Tag Archives: san francisco

Kyle Williams Receives Death Threats After Loss

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Kyle Williams after fumble.

Abject desperation ravages 49ers Williams after fumble.

Written by: Nick Mingay

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams received death threats from disgruntled fans this week after his two muffed punts cost the team a win and trip to the Super Bowl.

After the game, many came out in support of Williams, but others used social media sites to send threats of all kinds at the second year receiver.

“I hope you, your wife, kids and family die, you deserve it,” one tweet said on Williams Twitter account.

Williams got near a rolling punt during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. The ball hit his knee and was recovered by the Giants near the 49ers red zone. The second punt was in overtime, Williams fielded it but proceeded to fumble. It was recovered by the Giants Devin Thomas and from there it was an easy field goal for the Giants.

The 49er family was crushed by the loss, but they stood by Williams after his turbulent end to the NFC Championship game.

“There’s some comfort when your teammates come and give you a pat on the back and say we win and lose as a team,” Williams said on “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday.

Williams was shocked by the threats made on his life. He spoke about an imaginary line between players and fans in professional sports, some people cross the line and don’t even think twice about it.

“People just write blindly and I guess that’s to be expected  with how open Twitter is,” Williams said on ESPN Radio’s “Hill & Schlereth” on Monday.

Williams did receive some uplifting support from a seven-year-old boy from Los Angeles. The boy, Owen Shure, after being heartbroken by the 49ers loss was asked how he thought Williams felt after his missteps lead to the loss. Shure proceeded to write a letter to his favorite perturbed athlete. The letter told Williams to be proud of the season he had and that Shure would always be his number one fan. This was a welcome sight to Williams after all the negative feedback he had received from fans.

The death threats Williams received are part of the game though. No one understands this more than his father, Kenny Williams, the General Manager of the Chicago White Sox. He has received threats on many occasions for his sometimes questionable trades and free agent signings.

“I’m used to the years of criticism and threats on my life from time to time, but I have to hear about threats on your son’s life while you’re watching TV and it certainly makes you question the culture of sports as it stands,” Kenny Williams told ESPN Chicago.

As for Kyle Williams, all he can do is seek solace in the off-season and come back next year to win back 49er fans that have left him for dead.

At the Crossroads Brings Services to the Streets for Homeless Youths in San Francisco

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Youths participate in a "skateathon" benefit event held by the San Francisco Skate Club in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in March of 2009 for At the Crossroads.

In San Francisco, California, At the Crossroads has been working to serve thousands of homeless youth and young adults living on the city streets.  At the Crossroads specifically targets the needs of those without access to a steady source of support or traditional homelessness services.

Many of those served by At the Crossroads are young adults who are beyond the legal age limit to access the services of youth agencies, but have difficulty entering into an environment of programs for homeless adults whether it is because they are not comfortable identifying themselves as “homeless” or they do not have a sufficient level of trust and confidence in the programs which would otherwise allow them access to necessary services.

At the Crossroads works with many of these young adults as well as youth by bringing counseling services to youth on the street and taking an individualized approach in providing services to meet the unique needs of each homeless youth and young adult.  To date, At the Crossroads has stepped up to meet the needs of more than 5,000 youth and young adults living on the streets in San Francisco. 

Those in the San Francisco Bay area can get involved in the cause by becoming one of the hundreds of volunteers upon whom the work of At the Crossroads depends for support in their efforts to meet the needs of homeless youth and young adults on the streets of San Francisco.  At the Crossroads also accepts donations online through their official website.

Carlos Santana Accepts the Mayor’s Art Award from San Francisco

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Woodstock '69 - Soul Sacrifice

On March 18th, the  human rights advocate – and internationally acclaimed musician – Carlos Santana recieved the 2010 Mayor’s Art Award from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Over 300 attended the regal Green Room of the War Memorial Opera House.

The famed musician moved from Los Angeles up to San Francisco in 1961, where his father got involved with a mariachi band. Carlos graduated from Mission High School in 1965, and made his debut with The Santana Band at the Fillmore West theater on June 16, 1968. The following year saw their international success – via the stage of Woodstock ’69 – and the release of their self-titled debut album, which included the top 10 Billboard hit “Evil Ways.”

“Carlos is one of the greatest artists of our time and any time,” said Mayor Newsome during the two-hour long ceremony, “He is an international superstar who keeps his heart in San Francisco and has humanity of a social worker.” Santana embraced his flowery San Franciscan roots, claiming that he’ll always be a rainbow warrior – or hippie – at heart. He warned against the destructiveness of the ego, and closed his acceptance speech with a frank metaphor:

“Music is the water, people are the flowers and I’m a hose.”

Wise words from a wise guitarist who helped feed the flaming live performance of “Soul Sacrifice,” that fateful day at Woodstock al those years ago.