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Kid Scoop News Young Reporters get the opportunity to meet Golden State Warriors players!
by Jaret Bosarge
The Golden State Warriors Youth Media Day was held at their practice facility, the Oakland Convention Center. The practice court and offices are located on the 5th and 6th floors. Ten young journalists, ranging from elementary to high school, received an invitation and an opportunity of a lifetime. I was there for Kid Scoop News.
Shortly after arrival, outside the doors of the practice facility, we met Rusty Simmons. He is the Warriors beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. He shared about his job as a sports writer. “I have the coolest job! I get paid to watch basketball.” Sports writing is a dream jobs for so many, perhaps even me.
We observed practice for a few minutes. Forward Draymond Green came to meet us. When I spoke with him, he told me if he wasn’t playing for the NBA, he would be working with the game he loves in some way, perhaps even coaching. He shared that his mom and brother have had the greatest influence in his life and career. They pushed him to do better. He started playing basketball because his brother played. He liked the game and was good at it!
Question Time
We watched guard, Stephen Curry make three half court shots in a row. Forward, Harrison Barnes then greeted us. During the Q & A, I learned that Barnes believes his greatest achievement is making it to the NBA.
Inconspicuously, seven-foot center Andrew Bogut approached me and fed me a question. I was told to ask Barnes about the “Black Falcon.” Harrison laughed, realizing his teammate was behind this. An ESPN sports analyst had referred to Barnes as a “Black Falcon” and the nickname stuck.
Taking the Tour
Upstairs was our next stop, the office of the President and C.O.O. of the Warriors, Rick Welts. The back wall of his office was glass with a great view overlooking the city. His office was filled with tons of great basketball memorabilia. He said that he has always loved the game of basketball, but by high school, realized he was “vertically challenged.” His career in basketball began when he was 16 years old as the ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics. He has come a long way! All the young reporters were given Draymond Green bobble heads. These will help commemorate the day. It is one that I will not soon forget.
by Sierra Denman
My name was chosen out of a hat in my 5th grade class at Tassajara Hills Elementary School in Danville to be able to interview some members of the Warriors basketball team. I was very excited and felt like I won the lottery. When my name was drawn, school had just gotten out and all the kids were jealous and wished they were the ones chosen.
The Big Day
The day of my interview finally arrived and I woke up feeling like it was my birthday. I was so excited. My dad drove me to the Warriors training facility in Oakland.
We got lost but eventually found our way. They made us wait a very long time and San Francisco Chronicle sports writer Rusty Simmons talked to us about his job. I told him my questions and he loved them.
When it was finally time, they pulled all the parents away from the kids.
I went down on the court and watched Stephen Curry practice free throw shots right in front of us. There were three courts and he was right in front of me. I said “hi” to him and he said “hey” back to me.
Question Time
Warriors player Draymond Green walked over to us and we were able to ask questions.
I asked him two questions. First, “You have been called the X-Factor, the soul of the team. So since you are going into the playoffs, is there a huge amount of stress on you, even more then normal?”
“I would not call it stress,” he replied. “But it is a challenge and a challenge I have to take.”
Next I asked him, “Would you call yourself someone famous or a celebrity?”
He replied (after laughing), “No, I think of myself as a normal person. My mom raised me to be a normal kid and I feel like a normal person now. Some people are just a little more well known than others but I don’t feel special.”
Then we interviewed Harrison Barnes. I asked him if he plays the video game NBA 2K15 and if so, did he think that his character resembles him. If not, I asked what he would change about it.
He answered by saying, “Yes, I do play and I think that in NBA 2K14 they didn’t really look like anyone because they were pixily and blurry. But now in NBA 2K15 my character looks just like me and it is really cool.”
Taking the Tour
The Warriors media staff then gave us a tour of the facility and we met Warriors president Rick Welts. Some people asked him questions but I didn’t have questions prepared.
They then brought us to our parents to continue the tour. We walked down the Warriors Hall of fame to see the retired Warriors uniforms and pictures.
Rick Welts takes a photo with young reporters.
