Latest news with #Oakland
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gary Payton admits Bird was the only one who made him think twice about talking trash: "I didn't get discouraged by MJ, I didn't get discouraged by Reggie Miller"
Gary Payton admits Bird was the only one who made him think twice about talking trash: "I didn't get discouraged by MJ, I didn't get discouraged by Reggie Miller" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Gary Payton was tireless both in his defense and with his mouth. He was verbal and could rattle opponents' rhythm with a hand on their chest and throw off their confidence with a word in their ear. Night after night, he brought that Oakland spirit and kinetic fire to the floor, never backing down, never letting up. Advertisement Yet for all the noise he dished out over a 17-year Hall of Fame career, there was one name that brought a pause to the barking. Bird is next level Payton, for all his trash-talking, also got his fair share dished out to him. He faced a lot of trash talkers in his time, but one man gave him a run for his money. It was Larry Bird. "I didn't get discouraged by Michael Jordan, I didn't get discouraged by Reggie Miller," Payton said. "I thought they were great trash talkers, but if [there was] anyone that gave me some good lines and would come back and can back it up and hit a jump shot in your mouth, it was Larry Bird." Payton came into the league in 1990, a sharp-tongued point guard drafted second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. By then, Bird was already a legend, three-time MVP, three-time NBA champion and the cerebral anchor of the '80s Celtics dynasty. But even in the twilight of his career, Bird commanded respect. Advertisement Payton, whose trash-talking résumé was nearly as decorated as his defensive accolades, quickly learned that the Boston icon was fluent in the very language he thought he'd mastered. Bird didn't just talk. He spat back. He'd tell opponents how he'd score, where he'd shoot from and when it was coming and then he'd go do exactly that, calmly walking back down the court without a smile or smirk. What made Bird different wasn't just the bite in his delivery; it was the precision in his execution. The man didn't need theatrics. His mouth worked like his jumper, smooth, calculated and darn near automatic. Payton, who averaged over 20 points and seven assists across seven straight seasons in the '90s, was the kind of player who made his living off disrupting confidence. But Bird was the kind of player whose confidence didn't crack. His lines were dry but devastating and his game was simple but surgical. Advertisement Even with a bad back and slowing legs, Bird still had that ghostly calm. Related: "We gave them a champion, and we didn't get Zion?" - Arenas isn't pleased with the Wizards' giving away Jordan Poole Legendary trash talker Bird's power came from his presence. And for a talker like Payton, it wasn't just about the words you threw; it was whether they could land. Apparently, the three-time MVP had the last word far too often. "I think Larry Bird was pretty good," Payton said. In the history of the NBA, the greatest trash talkers form a sort of underground lineage. Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had their duels. Michael Jordan turned it into an art form. Reggie Miller weaponized it against crowds as much as players. Advertisement But Bird had a stoic, brutal efficiency. Payton, who retired in 2007 as the only point guard to win Defensive Player of the Year in over two decades, made a career out of taking away comfort. But Bird was never bothered. He wasn't louder. He was smarter. He had already read the script and chosen his shot. Bird's career numbers back up his trash-talking. He scored over 24,000 career points and earned 12 NBA All-Star nods. But it's not just the numbers. It's the mythos. The memory. The fact that even the loudest man in the league knew when he was talking to someone who didn't need to yell. Related: Seattle had to assign a player to drag Gary Payton to practice: "I'd challenge him and talk trash to him to get him going" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Oakland's public safety issues are tied to ongoing budget crisis, report says
For nearly a decade, Osvaldo Sanchez has weathered break-in after break-in at his restaurant, Agave Uptown, in Oakland. Between 2016 and 2024, the business has been targeted 22 times. "We changed the locks," Sanchez said, noting it's been about a year since the last incident. "But it's not because crime has changed, it's because we changed the locks." Each break-in costs Sanchez thousands of dollars, replacing shattered windows and doors, not to mention the hit to customer traffic and morale. Now, a new report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute points to a deeper problem: Oakland's public safety issues are directly tied to its ongoing budget crisis. "Oakland can't get out of its budget crisis if it doesn't first solve its public safety crisis," said Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council and one of the report's authors. According to Bellisario, the underfunding of the Oakland Police Department has ripple effects far beyond law enforcement. "What that poll found was more than half of Oakland residents are actually leaving the city to do their shopping," he explained. "Nearly three-quarters of East Bay residents say they avoid Oakland's restaurants, bars, and entertainment options because they don't feel safe." The report outlines 13 recommendations, including loosening certain police oversight restrictions and increasing funding for the Oakland Police Department, steps that Sanchez believes could protect small businesses like his. "If you made it more secure on the streets, more police outside, I think that's also going to help a little bit in terms of robberies," Sanchez said. "More secure, you know, more secure for the city." For Sanchez, that change can't come soon enough.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nick Kurtz's walk-off home run makes Athletics franchise history
The post Nick Kurtz's walk-off home run makes Athletics franchise history appeared first on ClutchPoints. While the Athletics have improved slightly from the last few seasons, they still have an uphill battle in front of them if they want to rise up the standings and compete for a playoff spot. However, there is never a bad time to beat one of your biggest rivals. Advertisement The A's did just that on Monday night, knocking off the Houston Astros in the first game of a four-game set. They got the win in dramatic fashion as well as first baseman Nick Kurtz crushed a walk-off two-run home run to give the Athletics a 3-1 victory. Kurtz's home run traveled 447 feet out to right field, marking the longest walk-off home run in Athletics history, according to MLB Stats. He punctuated the monster blast with an epic bat flip that he will remember forever. The Athletics haven't had a ton to cheer for this season, including one stretch where they lost 20 out of 21 games. However, they have hung around and while they are still in the basement of the AL West standings, taking a game off of a rival who has been one of the top franchises in baseball in recent years is always a good feeling. Advertisement Now, at 30-44, the A's are 12 games out of first place in their division and eight games out of a wild card spot in the American League. While making up that ground seems very unlikely and would probably take a historic run, they have played some good baseball at times this season outside of that one dreadful stretch. If they can piece some of that together for the rest of the season, avoid the dips and get some more late-game heroics like they did from Kurtz on Monday night, maybe the A's can shock the MLB world and make a run down the stretch. Getting a win in this series against the Astros feels like a necessary start to that quest, and Kurtz got the Athletics off on the right foot in that department with a historic blast on Monday night. Related: Athletics' Nick Kurtz flings bat after walk-off winner vs. Astros
CBS News
7 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Port of Oakland attempts another airport renaming to "Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport"
SF seeks to stop Oakland airport from using new "San Francisco Bay" name SF seeks to stop Oakland airport from using new "San Francisco Bay" name SF seeks to stop Oakland airport from using new "San Francisco Bay" name The Port of Oakland is taking another stab at incorporating "San Francisco Bay" into the official name of Oakland's airport after a court blocked its previous attempt. On Friday, the port announced it would seek to adopt the name "Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport," which it said in a press release "reflects its strong Oakland and East Bay identity and its convenient role as a gateway to the entire San Francisco Bay Area." The port said the airport renaming is part of an effort to increase air travel and boost economic activity within Oakland and the East Bay region. Oakland International Airport KPIX In April 2024, the port announced it would change the name of "Metropolitan Oakland International Airport" to "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport," noting at the time that many out-of-town passengers were not aware of Oakland's location in relation to the rest of the Bay Area. The San Francisco city attorney filed suit over the name change, arguing that it infringed on the San Francisco International Airport/SFO trademark. The port filed a countersuit, saying San Francisco's lawsuit was "prematurely" filed. In September 2024, San Francisco sought an injunction against the renaming, arguing the change had caused confusion among visitors. A month later, a judge blocked Oakland's use of "San Francisco Bay" in its name in advertising, marketing, or other airport services until the lawsuit between the two cities was resolved. The port said the new name configuration now places "Oakland" at the forefront of the OAK brand while informing travelers that Oakland can be a logical starting point for travelers to the region. "We are proud to be a central gateway to the Bay Area, and we're proud to embrace a name that reflects both our local roots and regional reach," said Craig Simon, the Port of Oakland's director of aviation. "'Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport' does both, putting Oakland first and highlighting our central location in the Bay Area for all visitors." On Friday, a spokesperson for the San Francisco City Attorney's Office said the office was considering its response to the new renaming. "We are just learning about this development and will assess any next steps to ensure San Francisco International Airport's trademark is protected," spokesperson Jen Kwart said. The Board of Port Commissioners will consider adopting the new name at its July 10 meeting. As in the previous renaming attempt, the airport's three-letter OAK code and "I Fly OAK" branding would remain the same.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
California county officials warn drivers not to be ‘duped' by this new text scam popping up all across the US
When you're caught speeding, driving recklessly, running a red light or doing something else that violates traffic laws, there are hefty fines involved. Typically, a police officer hands you a ticket on the spot or you get a notice in the mail. One way your citation won't be delivered? Via text message. Unfortunately, con artists are taking advantage of people who don't know that. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it In Alameda County, California, numerous residents have been getting texts telling them they owe money on unpaid fines from traffic citations. It's all a scam. "There is so much fraud that a lot of people cannot distinguish fraud from reality," Sandi Bethune, an Oakland resident, told ABC News. Thankfully Oakland resident Moises Salazar didn't fall for the text he got citing a traffic violation. 'I read it and I understood it was fake,' he said. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how But he is among the growing number of citizens reporting the issue to Alameda County Court, which has since issued a public service announcement about the problem: "... the Court does not contact the public through text messages to make payments for traffic citations. The public is cautioned not to provide financial or personal information if contacted via text or a phone call. The Court does not seek this information through texts or phone calls." It added that anyone concerned about a traffic citation should first visit the court's website to confirm they owe money. They can do this by clicking on "Pay Your Traffic Ticket." From there, residents can input their name and driver's license number to see if there are any outstanding fines. It's a good safety measure with the growth in such scams. "We don't want people to get duped into giving out information that can lead to identity theft," Rosynsky told ABC News. Unfortunately, these scams are not limited to Alameda County — they're happening across the country. (Another popular one? The fake unpaid toll violation.) Never pay a 'delinquent' traffic ticket, parking ticket, or toll without verifying it first. Be especially suspicious if you're asked to pay your fine by wire transfer or another unconventional method. Here are some more tips to protect yourself and others from such scams: Beware of any text citing a traffic violation or unpaid toll. Tip-offs that the texts are fake: The violation is dubious — for example, it says you owe money for parking illegally on Whitehead Street, but you've never been to Whitehead Street. The text comes from an international number or may have been sent to multiple numbers at once. The message says 'dear customer' or 'dear resident' and doesn't use your actual name. If you receive a text of this nature, contact your local county court for more information, or to at least report the scam. You can also try contacting your local Department of Motor Vehicles. You can also report the scam to the U.S. Department of Transportation at (800) 424-9071 or hotline@ The Internet Crime Complaint Center is another place you can report scams of this nature. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
