Tag: Golden State Warriors

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Can Bears coach Johnson build them up for post season?; Ichiro misses unanimous Hall election by one vote; plus more news

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Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson will rebuild the Bears from inside out as he takes over the head coaching duties for the 2025 season (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and now head coach of the Chicago Bears Ben Johnson was noted for being a play caller as offensive coordinator but can Johnson take that experience and lead the Bears to glory for the 2025 season. Can Johnson fix the Bears who finished in dead last this season with a 5-12 record.

#2 The anticipation of former Seattle Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to get a unanimous decision for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown fell short by one vote. The ballot that did not vote for Ichiro was left blank next to Ichiro’s name out of 393 BBWAA writers who cast ballots. No matter Ichiro will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

#3 UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley cussed at the refs during a time out against the Butler Bulldogs on Tuesday night saying, “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m the best coach in the (expletive) sport,” said Hurley while following the ref on the floor. There is no doubt that coach Hurley coaches with emotion and passion.

#4 The Golden State Warriors continue to struggle losing six of their last 11 games, are in 11th place in the Western Conference and are battling to try to move up and get a playoff spot. The Warriors were beaten soundly on Tuesday night 125-85 by the Boston Celtics and lost again to the Sacramento Kings 123-117 on Wednesday night in Sacramento.

#5 Big NFL Championships are coming this Sunday the Washington Commanders at the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. In the AFC Championship the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Outlast Warriors After Lackluster First Half 123-117

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Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) takes a shot over the Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder (71) in the second half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Wed Jan 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night, the Sacramento Kings (23-20) outlasted the Golden State Warriors (21-22) 123-117 after a lackluster first half of basketball. DeMar DeRozan had a 19 point third quarter and finished the game with 32 points. The Kings have not lost a game at home since Doug Christie became interim Head Coach. Every starter for Sacramento had double figures in a sparkling second half of basketball.

Game recap: The Kings got a bit of a slow start in the opening 12 minutes of play. The Kings finally got it together and going into the second quarter Golden State had taken a 24-20 lead. The Warriors continued to stay on top of the Kings hitting over 52% from downtown while the Kings were struggling at only 38%.

Sacramento was yet to heat up from beyond the arc in fact the Kings starting lineup was struggling to hit their stride at all. With a little over seven minutes left in the half, the Warriors had taken an 13 points lead 44-31.

Doug Christie was forced to take a timeout looking to stop the bleeding. The Kings were missing far too many open shots continuing to drag offensively. The Warriors took a 17 point lead into the locker room at the half 65-48.

By halftime Domantas Sabonis was the only King in double digits with 14 points and the Warriors Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry each had 12 points. Golden State had outscored the Kings 41-28 in the second quarter.

Going into the second half, Sacramento needed a much improved offensive effort. They were protecting the ball well with only five turnovers but were falling flat from beyond the arc as well as points in the paint. They were also struggling coming away with only two offensive rebounds.

Mid-way through the third quarter the Kings made a push cutting the Warriors 17 point lead to ten 64-74. With 4:21 left in the quarter, Sacramento still trailed by ten points 69-79. Domantas Sabonis clocked another double double with 18 points and 14 rebounds with nearly four minutes left in the third quarter.

All of the Kings starters with the exception of De’Aaron Fox had double figures. Fox was really struggling only hitting six points and one rebound. The Kings continued to trail by ten points looking to get into single digits.

With under two minutes left in the quarter the Kings had indeed cut the Warriors lead to single digits 80-85. Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr called a time-out with 1:14 left in the third. The Warriors had eight turnovers in the third quarter alone in eleven minutes of ugly basketball. As the third quarter came to an end this game was tied at 85 and the Kings had erased a 17 point half-time Warrior lead. DeMar DeRozan had scored 19 third quarter points.

The Kings started the fourth quarter by taking their first lead since the early moments of the first quarter 87-85. The Warriors answered right back with a slew of three’s taking back the lead 99-92. Golden State had hit 19 three’s to the Kings eight.

Sacramento answered and took a six point lead with 6:44 left in the game but the Warriors came roaring back with a couple more three’s and the game was tied once again. With 1:30 left on the clock the Kings had a 117-113 lead and this game was going down to the wire.

With 1:07 left in the game clutch player De’Aaron Fox gave the Kings a 119-113 lead. The final was 123-117 in favor of Sacramento in a game of constant fourth quarter lead changes.

After a slow first half, the Sacramento Kings really turned it on. DeMar DeRozan had the game high with 32 points and 5 rebounds. Domantas Sabonis had a double double with 26 points and 18 rebounds.

De’Aaron Fox had a couple of clutch shots in the final minutes of the fourth quarter finishing with 14 points and five rebounds. Malik Monk had 20 points and Keegan Murray finished with 13 points in one amazing second half of basketball.

The Warriors did a great job containing De’Aaron Fox in the first three quarters but he turned in eight points in the final quarter as Sacramento won their third game in a row.

The Warriors had a banner night from beyond the arc hitting 22 but it was just not enough to get past the surging Kings.

Game recap: Wednesday night a Northern California battle took place at Golden 1 Center between the Kings and the Warriors. The Kings are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference after climbing out of a 12th place position. The Warriors sit in 11th place.

The Warriors took the court without the services of Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga on Wednesday. Green is dealing with a mild calf strain and Kuminga is suffering from a lateral right ankle sprain. The Kings played this game without injury. Sacramento continued their win streak at home not having lost a game under interim coach Doug Christie. They picked up their third win in a row and their ninth win out of 11 starts.

There will not be a whole lot of down time for Sacramento after Wednesday night’s game. They hop on a plane Wednesday night heading out to Denver for a matchup with the fourth place Nuggets Thursday night. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 6:00 PM. The Kings will be in search of their fourth win in a row.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings win ninth out of last ten games defeating Wizards on Sunday

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The Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter (left) takes a jump shot against the Washington Wizards guard Jared Butler (right) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Jan 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis had himself a busy night with 29 points and 18 rebounds to help beat the Washington Wizards 123-100 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sunday night. It was the Kings ninth win in their last ten games.

#2 The Kings DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Malik Monk scored 23 points, Keon Ellis scored 18 and was six for eight on three pointers.

#3 De’Aaron Fox contributed 12 points and had a season high 13 assists, Fox once again had one of those contributing nights in the Kings win.

#4 The Wizards Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 12 rebounds despite his effort the Wizards have now lost ten straight games.

#5 The Kings host the Golden State Warriors on Wed Jan 22 at Golden 1 Center for a 7:00pm PST tip. The Warriors are 11th in the Western Conference they’ve won their last two games and won five of their last ten games. The last time the Kings faced Golden State they beat them in San Francisco 129-99 on Sun Jan 5th.

Join Barbara Mason for the Kings podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings clobber Warriors at Chase Center 129-99 for fourth straight win

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Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) who just recently joined the big club from the G League’s Stockton Kings goes for the high percentage shot against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Jan 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast:

#1 Sacramento Kings Malik Monk scored 26 points and 12 assists and the Kings also got help from Domantas Sobonis with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a huge win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Sunday 129-99.

#2 The win marks interim head coach Doug Christie’s fourth straight win against one loss and there is little doubt that he has this team fired up since taking over the reigns after former Kings head coach Mike Brown was fired after losing five straight games.

#3 What was amazing about Sunday’s win against Golden State was the Kings did it without DeAaron Fox whose been the Kings lead scorer and has been the focus of trade rumors.

#4 The Kings never were behind the Warriors through the Sunday contest and led at the half by a whopping score of 75-51. The Kings in this game looked every bit like a playoff contender despite occupying 11th in the Western Conference.

#5 It’s right back to work at Golden 1 Center as the Kings match up against the Miami Heat who are sixth in the Eastern Conference Monday night. The Heat have won four of their last six and lost two games in a row. They are having internal issues with their star player Jimmy Butler wanting to be traded and said he wants out of Miami. Its been reported that Butler does not get along with Heat executive Pat Riley. Butler’s argument is Riley has not put together a competitive team and Riley has suspended Butler for seven games for conduct detrimental of the team. It should be noted Butler had issues with other NBA teams in Chicago, Philadelphia and Minnesota before leaving those clubs as well. So who will want to pick him up is a big question. Golden State said they will take a pass on Butler after looking into Butler.

Join Barbara for the Kings podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings deal Warriors a 129-99 drubbing at Chase Center

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The Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) drives on the Golden State Warriors forward Lindy Waters III (left) in first half action at the Chase Center in San Francisco Sun Jan 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN FRANCISCO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Sunday night. On Sunday, the Kings traveled west to San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors. Neither the Warriors nor the Kings have had the best of seasons so far this year. Entering Sunday, the Warriors held an 18-16 record and were eighth in the Western Conference.

After a strong start to the season with a 12-3 record in their first 15 games, the Warriors have since struggled, going 6-13—a stark contrast for a team with championship aspirations, especially as Stephen Curry, now 36 years old, continues to lead the squad. Conversely, the Kings didn’t enjoy a hot start like the Warriors; they’ve hovered around or below .500 all season, entering Sunday’s game with a 16-19 record.

On Sunday, the Warriors were shorthanded, missing Jonathan Kuminga due to a sprained ankle. This marked a significant loss for the Warriors, who are reportedly exploring potential trades involving the young player.

On the other side, the Kings were without De’Aaron Fox, sidelined by a right glute contusion sustained during a hard foul on Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. The game tipped off at 5:30 PM PST at Chase Center as the Kings ultimately defeated the Golden State Warriors on the road with a commanding 129-99 victory.

Game recap: In the first half, the Kings came out firing on all cylinders offensively. They scored an impressive 75 points in the first half compared to the Warriors’ 51. The Kings’ offense was dynamic, with excellent ball movement that consistently left the Warriors’ defense scrambling in rotation.

Sacramento shot an impressive 66.7% from two-point range and 47.8% from beyond the arc in the first half. According to Kings PR via Basketball Reference, this marked the first time in franchise history that the Kings scored 75 or more points in consecutive first halves (The Kings scored 78 in the first half against the Grizzlies on Friday night).

On the other hand, the Warriors weren’t entirely ineffective, shooting 44% from both the floor and from deep in the first half. However, turnovers proved costly as the Warriors committed 13 turnovers, which the Kings capitalized on by scoring 20 points off those mistakes.

In the second half, the Kings maintained their dominance. The Warriors made a few small runs early in the half but couldn’t match Sacramento’s offensive output. The Kings added 54 points in the second half, while the Warriors managed 48, sealing the 129-99 victory.

Malik Monk stepped up significantly for the Kings in Fox’s absence, contributing 26 points and 12 assists. Domantas Sabonis added a 22-point double-double, while Devin Carter scored his first NBA points, finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds. For Golden State, Curry led the way with 26 points and seven rebounds.

Postgame Reflections The Kings improved to 17-19, while the Warriors dropped to 18-17 and continued to struggle. The Kings’ victory marked their fourth consecutive win.

When asked about the team’s turnaround, DeMar DeRozan said, “We are just going out there, playing freely with joy and for one another.” Head Coach Doug Christie added, “The guys played with a high level of competition and competitive nature.”

When I asked about the team’s preparations for upcoming games against Miami and Boston, Christie humorously replied, “You do know I just got this job, right?” Fair enough, Doug.

Up Next The Kings return home to face the Miami Heat on Monday at 7 PM PST at Golden 1 Center. The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler, who has been suspended for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team. Additionally, he was fined $532,000 per game by Heat President Pat Riley.

Lots of scoring Kings outduel Grizzlies 138-133 for Kings 3rd straight win

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (left) drives past Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (center) and the Kings Domantas Sabonis (11) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fri Jan 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Friday night inside the Golden 1 Center. The Kings have been navigating a very tumultuous time. Over the past few weeks, the Kings endured six straight losses, fired their head coach, and appointed Doug Christie as interim head coach to lead the team on the court.

Both the organization and the fanbase have been facing significant challenges lately. On Friday, they welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies, who entered the game with a 23-11 record, while the Kings stood at 15-19.

Amidst a forgettable stretch, the Kings were determined to turn the page. The game also marked the NBA debut of guard Devin Carter, who had been sidelined since the draft due to shoulder surgery. Tip-off against the Grizzlies was set for 7 PM PST. The Kings defeated the Grizzlies 138-133 on Friday night.

In the first quarter, the Kings’ offense exploded in a performance of epic proportions, scoring an impressive 46 points. Trey Lyles led the charge with 11 points, while Malik Monk added ten. The high-flying offense brought back memories of the 2022-2023 season. Although Memphis also started strong, they managed only 32 points. The Kings took a commanding lead heading into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings continued to press the Grizzlies, but Memphis responded with an offensive eruption of their own, scoring 40 points. The Kings contributed 32 points in the second quarter, maintaining a slim lead of 78-72 at halftime.

Malik Monk led the Kings with 17 points in the first half, followed by Trey Lyles with 14. Jaylen Wells paced the Grizzlies with 16 points. Defense was nearly nonexistent, as both teams combined for a staggering 150 points in the first half. It was clear that whichever team stepped up defensively in the second half would likely secure the victory.

In the third quarter, the game slowed as both teams tightened up defensively. The Kings were outscored 28-24 by the Grizzlies. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with five points in the quarter, while Sacramento native Jaylen Wells guided Memphis with 11 points. The Kings’ lead was trimmed to just two points, 102-100, setting the stage for a nail-biting final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings did just enough on defense to secure the win. Outscoring the Grizzlies 36-33, Sacramento held on for a hard-fought 138-133 victory. While the defensive effort wasn’t stellar, the Kings managed to find a way to win—a quality that has often eluded them this season. Christie echoed this sentiment postgame, stating: “We are gonna do some learning defensively. We still have to keep growing, but it’s always good to win while you’re learning. Tonight, we were able to do that.”

The Kings were led by Malik Monk, who finished with 31 points. Jaylen Wells was the top scorer for Memphis, contributing 30 points in the contest. The Kings improved to 16-19 on the year as the Grizzlies fell to 23-12.

Up Next: The Kings will travel an hour west to face the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sunday at 5:30 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings will press to end 4 game losing streak tonight at Golden State

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December 22, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) shoots the basketball against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. (Photo: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images/REUTERS)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Kings lost their fourth in a row going into another slump.

#2 This game remained close in the first half but fell apart in the second half.

#3 There are some critical problems in the defense right now that have to be corrected.

#4 With what is going on in Sacramento right now there are bound to be some major changes in February. Especially if this continues going forward.

#5 The Kings are off until next Thursday night when they take on the the Detroit Pistons. How do you see this game and will they rebound?

Join Barbara for the Kings podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings get by Warriors 120-117; Kings remain tied for first with Suns

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Skal Labissière forward (8) Stockton Kings gets ready to throw down against the visiting Santa Cruz Warriors at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton on Wed Dec 11, 2024 (image by Stockton Kings)

By William Espy

STOCKTON–The Stockton Kings returned home after a lengthy road trip to once again faceoff against the Santa Cruz Warriors. Nick Kerr’s Warriors won two in a row prior to their matchup at Adventist Health Arena, while the Kings lost their last outing against the Salt Lake City Stars but found themselves second in the West Division. On Wednesday night different story the Kings played a close game and defeated the visiting Warriors 120-117.

Stockton Starters: Terry Taylor, Isaiah Crawford, Skal Labissiere, Dexter Dennis, Jon Elmore

Warriors Starters: Kevin Knox, Javan Johnson, Seth Maxwell, Marcus Burk, Yuri Collins

Skal Labissiere opened the scoring for the Kings, and they maintained an early lead but the Warriors were keeping it close. Eventually, the Warriors got their first lead of the night just over halfway through the first quarter. Marcus Burk hit a corner three, making it 18-17 in favor of the visiting team.

Skal Labissiere was the Kings’ main source of offense early on, while Kevin Knox was the same for the Warriors. After the Warriors extended their lead to 20-17, Stockton went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead quickly. Drew Timme made an instant impact off of the bench, scoring six points in his first two minutes on the court. At the end of the first quarter, the Kings led 36-29.

That lead would only continue to grow in the second quarter. For the most part, the Kings maintained a double-digit lead for most of the frame. Dexter Dennis had a strong start to the quarter seemingly scoring at will. At the half, Stockton led 65-55.

Labissiere and Isaiah Crawford led the Kings with 13 points each, while Dennis had 11. Meanwhile, for Santa Cruz, Blake Hinson led his team with 13 of his own while Knox had 11. One key difference between the two teams was efficiency.

Stockton was shooting 57.1% from the field, while their opposition was held to 39.2%. Defensively, the game was a completely different story though. The Warriors had seven steals, which were a big part of the Kings’ eight first-half turnovers, they just hadn’t been able to turn them into points.

Santa Cruz started the second half with energy, going on an 8-0 run to bring the game within 2 points before Stockton was forced to call a timeout. Terry Taylor eventually broke the run, and momentum swung in the Kings’ favor who looked to extend their lead. Stockton’s lead would only be five points at the end of the third quarter, as the Warriors kept themselves in the game.

As the fourth quarter reached its halfway point, the Warriors brought the game back within a single point. Stockton kept trying to pull away, but Santa Cruz kept themselves in it. For the first time since the first quarter, the Warriors took the lead with just five minutes remaining in the game, making it 106-105.

Labissiere quickly put the Kings back in the lead, but from there it was a game of pinball as it went back and forth. With just over a minute left, the Warriors held the lead but Crawford was sent to the free-throw line with an opportunity to tie it up for Stockton.

The Warriors went down and took the lead, but as Yuri Collins went down in discomfort at the other end of the court, Crawford drew another foul. This time, he had a chance to give the Kings the lead on an and-one. He missed the free throw, but Santa Cruz knocked the ball out of bounds, giving the Kings possession once again. Taylor would end up drawing another foul, and his points were the difference maker as the Kings walked away victorious, 120-117.

Kings consistency 15 straight baskets put away Rockets 120-111 at Golden 1

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) takes a shot over the Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Wed Dec 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings returned to action on Tuesday night, hosting the Houston Rockets at the Golden 1 Center. The Kings last played on Sunday, falling to the San Antonio Spurs 127-125 at home. Heading into the game, the Kings were in 12th place in the Western Conference with a 9-12 record, while the Rockets held the second spot in the West with a 15-6 record. The game tipped off at 7 PM PST. The Kings defeated the Rockets on Tuesday 120-111 to improve to 10-12 on the season.

In the first quarter, the Kings delivered an underwhelming performance, being outscored by the Rockets 28-21. The Kings lacked the urgency needed, allowing Houston to take advantage. Domantas Sabonis showed early aggression, which was a positive sign, but the question remained whether it would lead to sustained scoring. Jalen Green sparked the Rockets with nine points in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings fell behind by double digits early. However, De’Aaron Fox led a rally, scoring 10 points in the period to bring the Kings closer. The Kings outscored the Rockets 33-27 in the quarter, cutting the deficit to 55-54 at halftime. Jalen Green led all scorers at the half with 16 points.

The third quarter belonged to the Kings. Their offense exploded for 42 points, while their defense limited the Rockets to 29 points. The Kings’ intensity after halftime was evident. The big question was whether they could maintain it to close out the game, something they had struggled with all season. Through three quarters, Jalen Green had 26 points for the Rockets, while Sabonis and Fox each tallied 20 for the Kings.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings sustained their energy to secure the victory. The game ended with some drama, as Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Alperen Şengün were ejected with only a few minutes remaining. The matchup had been physical throughout, but the two couldn’t keep their emotions in check. Jalen Green had a quiet final quarter but finished as the game’s top scorer with 28 points. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 27 points in the win.

Up Next: The Sacramento Kings will travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies on Thursday at 5 PM PST. The Grizzlies, currently third in the Western Conference, will provide a tough challenge for the Kings.

Sportstalk/Gilda’s Seafood at Santa Cruz Pier podcast remote Mon Oct 28, 2024

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Gilda’s Restaurant at 37 Municipal Wharf Santa Cruz near the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. A look at the entrance area home of some the best local seafood in Santa Cruz (photo by Gilda’s Restaurant)

Sportstalk is honored to do a remote podcast at historic Gilda’s Seafood Restaurant now serving the greater Santa Cruz area for 50 years. Gilda’s near the Santa Cruz Boardwalk serving pasta and great seafood selections. Our thanks to general manager Alisa Dodds, server Danny and the fine staff at Gilda’s Seafood Restaurant.

Our podcast will feature headline sports that includes all the latest game results regarding the San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sharks, Golden State Warriors, and much more. Today’s podcast talent, Michael Duca (Cal basketball analyst and host), Tony the Tiger Hayes (He was a Giant? author), Marko Ukalovic (San Jose Barracuda beat writer), Fernando Abarca (San Jose Sharks beat writer), Michael Roberson (Stanford Cardinal beat writer) and Lee Leonard (producer).

Gilda’s Seafood Restaurant Santa Cruz podcast: