Ridder one of the Bay's best PR guys; RIP to Manute Bol; Sunday Father's Day short

Hats off to Warriors PR director, Raymond Ridder, and his staff for winning the annual NBA Brian McIntyre award for media relations, voted upon by the pro basketball writers.

Ridder is the consummate pro, always there when you need help and willing and able to go the extra mile to assist all of us in getting the information out.

Here's hoping the new owner(s) of the W's retain the entire pr dept.

**Happy Father Day and take me out to the ballgame--wait, no ballgame. Both the Giants and A's are on the road, but there's a legit excuse.

On the original schedule, the A's were to be at home, but a U2 concert planned for this past Wednesday at the Coliseum was cancelled, (Bono incurred a back injury); too bad, as Father's Day is a perfect crowd pleaser, but so much for that day game. Can't wait to see the Pirates and Reds.

Meanwhile, the Giants have the Red Sox and Dodgers lined up for the weekend. Get your big wallets out.

**RIP to Manute Bol.

A truly classy, funny, and engaging man who was both blessed to be 7-foot-7 and cursed at the end. When covering the Warriors in the late 80's I had a chance to sit down and talk to this gentle giant and was immediately impressed with his winning personality, warmth and utter humility. Just a great individual and a guy who knew the concept of big picture. He left us way too soon.

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