A Vipers fan received the shoes of his favorite player after they beat the Warriors in the finals. Photo by Fred Keeley.
State Farm Arena in McAllen, Texas is about three times of size and capacity of the Kaiser-Permanente Arena in our little town, and is the home of the NBA’s developmental league champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers. They won the championship on April 27 against the Santa Cruz Warriors. The play was fast and aggressive, and the score fairly close most of the way. The Viper fans were excited, loud, and happy as little clams by the end.
You have probably already read all of that, but there are a couple of other thoughts that are, perhaps, worth pondering as the Santa Cruz Warriors end their inaugural season.
Much less than a year ago, the Golden State Warriors, under new ownership, approached the City of Santa Cruz, proposing a public-private venture to move their newly acquired NBA D-League team from the frozen Dakotas to the Mediterranean climate by the Bay.
A mix of mostly excitement and some skepticism coursed quickly through City Hall and local homes and businesses. Why do very rich sports team owners need any help from local taxpayers? Will Santa Cruz support a professional sports franchise, given our preference for individual sports—think surfing, mountain and road biking, diving and stand-up paddle boarding. Can locals afford professional sports prices? Where will they play, and where will we park? Is there enough time to get ready to tip off in December?
In a display of mutual trust, civic pride, and community betterment, our town said we can and should do this.
In less than four months, the City Council had acted to make an informed, careful decision to enter into a business arrangement that brought the Warriors to town; constructed a 2,700 seat temporary arena; negotiated a set of strong, but fair, operating conditions to address very legitimate concerns of local residents, and the game was on!
Local folks flocked to the games. Businesses had more off-season customers. Sales tax revenues increased. Warrior gear was considered cool to wear and display. And, importantly, the team on the hardwood was great.
Off of the court, the Warriors established themselves as local stars who were kind, humble, community oriented, and so darn sweet to kids that it made your heart swell.
It is that aspect of the Warriors arrival that, perhaps, is the biggest added value to our little town. A dozen and a half young men, nearly all tall, athletic, smart and African-American, grinding out hunger, helping school children read, introducing the little boys and girls to the ocean and its treasurers, and on and on and on.
Each game was a mix not regularly seen in town. Old Santa Cruz, old people (like me), new Santa Cruz, young families, and kids, kids, kids.
All of these thoughts and memories of the Warriors’ first season ran through my tiny brain as I counted down the last seconds of the season with the team in Texas.
The dunks, the steals, the heart-stopping last-minute heroics from player after player in game after game will linger and then fade. What will not fade is the bright memory of happy children, excited about their new, very tall friends. Friends who not only played great basketball, but who talked to them, smiled at them, cared about them.
That, my friends, is a welcome addition to our town.
Guest contributor Fred Keeley is the Santa Cruz County Treasurer.
