Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 249

Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’

By BILL BARROW, Associated Press

PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world.

Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped.

The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and his wife Rosalynn, left, meet with Cuban leader Fidel Castro at the airport in Havana, Cuba, May 17, 2002. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president.

With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives.

Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights.

“He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.”

Defying expectations

Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation, pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures.

“We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.”

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter shakes hands with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide at the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince in Haiti, Feb. 23, 1995. (AP Photo/Andrew Innerarity, File)

Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity.

Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency.

“He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid.

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter accepts the O’Connor Justice Prize from former U.S. Ambassador to Finland Barbara Barrett at The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Jan. 27, 2017. The prize recognizes people who have made extraordinary contributions to advancing the rule of law, justice and human rights. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon.

It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.”

‘Country come to town’

Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political.

The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.”

Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats.

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter raise a wall as they help build a Habitat for Humanity house in Violet, La., May 21, 2007. The pair were working on the 1,000th Habitat for Humanity house in the Gulf Coast region since hurricane Katrina and Rita. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties.

Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic.

FILE – Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor, Pete Buttigieg, left, and his husband Chasten Buttigieg, second from the right, meet with former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter at the Buffalo Cafe in Plains, Ga., March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did.

As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.”

Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states.

Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.”

A ‘leader of conscience’ on race and class

Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office.

Born Oct. 1, 1924, Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation.

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter, left, and his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, sit together during a reception to celebrate their 75th anniversary, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool, File)

He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname.

And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party.

As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services.

“This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God.

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter stands behind his birthday cake during his 90th birthday celebration held at Georgia Southwestern University, Oct. 4, 2014, in Americus, Ga. (AP Photo/Branden Camp, File)

Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time.

Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment.

Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.”

FILE – President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., Sept. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention.

“He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns.

A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined.

He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after.

King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview.

Rosalynn was Carter’s closest advisor

Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal.

“Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say.

The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.”

Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.”

FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter smiles as he returns to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., to teach Sunday school, June 9, 2019, less than a month after falling and breaking his hip. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)

Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later.

Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center.

“We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021.

So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf.

“I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat.

Reevaluating his legacy

Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges.

He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.”

Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal.

He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs.

Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day.

“Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.”

Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn. Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society.

Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday.

Pilgrimages to Plains

The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden.

“He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina.

Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.”

“So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.”

Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view.

“He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.”

In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him.

“The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.”

Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.”

—-

Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.

49ers rule out Charvarius Ward for Monday Night Football

Charvarius Ward will join the list of 49ers missing Monday night’s game against the Lions at Levi’s Stadium after the team ruled him out Sunday afternoon.

The veteran cornerback and his girlfriend, Monique Cook, have been expecting the birth of a baby boy. The team cited personal reasons for Ward’s absence after coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Friday that Ward had good news but declined to explain further.

Two months ago, Ward and Cook lost their first-born daughter unexpectedly at 23 months old. Ward missed three games in the wake of the devastating loss.

As a pending free agent, Ward may have played his last game for the 49ers. He has been with the team the last three seasons after signing as a free agent from Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl honors last year as the top corner on an NFC champion team.

He has 51 tackles and seven passes defensed this season after 72 tackles and five interceptions in 2023, including a two-pick, one-touchdown day last Dec. 17 at Arizona.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | NFL unveils Week 18 schedule, 49ers-Cardinals kickoff time San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers are battered beyond recognition. But yes, Brock Purdy should play against the Lions San Francisco 49ers | How to watch 49ers vs. Lions on Monday Night Football San Francisco 49ers | Inman: Kittle’s place in 49ers lore is secure but contract issue looms San Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ guard Dominick Puni reflects on the one (snap) that got away

In his absence, more will be thrust on the recently extended Deommodore Lenoir against the Lions’ air attack, and rookie Renardo Green will likely start in Ward’s place. Free agent signee Isaac Yiadom also may see more playing time.

Along with Ward, left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) were ruled out earlier this week, as were guards Aaron Banks (knee) and Spencer Burford (calf). Williams was placed on injured reserve and Greenlaw is also out for the season.

Notable quotes by Jimmy Carter

Some quotations from Jimmy Carter:

We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?”

Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings — if we demand of government true standards of excellence. At this Bicentennial time of introspection and concern, we must demand such standards. — “Why Not the Best?”

I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry. — “Why Not the Best?”

Christ said, “I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.” I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it. But that doesn’t mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. — Interview, November 1976 Playboy.

This inauguration ceremony marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Government, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it. — Inaugural address, January 1977.

It’s clear that the true problems of our nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation and recession. … All the legislation in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with America. … It is a crisis of confidence. — So-called “malaise” speech, July 1979.

But we know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival; liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants. — Farewell Address, January 1981.

We appreciate the past. We are grateful for the present and we’re looking forward to the future with great anticipation and commitment. — October 1986, at the dedication of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. — December 2002, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. … The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation’s historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship. — From 2005 book “Our Endangered Values.”

I think that this breakthrough by Barack Obama has been remarkable. When he made his speech (on race) a few months ago in Philadelphia, I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and a potential end of it that I ever saw in my life. — August 2008, commenting on then-Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy.

I think it’s based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president. … No matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect. — September 2009, reacting to Rep. Joe Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” during a speech to Congress by President Barack Obama.

I’m still determined to outlive the last guinea worm. — 2010, on The Carter Center’s work to eradicate guinea worm disease.

You know how much I raised to run against Gerald Ford? Zero. You know how much I raised to run against Ronald Reagan? Zero. You know how much will be raised this year by all presidential, Senate and House campaigns? $6 billion. That’s 6,000 millions. — September 2012, reacting to the 2010 “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited third-party political spending.

I have become convinced that the most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare, unfortunately following the example set during my lifetime by the United States. — From 2014 book “A Call to Action.”

I don’t think there’s any doubt now that the NSA or other agencies monitor or record almost every telephone call made in the United States, including cellphones, and I presume email as well. We’ve gone a long way down the road of violating Americans’ basic civil rights, as far as privacy is concerned. — March 2014, commenting on U.S. intelligence monitoring after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks

We accept self-congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary – which is wonderful – but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don’t have to do anything anymore. — April 2014, commenting on racial inequality during a celebration of the Civil Rights Act’s 40th anniversary.

I had a very challenging question at Emory (University) the other night: “How would you describe the United States of America today in one word?” And I didn’t know what to say for a few moments, but I finally said, “Searching.” I think the country in which we live is still searching for what it ought to be, and what it can be, and I’m not sure we’re making much progress right at this moment. — October 2014 during a celebration of his 90th birthday.

The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes. — From 2015 book, “A Full Life.”

Photos: Remembering Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care.

The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis.

He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents.

The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.

FILE – Judge Robert H. Jordan administers the oath of office to Gov. Jimmy Carter at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, Jan. 12, 1971. Next to the judge is former Gov. Lester Maddox, who will take over as lieutenant governor of Georgia. (AP Photo, File)FILE – Democratic presidential hopeful, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, holds a poster as he mingles with the crowd during a campaign visit in Williamsport, Pa., April 24, 1976. (AP Photo, File)FILE – Jimmy Carter gives his acceptance speech after accepting the Democratic nomination for president on the convention floor, July 15, 1976, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo, File)FILE – President Jimmy Carter speaks about energy before a joint session of the Congress in Washington, April 21, 1977. House speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill is at right, and Vice President Walter Mondale is at left. (AP Photo, File)FILE – Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, left, President Jimmy Carter, center, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin clasp hands to symbolize their agreement after signing the Middle East Peace Treaty at the White House in Washington, March 27, 1979. (AP Photo, File)FILE – President Jimmy Carter pauses to kiss his wife, first lady Rosalynn Carter, as he boards a helicopter in Washington for a trip from the White House to Camp David, Md., May 10, 1979. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File)FILE – President Jimmy Carter leans across the roof of his car to shake hands along the parade route through Bardstown, Ky., July 31, 1979. The president climbed on top of the car as the parade moved toward the high school gym, where a town meeting was held. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File)FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter help build a Habitat for Humanity house in Violet, La., May 21, 2007. The pair were working on the 1,000th Habitat for Humanity house in the Gulf Coast region since hurricanes Katrina and Rita. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sept. 10, 2007, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, receive honorary degrees from Queen’s University Chancellor David Dodge in Kingston, Ontario, Nov. 21, 2012. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press via AP, File)FILE – President Barack Obama, from left, stands with former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter at the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, April 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)FILE – Former President Jimmy Carter addresses the audience after being awarded the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero by Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela during a ceremony at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Jan. 14, 2016. The award, named for Panama’s first president, recognizes distinguished people in the areas of politics, science and the arts. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

High School football: The Monterey Herald’s All-County team, defense

Here’s a look at who turned out to be the top high school football players in the county this season. The Monterey Herald’s All-County team, defense.

Gavin Flynn, Salinas, DB>>The senior led the Cowboys with three interceptions, returning one 75 yards for a touchdown, while forcing a pair of fumbles. Patrolling the secondary for Salinas, the all-Gabilan Division selection averaged four tackles a game, forcing opponents to throw in another direction.

Fabian Herrera, King City, DB>>The county leader in the regular season with six interceptions, Herrera also broke up 12 passes this past fall for the 5-5 Mustangs. Left alone on an island as a defensive back, opponents stopped challenging the senior, who also came up from his position to record 48 tackles and force a pair of fumbles.

Ben Garry, Pacific Grove, DB>>Arguably one of the more versatile players in the county, Garry led the Breakers in tackles, averaging 6.2 a game. Lining up at different spots in the secondary, Garry led Pacific Grove with four interceptions and a dozen pass breakups. Offensively, he recorded a team-high 31 catches for 501 yards and five touchdowns.

Matt Maxon, Carmel, DB>>While his future will be as a pitcher at Stanford University, Maxon was a demon on defense for the Padres, intercepting five passes this past fall. Floating around between the linebacker and safety positions, Maxon was fearless in defending passes or coming up and making tackles for the State Division 5AA champions.

Soakai Funaki, Monterey, LB>>No one altered a game more on defense than the 6-foot inside linebacker, who compiled 143 tackles in 10 games for Monterey. The 225-pound Funaki collected 58 solo tackles, 31 of which were for losses. He also recorded 12 sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered a fumble, creating havoc.

Jake Mungaray, Salinas, LB>>A menace in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense, Mungaray had 158 tackles in 11 games this past fall. Nine times the hard-hitting linebacker collected 10 or more tackles – 21 for losses. He also returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and forced a fumble.

Caden Scherer, Palma, LB>>A punishing run stopper for the Chieftains defense, the linebacker was durable over three years, leading the team in tackles last fall, averaging 10.1 a game. A sideline-to-sideline linebacker with an interception on his resume, Scherer was the heart of the Chieftains’ defense, coming up with stops in the game’s biggest moments. He also played tight end.

Tommy Dayton, Stevenson, LB>>The Santa Lucia Division Defensive Player of the Year, the linebacker produced 125 tackles in just nine games for the Pirates. A three-year starter, Dayton collected two fumble recoveries, forced two fumbles and added three sacks to his resume. Over three years at Stevenson, the senior totaled nearly 400 tackles.

Nathan Barajas, North Salinas, LB>>The Mission Division South Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman, Barajas averaged 6.1 tackles a game. The 5-foot-8 inside linebacker collected five sacks, two interceptions and forced two fumbles for the Vikings. Barajas was blessed with a motor and a high football IQ.

Jayden Brown, Monterey, DL>>Evolving this past season as a pass rusher and run stopper, the 6-foot-3 Brown recorded six sacks and 12 tackles for losses. Coming off the edge with a burst of speed, the multi-sport athlete recorded 63 tackles, including 24 solos for Monterey, finishing with a dozen quarterback hurries.

Joshua Na, Salinas, DL>>A repeater on the all-county defensive team, the defensive tackle was a disruptive force in the trenches for the Cowboys. While the CCS shot put finalist didn’t have eye-popping stats, Na dealt with double teams, while clogging up opponents’ inside run game, blowing up opponents’ offensive game plans.

Arnie Jimenez, North County, DL>>The Lineman of the Year for the Mission Division North champions, Jimenez used his length to knock down 12 passes this past fall. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end Jimenez also returned a strip 70 yards for a touchdown in the league title clinching win over Watsonville. He was also a three-year starting left tackle on offense.

Julius Escort, Seaside, Utility>>One of the more explosive players in the county, Escort was a bright spot in a somber season for the Spartans, returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. The senior had big moments for Seaside, with three of his five touchdown catches being 50 yards or longer, compiling 1,400 all-purpose yards. Escort produced 10 of the team’s 18 touchdowns this year, and was a lockdown cornerback on defense, finishing with 25 tackles and numerous pass breakups.

Jayden Duarte, Alisal, Utility>>Despite suffering a broken foot, Duarte missed just two games for the Trojans, rushing for 862 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games. Duarte spent the second half of the season behind center, providing a different dimension, throwing for 339 yards and four touchdowns. He was a return specialist on special teams and played defense.

Golden Anderson, Carmel, Coach>>Now in his 15th season, Anderson took Carmel to its first Central Coast Section Division III title in 15 years, setting a county record for wins with 15. Anderson’s offense exploded for nearly 700 points in 15 games, capturing a Northern California Division 5AA title, capping a magical season with a State championship. Anderson is the only coach to produce two perfect seasons.

Honorable mention>>Alex Jarvis, Salinas; Jackson Scott, Salinas; Nate Crandall, Salinas; Wyatt Maravilla, Salinas; Jamar Aquino, Monterey; Kai Vaughn, Monterey; Dekota Ordonio, Monterey; Dominic Chaidez, Palma; Xavier Reinhardt, Palma; Edgar Chavez, Alvarez, Jaylan Ward, Alvarez; Alan Mejia, Alvarez; Francisco Calderon, North County; Marcos Mendoza, North County; Kiki Jacinto, Alisal; Gus Tapia, Alisal; Efren Posadas, Alisal; Keon Ealey, Seaside; Jeremiah Laui, Seaside; Rocky Villanueva, King City; Johell Carrillo, King City; Oscar Stenlund, Pacific Grove; Ryton Harrison, Pacific Grove; Flint Dickson, Stevenson; Derek Diniz, Stevenson; Jason Tejeda, Gonzales; Naythen Hernandez, Greenfield; Aaron Cruz, Greenfield; Daniel Garcia, Soledad; Chris Rua-Chico, Soledad; Harvey Xiong, North Salinas; Jason Valencia, North Salinas; Matthew Garcia, North Salinas.

Timeline: Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024

Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life.

1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia.

1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity.

Democratic presidential nominee Jimmy Carter (R) and his wife Rosalynn Smith (C) walk hand in hand to the polling booth in Plains, to vote in the national election. (GENE FORTE/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images)

1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus.

1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia.

1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952.

1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms.

1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains.

Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter (c), flanked by his wife Rosalynn (L), his daughter Amy (2nd L) and family, reacts during a rally in Atlanta. (GENE FORTE/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images)

1966 — He ran for governor, but lost.

1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born.

1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12.

1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president.

1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford.

1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David.

1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed.

Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat (L), Israeli Premier Menachem Begin (R) and US President Jimmy Carter (C) sign a peace agreement in the East Room of the White House, 17 September 1978. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images)

1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November.

1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released.

US President Jimmy Carter (D) and USSR State and Party Chairman Leonid Brezhnev (R) wave in front of the Soviet Embassy, June 17, 1979, one day before signing the SALT II treaty in Hofburg Place in Vienna, Austria, during the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II). Between them: the Soviet interpreter, Viktor Sukhodrev.(Photo by JENO PAP/AFP via Getty Images)

1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy.

1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020.

Former President Jimmy Carter works between his wife, Rosalynn Carter, right, and singer Trisha Yearwood, left, at a Habitat for Humanity building site Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, in Memphis, Tenn. Behind Yearwood is her husband, singer Garth Brooks. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have volunteered a week of their time annually to Habitat for Humanity since 1984, events dubbed “Carter work projects” that draw thousands of volunteers and take months of planning. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain.

2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter holds up his Nobel Peace Prize December 10, 2002 in Oslo, Norway. Carter was recognized for many years of public service and urged others to work for peace during his acceptance speech. (Photo by Arne Knudsen/Getty Images)

2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old.

Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup

The Herald’s defensive player of the year: Monterey’s Funaki was a menace in the middle

MONTEREY – While most kids his age were sleeping, Soakai Funaki was up before the sun, doing cone workouts on the Marina sand dunes or lifting at a club.

The ritual began after his sophomore season when the Monterey High linebacker took it upon himself to improve his strength, speed and stamina.

“I worked on agility drills in the dark in the sand,” Funaki said. “When I wasn’t sprinting up sand dunes, I was in the weight room. Whatever it takes to get better, I wanted to separate myself.”

The 6-foot, 225-pound inside linebacker became the cornerstone of the Toreadores’ defense the past two years, altering opponents’ game plans this past season with his tenacious effort.

“I bring violence to the position,” said the soft-spoken Funaki.

Soakai Funaki often led his Monterey teammates in making big plays on defense. (Don Fukui — Herald Correspondent)

Becoming a full-time linebacker turned Funaki into a demon on defense, as he was named The Herald’s Defensive Player of the Year.

A repeater on the all-county defensive team, Funaki put together a highlight reel this past fall, averaging 14.5 tackles a game.

“There is no better feeling than sticking someone,” Funaki said. “Playing defense — linebacker — it’s a different mentality.”

Up until the middle of last season, Funaki was going both ways for Monterey, doubling as a bruising fullback, where he accounted for 10 touchdowns.

Yet, as the season progressed, it became apparent that the 18-year-old was more valuable to Monterey’s defense.

“I liked what he was doing on offense,” Monterey coach Alex Besaw said. “But we felt it was sacrificing what he was able to do on defense. We needed him on every single snap.”

Limiting his touches on offense brought a fresher and more focused Funaki to the defensive side of the ball, where he evolved into one of the more feared linebackers in the region.

“I always saw myself as a running back,” Funaki said. “But the more I played defense, the more I felt it was my position. I started to feel my groove at linebacker.”

Instead of running over people as a running back, Funaki began running into them, improving his tackling technique, becoming more of a technician rather than just using blunt force.

“Getting him to focus on defense helped him prepare for an opponent, while understanding their tendencies,” Besaw said. “He was in the right spot most of the time.”

An unselfish attitude made the move full-time to defense a smooth transition for Funaki, who became a leader by example with his ferocious effort.

“Whatever it took to help out this team, I was willing to do it,” Funaki said. “It helped me focus on defense. Just playing linebacker made things easier.”

Despite missing the Toreadores’ playoff game with a broken collarbone, Funaki still finished with 143 tackles in 10 games, compiling a team-high 12 sacks.

“A sack feels really good,” said Funaki, who collected 25 over two seasons.

Blitzing from his inside linebacker position, charging up those sand dunes in the mornings paid dividends when he ran down quarterbacks.

“He has a combination of being physically strong and extremely fast twitched,” Besaw said. “I told Soakai you’re going to have a lot of fun playing football in our defense.”

Of Funaki’s 143 tackles – the most by a Monterey player in 15 years – 58 were solo tackles, with 32 being for losses.

A three-year starter, Funaki also forced three fumbles and recovered one, helping the Toreadores reach the postseason for the third straight year.

Three Salinas players surround Monterey’s Soakai Funaki after the Monterey senior caught a pass from Preston White. (Donald Fukui — Herald Correspondent)

“He got better with the mental side of the game in understanding opponents’ tendencies,” Besaw said. “He wasn’t a vocal leader. But he embraced his role and took it seriously.”

Funaki got into the film room more, studying opposing teams’ offenses. When he got on the field each Friday, he felt like he knew the offense as well as the opponent.

“He knew where the ball was going a majority of the time,” Besaw said. “He did a great job in being the anchor of our defense. He stepped up and made some great plays for us.”

Funaki still picked up a few carries on offense for Monterey and played on all of the special team units.

For someone who played basketball, baseball and rugby as a youth, Funaki’s passion for football came to the forefront when he was playing in the Snoop Youth League in San Jose.

“I had no idea how good the league was,” Funaki said. “I remember scoring four touchdowns in a game when I was 12. I knew this was my path.”

Where the next chapter begins for Funaki is still open. While he has been offered a ride to Wayne State in Michigan, there have been inquiries from other schools.

“I’m looking for a Division I opportunity,” Funaki said. “If that is not the case at this time, the JC route isn’t a bad option.”

Funaki recalled the Toreadores first meeting with Menlo-Atherton, when coaches from their side came up to him after the game, after he finished with 15 tackles.

All-County linebacker Soakai Funaki. (John Devine — Monterey Herald)

“The whole coaching staff came up and told me how impressed they were with my effort, that they hadn’t played against a guy like me, how disruptive I was for their offense,” Funaki said. “It was very humbling.”

While the collarbone heals, Funaki is still perfecting his craft, getting up before the sun rises, looking for that edge as a new chapter in his life will unfold next fall.

“What still sticks out for me was my sophomore year when I scored four touchdowns against Seaside to get us in the postseason,” Funaki said. “We changed the culture.”

Horoscopes Dec. 29, 2024: Patricia Clarkson, it’s up to you to make things happen

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alison Brie, 42; Jude Law, 52; Patricia Clarkson, 65; Jon Voight, 86.

Happy Birthday: Take advantage of a lifestyle change that offers greater freedom to do what you enjoy most. It’s up to you to make things happen and to ensure your journey makes you happy. Establish the cost to make your dreams come true and start the process. Missed opportunities will lead to regret; take the initiative to view your options and follow through with your plans. Personal gain is within reach. Your numbers are 8, 15, 21, 24, 30, 39, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get in the game. Act fast but not foolishly. Dance to the beat and stay one step ahead of the competition. Opportunity knocks, and a bold approach will help you narrow your choices. Open discussions and observation will help you reveal the truth. Proceed with confidence. Romance and commitment are favored. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Uncertainty will lead to poor choices. Stay alert and protect against injury and illness. Replace any risk with stability, and trade stress for peace of mind. Monitor your investments, health and contracts to avoid penalties and back away from unnecessary changes that lead to complications. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What you see and hear will differ. Let your eyes be your informant, not someone trying to further their own interests. Exaggeration, temptation and manipulation are apparent if you let down your guard or neglect to do your due diligence before committing. Focus on personal and financial growth. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Address joint ventures, partnerships and changes that can affect your lifestyle, environment or health. If you feel strongly about something, speak up. Taking a stance may cost you initially, but in retrospect, it will take you to a better place. Don’t fear doing things differently. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take a lead position and do your thing without hesitation. Your confidence, generosity and charisma will draw a crowd to support and help you triumph. Channel your energy into romance, peace and love, not into arguing a moot point with someone who wants to make your life miserable. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Too much of anything will lead to disaster. Bide your time, stroll in the park and rethink your next move until you feel confident you are doing what’s best for you and those you love. A change of scenery will help you see things from a different perspective. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are positioned for victory. Opportunity is within reach, and you are mentally, physically and emotionally at the top of your game. Secure your position and enforce a budget that helps you profit. An unexpected shift can dismantle plans if you take a risk. Be wise and survive. Romance is favored. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Feel out situations and prospects of interest. Network or engage in events or activities that encourage mingling with people who can reveal potential dangers or risks. Having a clear picture of what’s at stake will make your life less stressful and your choices easy. Protect against loss and health risks. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll face opposition, competition and temptation. Use your wit and be direct regarding what you want. A premature move will jeopardize your chance to advance. Pay attention to gestures others make, and it will fill in the information they are reluctant to reveal. Love and romance are on the rise. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Check your ego at the door and play fair. A “what you see is what you get” attitude will win favors, respect and a seat at the table. Contribute what you can, and you’ll encourage others to pitch in. Be the one to instigate what happens. Home improvement is favored. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sit tight, observe and be ready to move when the time is right. Change requires insight, precision and luck if you want to be successful. Refrain from getting involved in someone else’s plan when your own will serve you better. Trust and believe in you. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Dig in and get ready to give whatever you choose to do your best shot. Refrain from relying on others to do things for you. Take control and create opportunities to promote your desires. Say no to temptation, idle promises and scammers eager to part you from your cash. 2 stars

Birthday Baby: You are disciplined, energetic and supportive. You are determined and influential.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Jonathan Kuminga leads Warriors past Suns for much-needed win

SAN FRANCISCO — One night after playing what Steve Kerr thought was his best game as a pro, Jonathan Kuminga one-upped himself.

Kuminga matched his career high with 34 points and spent the fourth quarter hounding Kevin Durant on defense.

In a tie game with two minutes left, the Warriors executed. Dennis Schroder, who struggled most of the night, nailed his first big shot as a Warrior — a go-ahead 30 footer. Then he tapped the ball out of Kevin Durant’s hands for a turnover.

Golden State Warriors’ Dennis Schroder reacts after his 3-point shot with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter takes the lead from the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Kuminga drilled two foul shots to retake a one-point lead with 29 seconds left and the Warriors got one last stop. After Schroder foul shots, Kuminga sealed the game with a contested defensive rebound and free throw.

Kuminga scored 13 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 12-for-20 overall (plus 8-for-12 from the foul line). He out-dueled Durant (31 points, eight turnovers) and dragged the Warriors (16-15) over the top for a much-needed win.

In the battle of aging .500 Western Conference teams, the Warriors outlasted Phoenix, 109-105. Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Draymond Green (16 first-half points) helped the Warriors close on an 8-2 run.

Kerr spent a chunk of his pregame press conference talking about figuring out how to get Kuminga to play like he did on Friday night in games with Steph Curry and Draymond Green.  It was a main topic of his coaches meeting and hits at arguably the central question of the franchise: How much can Kuminga help now and how much better can he get in the future?

Against the Lakers and earlier this season against Houston when Curry and Green sat, Kuminga had his two best games. Bottling that type of force alongside the Warriors’ tentpoles, rather than independent of them, can get the Warriors back on track.

“I have no doubt he’s going to get there,” Kerr said. “He works hard, he’s talented, he wants it. It’s just nothing more than experience and feeling all this stuff. It doesn’t happen right away.”

Halfway through the first quarter, Kuminga entered in a small-ball lineup with Green at center. On cue, the mix looked as lethal as it has all season.

Kuminga got downhill against a mismatch — created by an inverted screen — for a layup. Curry found him on a drive-and-kick for a corner 3. Then Curry and Green ran a pick-and-roll, ending with Kuminga cutting from the baseline for the patented Golden State alley-oop out of the short roll.

Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | The Warriors refuse to acknowledge their real problem, so they'll keep losing Golden State Warriors | Reeling Warriors fall to .500 with shorthanded loss to Clippers despite comeback effort Golden State Warriors | Steve Kerr shocked by Mike Brown’s firing from Sacramento Kings Golden State Warriors | Steph Curry to miss Warriors’ game against Clippers Golden State Warriors | Warriors at ‘inflection point’ after Christmas Day loss

Upon Kuminga’s entrance, the Warriors went on a 10-1 run. Kuminga scored 10 points in his first five minutes and finished with 12 in the first period.

The Warriors lost their momentum with six quick turnovers to start the second quarter — after giving just one away in the first — but regained their footing when they went small again, with Green at center and Kuminga next to him.

Curry scored 15 points in the first half, including a magical buzzer-beater in which he went around the world and flung up a 17-foot floater while fading to his left.

Durant and the Suns tried to slow the game down from its hellacious pace, but the Warriors turned Phoenix over to get out on the break. Kuminga fed Schroder for a fast-break layup and then later flexed after bowling over Bradley Beal in the post for a bucket.

When the Warriors gave Kuminga all the car keys, sitting both Green and Curry to close the quarter, the Suns went on an 11-3 run. The lineup of Kuminga, Schroder, Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters III and Jackson-Davis clearly failed on both ends. The Warriors would’ve had Brandin Podziemski out there, but he strained his lower abdominal muscle.

Needing a lift in the fourth, Kuminga stepped up. On back-to-back defensive possessions, he stood his ground in isolation against Durant. And on the other end both times, he finished at the rim.

That combination cut Phoenix’s lead to 100-95 with 5:22 left.

With Kuminga face-guarding Durant and the Warriors playing help defense behind him any time he caught it, they took the Suns out of their go-to offense.

Curry hit a floater in the lane, then Schroder finally got to the cup for a layup. Kuminga stripped Durant again and got to the line to give the Warriors a 101-100 lead with 3:28 left.

Curry had a pair of good looks with under a minute left to earn some breathing room, but he misfired on a 3 and was too strong on a runner. After two Durant free throws, Kerr called timeout to draw up a play with 29.9 seconds, down one. It worked, with Kuminga earning foul shots.

Just about everything worked for Kuminga, who matched the career-high mark he set a night prior.

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green celebrates near the end of a comeback victory against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant in the first quarter, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry fouls Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant in the first quarter, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga scores on an alley-oop pass from Draymond Green against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry drives the lane against the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson- Davis is fouled by Phoenix Suns’ Ryan Dunn, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, Dennis Schroder and Jonathan Kuminga celebrate a comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns,, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Kurtenbach: The SF Giants won by losing the Corbin Burnes sweepstakes

It’s being said that the Giants “lost” the Corbin Burnes sweepstakes after the 2021 Cy Young winner opted to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks late Friday night.

While it certainly stings that Burnes opted to sign in the Giants’ division and reportedly turned down more money from the Giants in the process, I think viewing the pitcher’s signing elsewhere as a defeat is the exact wrong way to look at it.

This is a win for the Giants.

Burnes signed a six-year contract that’s really a two-year deal for the one-time Brewers and Orioles ace, as he has an opt-out after the 2026 season.

That’s a long, fully guaranteed term for the Diamondbacks and an easy exit for the player.

Let Arizona deal with all of that. The Giants should feel lucky he declined.

Because it’s downright amazing that starting pitchers — be they great or something else — have this kind of negotiating power. No position in sports is more injured and, frankly, more replaceable than the starting pitcher. Hell, barring a rule change, I’m not even sure if the role of “starting pitcher” will exist in baseball in six years, when Burnes’ contract expires.

We’ve seen the market for running backs—often injured and generally replaceable—crater in the NFL, with exceptions made for players like Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley. (In the case of the former, that immediately looked foolish.)

Yet, multiple bidders were offering Burnes $1 million per start (in a best-case scenario).

But when has a long-term, big-money deal ever worked out for the team signing it?

I’ll give you a moment to think really long and hard about it.

Carlos Rodón had a 6.85 ERA in 2023 after signing a six-year deal with the Yankees from the Giants.

Jacob deGrom signed a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers that same offseason. He’s made nine starts for them since.

Aaron Nola signed for seven years and $172 million with the Phillies. He followed it up with a 4.46 ERA.

Maybe Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million deal has worked out. You can ask Yankees fans about that.

I can tell you that David Price and Stephen Strasburg’s deals didn’t. Max Scherzer’s mega-deal with the Nats was hairy at the end. And remember when Justin Verlander signed with the Mets? That was a fun few months. C.C. Sabathia faded, hard, in the final four years of his big Yankees contract. Cole Hamels was traded twice on his eight-year deal, and Felix Hernandez faded harder, posting a 5.42 ERA in his final three seasons (and 60 games) with Seattle.

Those are just the recent deals. I’m not even including Mike Hampton. But you get the idea.

And sure, there are examples of mega-deals going right. Or at least the downsides outweighed by the upside. But there are too many cautionary tales to count.

Burnes might be one of the rare pitchers that’s an exception to the rule.

But probably not.

While I will never question the depth of the Giants’ pockets, there is only so much money that can be allocated to the roster, and I’m firmly of the belief that the money that would have been spent on Burnes is better used on a position player (or two) who can at least provide daily impact.

I’m thinking about Pete Alonso at first base — he’s projected to land a deal in the ballpark of $25 million a year — and perhaps even Anthony Santander, who is in the $20 million range.

If the Giants were, in fact, offering close to $40 million a year for Burnes, for $5 million more annually, they could add a first baseman/designated hitter with the power to hit 40 homers (okay, 30) at Oracle Park and an outfielder who has 286 RBIs in the last three seasons.

Tell me that wouldn’t change the complexion of the Giants in 2025 and beyond. That’s a team I’d be far more excited to watch.

After all, we saw what loading up on “aces” did for the Giants last year. Lots of good that did them, huh?

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants miss out on Corbin Burnes, who signs surprise deal with Diamondbacks San Francisco Giants | Could SF Giants upgrade at first base? Following eventful weekend, their options are growing slim San Francisco Giants | How Red Sox signings could bolster SF Giants’ odds of signing Corbin Burnes San Francisco Giants | Farhan Zaidi speaks publicly for first time since parting ways with SF Giants San Francisco Giants | MLB study: Max velocity, ‘stuff’ likely causing pitching injuries; rule changes should be considered

This isn’t to say that the Giants don’t need pitching, it’s merely to say that pitchers aren’t trustworthy and money like what Burnes received requires an availability that no one who whips their arm for a living can truly promise.

The Giants have better pitching prospects than they know what to do within the pipeline. Young arms might not be trustworthy, but at least they’re cheap.

The Giants lack hitters who require opposing teams to stop and take notice. I’d spend my money acquiring the latter until I can produce a few to replace them, which is probably going to take a while.

And by the time it happens (if it happens), what will starting pitchers be? Someone who goes four or five innings? That’s worth a million dollars an appearance?

Maybe.

But it sure seems like that money could be more prudently spent elsewhere—maybe on two different pitchers, Alonso, and/or Santander.

Now the Giants have the chance to make those moves.

Because the mistake wouldn’t have been signing Burnes — you want to overpay someone, go to town. You could do worse than Burnes, for sure.

The mistake would be not spending the money earmarked for Burnes on other players that can help your ball club.

There are still plenty of those players available.