Raiders Left Home Field Advantage in Oakland

 

After Pittsburgh Steelers fans stormed the Raiders facility known as "Allegiant Stadium" this past weekend, it became clear there is no home field advantage in Las Vegas. NFL fans are planning vacations around their teams' Allegiant Stadium game. They're coming in droves to Allegiant Stadium to fraternize with fellow team fans and likely celebrate a 'Viva Las Vegas' visitor's road victory. 

In hindsight it looks like everyone, but true Raiders fans, got what they wanted out of the teams' relocation. City of Las Vegas got a huge tourist draw along with gambling and entertainment hype. NFL got their brand featured in a high traffic tourist location. Casinos can addict unsuspecting new gambler prospects; Got A Gambling Problem - Call "Gambler's Anonymous." 

And Raiders owner Mark Davis is basking in the glory of financial success as he saw his teams' valuation increase 22% over the course of one season. That is third highest annual increase in the league. In that same year the Raiders are sixth highest valued organization, second highest revenue generated, and second lowest operating income. It all adds up to .   .   . Mo' Money, Mo' Money, Mo' Money!

Pro Football fans are flocking to Vegas to spend and loving every minute of it. Where else but Vegas can they gamble, drink, eat, dance, concert watch, and find sexual healing in abundance. Party time for these visiting sports fans began way before kickoff and Win, Lose or Tie, will continue non-stop until their return home. 

Meanwhile, Raiders fans who go to Vegas to watch the silver and black are appalled to sit in Allegiant Stadium outnumbered by screaming visiting team fans. Not only are they outnumbered as fans in what should be homefield advantage, but the visiting opponent is playing inspired football thanks in part to their fans' participation, or lack of Raiders fans participation.

In Sunday's loss to the Steelers, it was obvious how overwhelming the visiting fans were at Allegiant Stadium. Granted, Steelers fans travel well, one of the best fan bases in Pro football. But this is supposed to be home of Silver & Black, face-painted fans ready to intimidate and demand respect, blacking-out the stadium. Nowadays, Raiders fans visiting the so-called "Death Star" are going into a roaring lion's den, and the lions are wearing opponents' colors. 

FYI, Detroit Lions (2-1) visit Allegiant Stadium on MNF - Oct 30.

Can a winning Raiders team correct all this and change the current homefield culture? Maybe, maybe not. Raiders season ticket holders seem more satisfied in recouping ticket fees via selling to visiting fans, than witnessing Silver & Black embarrassment and humiliation both on the field and in the stands. Maybe we can just blame the economy.

If the old saying of "Money being the root of all evil" carries any weight, then perhaps it is also the root that rots and dries up a once proud and participating fan base. Some things do change, and not always for the better.

How the Las Vegas Raiders Sold Out Their Home-Field Advantage - The Messenger

Final Score

Steelers 23

Raiders 18

Raiders Flub Home Opener

Turnovers and Mike Tomlin Give Pittsburgh Steelers the edge.

Final Score

Steelers 23

Raiders 18

And it really didn't seem that close.

Flub: 

(verb) botch or bungle (something)

(noun) a thing badly or clumsily done; a blunder. 

The Book of Eli (film)

  

Just watched the movie "The Book of Eli." It was a good movie, full of suspense and action. Beneath it all, ever present, always guiding and protecting, was the power of the Holy Bible.

In a very convincing performance, Denzel Washington portrays a man on a mission from God. His mission is to deliver a Bible, possibly the last remaining Bible on earth, to a place where civilization is being restored after an apocalyptic war. He is protected by God and is tested many times along the way. But he is not perfect, and he constantly reminds himself to “stay on the path,” and not get caught up in the plight and/or concerns of other survivors.

When he comes across a place with a leader hellbent on finding a bible to give him the words needed to rule over the world, he battles to escape. He is back on his path when the evil leader and his henchmen catch up to him and a showdown over the Bible ensues.

What follows is the power of “The Word” and a revelation of what “The Word” made flesh can accomplish in the righteous. Faith is what gives “The Word” its power. Faith is what gives a human soul awareness of its power and purpose. It is Faith that is featured in this movie. And it is Faith that overcomes the darkness of a world torn down by man’s evil and ignorance.

Throughout the movie I couldn’t help but catch a few enlightening dialogues on what it means to be a faithful being in the garden of God. One conversation had Denzel’s character explaining to a young woman what the world was like before the war, and how people were wasteful and didn’t appreciate some of the simple things that are now (post-apocalyptic) so important to their survival. Things like food, water, security, companionship.

The movie being an apocalyptic film, has a dreadful and despairing feel to it. But it's the traveling Bible in the form of a faithful servant which lights the way through a valley of death, projecting hope, strength, and fearlessness with God at one's side.

 

{Spoiler Alert!}

The evil leader, played by one of my favorite actors Gary Oldman, could’ve been more convincing. Perhaps it was his illiterate, barbarian henchmen and desolate surroundings which dulled his blade. The place he ruled over and the scene of him succumbing to not getting what he wanted did resemble a sort of Hell. When the inmates take over the prison all hell is unleashed. Without a Bible to tame beastly appetites of a barbarian brood, their leader becomes nothing more than a beast himself. Doomed to live in a Hell of his own making.

 

Notable apologist and writer C. S. Lewis once wrote that "the doors of hell are locked on the inside". This indicates that people place themselves in hell, not that God places them there. 

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
[Galatians 6:7-8 ESV]

 

I wonder what would have happened had the evil leader obtained a bible to soothe the beasts. Would he then have chosen to rule them in a righteous way. Would "The Word" have a transforming effect on him and his followers, a rebirth to righteousness and good. Or would he, as did many past leaders, have perverted the bible to fit his power-hungry needs.

Yes, I liked the movie. It shows not only where civilization has been, but where it’s possibly heading in our future if “The Word” is abandoned. You can burn books, but you can’t burn Faith in God.

 

Solara: Well, how do you know that you're walking in the right direction?
Eli: I walk by faith, not by sight.
Solara: [sighs] What does that mean?

Eli: It means that you know something even if you don't know something.
Solara: That doesn't make any sense.
Eli: It doesn't have to make sense. It's faith, it's faith. It's the flower of light in the field of darkness that's giving me the strength to carry on. You understand?
Solara: Is that from your book?
Eli: No, it's, uh, Johnny Cash, Live at Folsom Prison.”

― Book of Eli Movie

 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 

Crypto Scammer Used Multi-Level-Marketing Methods

BBC Radio 5 Live - The Missing Cryptoqueen

If you've never been duped or led toward checking out a Multi-Level Marketing (Multi-Networking) seminar with a friend or acquaintance, consider yourself fortunate. If you've never been duped or misled into following a Religious Cult, Conspiracy Cult, or Cult Leader, you are blessed. 

For those unfortunates who have fallen victim to one or both deceptions, I hope the story of OneCoin founder and Crypto-Scammer, Ruja Ignatova, awakens you to lies and fraudulent schemes some leaders and organizations will perpetuate for their own political, financial, and/or worldly gains.

The story of Ruja Ignatova is one that begs to be taught as a lesson for would be victims of frauds and lies throughout the world. Ruja was added to the FBI ten most wanted list in June 2022. She's the only female on the list.

Ruja Ignatova is a smart, charismatic, attractive, 43-year-old Bulgarian-born German citizen and convicted fraudster. She is best known as founder of a fraudulent cryptocurrency company called OneCoin. When the truth about OneCoin's non-existent blockchain system was exposed in 2017, Ruja took the money and ran. She hasn't been seen nor heard from since. Although, there have been unsubstantiated reports of Ruja sightings.

But for her charismatic, wealthy appearance, and anti-banking message projected to the masses skeptical of a world banking system responsible for the "Housing Market Crash of 2008," Ruja's OneCoin appeal to investors and those looking just to get ahead might not have succeeded in reeling in so many unsuspecting buyers.

It is estimated Ruja scammed more than $4 Billion dollars from victims of OneCoin worldwide. The BBC Radio Podcast, "Missing Crypto Queen," gives the full story along with its ongoing investigation. As of this posting Ruja Ignatova has not been located.

Here is a link to a 2017 facebook page describing OneCoin's Multi-Networking Business Vision, as it also attempts to discredit claims of fraud: Onecoin - The future of Payment, Cryptocurrency 

To understand Onecoin and Onecoin vision it is important to read this Article carefully The first question you ask your self whether some business is legit or scam is when it was established. If it was established few months ago the risk of being scam is very high. But then you can start educating your self directly with people involved with it. Get to know them in person, feel the energy, understand the vision. Scams usually collapse in a few months, maximum six months. People often tend to mistake good projects that failed because of bad decisions with scam. So since today is two and a half years of Onecoin’s existence, seems like it is not a scam after all. It does bring a risk with it that is sure. But tell me one business that has no risk. Onecoin is a Saturn shot project of making stable and centralized cryptocurrency that will be used by masses and especially on unbanked markets like some Asia, Africa, South America. This is its first problem. For now, all we know cryptocurrency can be only decentralized and it needs to be listed on a private website CryptoCurrency Market Capitalizations. So you will find many decentralized cryptocurrencies out there that will yell how Onecoin is not cryptocurrency cause it is centralized. I don’t think they get to decide that. People do. Governments do. Russia is finalizing a law that will only allow centralized cryptocurrencies that can track coin owners inside blockchain. Onecoin has all that already. Problem is that decentralized cryptocurrency open market is subjected to big speculators that have skills and means to inflate coin prices to make big profit thus making coin values volatile. I wrote my findings here How credible BITCOIN's "value" is Onecoin does not want to be just one more speculative cryptocurrency. They want to be central entity that will regulate value of its coin by not allowing large dumps and pumps by having their own exchange and impose limits. You can call it economically illogical all you want but they want to make stable coin that people will be able to use to buy services and goods. Onecoin already has more than 35000 merchants and people already can spend coins on DealShaker It started in Feb 2017 and of course haters will say website is bad because they saw bad deals. As if amazon and ebay worked perfectly in their beginnings. Hell, alibaba owner Jack Ma bought all deals from his website for the first 30 days. Onecoin is slandered for not being open, not able to sell and exchange. That is intentional. They want to make critical mass, make user base, merchants and usability, and then go out public 2nd qtr 2018 and it will have its own exchange xcoinx.com. Also the company will go IPO to be the first public cryptocurrency company listed on actual stock exchange. You will find bloggers and anonymous haters that will say they will fail and so on. It is just peoples opinions. Of course if someone presents you all this and you too think it can not succeed, naturally you will pass. The second problem Onecoin has is at the same time its strongest link. It is distributed via Multi level marketing. MLM is in deed the best crowd sale business model but it carries many faults with it. First of all is antiMLM propaganda. Anonymous blogs that write all sorts of bad propaganda based mostly on opinions against all MLM companies and earning $$ from clicks and visits, cause they know that most people are attracted by negative content. But they don’t write only based on opinions, they also write based on events that are direct result of bad doings from the second problem of Onecoin: Bad distributors that work agains company’s rules. At Onecoin, network is called Onelife, and it has certain compliance guidelines how you should present Onecoin concept to people. Since Onecoin is still in its private infant stage, no one can buy Onecoin or sell it for FIAT currency. You need to provide a gas called One token and submit it to mining pool via onelife back office and you get Onecoins based on difficulty x tokens = 1 OC. Also you can not buy tokens cause it would be illegal. (facebook.com)

The Oxford graduate that 'pulled off the scam of the century' | Tatler

ONECOIN FOUNDER RUJA IGNATOVA ALLEGEDLY MURDERED BY A DRUG LORD IN GREECE (greekcitytimes.com)

The Fallout From Onecoin’s Ponzi Scheme Continues to Impact Investors | Bitcoin Insider

Cryptoqueen: Has the missing fugitive reappeared? - BBC News

Brother of the missing OneCoin 'crypto-queen' fraudster strikes plea deal in New York | Daily Mail Online

Southern District of New York | Co-Founder Of Multibillion-Dollar Cryptocurrency Scheme “OneCoin” Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison | United States Department of Justice

Definition of OneCoin | PCMag

Old People Get Hurt!

@ianhdr1

I am a lifelong Jets fan. I have suffered a lifetime of heartbreak and agony. I intentionally did not allow myself to be motivated by the hype and hope that surrounded the team from the moment Aaron Rodgers signed. I figured something would go  wrong because they are still the Jets. When you don't allow yourself to hope you don't feel as much pain.

But not even I had QB 1 going down on the first drive of the season.

 

I truly feel for you Jets fans. I wanted to see them take a step toward competing in this season's playoffs. I'm not a fan of QB Aaron Rodgers but I feel for the team, the organization, the fans.

That being said, I heard Shannon Sharp this morning on the show "First Take" give a reality check to us sports fans who sometimes forget to factor in a very important player characteristic that goes beyond strength, speed, agility, mental acuity (IQ): age. 

"Not football players, old people in life get hurt."

Simply put, an aging body cannot continually absorb the physical stress of contact sports, as well as non-contact sports, without something eventually giving out. 

Look at Chris Paul in the low contact sport of basketball, or Tiger Woods in the non-contact sport of golf. As the human body ages, it succumbs to aches and injuries (stress) much easier than that of a younger body. Sure, young bodies suffer aches and injuries, but their physical tolerance is much higher and recovery usually faster. It's a known fact, older people's bones break, and muscles and ligaments tear easier than that of younger people. Athlete or non-athlete, wear and tear on a body will take its toll. The Devil always gets his due.

Injuries can be an indicator of a player getting too old for the game. Stubborn athletes have been known to play past their effectiveness on the field of sport. Most athletes, like boxers, will continue in their sport even though their skills have diminished from age. Aging boxers will step into the ring and take damaging head and body blows from younger opponents, in hopes of tasting past glory just one more time. It usually doesn't end well in the ring for the ineffective aging boxer.

Aaron Rodgers is 39 years old. He entered the NFL in 2005; nineteen years ago. He has played for the same franchise, the Green Bay Packers, for eighteen seasons. This season was to be a new start for Rodgers in New York. Some experts predicted it to be a breakout season for the Jets, just about shoeing them in as a Superbowl participant. 

Everything about the Jets-Rodgers marriage looked solid. Other high-end position players were recruited to give Rodgers more offensive targets and fire power. Finally, the Jets offense was ready to match its tough defense. And then that old, crippling, debilitating devil called age snuck up to bite the Jets in the ass. Reality sunk in.

It is what it is Jets. "Old People Get Hurt"

Sharpe insisted his advancing years left him likely to suffer an injury and blamed Rodgers for the play that injured him.

He said: "There's been a lot of talk about the offensive line. This was a three-step drop, so Rodgers on that third step has to let that ball go or throw it away.

"That's what caused it, that was not on the offensive line, that was on Aaron. He has to let that ball go."

Sharpe added: "Why are we surprised that older quarterbacks get hurt? Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre - old people get hurt.

"Not football players, old people in life get hurt. Tom Brady is an anomaly with the exception of the ACL he tore in 2008."

• Sunni Upal

• Published: 11:12 ET, Sep 12 2023
• Updated: 11:13 ET, Sep 12 2023

And yet there is hope!

A Parable on Cracked Pots

I received this story in an email from a good friend many years ago. Today I was informed he had passed away. I knew he'd been dealing with illness these past few years. Although we hadn't seen each other in some time I've kept him in my prayers. Today I post this story in memory of my good friend Marty. We were very close in spirit and knew without needing to voice it, that we were cut from a similar mold.

Be Well Marty!

TWO LARGE POTS   

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, which hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was
perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the  end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked  pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went  on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of  water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its  own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had  been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be  bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream "I am ashamed  of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled and said; "Did  you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on
the other pot's side?"

"That's because I have always known  about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and  day while we walk back, you water
them."

"For two  years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the  table."

"Without your being just the way you are, there would not be  this beauty to grace the house."
 
"Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding."

"You've just got to  take each person for what they are and look for the good in  them."

SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Best wishes from another Cracked Pot

 

Be Well 

Marty

Raiders Wrestle Away a Win

#10 Jimmy G ices game with final Raiders first down

It wasn't pretty and had a 'here we go again' vibe for much of the game. But the Raiders found a way to win Game 1 on their regular season schedule. They did it in the mile-high city of Denver against a team revitalized by arrival of new coach Sean Payton. 

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson scrambled around and found open targets, but the Raiders defense stepped up when it mattered most and put the clamps on their division rival. It would be Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scrambling eight yards for a game clinching first down in the final minutes. 

To look at the stats of the game the two teams seemed just about even. Yet, it was Raiders penalties and miscues that almost tilted this game in favor of the home team. 

An endzone interception thrown by Jimmy G, a roughing the punter penalty on special teams, false starts, pass interference, and of course the good'ol face mask penalty were all indications of a Raiders team taking two steps back to every step forward. And yet, they muscled out a 17-16 win, thanks in part to a Broncos missed point-after-attempt early in the game. 

Meanwhile, the Chargers loss combined with a Chiefs loss on NFL's opening Thursday Night game against those Mighty Lions, gives the Raiders the AFC West division lead with a 1-0 record.  Yes, Raider Nation, week one of the season finds our Silver & Black soldiers atop the mountain of our division. 

Now let's not get carried away with it all. But no reason why we shouldn't feel as mighty as those Lions strutting around Detroit since Thursday night. I say we head on up to Buffalo for game two like the renegade Raiders of old, Swaggering Boisterously!  

After all, the Autumn Winds are only a few weeks away from blustering in. And the Buffalo Bills know we're coming. Why not swagger on into town, knock them round and upside down, and laugh when we've conquered and won.

Win, Lose or Tie!!!

Finals Score

Raiders 17

Broncos 16

U.S. Economic Picture - 2013

Robert Reich: Inequality for All (11/21/13) (commonwealthclub.org)

I've always been a fan of economic advisor and former U.S. Sec. of Labor, Prof. Robert Reich. I've read from a few of his books and have a liking for the man's principles on Equality for All. He's been labeled a communist, socialist, and many other so-called anti-democratic names by critics trying to detract from truth telling. 

What I admire so much about the Professor is how he articulates and breaks down social, political, and economic issues for the average listener to understand. And in doing so he connects the dots, revealing how we got to where we got as a society. And where we possibly could end up. His past warnings, as heard in the above 2013 lecture, have come to fruition in today's politically divisive & destructive atmosphere.

His lectures convey lessons for all Americans across this broad socioeconomic landscape we live in to learn from. All it takes, as with when learning anything, is an undivided attention, a willingness to receive facts, and to come with an empty cup so one can taste the brew Professor Reich pours.  

If like myself, you are a seeker of truths and solutions to problems affecting our democracy, and you want to build-up instead of tear down, then hearing Professor Reich talk his talk might awaken problem-solving thoughts swimming deep down in the depths of your own conscience. It doesn't always have to be about conspiracy theories and "who shot John." It's not about blaming but identifying and remedying problems.

Sometimes, listening to a straight-shooting economist talk about what he knows about past and present financial inequality sheds light on what we thought we knew about today's U.S. economic situation and future outlook.

If you want to know the health of your recurring foot pain, you don't seek out an eye or throat doctor. You go to a foot specialist. Professor Robert Reich is an economic specialist. He might not have a cure for all our economic woes, but he can sure pinpoint some of the leading causes contributing to economic degeneration. 

"A Fredo Moment"

Robert Reich: Dismantling a Rigged System (commonwealthclub.org)

Why have so many Americans succumbed to Trumpism? - Alternet.org

Inequality for All - YouTube

US Open 2023

For my sister Dawn. Who reigns as high in intelligence and integrity as our U.S. Tennis icons in their field of sports.

Coco Gauff

CocoGauff reels off the final 🔟 games vs Mertens to reach her second consecutive #USOpen round of 16. 

#3 Jessica Pegula

----------------------------------------------------

Update: CoCo Gauff wins Womens US Open, while Novak Djokovic takes the Mens.

Congratulations Grand Slam Tennis Champions!

When Tigers Attack! At A Pep Rally?

Yes! Yes! Yes! On today's "95.7 The Game" Willard & Dibs show, sports took a back seat to an incredible story. The era was 1986. The team was the San Mateo H.S. Bearcats. And the event was their high school football pep rally.  It was Willard's hometown high school. And although he was too young for high school at the time, his sister (a freshmen) was there in the balcony section.

What Willard was so taken by with this story, wasn't just that a Tiger jumped into the high school auditorium crowd and mauled a football player, who survived the sack. But it was the comparison with today's world of accountability. 

What school administrator/events organizer in 2023, in their right mind, would approve bringing a 450-pound Bengal Tiger to a high school auditorium full of loud, screaming, rallying teenagers. And what would be the school administration fallout and legal ramifications had it happened today.

Willard truly knocked the ball out of the park with retelling the Tiger story. The fact he also recounted the mauled football player calling into the radio show and talking about it years later, was like icing on the cake. The guy today runs an Eastbay restaurant.

Most times we sports fans tune-in to sports radio to hear the latest happenings and goings on with our teams and/or our rivals. But there are times when radio sports commentators show off their MC-ing (master of ceremonies) skills by going off-script to take their audience to a past event set in a different place and time. 

We listeners become fully engrossed in and entertained by the telling of an unbelievably, incredible story by gifted storytellers. Radio is alive and well!

And for you post YouTube fans, There is Video!

Thanks Willard & Dibs for giving us sports fans more than just the numbers. You all delivered a humorous, side-splitting, frick'in Tiger Story.

95.7 THE GAME - Bay Area’s #1 Sports Station - LISTEN LIVE | Audacy

Part 4 (3:34)