Preeminent ESPN feature writer Wright Thompson posted an ode to his favorite San Francisco spots on the day his massive profile about Warriors coach Steve Kerr dropped.
The profile from Thompson, a nationally renowned sports reporter who has won numerous awards, got some public anticipation in the last few weeks, especially as Kerr sat without a contract for next season for more than three weeks. San Francisco Standard columnist Tim Kawakami mentioned Thompson’s presence around Kerr in the weeks leading up to the end of the season, saying he took Thompson being around as a sign Kerr was genuinely considering stepping away from the Warriors.
Kawakami was right, according to Thompson’s profile. Kerr said he entered the first play-in game against the Clippers convinced he would be done coaching after this season. But a few minutes after Golden State’s comeback win, Kerr told Thompson in a private moment, “I’m not leaving,” then went to open his text messages and saw what his wife Margot had texted him: “You’re not leaving.”
Kerr had several options had he decided to leave Golden State, which apparently included becoming an NBA franchise’s president, coaching a team in France and going back to television — including for Thompson’s employer ESPN, though a network executive refuted a report from Kawakami about the offer presented to Kerr. In the end, though, Kerr chose to stay and continue coaching the Warriors, a decision that became official Tuesday and set up Thursday’s big story.
Thompson is a frequent Instagram user, and on Thursday he posted a photo of his laptop on a bench in Washington Square Park in North Beach. In the caption, Thompson called the Kerr piece his “favorite profile” he’s ever done, and listed the many San Francisco institutions where he wrote the story.
Most of Thompson’s “offices” were split between North Beach and the Cow Hollow/Marina area. Thompson specifically shouted out Original Joe’s, Firenze, Tony’s Pizza, La Rocca’s Corner, City Lights Bookstore, Mario’s Bohemian Cafe, Brazen Head, Golden Gate Deli, Balboa Cafe and Sohunan, located near the Transamerica Pyramid.
While a good chunk of the story takes place while Golden State was on the road, Thompson clearly spent quite a bit of time with Kerr in San Francisco. Thompson wrote about frequent walks through the Presidio with Kerr and Kerr’s dog, Lulu. On his Instagram, Thompson called La Rocca’s “Honestly best bar in America” in a January post and said Golden Gate Deli was his “New obsession” last week. Thompson also posted meals from Saigon Sandwich in the Tenderloin, Go Duck Yourself in Bernal Heights and a drink coin from Red Jack Saloon near Fisherman’s Wharf.