THE PIONEER Covering the East Bay community since 1961
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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
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Broken glass the former lobby of the vacant Mervyn's Headquarters in Downtown Hayward on Foothill Boulevard.
Summer 2016 Issue 11
PHOTOS BY LOUIS LAVENTURE/THE PIONEER
Homeless population occupies Downtown Hayward Displaced residents seek refuge in forgotten corners of the East Bay By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF When the City of Hayward opened the new downtown loop in 2014, this is not what officials had in mind. Just a block away from the $105 million renovation project labeled as a traffic solution lies two of the biggest eyesores in the entire city: The old Hayward Centennial Hall and the bankrupt Mervyn’s headquarters, which are across the street from each other on Foothill Boulevard near A Street in the heart of downtown. The two buildings have become havens for the Hayward homeless population, which has taken over both structures. Doors and windows are broken out on both structures that give easy and quick access to its residents. It looks like a scene out of “The Walking Dead;” glass and trash everywhere with an eerie empty feeling, but the buildings aren’t empty--in fact they are full. Hayward Police Sergeant Ryan Cantrell said that people do access the buildings and that the police department coordinates with the buildings’ owners to get the tenants out of the structures and reinforce them with boards and fences. Cantrell said the HPD enforces trespassing laws when the situation calls for it and sporadic searches of the properties are made in order to keep the buildings empty. However, several inhabitants of the two properties say that it is much more than just a roof over their heads; it is a means to financial security.
“These buildings are full of copper, do you know how much that is worth?” Alessandro Venegas said. “I don’t live here, I work here.” Venegas said he has been homeless since 2014; however, he resides in the streets of East Oakland and comes to Hayward to collect recyclables and buy drugs. After a night of drinking, Venegas said he was stopped by an Alameda County Sheriff who told him to go to one of the two buildings if he needed a place to stay. He said after he woke up he realized the place was still full of copper pipes and wires that command a hefty price on the recycling market. According to Fry’s Metals in Hayward, the price for recycled copper can be more than $2 per pound, a risk Venegas found worth taking. “I could make a $1,000 in a couple hours easy,” Venegas said. “Cops don’t come there late at night, it’s the perfect time to strip the building.” Venegas said authorities weren’t the only risk; other residents and people looking to claim scrap metals can be a problem as well. He said one night while stripping copper wires from the ceiling with his cousin, a man threatened them with a knife and told them to get out of his building or he would kill them. Local businesses have noticed the impact of their new neighbors as well. Stores like the Cobbler, Round Table Pizza, Selix Tuxedos and Cyclepath Schwinn Bicycles are adjacent to both properties and several employees have noticed the homeless presence. Several employees said when the police do the “evictions” the presence is noticeable in the downtown area.
Broken windows cover one side of the old Centennial Hall in Hayward.
SEE HOMELESS PAGE 4
“I don’t live here, I work here.” —Alessandro Venegas, displaced Oakland resident
Garbage, tiles and graffiti cover the first floor of the old Mervyn's building.
2 OPINION
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Louis LaVenture louis.laventure@csueastbay.edu
MANAGING EDITOR
Kali Persall
kali.persall@csueastbay.edu
COPY EDITOR
Wendy Medina wendy.medina@csueastbay.edu
ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Casey Peuser
casey.peuser@csueastbay.edu
VISUAL EDITOR
Tam Duong Jr. tam.duong@csueastbay.edu
STAFF WRITERS
Marissa Marshall marissa.marshall@csueastbay.edu
Sean McCarthy
sean.mccarthy@csueastbay.edu PHOTO BY BY LOUIS LAVENTURE/THE PIONEER
Hayward more than my home By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF When I drive up the Harder Hill and come to school at Cal State East Bay, it’s like a different world. I can almost forget about what’s waiting for me when I come back down. Many East Bay students leave Hayward when school is over, but I am still here, in the city I was born and raised in: Hayward. Growing up, I could see the old Warren Hall Building from anywhere in my city. It was a reminder that Hayward wasn’t all bad, despite what some people may think; we had a University. But now that the building is gone, I sometimes forget about that blinking red beacon of light that used to symbolize something to not just me, but all residents of this city. It symbolized hope and something good from Hayward; our city was more than just drugs and violence, we’re smart.
I grew up on Gading Road, just down the hill from East Bay; the same place where most of my friends and family still live. For me it is a constant struggle between nice buildings, classrooms and education at school -- and drugs, gangs and violence just down the street. There was a shooting on Harder Road two weeks ago. Somebody shot out the windows on a car, passing the gas station on the corner of Harder and Soto Roads. I was on Huntwood Avenue just behind the incident. One gunshot went off and I felt the wind from the bullet over my head as I walked up to my cousin’s building. As I turned around, three more fired out and were heading toward me and I could see a visible line in the sky from the speed at which they cut through the air. I was scared, I ran in the house and stayed there for a long while. I’ve never had stray bullets come my way before and I realized that just being in the wrong place at the wrong
time in South Hayward could have made me a casualty. But that’s not the only downside. I seem to “fit the description” when it comes to interactions with the police as well. I can’t even count the number of times I have been stopped because I “look like somebody they are looking for.” Bald Latino males must be the number one suspect of every crime in Hayward, from my experience. When you see a task force car in traffic, do they look at you or do they just keep going? When they see me, they make a U-turn and make sure to pull me over, usually to search my car for guns or drugs, citing probable cause. During my ten plus years as a legal driver, I’ve been pulled over in Hayward at least 30 times, but only cited for tickets four times. It’s the opposite at East Bay. The police here are friendly, talk to me and even wave if our eyes lock in passing. Something I never do with cops off of campus.
Some people don’t know what goes on in the city that CSUEB calls home, they just come to school and leave when class is over. However, within the past few weeks, the increase of murders in Hayward has garnered the city much unwanted attention. Just two weeks ago there were four murders in five days in the city. A string of homicides that close together is a first for Hayward. I used to look up at CSUEB from my apartments when I was a kid and hope someday I could go there. Now that I’m here, I find myself looking down on Hayward from the parking lot and wish I didn’t have to go back down. I hear people complain about Meiklejohn Hall and its condition all the time — it’s old, it’s not earthquake safe, the mice, the list goes on and on. But I just think to myself I love it here. It’s peaceful, it’s safe, it’s perfect.
SPANISH EDITOR
Pavel Radostev Pushina pavel.radostevpushina@csueastbay.edu
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Marina Swanson marina.swanson@csueastbay.edu
FACULTY ADVISOR
Gary Moskowitz gary.moskowitz@csueastbay.edu
FACULTY COORDINATOR
Dr. Katherine Bell kate.bell@csueastbay.edu
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Republicans shift focus from White House to Congress By Sean McCarthy STAFF WRITER Donald Trump no doubt wishes he could have a re-do for the entire month of August. Towards the end of July, Trump had the lead over Hillary Clinton by up to 10 points in various polls, according to Real Clear Politics. One month later, Trump is about 10 points behind Clinton in the polls. Polls always have a margin of error and this does not mean that Trump is out of the race. But when he said he was not ready to endorse Speaker of the House Paul Ryan or Sen. John McCain, he alienated himself from many fellow Republicans. Republican congressmen — 110 of them — requested that the Republican Party stop funding Trump for president and instead turn their attention to funding the election of Republicans to Congress. “Rather than throwing good money after bad, the RNC should shift its strategy and its resources
to convince voters not to give Hillary Clinton the ‘blank check’ of a Democrat-controlled Congress to advance her big government
ried that if Trump implodes, he’ll take many Republican candidates down with him and the Democrats will dominate Congress,” professor Craig Collins of Cal State East Bay told the Pioneer. Theoretically, Democrats would be able to pass whatever laws they see fit. Republicans in Congress would no longer be able to put a roadblock in the way of the President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination Merrick Garland as well. It makes sense that Republicans would sever ties from Trump. Trump has never fully supported the Republican agenda. At one point he was prochoice and is now pro-life, he supports the minimum wage increase to “at least $10,” and is against trade agreements that the Republicans are generally in favor of. Trump has also made a slew of controversial statements in regards to religion and nationality. agenda,” the Republicans wrote Republicans are not made up of in the letter, according to CNN. solely old white men like Trump. “These congressmen are wor- Ted Cruz has taken exception
“Rather than throwing good money after bad, the RNC should shift its strategy and its resources to convince voters not to give Hillary Clinton the ‘blank check.”
with Trump’s stances on creating a wall to separate the United States from Mexico. Most recently, Trump has gone as far as to say that fallen Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim American who died in Iraq, was not a hero. At some point, the Republicans needed to take a stance against Trump. They tried to support him throughout the majority of his candidacy but he never reciprocated. “He is toxic to the Republican Party. He doesn’t seem to care how much harm he does to them,” said professor David Baggins of CSUEB. Even with a Republican Party that lacks unity, does not mean that Clinton is a foregone conclusion to win the presidency. She has her own fair share of detractors who have no faith in her ability to lead. The rise of Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has also been a thorn in Clinton’s side. He has taken much of her voter base and is polling above 10 percent in several reputable media polls. Trump can still win, but it would be much harder to do so with an un-unified party.
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NEWS 3
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1 , 2016
THE PIONEER
Stanford reforms campus party culture By Kali Persall MANAGING EDITOR In the wake of a high profile sexual assault case, Stanford University revised its student alcohol policy to limit hard alcohol consumption on campus, an Aug. 22 report from Stanford News campus announced. The changes are effective immediately and prohibit “high-volume distilled liquor containers” in undergraduate student housing and common rooms and at on-campus parties. Par-
ties hosted by student organizations and residences with a strictly graduate student membership are exempt, according to Stanford News. The policy applies to shots, mixed drinks, containers of 750 mL — the size of a standard wine bottle, and larger — or 40 proof and above, however beer and wine are allowed at undergraduate parties on campus. Stanford News clarified that the intention is not a “total prohibition,” but a targeted way to control high-risk behavior. The ban is the culmination of an
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ongoing dialog on campus that was sparked last March when Stanford swimmer Brock Turner was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of an unconscious woman behind a dumpster, following a party on campus. In March, Turner was sentenced to six months in jail and a probation term by Judge Aaron Persky, a decision that sparked outrage nationwide as he originally faced 14 years, according to an Aug. 20 ABC news report. He is expected to be released on Friday after serving three months, due to good behavior prior to sentencing, according to news reports. In a March 9 letter to students, Stanford President John Hennessy and Provost John Etchemendy stated
“We need new solutions – solutions that reduce risk for students, that reduce the pressure on students to drink.” — Hennessy and Etchemendy
that hard alcohol in particular was found to play a part in a variety of issues that pervade the campus community, such as alcohol poisoning, sexual assault, relationship violence and academic problems, according to Stanford News. “We need new solutions — solutions that reduce risk for students, that reduce the pressure on students to drink, and that meaningfully change our culture around alcohol,” Hennessy and Etchemendy stated in the letter. According to a December 2015 study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, around 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report sexual assault or date rape involving alcohol consumption.
Can you do something you love as a career? Voices from London 2016
For the second summer in a row, Cal State East Bay Pioneers are across the pond, studying documentary filmmaking theory and practice. This year, 25 students are studying abroad in London. For five-weeks the city serves as their classroom. Pioneers travel to world renowned museums, historic sites, and learn to explore a different culture with visual curiosity. In the first two weeks, the students study photography – and then progress into learning how to translate their camera skills into the art of documentary filmmaking. For the remaining time, the students produce small videos, before finally embarking on their own unique, documentary. Be sure to check future editions and ThePioneerOnline. com for more content from our Pioneers in London, 2016.
By Loralie Yumang CONTRIBUTOR Our study abroad trip to London has taught me a very important outlook: your major does not define every aspect of your being, as us college students like to believe. This study abroad program is essentially a collection of communication classes, but the catch is that I am an accounting student. As an accounting major, everything is cut and dry, and everything needs to add up: A plus B equals C. Taking a communications class and using a camera as I’ve done in London was a whole new experience for me. Prior to this trip abroad, my only camera experience was limited to my iPhone. As the course has progressed, I have found myself falling more and more in love with the idea of taking pictures and video to capture the moments around me to present a message. I recently told a friend of mine back home, who wants to work in
PHOTO COURTESY OF LANEE WOODARD
Four Cal State East Bay students pose for a photo while studying abroad in London in August. the movie industry, about my new found love for creating a message using still images and video, and his response was “career change!”
My first thought was, well I do not think I would change my career due to finding a new love, but I have found a new way to express myself
creatively. Then I thought, is it possible to do something you love just for the love of doing it anymore?
4 NEWS
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
Homeless From page 1 CENTENNIAL HALL: • Owned by the City of Hayward • Tuesday Sept. 15 2010, Hayward city council approved 6-1 to allow bidding for demolition of centennial hall. Mayor Barbara Halliday was the lone dissenting vote, because of the building’s iconic status and significance to the city. • The destruction was supposed to begin as early as Nov. 15, 2010, never did. At the time city council members envisioned a hotel and convention center along with office space at the site of the building. • The city awarded a $700,000 contract in Oct. 2010 to Randazzo Enterprises, which took out the hazardous materials, and was supposed to remove the building, its basement and foundations, then build retaining walls to fill the ground level. • It officially closed on Nov. 1, 2009, according to former City Manager Fran David, it was because the facility lost at least $600,000 annually for several years before its official closure. MERVYNS: • Independently owned, not by Mervyn’s • Been closed down since the company went bankrupt in 2008 • Chavez Management Group Inc., acquired the property for $5.6 million in a 2010 auction, far below the building’s previous $42.7 million mortgage price. • HPD: Confirmed this has been going on for years. They coordinate with owners, board up and evict “residents” on a frequent basis. • Could not confirm last time they did this but it has been at least 6 weeks. • City owns centennial hall, mervyn’s owned by independent company, actively trying to sell the building and the land. • According to HPD Sergeant Ryan Cantrell, “The City of Hayward has been working with the current owner of Centennial Hall in an effort to have this property commercially developed." • The Mervyn’s building is scheduled to be demolished in the near future. There are plans for 476 units of housing and 8,500 ‘ of retail space at this site. • "The homeless population does force entry into these buildings and trespass on a fairly regular basis.”
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PHOTOS BY LOUIS LAVENTURE/THE PIONEER
Top: The old Mervyn's Headquarters building on Foothill Boulevard in Downtown Hayward. Above middle: Graffiti, garbage and debris fill the first floor of the old Mervyn's building. Above left: Broken windows adorn the old Centennial Hall building in Downtown Hayward last month. Bottom right: The former Mervyn's Headquarters in Hayward has been destoryed by trespassers.
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6 FEATURES
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
Blackalicious’ sound engineer puts flavor in your ears A brief Q & A with a local sound engineer reveals upcoming collaborations
me. What really inspires me though is traveling. Just seeing different cultures and seeing different people inspires me. Like, if I’m in New York i’ll make a beat that goes with the vibe and if I’m in Austria, I’ll make a beat that’s a little more classical because classical music is
By Sean McCarthy STAFF WRITER In 2015, Ronald Gacayan Jr., aka JR traveled with Blackalicious as an assistant tour manager and stage director in support of their latest album, “Imani Volume 1.” The music producer, sound engineer, and mix engineer from San Francisco is now the head recording engineer for the group’s next album, “Imani Volume 2.” The San Francisco native received his B.A.S. in Sound Arts from Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville in 2012. As a working sound engineer, JR is responsible for achieving perfect sound levels in recordings. As a mix engineer, he adds and removes various effects from songs. Since graduating from Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, JR has worked with local hip-hop acts such as Los Rakas and Gamble. The Pioneer spoke with JR recently about making music in the Bay Area, touring with Blackalicious, and his musical inspirations. The Pioneer: How did you get into music? JR: I actually got in trouble in school in 7th grade so I got detention and got sent to a program. That program was the DJ Club and I got interested in that. Part of the program was an app called Fruity Loops where we made beats. I showed the instructor my beat and he played it for the rest of the class. Everybody was congratulating me and from then I was hooked. P: What is it like making music in the East Bay? JR: I just feel like the culture is more rich. San Francisco is rich as well but
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLACKALICIOUS
“...there can be a lot of long hours in the music industry. Like I just went from 10 a.m. to 7 a.m. and I’ve done three days straight before. A friend told me you gotta be a little crazy to be in the music industry (laughs). A good crazy though.”
Rapper Gift of Gab, left, and DJ/producer Chief Xcel, right, make up the Bay Area hip hop duo. it got a little tainted, it’s been gentrified. In the East Bay, artists can thrive a little more is what I’m noticing. I feel like there is a bigger kind of community when it comes to the arts, not just music. P: What was is like going on tour with Blackalicious? JR: We did smaller venues which were more intimate and we performed at the Glastonbury which is the biggest festival in the UK. For smaller venues you can really feel the vibe off of the crowd and that was cool. For those events we had time to set up beforehand to make sure the sound is right and the stage looks perfect but when we do festivals, we roll out the cart, do a line check and fix the
sound as we go. It’s super high intensity and fast paced. A lot of things can go wrong and a lot of things do go wrong but you have to just keep your composure without panicking and fix it as fast as possible. The crowds are amazing because you’re dealing with thousands and thousands of people. P: What are you working on now? JR: I’m working on Blackalicious Imani Volume 2 right now. I’m actually the head recording engineer for that. I have potential production credits there as well. I also just released SMMR LVR on SoundCloud where I remixed old school beats and made them more modern. I am working on an instrumental album
and and producing an album with Lance the Genius who has performed at First Friday in Oakland. P: What are some notable songs that you have worked on? JR: I engineered the Blackalicious Sports Alphabet that was featured on Bleacher Report recently. We just finished a show at the Fillmore in San Francisco and Gift of Gab and I went straight into the studio to finish this track. I engineered the Blackalicious On Fire Tonight track that was featured on ESPN and Los Rakas - Hot which was on FIFA ‘14. P: What inspires you as an artist? JR: Producers like Quincy Jones inspire
huge out there. I just draw inspiration from the place I’m at at the moment. I’m just kind of translating what I feel at the moment. P: What would you tell upand-coming artists who want to get into the music industry? JR: Well, I learned a lot from school but I learned a lot more from interning. That’s how I got my start with Blackalicious. I started out as an engineer intern. But there can be a lot of long hours in the music industry. Like I just went from 10 a.m. to 7 a.m. and I’ve done three days straight before. A friend told me you gotta be a little crazy to be in the music industry (laughs). A good crazy though.
Staff turnover continues at East Bay Budget and Communication Director leaves East Bay By Kali Persall MANAGING EDITOR
Staff turnover continues at Cal State East Bay. Audrey Katzman, Academic Affairs budget and communications director, will leave East Bay this month in pursuit of a position in Walnut Creek, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Edward S. Inch said Aug. 24. Katzman initially filled the role as executive assistant for the chief of staff in the president’s office,
according to Inch. In 2011, she became the interim and permanent business manager for the Division of Information Technology Services. She has directed the budget and communications for Academic Affairs since 2013. The Office of Academic Affairs provides support to department chairs and faculty through faculty appointments, evaluations, disciplines, leaves and separations; and
department chair development, according to the OAA. It also addresses contract issues and grievances, academic policy information, academic budgetary resources and faculty salary information at East Bay’s Hayward, Concord and online campuses. Donna Gillott Monsoor has stepped in as interim director of budget and communications for Academic Affairs during fall term
while the university searches for a permanent replacement, Inch announced last Thursday. Monsoor worked as the budget and personnel analyst at CSU Sacramento for fifteen and a half years and managed department budgets and projects for the provost during this time. A celebration of Katzman’s eight years at East Bay took place on Aug. 18 in the Student Affairs building, room 4350.
FEATURES 7
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
Bay Area journalist tackles mud in documentary By Kali Persall MANAGING EDITOR When North Bay freelance journalist Scott Keneally pitched an experiential humor story about a self-proclaimed “wimpy” guy taking on the extreme obstacle course Tough Mudder to the North Bay Bohemian and Outside newspapers in 2012, he expected a challenge. The Healdsburg resident didn’t predict he would fall in love with obstacle course races (OCR’s), nor that his research would lead him down a rabbit hole into a legal battle between two giants in the world of mud--the modern Tough Mudder in the U.S. and the original Tough Guy course in the U.K. An expose on the controversy about whether Tough Mudder ripped off Tough Guy made an appearance on the front page of Outside magazine in Oct. 2012 and his experiential “Stud in the Mud” piece nabbed the front page of the the Bohemian. The seed was planted for Keneally’s first documentary, Rise of the Sufferfests, which came to life three years later. The film dropped on iTunes Thursday for $14.99. Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course that takes participants through grueling physical fitness challenges designed to put one’s “mental grit, camaraderie and all-around physical fitness” to the test, according to Tough Mudder. Competitors trudge through ice, mud and electricity, face obstacles at heart-dropping heights and various other navy-seal reminiscent challenges, with little reward. The tough Mudder website candidly states that there’s no finisher medal and promises only an, “ice cold beer and a few good scrapes from a day spent outside and free from everyday bulls--t.” Yet there have been two million Tough Mudder participants to date, with an average of 10,000 to 15,000 at each event, according to Tough Mudder. Dozens of events take place across the U.S. throughout the year. Why do this many people put them-
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT KENEALLY
Journalist Scott Keneally, center, participates and documents a Tough Mudder race. selves through physical agonies like achilles tendonitis and hypothermia--both of which Keneally knows on a first-name basis--so enthusiastically for such little payoff? This was the question Keneally sought to answer in Rise of the Sufferfests. The film explores the motivation behind the popularity of OCR’s like Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and Spartan Race through a montage of experts, from professional surfers and world record-holders, to sociologists and authors. Viewers watched crowds of OCR fanatics covered in blood, sweat and mud surged eagerly toward ice-filled ponds and scrambled over rope walls. Within the first five minutes, we meet Keneally himself, cringing at the final obstacle of his very first Tough Mudder. His personal narrative is weaved seamlessly throughout the film, giving
viewers an inside glimpse into the mud community and Keneally’s own journey to establish himself in it. “I like to think it will demystify mud for the masses,” Keneally said of the film. “For every one person that does it, we have five or 10 friends, family and co-workers who think we’re absolutely insane. But I think this film will drag many of those skeptics and cynics off the fence and into the mud.” Keneally told The Pioneer that his attraction is mainly socially-driven. “As a writer, I spend so much time working alone at home. But I’m a people person by nature. So I love the community aspect,” he said. “I like the beer after and the bull-s******g with your friends at a bar and talking about the horrors of the race. As a storyteller, I find this world to be rich in material. Before his own participation at his
first Tough Mudder in 2011 at Squaw Valley, he thought OCR’s were crazy, ridiculous and terrifying. It wasn’t until he darted through the signature obstacle, dubbed “Electroshock Therapy,” which consists of hundreds of hanging electric wires charged at 10,000 volts, in his first Tough Mudder that he began to see the appeal. “Overcoming something as terrifying as Electroshock Therapy made me feel like a king,” said Keneally. “I think right then and there I knew there was something really profound and meaningful in this experience, in stepping outside of my comfort zone and facing new fears. That changed me quite a bit.” The self-proclaimed “man who sees magic in mud” found himself metamorphosing from a previously unathletic “boy who cried shin splints” on his high school football team to an obstacle
course junkie, whose favorite challenge involves jumping off a platform to catch a T-bar and swinging 14 feet high above the water to ring a bell; an obstacle known as “Kings Swingers.” However the journey to bring the film to life wasn’t without its own set of hurdles. Discouraged, Keneally quit one of the obstacle courses halfway through in shame. The film’s funding fell through when they raised $35,000 through crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, and fell a quarter million dollars shy of the goal of $300,000. The platform doesn’t award any money raised if it does not meet the goal, so they ended up with zero. A later Indiegogo campaign asked for just $10,000, but raised $27,040. Along the way, he also found out he was going to be a father, which left him to question how he could support a child since all his money was put into the film. “You have to be blindly optimistic to say that you’re gonna make a movie and tell everyone and then try and then do it…at first it’s blind optimism but then you’re left with reality,” he said. “I [realized that] I still have to make this but it’s not gonna be the way I thought it was gonna be. And it’s a better story because of the failure. Because I didn’t raise the money I wanted, when I wanted.” He partnered with Echo Entertainment production company, known for its world series poker and sports programming, and managed to get the project new life. Keneally was able to scrape together the money over the years, but he said the company helped him get to the finish line. Keneally embraced fatherhood and became inspired to push himself to the limits with the intent of being a role model to his son Raleigh. He now competes in the World’s Toughest Mudder, an extreme, 24-hour obstacle course. “I am stronger and more resilient than maybe I thought I was,” said Keneally. “Being able to keep pushing through obstacles and challenges and to see things through, whether it be fatherhood or a movie or 24 hr race--to take on challenges and succeed at them--gives you a new kind of platform to stand on top of.”
FROM THE WIRE
As 49ers, Colin Kaepernick head to San Diego, safety becomes an issue By Cam Inman EAST BAY TIMES Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest has made him a lightning rod for criticism, but that doesn’t have him fearing his safety when the 49ers visit the San Diego Chargers for Thursday’s exhibition-season finale. “No, because if something happened, you’d be proving my point,” Kaepernick said Tuesday in an informal talk with reporters at his locker. To draw attention to racial injustice and social issues, Kaepernick has sat for every national anthem through three exhibition games, though his protest didn’t become known publicly until after Friday’s home loss to the Green Bay Packers. “I knew what I was walking into,” Kaepernick added. “That’s why it’s a sacrifice.” Kaepernick’s safety, and that of his 49ers teammates, will be handled not only through the Chargers’ stadium personnel but also the 49ers’ own security detail that typically travels and takes a proactive approach in such matters. A 49ers spokesman declined to detail any such plans. The national anthem will be part of the telecast on the local broadcast (KPIX, channel 5), said sports director Dennis O’Donnell. Coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick indeed will play Thursday, and that presumably will be in a starting role. Blaine Gabbert, the 49ers starter the
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE MORBECK
first three exhibitions, will not play. “We’ve got a good understanding of where Blaine is,” said Kelly, noting that Kaepernick missed the first two exhibitions with a sore arm and needs more snaps for evaluation purposes. San Diego’s massive presence of military personnel could result in a rude welcome for Kaepernick, who’s insisted that his anthem protest and anti-flag comments are not meant to offend the military. The Chargers will celebrate their 28th annual Salute to the Military at
the game. Navy officers will perform the national anthem pregame while over 240 military personnel unfurl a “U.S. Super Flag.” Also, “God Bless America” will be sung by a Navy officer after a halftime ceremony honoring Vietnam War veterans and wounded warriors. “I have great respect for our men and women that fought for this country,” Kaepernick said Sunday. “I have family, I have friends that have fought for this country. And they fight for freedom. They fight for liberty and justice, for everyone. And that’s not happening.” Kaepernick said the only articles he’s read are ones filtered to him through his family and close friends. Although he’s drawn support from many realms, he said he hasn’t directly heard from the White House, and that his phone hasn’t been overloaded by messages because few people have his number. Wide receiver Torrey Smith is expecting a barrage of taunts toward Kaepernick from the San Diego crowd.
“You’re going to get dog-cussed, and people have the right to do that,” Smith said. “Kap knows what kind of heat he’s going to take. ... You’ll hear stuff and see signs.” “If people are offended by (Kaepernick’s protest), that’s part of the problem. But people shouldn’t get physical over it.” Outside linebacker Corey Lemonier said he has friends in the military based in San Diego. Might they sound off on Kaepernick? “Yeah,
“I have great respect for our men and women that fought for this country.” but that’s what it’s about, the First Amendment,” Lemonier said. “Everyone has a right to say what they want to say.” Because this is the exhibition
finale, players such as Lemonier won’t be focused on their safety as much as this being a last chance to prove their roster worth. “It’s pretty crucial for me and most guys, and I can’t be focused on (safety),” Lemonier added. Asked if Kaepernick will require extra security on the 49ers sideline, Kelly responded: “I’m not a security guy.” --Kelly said he will wait to evaluate film from that game before announcing his regular-season starter between Gabbert and Kaepernick, whom he confirmed are his two top quarterbacks. When it comes to Kaepernick’s roster plight, Kelly deferred to general manager Trent Baalke’s authority in making the final personnel decisions, albeit with Kelly’s input. “The final say is Trent’s, and that’s the way it should be,” Kelly said. “But we’ve got a really cooperative relationship. We see things the same way.” Baalke has yet to comment on Kaepernick’s national anthem protest or roster standing.
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8 SPORTS
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
Oakland levels up with an eSPORTS arena
Egaming organizations partner up to create gaming facility at Jack London Square
Oakland levels up with an eSPORTS arena By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
When new arenas and Oakland are mentioned, usually the Oakland Raiders come to mind. Even the Golden State Warriors or the Oakland Athletics would be more deserving of a new arena, but it was the egaming community that got one instead. The collaboration between ESports Arena, based in Southern California, and Allied eSports from China was announced on Aug. 11 by company officials. The building is a primarily glass structure in Jack London Square in Downtown Oakland adjacent to the Amtrak station. The demand for e-sports is not new, the industry is growing fast and officials hope the arena will be finished by the end of this year or the beginning of 2017, just in time to capitalize on the growth. E-sports tournaments have popped up all over the world and draw thousands of competitors, viewers, fans and millions of dollars in prizes. According to San Francisco based Twitch, a live streaming and video platform that was purchased by Amazon in 2014 for $1.1 billion, they have 10 million daily viewers. According to Forbes Magazine,
the e-sports industry will rake in nearly $500 million in total revenue in 2016 and if participation continues to grow that number could reach over $1 billion by 2019. The new 16,000 square foot arena will have at least 1,000 seats and capitalize on the popularity of games like “League of Legends”, “Dota2” and “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” which had tournaments draw over 10,000 people at SAP Center in San Jose last year. Paul Ward, the CEO of ESports Arena said that previous models of arenas have included a membership and monthly fee, which helps take care of the dayto-day costs. “This is a blossoming culture,” Ward said. “We want to make sure it is in the proper venue. “These arenas are for tournaments, groups, individual gamers, they welcome everybody.” According to Allied eSports, the Oakland arena is one of eight similar venues that will be built in America and Europe. The first arena opened last year in Santa Ana, which charges $18 for a monthly pass and $10 for a one day pass or a continual membership for $13 per month. Officials are hopeful the arena will be open for the holiday season.
Total Revenue 900
$891M
800 700 600 500 $409M 400 300
$285M $208M
200
$201M $126M
100
(IN THE MILLIONS)
eSports (Total Market)
Oakland A’s (2016)
Oakland Raiders
Golden State Warriors
(2015)
(2016)
San Francisco Giants (Total Market)
San Jose Sharks (Total Market)
TOTAL ORGANIZATIONAL REVENUE
$13B
$9.5B
$5.2B
$3.7B
$461M
NFL
MLB
NBA
NHL
MLS
Sources: www.statista.com, Forbes INFOGRAPHIC BY TAM DUONG JR./THE PIONEER
Athletic director honored by East Bay Mcdermott takes same job at SFSU By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF It was a short ride, but it was memorable. Cal State East Bay hosted a farewell for former athletic director Joan McDermott, who accepted the same position at her alma mater, San Francisco University, on Aug. 23. McDermott will take over at USF in a few weeks and East Bay tabbed Dr. Don Sawyer to fill the role for the Pioneers in an interim position. Sawyer was unavailable for comment until Sept. 7. In her just less than a year and a half at the helm of the athletics department at CSUEB, six head coaches left or stepped down under McDermott, who took over the director of athletics role on April 1, 2015. In addition to Bob Ralston and Darren Lewis leaving the baseball team after the best season in school history, the women’s basketball, track, cross country, softball, men’s soccer and swimming coaches all stepped down or
left to pursue other opportunities. However, Friday was a day to reflect on the job she did since she arrived from Metropolitan State in Denver, Colorado last year. Coaches, staff and even President Leroy Morishita gathered in the University Union for drinks and snacks in a farewell celebration for the short-lived director of athletics. Short stints aren’t a common thing for McDermott, as she held her role at Metro State for more than 17 years, from 1998 to 2015. CSUEB went through an extensive search to select McDermott for the position, which included a search committee comprised of Associate Vice President of Student Support and Development, Andrea Wilson, Paul Carpenter, the chair in the department of kinesiology, Marissa Parry Clavin, an associate athletics director in Internal Operations, Lisa Cooper, the head coach of the women’s water polo team, Alan Sue, the head coach of the men’s and women’s golf teams and Trey James, a student-athlete on the men’s soccer team. McDermott was hopeful she could help the East Bay athletics department grow by utilizing a model that was successful for her at Metro State that
PHOTO BY KEDAR DUTT/CONTRIBUTOR
Cal State East Bay President Leroy Morishita, left, talks with former Athletic Director Joan McDermott, center, and new women’s basketball head coach Molly Goodenbour at McDermott’s farewell on Friday at the Hayward campus. focused on community and business involvement. “We have done a lot of community partnerships and even some sponsorship
things with organizations like Major League Baseball and the Denver Parks and Recreations Department. It is great for the campus to get the community
involved,” McDermott said. East Bay will have to keep an eye on the Dons up North in order to see if McDermott delivers on her message.