R A I D E R L E G E N D
Monday, June 29, 2015
Friday, June 26, 2015
Raiderhed - South Oakland Baby!
This is why I love my Raider Nation so much. Our fans are just downright creative with their fandom. Raiderhed, the unofficial/official band of the Raider Nation has taken a tune from the 1970's Cheech and Chong movie (a favorite movie of my youth) and colored it Silver & Black.
The 1978 movie - "Up in Smoke," the song -"Lost Due to Incompetence." The tune itself was just a catchy beat with a strumming bass and nice electric guitar riff; perfect for that late 70's sound. The movie introduced me to everything California, me being an east coast kid. In the movie, Cheech and Chong were rolling in weed, chicks, cars, music and sunshine. I'd never seen a low-rider until I saw "Up in Smoke."
Mind you I'd heard of many of these things but had never actually seen them. The best that east coasters could compare to California was Florida. And not many families from the hood were making it down to the Sunshine State for vacation. You want a sandy shore, go to Coney Island kid, and wrap up in a snorkel coat.
Today's 420 hour of weed and relaxation was what the late 70's was to me. Travolta was still king and the boom box playing the latest hit music was a cultural necessity.
A band by the name of Yesca was responsible for the cool song in the movie. I specifically remember the band because I'd worked in a Record World music store during that time. Because of a rumor, I'd read the album cover to cover looking for word of the complimentary insert inside. See, It was rumored that a large complimentary zig-zag sheet of rolling paper came inside the album cover along with the album. I never did see one, but it made for a good sales pitch back then. For you young spliff rollers, zig-zag was how it was done back in the day.
Thanks to the internet, all those old facts and tidbits are right at my fingertips. Like the Spanish meaning of Yesca; "to burn up like tinder," up in smoke....
Its nice to be able to reflect on a time that once was and is no longer. The oddball thing is that I ended up not only making California my home, but becoming a Raiders fan...For Life! Fate I suppose, but my story and how I became a Silver & Black die-hard beginning in 1996 will have to wait for another time.
Just wanted to give a good Raider Nation Shoutout to Raiderhed and recognize them for a job well done on the video. If San Diego Chargers fans knew that we'd renamed their city South Oakland they'd move to Florida (The Gunshine State.)
Win, Lose or Tie
(The band known as Yesca)
Waddy Wachtel - Guitar
Danny Kortchmar - Guitar
Jai Winding - Keyboards
Stanley Sheldon - Bass
Rick Marotta - Drums
Lou Adler - Producer
Waddy Wachtel - Producer (8, 9, 11, 13)
Danny Kortchmar - Producer (8. 9, 11, 13)
Jerry Leiber - Producer (5, 6)
Mike Stoller - Producer (5, 6)
Jerry Goldstein - Producer (3)
Steve Katz - Engineer
Howard Frank - Assistant Engineer
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
My Thrills, My Agonies, My Champions
My Champion Golden State Warriors point guard and league MVP, Stephen Curry, has made the cover of Sports Illustrated, again. Wait, wasn't Riley Curry on the cover a few weeks back? Curry & company have given bay area basketball fans reason to attend a parade, wear blue and yellow hats & t-shirts all week long and ride around with Warriors flags flapping in the breeze from every car window; in June! In Frick'in June Warriors Fans. Wow!
This will not be the usual look and see the new shiny players signed. This year we'll be seeing a new coaching staff and the return of a "Proven" leader at quarterback in Derek Carr. Yes, "We Got Quarterback" Raider Nation. And I also hear free agent QB Christian Ponder looks impressive throwing a football wearing silver & black. Best book a training camp invite spot to get a peek at a potential Champion while there's still availability. I just did.
My Champion San Francisco Giants are going through some odd-year aches and pains again, even though they're only half a game out from the division lead. Inspirational team leader, as well as runs producer, Hunter Pence (tendinitis) has been out most of the season after suffering a broken forearm in training camp, and now newly acquired hitting sensation Nori Aoki will be out for many, many weeks after suffering a broken leg (fibia) in Los Angeles over the weekend. Oh Brother! Both injuries sustained by the outfielders were from hit-by-pitches.
And just for good Bay Area sporting news measure, Oakland Boxing Champion Andre Ward is Back Ya'll! And he's still a Thrilla.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Movie Night - Great Choice - BOBBY
Watching the 2006 movie "Bobby" was like being time-warped back to the sixties. The music, the wardrobe, the people and politics were all featured; and everything came across as authentic. Except for having to sit through a scene referencing a baseball game with Dodgers great Don Drysdale pitching, Go Giants, the movie was flawless.
How the makers of this movie created this story was incredible. Instead of making a movie featuring the detailed tragic 1968 assassination of senator Robert Francis Kennedy, they made a movie about the place, peoples in the place and the political issues of the times. It all takes place on the fateful day leading up to Democratic primaries election night at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
The movie gave me a sense of the bright hope that this young leader gave the country and all that came into contact with him. He was an idealist who believed the United State of America had an obligation to promote peace, justice and equality at home as well as abroad. A humanitarian at heart, Bobby just had that charisma, today's "It Factor," which gave citizens hope for change and a better future at a time when war and violence were rampant.
I think the all-star cast in the movie makes it a classic. Almost every actor and actress seemed to underplay their roles, giving the hotel and the many unfolding situations the bigger spotlight. By the time the main situation comes to fruition, you realize that all the happenings played out that day, regardless of how big or small, help turn our focus and attention even more on the character and dreams of Bobby Kennedy. We see the shock of every character once they realize just how great a loss the world has suffered on this night, at this place, witnessed by these people.
The Bobby Kennedy speech that plays at the end of the movie, along with the song "Never gonna break my faith" performed by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige, are fitting tributes to the man and his legacy.
The speech summarizes all that he stood and hoped for, whereas the song is a reminder for us to stay strong in our faith when storms arise. The sixties were a very stormy time. With the assassinations of John, Bobby, Martin, Medgar and even Malcolm, the country seemed to be angry, out of order and in complete disarray. We were at war with ourselves and our purported enemies.
And yet here we are, 2015 and still standing. I'd like to think that there's been some progress since those dark and dangerous times. Some healing and soul searching. I'd also like to believe that a bit of all five of those brave and courageous young men, who's voices were silenced by a finger pulling back on the trigger of a firearm, live on in the spirit of leaders today.
We know we have a whole lot further to go before even glimpsing the dream those men envisioned for us. Though there are many indicators that we've taken as many steps backward as we have forward, we soldier onward. We move forward in faith and purpose to make things right in the world for all. That's what Bobby and the others would expect from us; to soldier on in our fight for peace and justice in this one world we all share.
For those we lose before their time
I pray their souls will find the light
I know that the day will surely come
When his will, His will, will be done
More lyrics http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/aretha_franklin/never_gonna_break_my_faith_with_mary_j_blige-lyrics-1121404.html#ixzz3dgKxiVPg
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
World's Best Basketball Team - Golden State Warriors
Can You Dig It!
Our Golden State Warriors (Dubs) are World Champions. Wow! I gotta say I'm still pinching myself. Who Knew that they'd be this good? We Bay Area sports fans have lived through decades of pro basketball futility thanks to bad drafts, bad play and just bad luck that's followed our Warriors. What other team has a best player choking the coach incident in their history? We've come a long way from that ugly Latrell Sprewell assault folks.
All the bad and ugly was washed away last night when the best TEAM in basketball snatched victory and a championship out of the reaching arms of the self-proclaimed best basketball player in the world and his Cleveland Cavaliers. Our Golden State Warriors have brought a basketball shine back to the Bay Area, and the world has seen a slimy catepillar turn into a beautifully bright, blue and gold butterfly; a Champion butterfly.
Andre Igoudala was deservedly voted NBA Finals MVP, but the Championship Trophy belongs to the team, coaches, ownership, Oakland and the rest of the Bay Area that supported this team throughout this incredible season. Northern California fans can finally don blue & gold Warriors colors with pride as they travel with their kids to Disneyland in Lakers territory. Kobe Who? Dubs Baby!
My first professional sports game attended here in the Bay Area was a Warriors game. Sleepy Floyd attended my 21st birthday party with family friend, and then Warriors player, Mickey Johnson. I once gave up my Coliseum floor seat to a recently waived player named Sonny Parker. Didn't know at the time who he or the fine leggy female companion were. Back then you couldn't give away Warriors tickets. But that was a time before time. That was before Don Nelson, Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr. That was when the Warriors were Oakland's team.
Now the Warriors are the Bay Area's team and beyond. They've ascended to greatness and sit atop the basketball world as Champions. And it feels so good because its been so long.
Congratulations Golden State Warriors
2015 NBA Champions
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
NBA Finals; Worth Every $$$$$$
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21.57 million USD (2015)
LeBron James, Salary
21.57 million USD (2015)
LeBron James, Salary
ADAM SILVER NET WORTH
HOW MUCH IS ADAM SILVER WORTH?
RANDOM CELEBRITY
Tuesday, June 09, 2015
Always Football Season
The silver and black, with Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and a defense that's being built to shut down opponents and go the distance. Can't wait to see that linebacking corps under Ken Norton, Jr.
Tuesday, Day 1 of Mini-Camp. Rookie first round pick Amari Cooper of course gets the media focus. But this team will definitely not be about one man or superstar; it will truly be a strength-in-numbers season. Man down, next man up.
There's no room in the Bay Area for non-contenders. With the San Francisco 49ers veterans abandoning the team like there's a plague aboard the ship Santa Clara, I expect all bay area football eyes to be locked in on the silver & black in Oakland. While one team is downsizing in talent, another is building upon a solid foundation. The Autumn Wind is a coming. Look out NFL.
Just Win Baby!
Champion SF Giants No-No New York
Giants pitcher Chris Heston getting the Buster Posey champions hug
Just when Bay Area Sports fans were settling into Golden State Warriors Finals play, the San Francisco Giants wrapped up a no-hitter with rookie Chris Heston on the mound in New York.
Heston pitched like he owned the New York Mets, striking out 11. Talk about keeping hitters off balance. Giants defense kept the no-no alive with stellar play after stellar play. Maybe now the New York media will wake up and see what San Francisco baseball has been all about these past five plus years; winning. Then again, fugetaboutit!
With Giants second baseman Joe Panik returning to his home state with a championship ring in the trophy case, the second year starter hit one out for a homer. I'm sure family and friends of Panik were on hand to say goodbye to it. Go John Jay Joe!
The Giants would win this one 5-0, and the man of the hour is #53 Chris Heston. Congratulations Chris, you couldn't have done it in a better place leaking with Giants haters. For you younger baseball fans in case you didn't know, the Giants skipped out of New York in 1957 and the town has not gotten over it. Probably explains the media bias against anything Giants. Come'on New York, it's been fifty-eight friggin years. Fugetaboutit.......
The San Francisco Giants just continue to make major league baseball history. They should, they're friggin Champions thrice over. And if New York doesn't get over its half-century old heartbreak, the rest of the sports world will have to tune into SF Bay Area broadcasting (CSNBA.COM) to get all the tasty details.
Sunday, June 07, 2015
Just Win Baby! Warriors vs Lebron Game 2
The Golden State Warriors will host game 2 of the NBA Finals in Oakland tonight. The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming back for more after a competitive but disappointing game 1 loss. If nothing else, game 1 proved that the best basketball player on the planet, Cavs star Lebron James, cannot beat the Warriors alone; he needs help.
The help he had in game 1, Kyrie Irving, is out for the rest of the series with a knee injury. Without Irving the Finals are there for the taking should the Warriors choose to show no mercy.
In the animal kingdom, a predator comes across injured prey and must take precaution closing in and attacking, lest they end up having the tables turned and becoming a victim of their over aggressiveness. Not so in the world of sports. For in sports you see a weakened opponent and you attack their weakness with speed and precision until your prey hollers Uncle!
It's only game 2 of a seven game series against the King of basketball, but the Warriors are in the predator role as they approach a weaker, injury plagued Cavaliers team. A blowout of the Eastern Conference champions tonight, and the Golden State Warriors can travel to Cleveland wearing sharkskin suits. Only these sharks won't be patiently circling their prey; they'll arrive with a gnawing hunger for a championship that has eluded them for 40 years. Just try stopping them if you dare.
"The Jungle creed, says the strongest feed,
on any prey that it can
and I was branded beast at every feast,
before I ever became a man!!"
and I was branded beast at every feast,
before I ever became a man!!"
No Mercy!