Bay Area TV reporter caught stealing Warriors security guard’s jacket and subsequently suspended

A Bay Area TV reporter covering the Golden State Warriors was caught on camera stealing a jacket from a member of the team’s security staff last week and was sent home from San Antonio before Game 4 of the team’s first-round series against the Spurs.

The Athletic’s Steve Berman reported that Mike Shumann, a former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who now works for KGO-TV in San Francisco, was seen on tape stealing the jacket of director of team security Ralph Walker as Shumann left the AT&T Center in San Antonio following practice late last week. 

ESPN later confirmed the report by reviewing the security tape, which has not been released publicly. 

 

Shumann is a veteran Bay Area reporter, who has been covering local sports since 1994

Mike Shumann, who works for KGO-TV in San Francisco, was seen on tape stealing the jacket of director of team security Ralph Walker as Shumann left the AT&T Center in San Antonio following practice late last week. He’s been a mainstay of local sports in the area since 1994

Golden State Warriors security guard Ralph Walker (far right) works closely with All-Star Stephen Curry (signing autographs). It was his jacket that Shumann reportedly stole 

Golden State Warriors security guard Ralph Walker (far right) works closely with All-Star Stephen Curry (signing autographs). It was his jacket that Shumann reportedly stole 

Walker is also Stephen Curry’s personal security guard, according to Berman, and the All-Star point guard even thanked Walker by name while accepting the 2016 NBA MVP award. 

The station reportedly sent Shumann home after the incident and on Monday released the following statement to The Athletic: ‘We are taking these allegations very seriously and conducting a full investigation. As a matter of policy, we do not comment about personnel matters.’

According to ESPN, ‘several Warriors players were upset over the way the team handled the incident,’ noting that Shumann is white and a longtime reporter in the city, and that some players ‘fear he received special treatment.’

Shumann played wide receiver at Florida State before playing in the NFL and becoming a sports reporter for a local station 

Shumann played wide receiver at Florida State before playing in the NFL and becoming a sports reporter for a local station 

The team and station have an agreement which gives KGO exclusive player interviews, often with Shumann. According to The Athletic, players are now refusing to do those interviews with Shumann, who has reportedly apologized to players. 

In 2016, while accepting the aforementioned NBA award, Curry illustrated Walker’s significant role. 

‘I’ve seen a lot of you the last three years,’ Curry said, as quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle. ‘You’re at every event, every practice, every game. You’re our eyes when we don’t have them, and we appreciate you putting yourself out there anytime we need you being there for us.’

Walker was not expecting Curry to make any such comment. 

‘I was totally surprised,’ Walker said. ‘As security, you want to be anonymous. For him to announce my name on national television and acknowledge the fact that I’m part of the team and, in his mind, an important part of making sure everything stays in place.’  

Shumann (No. 84 in the front row, circled) played wide receiver on the San Francisco 49ers team that ultimately beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI in January of 1982

Shumann (No. 84 in the front row, circled) played wide receiver on the San Francisco 49ers team that ultimately beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI in January of 1982

Curry even thanked Walker by name while accepting the 2016 NBA MVP Award 

Curry even thanked Walker by name while accepting the 2016 NBA MVP Award 

Walker (center in a dark gray blazer) has not spoken publicly about the theft of his jacket 

Walker (center in a dark gray blazer) has not spoken publicly about the theft of his jacket 



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