Ciela Devani’s 1st San Francisco 49ers Game

Today was Ciela Devani’s 1st San Francisco 49ers game! It was a long time coming!

Ciela was only 2 years old when the pandemic began, and COVID definitely pushed back her debut at Levi’s Stadium. During the 2019-2020 season, our 49ers were having an amazing year but sadly it ended with a Super Bowl loss. Fast forward 2 years and Ciela, now 4, finally took the trip with me down to Santa Clara to see our team play live. It’s a trip to think as I’m writing this that for more than half of my daughter’s life, she has been living during a global pandemic. Nights like this one truly make you feel grateful to be alive, and to cherish those who you have the blessing of spending time with; family, friends, coworkers, and so on.

It was a nice, warm, summer Friday afternoon; and being a preseason game there was no stress over the final result, or worrying about missing a play, or being away from our seats for that matter. Ciela had seen Levi’s Stadium many times on the road or from the Great America parking lot, but she was in awe of how big the building was once we stepped inside. Immediately she said, “Daddy can you take me all the way up to the top?” I replied “yes,” and eventually we ventured up to the Bud Light Patio and the 400 level sections and climbed the stairs all the way to the top.

The game went back and forth until midway through the 4th quarter when the Niners took a 28-21 lead, which ended up being the final score. Once the game ended we headed over to the Golden Opportunities booth to get ready for Postgame Field Access. Big shoutout to Rachelle from Membership Service, who put us on the list allowing us to lay our feet on the turf our team plays on every game at home.

We snapped our pictures once down on the field, Ciela ran a 40-yard dash or 2, sprinted from hashmark to hashmark, and dashed in and out of the end zone a few times. It felt like being a kid out there as footballs were flying, teens and adults were running plays against defenses, and everyone was happy spending time together and enjoying their chance to be out on the gridiron.

Although taking my daughter to her first 49ers game was delayed almost half of her life, it was a pleasure to see her amazed by the grandeur and scale of the facility, her giddiness and smiles as she skipped around the concourse, and her playground instincts kick in once we got down on the field. Now that Ciela’s 1st 49ers game is under her belt, I look forward to bringing her to many more in the future.

Go Niners! #FTTB

“All Eyez On Me” – 25 Years Later

February 13, 1996 was a Tuesday like many others… but in 1 very special way it wasn’t.

I was a student at San Jose State University and every Tuesday before my Psych 101 lecture with Professor Pellegrini my classmate Sayra and I would take the stroll past Morris Dailey Auditorium where we were supposed to attend class, pass the Science Building and Washington Square Hall, and slide off campus to 4th Street. We’d walk a block or so, hang a right, and step into one of my favorite places at the time… The Wherehouse.

On this day we were outside the door at 10AM sharp waiting for the doors to open… eagerly awaiting the release of one of the most classic albums in hip-hop history… “All Eyez On Me” by 2Pac. “California Love” was all over the airwaves, the “Mad Max” style video was the hottest song on MTV and CMC (California Music Channel), and the world was anxious to hear what else 2Pac had to say after being shot 5 times, going to jail, and releasing a #1 Billboard charting album “Me Against The World” while behind bars.

2Pac "California Love" Keychain
2Pac “California Love” keychain I received when I purchased “All Eyez On Me” on February 13, 1996 from The Wherehouse.

Beginning with the a cappella words “I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah…,” the piano keys begin as he states “you don’t wanna f**k wit me, got the police bustin’ at me.” It was a (w)rap after that! Filled with a who’s who of hip-hop at the time… from fellow Death Row Records label mates, to artists from the Bay Area where he was introduced to the world, to East Coast hitmakers and funk legends George Clinton and Roger Troutman; “All Eyez On Me” was a double album that blew the music world away.

I know it was the CD of choice in my Eldorado all spring and summer of 1996, through that tragic September Saturday night in Las Vegas… and in many other Cadillacs I’ve owned since; as I’m sure it is for millions of people around the world who love 2Pac and this classic piece of art he recorded in record time setting records. Although the discs that were the norm when “All Eyez On Me” was released may have gone away, this album and Pac’s voice still boom and scream out of cars and speakers to this day.

All Eyez On Me

Rest In Peace Charles Ray Jenkins, Sr. aka L-One

A couple weeks back on February 22nd a great man passed away: Charles Ray Jenkins, Sr. aka L-One. L-One was ProHoeZak’s dad and was also involved in the making of “The Cadillac Man” album as he performed track 5 on the album: KZAG Interlude. He was a man involved in music deeply and from his service on March 5th, 2010 in Oakland one could only see how he touched and influenced so many to follow their musical paths. Story after story were told on how L helped people along with their musical dreams, inspired many, and carried people when they were down and had thoughts of stopping their pursuits. I just wanted to say thank you to you “Pops” for your contribution to my project, and more importantly for the words you shared with me on the personal level through our talks and interactions. You were a wise man and a great soul!

Rest In Peace Charles Ray Jenkins, Sr. aka L-One
Rest In Peace Charles Ray Jenkins, Sr. aka L-One
October 30, 1955 – February 22, 2010

Cadilluv always,
Barritz