Sports
Just days after a fire at the Chevron refinery sent Richmond residents scurrying for cover indoors, on Saturday hundreds of people gathered outside to celebrate the re-opening of a community park.
Energy as tangible as an electric current charged through the Craneway Pavillion on Saturday night as people flowed into the glass-lined room by the bay. The cavernous space was converted into a derby stadium for the 2012 B.ay A.rea D.erby (B.A.D.) Girls Championship showdown between the San Francisco ShEvil Dead and the Richmond Wrecking Belles.
Former heavyweight Bomani Parker has spent the last few months getting back into shape and working towards obtaining his boxing license from the California State boxing commission with the help of some friends who have rallied to help him raise money for his license.
Ulises Soriano grew up around boxing. Back in the 1970s, his father had a gym in Mexico City. Once he got to Richmond, the father realized his eldest son had inherited passion for the sport, too.
On Saturday, the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) hosted 16 bouts of amateur boxing at the Richmond Auditorium. Each fight lasted three rounds, with the winner receiving a trophy. The runner-up got ribbon and medal. Ages of the fighters ranged from 9 to 31 years of age.
In Richmond, finding a way around violence is a daily struggle. But as the city struggles to get a handle on youth violence, a local skateboard park serves as a reminder that, sometimes, peace can come from an unlikely source.
Jeff Pflueger, a Richmond resident, is racing in the United States’ oldest, and most renowned, 100 mile trail run—the Western States Endurance Race. Trail runs like this are meant to test the mettle of an athlete, and WSER does the job well. In the canyons daytime temperatures often soar over 100°F and at mile 78 the course crosses the American River, within spitting distance of a class six rapid.
It’s a Thursday evening at Polk Street Gym in San Francisco as Bomani “Warrior” Parker works his way around the punching bag, delivering blow after blow with punishing force. Around him are beginning boxers of all ages and professions; lawyers, dentists, college students, and teachers momentarily halt their warm up session before their training begins to watch Parker’s form. At age 44, the 6’3”, 250-pound heavyweight boxer from Richmond has been away from the ring for over a decade and…
Bay Area residents got a taste of roller derby madness Saturday night as the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls teams laced ’em up for the league’s Double Header Coastal Clash at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond.