Warriors Win the NBA Championship -- June 17, 2022

San Francisco Call, 05-February-1911

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the NBA championship series. This is their fourth title in eight years. I don't usually mention basketball here, but I watched each game of the championship.  

The photo shows the Saint Ignatius basketball team in 1911. 

Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society -- April 28, 2011

Tonight I attended the tenth annual meeting of the Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society of my high school, Saint Ignatius College Prep. Tonight's meeting was held as a Zoom call. Captain Dennis Murphy (Ret), my classmate, interviewed former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John M Richardson (Ret). They spoke about faith, service and the current situation of the Navy around the world. They both recalled serving as diplomats in foreign ports. 

After the talk, SI students who had won the Callaghan Society essay contest received their awards. 

Admiral Callaghan, SI 1907, won a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where he died on the bridge of the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco. The San Francisco survived the battle and was repaired at Mare Island. She served throughout the war. Her shell-torn bridge is preserved as a monument at Land's End in San Francisco. I took the photo on 07-January-2012.

Warriors Win the NBA Championship -- June 12, 2017

San Francisco Call, 05-February-1911

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in the NBA championship series.  The Warriors had swept through the other playoff series. 

I don't usually mention basketball here, but I watched all but one game of the championship. It was nice to see Kevin Durant and his mother celebrate his first championship. 

The photo shows the Saint Ignatius basketball team in 1911. 

Father Paul Capitolo, SJ, RIP -- October 11, 2015

I was sad to learn about the passing of Rev Paul F Capitolo, SJ, my Sophomore year counselor at Saint Ignatius.  Everyone loved Father Capitolo.  He used to help at Good Shepherd Church.  My daughter loved being an altar server for him.  I last spoke to him at the Downtown Business Lunch in 2011, where they spoke about his retirement.  I asked him what he would be doing. He said he was not looking forward to being around other retired Jesuits -- being around the kids kept him young.

Warriors Win the NBA Championship -- June 17, 2014

San Francisco Call, 05-February-1911

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2 in the NBA championship series.  I don't usually mention basketball here, but I watched each game of the championship.  I remember the last time they won in 1975-1975.  I remember when Nate Thurmond got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  I had never heard of them before. 

The photo shows the Saint Ignatius basketball team in 1911. 

Catholic Schools Week -- January 26, 2014

Today is the start of Catholic Schools Week.

I'm grateful that my parents put me in Catholic schools for 12 years.  I'm also grateful to my teachers. 

Good Shepherd in Pacifica gave our daughter a great education and continues to do the same for many other children. They are having an open house today from 11am to 2pm.  The school is worth considering if you live in or near Pacifica: http://goodshepherdschool.us/

Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society -- March 31, 2011

Today I took a day off so I could attend the Saint Ignatius Downtown Business Lunch. This was the first one I had attended since the early 1990s. There was a much bigger crowd today at the Marines' Memorial. The school is inaugurating an Admiral Daniel J Callaghan Society to provide scholarships to kids who want to go into the military. Admiral Callaghan, SI 1907, won a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where he died on the bridge of the cruiser San Francisco. His great-great-granddaughter, who is a student at SI, was there, as were three of his crew who were with him at Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal. The retired Senior Chief organizes the Memorial Day services at the San Francisco Monument.

Two of my classmates who attended Annapolis, retired Captain Dennis Murphy and Admiral Jim Shannon, were there. We had two tables full of members of our class. Dennis introduced Jim, who spoke about changing Naval doctrines and some of his experiences, and his thoughts about Admiral Callaghan living through the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, and then going to Annapolis, serving in FDR's White House, then commanding the San Francisco through Pearl Harbor and leading a vastly outnumbered and outgunned task force into battle at Guadalcanal.

He also spoke about Father Paul Capitolo, who is retiring. Everyone loves Father Capitolo. I asked him what he will be doing. He said he is not looking forward to being around other retired Jesuits -- being around the kids has kept him young.

One man said "It's hard to find places to honor the military in San Francisco."

Catholic Schools Week and Old Teachers -- January 27, 2008

Today is the start of Catholic Schools Week. I'm grateful that my parents put me in Catholic schools for 12 years.

I don't usually read the Irish Sporting Green, but my mother pointed out that Thursday's obituaries listed two of my old teachers, in consecutive entries.

Anne Bagdonas was my Fifth Grade teacher at Saint Monicas. I will always be grateful because she was the first teacher who encouraged me to write stories and use my imagination. She also let me be the Wizard in a puppet production of The Wizard of Oz. I remember other teachers sending people over to have her make me rehearse more quietly.

Father John Becker, SJ, was my Junior year English teacher at Saint Ignatius. He encouraged me to write more analytically and to read more critically. It is because of Father Becker that I can still recite most of the prologue of The Canterbury Tales from memory. Sadly, I seem to have forgotten most of Richard III's oration before the Battle of Bosworth Field. "Amaze the welkin with your broken staves" has always stuck in my mind.

We drove by Sharp Park Golf Course today and saw that Laguna Salada has again returned. There was lots of rain overnight.