyries need to hit more shots. 

    After a hot start in which they hit nine of their first 18 shots, and five of their first eight 3-pointers in the first quarter, the Valkyries finished the game making just 11 more field goal attempts. 

    In the five games the Valkyries played against the Lynx this season, they shot just 36% from the field and 25.7 from beyond the arc. 

    A common thread in each of the five losses has been Golden State’s inability to stop Minnesota when it gets on a roll. The Valkyries have kept the game close in spurts, but the Lynx have always been able to deliver a crushing run that puts the game out of reach, 

    “We have to respond better,” Valkyries shooting guard Kate Martin said. “We have to know that basketball is about a game of runs, and they’re a really good team. So they’re gonna go on their runs. We’re gonna have to limit that as much as possible and make adjustments quicker.”

    MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 14: Cecilia Zandalasini #24 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
    MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 14: Cecilia Zandalasini #24 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) 

    A big factor going into Wednesday’s game will be if the Valkyries could get consistent scoring out of sharpshooting forward Cecilia Zandalasini. 

    Zandalasini will be playing in her fourth game since coming back from a calf injury that kept her sidelined for eight contests. She shot just 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line on Sunday. 

    Nathan Canilao

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  • SF Giants lose third straight as top prospect Eldridge goes hitless in debut

    PHOENIX — Taylor Rashi thought Bryce Eldridge got one.

    In the top of the seventh, Rashi tried to sneak an 88.9 mph four-seam fastball past Eldridge for a strike. Eldridge sent the heater 407 feet to left-center field, the crack of the bat reverberating throughout Chase Field. Rashi lifelessly hunched over, likely believing he’d be responsible for Eldridge’s first hit, homer, run and RBI — all in one.

    Luckily for Rashi, he was pitched at one of seven ballparks that could contain Eldridge’s blast, one that registered at 105.9 mph off the bat. Center fielder Jorge Barrosa tracked down the fly ball at the warning track, lightly jumped into the padding for style and Eldridge remained searching for his first hit.

    Eldridge ended the night hitless over three at-bats as the Giants lost 8-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, their third straight defeat that puts them two games back of the Mets for the third and final NL wild card spot. But with that one loud swing, he provided a glimpse of the awesome power he possesses.

    “I know I hit it good, so I was just hoping it was going to drop somewhere,” Eldridge said. “Barrosa made a good play, but definitely a confidence booster.”

    “He looks good up there. He had some good swings,” said manager Bob Melvin. “It’s too bad he didn’t get the one hit there, but certainly didn’t look like he was overmatched. Didn’t look like he was nervous. I’m sure there were some nerves there, but looks pretty hitter-ish at the plate.”

    Along with playing in his first career game, Eldridge had another rather obscure first experience: his first time using a team-issued bat.

    After learning of his promotion on Sunday at the OKC Will Rogers International Airport, Eldridge re-routed from Sacramento to Phoenix. Eldridge’s gear, however, was already en route to Sacramento, leaving him without his tools of the trade. The only equipment Eldridge had on Monday was from what he left in his car at the nearby Papago Park, the team’s minor league facility.

    The list of items in Eldridge’s locker on Monday included a black first baseman’s mitt with the inscription “Wayne,” one of Eldridge’s nicknames. People began calling him “Wayne” because his first name often auto-corrected to “Bruce,” prompting someone to call him “Bruce Wayne,” the alias of Batman.

    No amount of familiarity with his gear would’ve helped him against the Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen, who allowed one run over six innings with six strikeouts.

    Gallen, a one-time All-Star, won both battles against Eldridge, getting him to ground out in their first meeting and striking him out in their second meeting. Still, Eldridge held his own against one of the game’s better right-handed pitchers, having some impressive takes on changeups out of the zone.

    “I think that’s a good start facing a guy like him,” Eldridge said. “I had fun. He had a good plan against me, and it as fun to get to face him and I felt like I belonged. I feel like I competed and did my best.”

    Added Eldridge: “We have a good idea of what these guys are trying to do. I think just being able to spit on those definitely gave me some confidence, not going to try and reach down low for those ones.”

    The 20-year-old’s deep drive and Casey Schmitt’s third-inning solo homer were just about all the Giants could celebrate on a night where they mustered two lone hits — both off Schmitt’s bat.

    Justice delos Santos

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  • A Silicon Valley engineer’s go-to lunch spot closed. So he bought the place.

    For 26 years, Silicon Valley engineer John Vink had a weekly lunch routine.

    Every Wednesday he’d head to the nearest Armadillo Willy’s barbecue restaurant for the Pit-Smoked Boneless Chicken Sandwich, a juicy thigh topped with jalapeno-spiked barbecue sauce and fresh jalapenos.

    “When I worked for Apple I went to the Cupertino location. Then when I worked for Nest I went to Los Altos. Then Google bought Nest, so we” — by then it was a group, the VIM, Very Important Meeting lunch club — “had to come to this location,” he said, sitting in what was formerly the Sunnyvale Willy’s.

    It’s now his restaurant.

    The abrupt closure of three Armadillo Willy’s in late June set Vink in motion. “I had to buy it,” he said, or lose his favorite sandwich. “We moved fast.”

    Vink negotiated a bankruptcy court sale and a new lease on the El Camino Real property and partnered with restaurant veteran Ousmane Barry, who was general manager of the Santa Clara Willy’s. They renamed the place Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli, which reflects both the Texas barbecue side of the menu and the new New York City-inspired deli sandwiches.

    The John Vink sandwich of choice is on the new menu. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Empire Armadillo opened quietly a few weeks ago and will hold a big public celebration starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday with a blues band, local dignitaries, the obligatory ribbon-cutting and a food deal for the first lunch and dinner customers.

    Former customers have been posting excited reactions on social media and hugging and thanking the staff when they arrive. “It’s open!” customer Lani Ogilvie rejoiced when she spotted the sign Friday. She ordered a baby back rib plate and said she couldn’t wait to break the news to her colleagues.

    Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein praised the restaurant team’s innovation. “Empire Armadillo is a story of loyalty, creativity and community spirit,” he said. “When John stepped in to preserve a beloved Bay Area BBQ tradition, he also gave Sunnyvale something brand news: a place where Texas barbecue and New York deli flavors come together.”

    Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink, left, and company president Ousman Barry get a bite of a chicken sandwich with jalapeños and cheese, jalapeño sauce, served with spicy peanut coleslaw, and a pastrami and provolone cheese on rye bread at the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years at the former Armadillo Willy's BBQ, bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink, left, and company president Ousman Barry get a bite of a chicken sandwich with jalapeños and cheese, jalapeño sauce, served with spicy peanut coleslaw, and a pastrami and provolone cheese on rye bread at the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years at the former Armadillo Willy’s BBQ, bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Besides a refreshed restaurant with new tables, diners will find something else new: A display case of iPhones and other products that Vink had a role in creating over the decades..

    For his nascent culinary venture, he has engineered a knowledgeable team, hiring several of the restaurant chain’s longtime pitmasters,

    “It’s great that they wanted to keep the Armadillo Willy’s legacy going,” said Jerzy Alanis, chef and assistant GM, who is a 30-year veteran. He’s joined by pitmaster-cooks Maricruz Sanchez (28 years), Mario Miranda (26 years) and Omar Hernandez (17 years).

    A clock from the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli hangs on the wall at the new Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years at the former Armadillo Willy's BBQ, bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    A clock from the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli hangs on the wall at the new Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years at the former Armadillo Willy’s BBQ, bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    They’re stoking the familiar fire pit near the front door with oak wood and making recipes they’ve been churning out for all those years. Besides the bestselling brisket and ribs, they smoke pork, turkey breast, tri-tip and Texas jalapeno sausage.

    Willy’s side dishes are particularly popular. “People come in for the beans, the coleslaw.” a slightly spicy peanut version, Alanis said, “And the cornbread muffins,” Miranda chimed in. Those are served with honey cinnamon butter.

    A pastrami and provolone cheese on rye bread is one of the menu options served at the Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    A pastrami and provolone cheese on rye bread is one of the menu options served at the Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    A trip to SAP Center led to the expanded menu vision. Vink was inspired by the Augie’s Montreal Deli sandwich he had at a San Jose Sharks game, so he and Barry hit the road to visit delis in New York and Los Angeles. They settled on a Pastrami, a Corned Beef and a Reuben, along with a French Dip.

    And then there’s the prominent addition to the dessert menu. Barry, who worked in management at Magnolia Bakery for years, has developed a recipe for Banana Pudding that dials back the Southern-style sweetness to a more appealing West Coast level.

    A framed note from Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink is part of a display case featuring his iPhone and iPods at the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years at the former Armadillo Willy's BBQ, bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    A framed note from Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink is part of a display case featuring his iPhone and iPods at the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years at the former Armadillo Willy’s BBQ, bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Founded 42 years ago in Cupertino by John Berwald, the venerable Armadillo Willy’s chain grew to several Bay Area locations. One restaurant, in San Mateo, remains. Prior to the June shutdown of the Sunnyvale, San Jose (Blossom Hill) and Santa Clara restaurants, the San Jose (Camden), Los Altos and Dublin ones closed.

    Could customers see the resurrection of any of those locations?

    Linda Zavoral

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  • SF Giants drop crucial series to Dodgers as Ray’s struggles persist

    SAN FRANCISCO — In theory, the Giants can say they had a productive week.

    They entered Monday sitting four games back of the New York Mets for the third and final wild card spot after dropping two of three to the St. Louis Cardinals. With 13 games remaining, they’re now only 1.5 games back of the Mets, a team in the midst of a complete collapse.

    Despite their progress, this series against the Los Angeles Dodgers amounted to a wasted opportunity.

    The Giants began their weekend with Patrick Bailey’s walk-off grand slam, a momentous win that brought them within a half game of the Mets. They then kicked off Saturday night by scoring four in the first off Clayton Kershaw, someone who has historically dominated at Oracle Park. With the Mets losing earlier in the day, that elusive wild card spot was in their hands.

    Over the next 17 innings, Los Angeles discarded San Francisco’s plans with an offensive onslaught. Saturday ended with a loss as Logan Webb allowed six runs over four-plus innings. Sunday’s rubber match was even more one-sided, a 10-2 loss as Robbie Ray, whose start day was moved up, surrendered five runs over four-plus innings.

    Now, the Giants will depart San Francisco for a seven-game road trip against two teams they just faced at Oracle Park: three games against the Diamondbacks, then four against the Dodgers.

    Ray’s lone start of the road trip projects to be at Dodger Stadium, and the Giants will need him to re-discover his All-Star form for that crucial outing. Over his last five starts, Ray has allowed 20 earned runs with 14 walks over 23 innings.

    Ray breezed through the first inning and retired the side in order but labored through the second, issuing three walks and tossing 34 pitches — 16 balls, 18 strikes.

    The left-hander allowed one run in the second on Enrique Hernández’s sacrifice fly, but the Dodgers threatened to put up a crooked number when Shohei Ohtani walked to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. Ray avoided surrendering Ohtani’s 50th homer of the season, striking out the three-time MVP and stranding all three runners.

    Ray allowed another run in the third, but the fifth is where his afternoon went sideways. Like Webb on Saturday, Ray faced three batters in the fifth and was pulled after failing to retire a single one. Right-hander Joel Peguero allowed all three inherited runners to score, then allowed a run of his own to score when he was called for a balk with a runner on third.

    Justice delos Santos

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  • Domination: Menlo School silences Branham with a defensive gem

    Zach Reynolds’ short pick-six gets Menlo started as Knights roll to blowout victory on road over Branham.

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    Glenn Reeves

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