The Warriors' ‘14-15 campaign has been one for the ages. Following a league-best 67-15 record and having reached the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs, the NBA last week named GM BOB MYERS Exec of the Year, and earlier this week crowned G STEPHEN CURRY MVP. Warriors President & COO RICK WELTS said that every ingredient for success has existed within the franchise since co-Owners JOE LACOB and PETER GUBER purchased the team. Welts: “It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime ride. But however it ends, we are going to look back at it and feel like we’ve built a foundation here that really sets the table for this franchise for a long time to come.”
WALKING IN MEMPHIS: I will be in Memphis before our Game 3 against the Grizzlies. Reservations are made at Central for real Memphis barbeque -- chicken and ribs. On Saturday, I will be spending time at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, which is built around the Lorraine Motel where MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. was assassinated. Our team has visited there but I’ve never had the chance. We have a big contingent coming to the game. We do have a suite, but most of us will be in the seats fastening our seatbelts, crossing our fingers, perspiring a lot and trying to win a basketball game. Afterwards, I think we will be celebrating. On Sunday, our traveling party is going to Graceland. I got to do that when I was with the Suns and it was a blast to see how The King lived. I can’t wait!
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: The weekend is normally determined by the sports schedule for the kids of my partner, TODD. His 14-year-old daughter, ALLYSON, is a terrific soccer player and now is playing basketball. His 10-year-old son, SANTIAGO, plays soccer, basketball and is starting football this year. We don’t have a mini-van but three to four games per weekend usually make up 90% of our free time. The rare weekend when we don’t have the kids, heaven would be visiting a few wineries in Napa including our favorite -- Robert Young. The scenery, the art and science of winemaking and the great vibe are incomparable. LOLA, one of the two dogs that actually seems to own my condo, is an uncontrollable licker who is up at the crack of dawn to greet the morning and me with non-stop affection. So, 7:00am in bed is a luxury and my version of sleeping in on the weekend. The weekend also includes changing the water in the bowl that SOCRATES calls home. He’s a very cool blue beta fish that adds some tranquility to home but he insists on fresh water ever week.
ME AND JULIO…: I take great pleasure in consuming whatever Todd cooks. He is terrific at that, but I can’t figure out how to turn on the stove. The Bolognese sauce is to die for. My favorite brunch spot, without a doubt, is Yank Sing in S.F. for Dim Sum. It’s Chinese food that is pushed around on a series of carts, and you can take a little of this and a little of that. Ristorante Umbria is another favorite. JULIO has run the place for 25 years and it’s a hangout for local celebrities, sport figures and neighbors like me. Don’t miss the spinach salad. Nightlife is a rarity for me, but occasionally it’s a game, beer and wings at the best sports bar in S.F. -- Hi Tops on Market Street. My favorite restaurant when I’m on the road has been the same for the last 15 years -- Bice in N.Y. -- but alas, it closed. I’m accepting gift certificates from anywhere that would like to replace Bice in this answer. My favorite weekend getaway is the first house I ever owned, in Palm Desert, outside Palm Springs, Calif. I feel like a completely different person when I’m there in a house that’s filled with memories of family and friends over the last 20 years -- heaven. Whenever I’m traveling, I sit down on the plane and put my headphones on. I have mastered the ability to fall asleep before the plane takes off. It’s a really irritating skill to those traveling with me. I’m one of those people that if you looked at my iTunes, you would think it were for several people. It could be anything from opera to hip-hop.
BREAKING A SWEAT: My guilty weekend pleasure is taking long walks on S.F.’s Embarcadero, stopping for a beer and burger and Red’s -- they are happy to have the dogs join. Did you know there are more dogs than children in S.F.? There is no excuse not to hit Equinox in S.F. for two aerobic and weight workouts per weekend. If I have a spare time on weekends, I read the N.Y. Times and the S.F. Chronicle, cover to cover. Outside of NBA games, my favorite weekend viewing is spending Saturday mornings watching the EPL on NBC. I’ll also watch any episode of “MODERN FAMILY” or “SEX IN THE CITY” -- anytime, anywhere. One prep for the work week I always fit into a Sunday is the list. I write a list of things to do every day, but Sunday’s list is the most important. There are few greater pleasures than the act of crossing something off that list. I also try to keep from getting buried in e-mail. We have a very active ownership and management team on weekends with e-mail.
