How long have you been a warriors fan?
I have been a warriors fan since I was at least 10 years old when the Run TMC team went down to the Lakers in the 2nd round of the playoffs. I fell in love with that team and from then on I was hooked on everyone from Tim Hardaway to Chris Gatling, Mario Elie, Mitch Richmond, Mully and even Tom Tolbert. I still remember the first game I ever went to was when the Warriors played the David Robinson led Spurs and freaking Vinnie Del Negro KILLED the Dubs that night. The guy could not miss and all I kept yelling was “Sprewell guard freaking Vinny D!” So I’ve been through the good times, the really long bad times, back to the ever so brief good times, and now finally back to the bad times.
Fav. Current Warrior? Why?
My current favorite Warrior has got to be Anthony Randolph. The kid just amazes me with the talent that he has and I just hope he can put it all together in order to become a top 10 player in the league. I remember watching his draft interview when they took him and thinking he’s got something to prove and they asked him about being so skinny and he said something like, “I’m may look skinny but I’m stronger than I look.” That made me crack up because the kid was just oozing with confidence and I think that is what I liked the most about him.
It really sucks that he hurt his ankle so bad this year because I felt that he was turning a corner in his development and I just figured he was going to have to get a lot of playing time on a 6 man roster with Nellie having no choice but to keep him in the rotation.
Fav. All-time Warrior? Why?
As for my all time favorite warrior, it has got to be Tim Hardaway. I loved the way the guy played because he always played a lot tougher and bigger than he was. I remember reading an article about Tim Hardaway where he was asked how he developed his 3 pt. shot and he said that he had to work harder at it than everyone because of how small he was and because he always practiced outside in the Chicago winds. I would always picture him trying to fight off the mean, swirling, and powerful winds of Chicago with every ounce of his being and then just jacking up a 3 as if his life depended on it. (Yes that was my imagination as a kid fawning over his favorite player & being upset that Union City, CA didn’t have more wind to make my shot better.)
Plus I can’t count how many hours I spent practicing the “Killer Crossover” and never quite getting it as smooth as his.
Fav. Moment?
For me, there are two favorite moments first and foremost the Dubs beating the Mavs in the playoffs. I just remember not being able to wait to get home from work and just waiting for the game to start and sitting on the edge of my seat the entire game going crazy with excitement at every twist and turn. I’m sure every fan knows what I’m talking about, it’s that point when your fandom makes you begin to feel like you are actually part of the team and that every little thing that you do somehow cosmically affects how the team plays and whether or not it wins or loses.
My second favorite moment is when PJ Carlesimo got choked out by Latrell Sprewell. I just never felt Carlesimo was the right coach for that team and Sprewell choking him was in some insane way an extension of me being able to choke the coach because of how bad the team was at that point.
Worst moment as a Warriors fan?
OHHHHHH, there are so many too choose from but for me I would have to say it was when Webber was traded to the Bullets for Tom Gugliotta. The way that whole situation went down; I felt that Nelson could have been the bigger person in the situation and should have helped in smoothing things out. That whole trade just really hurt me as a fan. Webber got us back into the playoffs, flushed one on Barkley and I thought the sky was the limit and then all of a sudden he is traded and we get TOM ‘FREAKING’ Gugliotta back in the trade. It was AWESOMENESS at its finest!!!
What’s your feelings on the current Ownership/Management of the Warriors?
My feelings on the Current Ownership are as follows:
A.) Ownership does not appreciate the rabid fan base that it has. They appreciate how they can get money from us but that is the extent of their appreciation.
B.) The lack of accountability that this management group has had is quite frankly, Amazing. The fact that someone like Robert Rowell can fail upwards in an organization has got to be on of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. He should write a book called, “How to Fail Up with a Smile” with a forward by Chris Cohan.
C.) The amount of excuses that one ownership/management group can produce for Sucktitude should be in the Guiness Book of World Records. Seriously, even FEMA is shocked at the amount of excuses that this organization produces. Overall, I’m just mad at how our fan-base is taken for granted every single year and just expected to be quite and take it.
You’re named Warriors GM, How would you improve the team? What changes do you think need to be made?
First move I make to improve the team is to clean house from top to bottom. I go out and hire some of the top statistical analysts and great basketball talent evaluators and have them put together a juggernaut team. I would bring back guys like Rick Barry, Mullin, and Hardaway as Special Basketball Assistants to talk about winning and what it takes to be a winner’s and the sacrifices that need to be made in order to be champions. I then set up a ticket structure that allows the hardcore fans the opportunity to sit on the floor or as close to the floor as possible. Those are the fans that I want because I know rain or shine, crappiness or greatness they will be there and those are the people I want to make happy. Plus season ticket prices will be based on how good we do and will never exceed 3-5% increases. I want to make sure people can afford to attend and bring their family and not have to spend an entire paycheck to attend a game. I want to just change the cultural philosophy of this organization to one of winning being the only goal and no expense will be spared to do that. Oh and people in the Club 200 seats will always have the same opportunities to get free shirts, pizza, and other items just like the people in the lower bowl.
In terms of a basketball philosophy, I will move away from Small Ball and make sure the coach that I hire still plays an up-tempo style but really emphasizes defense and rebounding. People seem to think that those two styles aren’t mutually exclusive and that if you have one that you can’t have the other but the fact is that you can do both with the right mindset and players. Finally I will poach away the Phoenix Suns training staff to make sure that our team is never hurt again.
You can bring any current NBA player to the Warriors, who would it be?
It would have to be Lebron James. Not only is the guy the best Basketball player in the world, but he wants to be great and looks like he will stop at nothing to do so. He is also a great team guy and is able to make everyone around him better and make them want to play up to his level. That kind of talent, fire, and dedication only comes around once every 10-15 years and when it comes, you have to do everything in your power to acquire it. Plus how sick would it be to see the best player on earth wearing a throwback “The City” jersey and making the bay area a place where every great player wants to come and play.
Finish the sentence, When the warriors win the championship, I will…..?
I am going to get in my car and drive down to Southern California and stop at the Staples center and then yell “The Lakers HELLA Suck!” and get back in my car and drive back to the bay and have a Warriors Championship party for 2 Weeks straight. Every day we would celebrate one Warrior on the Championship team and maybe even have that player come down for a Warriorsworld exclusive interview. That would be how I would celebrate a championship.
Do you Visit Warriorsworld.net?
Warriorsworld.net is my favorite site because unlike some other sites, the people who post here are some of the most hardcore, insightful, well-informed, and realistic fans about the Warriors that I have found. Optimism is always tempered with reality on this site and that is what I love so much about it. Plus you get all the exclusive content from WarriorsworldTV, which is always on point and awesome.
Bio:
Name: Frank Gomez
Also I have begun a little sports blog that is still currently under construction but can be found at:
www.thebayareasportsreport.tumblr.com
And you can email us at e-mail: [email protected]
Me and one of my best friends are going to be starting a podcast soon that is going to be all about Bay Area sports and general craziness. If you’re interested in stuff like that or you’re just bored and want some background noise give it a try. I will try and keep everyone posted on when our 1st podcast goes up. Plus its free!!!