The Ticker: Niners season opener, Curry sees all, Giants decline
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49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders last month at Allegiant Stadium. Photo: Louis Grasse/Getty Images
Are you ready for some football? Thought so.
Driving the news: The San Francisco 49ers kick off their regular season Monday night in Santa Clara against familiar foe Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
Why it matters: The Niners are looking for redemption after suffering yet another heartbreaking Super Bowl defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in February.
Yes, but: San Francisco is already facing adversity. Last weekend, first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in Union Square.
- Thankfully, Pearsall survived, but he is expected to miss at least four games, The Athletic reports.
- The 49ers also spent much of the offseason with key offensive players wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and offensive lineman Trent Williams missing practice due to contract issues. Both players have since agreed to new or restructured deals.
Elsewhere in sports…
🏀 Stephen Curry sees everything, including the haters counting out the Warriors amid the team's failure to make a big splash this offseason.
What he's saying: "I love the fact that people don't think we can keep the pace with some of the other teams that they're picking in the West," Curry recently told People. "And I just love that challenge of stepping into a training camp and being able to create your own success — that gets me going."
What's next: The Warriors begin training camp early next month in Hawai'i and tip off their regular season Oct. 23 in Portland against the Trail Blazers.
⛹🏽♀️ The Valkyries, Golden State's new WNBA team, this week announced a multi-year partnership with JPMorgan Chase, which includes putting the Chase Freedom logo on the team's home and road jerseys.
- There's still no word on season ticket prices, but the seat selection process for deposit holders will begin this fall, according to the team.
⚽️ Bay FC currently holds the last playoff spot with just eight matches left in the season.
- The club faces Racing Louisville on Saturday at PayPal Park in San Jose. Tickets start around $16.
- Meanwhile, Bay FC sponsor Visa has committed to helping all players on the team earn the maximum appearance fee available under the league's contract with players.
⚾️ Over in Oakland, the Ballers raised $1.2 million in a crowdfunding campaign from about 2,200 fans who want to have a seat at the table for the new baseball team, the Ballers announced this month.
- The team is in its inaugural season, playing in the Pioneer Baseball League, an MLB partner that focuses on innovation and has experimental rules, like a home run "shoot-out" round instead of extra innings.
- The Ballers have three games left but need just one win to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
- Oakland's soon-departing MLB team the Athletics will play their last game at the Coliseum on Sept. 26.
🧢 While the SF Giants have fallen behind in the MLB Wild Card race, at least third baseman Matt Chapman has agreed to stick around. He recently signed a six-year, $151 million contract extension.
- Chapman, 31, has been one of the most productive players in the MLB this season, ESPN reports. He's batting .247 with 22 homers and 69 RBIs through Wednesday's games.