Bradlee Baxter

This was a night I had been waiting to see for a long time. Current LA resident, I made the travel up just to be apart of this event in Oakland, CA.

Being born in ’85, the first basketball players I knew of was Michael Jordan and Chris Mullin. My father was a bay area native and an Oakland sports fan all around so it’s only natural I’d follow those steps. I am 100% an Oakland fan. I don’t, nor have I ever, jump on the Niners or Giants bandwagon. No I didn’t turn into a Laker, Dodger, Angels, or Clippers fan once I hit LA. I love Oakland. I love my teams. With that being said, I barely remember the Battle of the Bay.

Before the great Chris Mullin’s retirement ceremony, Warrior fans witnessed a horrendous first half of basketball. No Ellis, No Curry, and No Bogut. Warriors scored 14 points in the first 12 minutes of play. It was apparent that the real show was going to be at half-time.

The ceremony came and it was dope. Al Attles, Rick Barry, Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Don Nelson, Tom Tolbert, Nat Thurmond, Rod Higgins, and more said their words. Gary Papa played a great host. Fans gave a standing ovation after Chris Mullin gave his speech. It was just about time to reveal number 17 in the rafters.

Then shit hit the fan…

Joe Lacob took the mic less than a week after trading one of the best players to ever wear a Warriors uniform for an injured player. WE LET HIM HAVE IT. Yes, I booed. Mistakes have been made prior to the trade. I was told by Mark Jackson my squad was going to make the playoffs this year. Now, I’m being told we’re gunning to “Sink for 7″? I understand that the Monta Bogut trade still has “potential” to be the best thing to happen to the franchise since Rick Barry. Only time will tell.

To say the fans are a disgrace for “ruining”  Mulley’s night is absurd. When the booing had come to an end, Joe Lacob gave the Mullin family a week vacation in Maui. Greg Papa couldn’t have done this on the Warriors behalf? No one thought to have this ceremony before the trade deadline? Or better yet, no one in the front office thought it might not be wise to let Lacob speak 6 days after the trade? They had been defending the trade all week. The fans aren’t Lacob’s scapegoat. To say that every time we look up and see Mully’s number we’ll only remember this “horrific” night is bullshit. The Warrior franchise should be lucky to have such a loyal fan base. Warrior attendance is in the top 10 the last 10 years yet they haven’t won a championship since 1975.

Chris Mullin will forever be adored in the hearts of Warrior fans. So will Monta Ellis. I just hope Joe Lacob, Jerry West, and the rest of the front office break the Warrior tradition of letting go of great players for next to nothing. After all we did draft Todd Fuller over Kobe Bryant.