San Francisco, CA

Pride Day at the Ballpark – San Francisco Bay Times

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2024

Pride Day at the Ballpark – San Francisco Bay Times

By John Chen–

During Pride month, our local Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Oakland Athletics (A’s) and the San Francisco Giants, hosted their Pride Day at their respective ballparks in celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility and equality for all marginalized peoples. Since the A’s have a foot out of the Bay Area, I thought it would be sentimental to attend the more likely than not final Pride Day for the last remaining professional sports team based in Oakland. It is very unfortunate and disappointing that, despite all the rich history as an integral part of Oakland, winning pedigree, and tremendous fan support, the A’s organization felt they needed to move to Las Vegas just like the Raiders.

Like many Bay Area baseball fans, I am thankful we will still have the Giants for years to come. So, I did a true daily double (for you Jeopardy! fans) and also partook in the Pride Day across the bridge at Oracle Park. Despite a challenging start to the 2024 season, the Giants are in strong contention for a coveted playoff spot so every game counts. The team needs our unwavering support more than ever!

Queer community organizations displayed a unique SF Giants Pride flag at Oracle Park

Over the years, I’ve attended many professional and college baseball, football, and basketball games. In my opinion, there is a certain rarified air beaming with excitement and anticipation the moment we entered the gates on Pride Day. The sky looks clearer and bluer. The smell and sight of hot dogs entice your tastebuds like no other. Everywhere you look, there are signs, billboards, and flags offering and symbolizing positive and supportive messages of love, pride, acceptance, inclusion and equality.

On Pride Day, milling about the stands, the walkways, and the aisles, there is gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, non-binary, trans, queer, and any and all self-identification proudly sporting a plethora of rainbow colors and expressive patterns. But beyond the differences, there’s us: a collective of human beings cheering together, clutching our pearls together, eating, drinking, and laughing together, cursing together, and most importantly, celebrating together.

Although Pride Day 2024 at the ballpark took place last month, you can always plan ahead for 2025 or partake in the many upcoming themed or special giveaway events celebrating our multi-cultural heritage, catering to our superhero (Marvel) and childhood (Mickey Mouse) obsessions, and honoring true heroes such as those serving in the military, those who protect us (police officers and firefighters), and those who nurture and care for us (teachers and nurses). And just maybe, in a few years, another MLB team will want to call Oakland or even San Jose home. Then, we will once again have two Pride Days at the ballpark.

Oakland A’s Glenn Burke Pride Day

At the entry gate, we received an authentic Oakland A’s Pride Jersey and a rainbow belt fanny pack. Although they were a tad tight and nearly cut off our life-supporting blood flow, the jerseys we received were proudly worn throughout the unfortunate losing effort from the home team. It was a relief to see a handful of fans also nearly popping a few jersey buttons as they breathed out. We are not alone!

The A’s honored and paid tribute to one of their own, Glenn Burke, a former player in the late 70s who was the first professional baseball player to come out, but only after he retired. Burke was famously credited with the invention of the high five with teammate Dusty Baker in 1977 when he was a Los Angeles Dodger. After being traded to the A’s, unfortunately, at the time, the team and its management did little to welcome and support a player who was known to be gay. In fact, the A’s leadership systematically discriminated against Burke until he retired at the young age of 27 due to emotional and psychological stress. One of the most memorable quotes from Burke was, “They can’t ever say now a gay man can’t play in the majors, because I am gay, and I made it.”

Oakland A’s fans cheered a good defensive play during Pride Day

Burke continued to compete in different sports as an amateur after his retirement and was a proud member of the San Francisco Gay Softball League (SFGSL) for many years. In 2013, Burke was inducted as one of the first members into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

After the tribute, the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus sang harmoniously both the Canadian (because the A’s opponent was the Toronto Blue Jays) and the American

Anthems. Then, it was time to play ball!

San Francisco Giants Pride Day

Upon entering the gate, we received a Giants long-sleeved Pride Hoodie, which was even tighter than the A’s Pride Jersey, if that’s even possible. The mostly rainbow-wearing and supporting crowd of 40,000+ buzzed with excitement in celebrating the city’s tireless trailblazing and championing efforts on LGBTQ+ issues, rights, and equality. We sat with members of SFGSL who were not just invested in the festivities but are also die-hard Giants fans.

Giants Pride Day began with a historical video montage on the Jumbotron of San Francisco and the LGBTQ+ community, followed by representatives of various queer community groups carrying and displaying a giant Giants LGBTQ+ flag on the field honoring the fight for acceptance, inclusion, love, and equality.

Then, in celebrating the 20th year anniversary of the monumental decision by then Mayor Gavin Newsom to issue gay marriage licenses in the City of San Francisco, eight LGBTQ+ couples either renewed their vows or actually got married for the first time next to home plate. The pre-game Pride celebration ended with Jason Brock, an X Factor finalist, belting out the national anthem putting extra emphasis on the word “proudly.” After a standing ovation, it was time to play ball!

We had a great time at both games. Standing tall and proud. Cheering extra loudly and booing with added gusto. And eating way more than we should, stretching the jersey and hoodie to their absolute limits. Although both of the home teams lost on Pride Day, my good friend Abel Reyna summed up the celebrations perfectly: “We lost the games, but won the day!”

John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball, and football teams.

Published on July 11, 2024

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San Francisco, CA

A future starter could be emerging on the San Francisco 49ers offense

Published

7 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

A future starter could be emerging on the San Francisco 49ers offense

The San Francisco 49ers have been piecing things together on the fly all season. So, it should be no surprise that the team is not only getting satisfactory play from their third option at left guard, but it may actually be their best fit for the position. The San Francisco 49ers may have found their starter at left guard moving forward with Spencer Burford.

Will the San Francisco 49ers extend Spencer Burford?

Entering the 2025 season, Burford had just 81 snaps at left guard. The coaching staff left him for dead at the position. They went into training camp, starting Ben Bartch at left guard and having rookie Connor Colby serve the role as the backup.

Burford was working as the backup left tackle in training camp, so even when Bartch was banged up or missed time, the team turned to Nick Zakelj as the third option at left guard. Still, he hardly played the role and spent most of the year on the practice squad.

After Burford spent the summer as a left tackle, he spent the start of the season on the Injured Reserve. The team shuffled through all three options, and none of them proved to be capable of starting. So, finally healthy with almost no time working at left guard, they asked Spencer Burford to step in.

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Burford has been the starter since Week 9 and while there have been rough patches throughout the year, he has started to find his own. His play against the Philadelphia Eagles was crucial to winning in the Wild Card, considering the Eagles’ interior is the best aspect of their defense.

Funnily enough, Burford mostly played on the left side in college. He spent two years at left guard before two seasons at left tackle. So, it should not be a big shock that it took a mid-round pick from a smaller school to adjust to the right side during his first two seasons.

Burford was depth last season and mostly played back on the left side, and now in year four, he is playing the position he once played in college, albeit back in 2019.

It may be that he feels better on the left side, and as he grows into the role, he can be a long-term fit.

San Francisco has a growing list of needs due to the injuries hitting the roster. They only have so many picks and so much salary cap space, so if they felt comfortable at left guard, it would help them in a big way. Every game from here on is an audition for what he can provide next year.

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Trial in brutal San Francisco shoving death of ‘Grandpa Vicha’ winds down

Published

19 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Trial in brutal San Francisco shoving death of ‘Grandpa Vicha’ winds down

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorneys are wrapping up closing arguments in the high-profile trial of a man accused of killing an elderly San Francisco man five years ago in a brazen attack.

Closing arguments for the trial of Antoine Watson continued Tuesday, beginning with Judge Linda Colfax reading jury instructions. Watson faces charges of murder, elder abuse, and assault in connection with the 2021 death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee.

The attack, captured on a neighbor’s security camera, shows Ratanapakdee being violently shoved to the ground.

Defense cites emotional distress

What they’re saying:

The defense does not dispute that Watson shoved Ratanapakdee. Instead, attorneys argued the then-19-year-old defendant was experiencing extreme emotional distress following a family argument and a car crash. They contended Watson “snapped” when his car would not start that January morning.

The defense further argued that the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof for a premeditated killing, suggesting that childhood trauma may have contributed to Watson’s actions.

Prosecutors allege defendant acted recklessly

The other side:

Prosecutors described Watson’s actions as reckless and deliberate. During their closing argument, they said the defendant was “angry that his car wouldn’t start, and he spotted a target for his anger.”

Family glad case nearing end

Outside the Hall of Justice, the victim’s family, who affectionately called him “Grandpa Vicha,” gathered on the court steps. While they are gratified that the case is nearing a conclusion, they voiced concerns that the judge has not been evenhanded during the proceedings.

“I’ve been here one month for the trial,” said Monthanus Ratanapakdee, the victim’s daughter. “It has been traumatizing for my family.”

The victim’s son-in-law, Eric Lawson, added: “We really hope the jury can see through all the court procedures and know what happened with grandpa was a horrible, awful murder.”

Closing arguments are expected to resume on Wednesday, followed by jury deliberations.

The Source: Information for this report comes from courtroom proceedings and interviews with relatives of the victim, Vicha Ratanapakdee.

San FranciscoCrime and Public Safety

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Here’s what Kittle’s possible yearlong recovery from torn Achilles could look like: UCSF doctor

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Here’s what Kittle’s possible yearlong recovery from torn Achilles could look like: UCSF doctor

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The San Francisco 49ers are advancing to the NFC divisional, but without tight end George Kittle who suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

The injury ended Kittle’s season. The recovery will be painful and extensive, something that, according to medical experts, could take anywhere between nine to 12 months before Kittle gets back on the field.

On the field, fans knew something was wrong, and medical experts watched and feared it was his Achilles.

“When you see that they slow-mo on his leg and you see his calf muscle go up and he grabs his leg and see him hit the ground – a lot of the time players know what that is,” said Dr. Nirav Pandya, UCSF Orthopedic surgeon.

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A Bay Area doctor has shot down a viral claim that the 49ers’ countless injuries are being caused by electromagnetic fields from a nearby substation.

Dr. Pandya specializes in sports medicine. He broke down what Kittle’s medical team is gearing him up for.

“It’s a very painful surgery early on – you are basically going on your ankle, you are sewing these tendons together, immobilizing them, and then you are working through this period of getting that mobility back,” said Dr. Pandya.

According to Nature Review’s research, 30% of sports injuries are Achilles tendon injuries. Dr. Pandya said recovery could be impacted by techniques.

“There are some newer techniques that players like Aaron Rogers who got back in six months, and what is happening in these surgeries is that you are using stronger devices, you are allowing rehab a lot earlier. So, a lot of it will be based on what the surgeon does that he goes, and sees and sometimes you can push that timeline a little bit earlier but for players like him who plays tight end, and sometimes wide receiver, it may take longer because he is stressing that repair a lot more than let’s say a quarterback,” said Dr. Pandya.

Immediately after surgery, Dr. Pandya said patients like Kittle will be placed into physical therapy.

“They will be doing a lot of manual work early on to facilitate the recovering of the tissues and then loading him in the gym,” said Julian Cisneros, physical therapist and owner of Peak Physio.

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San Francisco 49ers fans and Philadelphia Eagles fans hosted a dual watch party at neighboring bars in San Francisco.

Cisneros treats these types of injuries and said it will be almost a year of PT and will happen in phases, with the first one being light resistance.

“It would be light resistance, just trying to go through a full range of motion nice and controlled, slow and steady, making sure his Achilles tolerate that,” said Cisneros.

“Standing under his own body weight on a flat-level surface and raising up those heels nice and high. This would be more load, and once he completes that, we would start elevating him so he can really lengthen that Achilles again and we will give him weights to hold,” said Cisneros. “And then we can start incorporating more plyometric movements with balancing here, and then we will get him on the track or on the field and going through sprints, jumping progressions.”

One of the last phases is to “start incorporating more plyometric movements with balancing,” said Cisneros.

Dr. Pandya is projecting Kittle could be back during the early part of next season, anywhere between September and October.

The good news is that Dr. Pandya says it is very unlikely after full recovery Kittle will re-injure his Achilles.

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