Wah Wah Watkins

Wide Receiver Todd Watkins could be the surprise deep threat that the Raiders have been looking for. Who is Todd Watkins you may ask? Heck, I'm still trying to find information on him. But after reading the article "Don't Sleep On Todd Watkins" I'm pinching myself to see if what I read wasn't just a dream.

Bottom line, he's fast and can catch a football. If he makes the team we might see a JaMarcus to Watkins combination that will stretch the field for our bevy of running backs waiting to run roughshod over this season's opponents.

Oh, did I mention that Wah Wah Watkins will also give SeaBass some competition at field goal and point after kicks? He was just about flawless as a kicker in college at BYU.

I can smell the 2008 NFL season approaching. And the Raiders have all the ingredients for a winning dish.

Todd Watkins, an added spice to the Raiders offensive threat this coming season.

As for the Wah Wah bit, my bad. I was thinking of a funky guitar player from the 70's. Turns out his name was Wah Wah Watson. He Sho Wuz Funky!

Digger Phelps Phone Call

Well it wasn't like getting a call from the President, the Pope or Big Al himself (Al Davis-Raiders Owner), but I was just as excited and honored to hear Digger Phelps voice on my cell phone, Live!

Yes, Digger Phelps the former Notre Dame Basketball coach and current ESPN College Game Day analyst, that Digger Phelps. Digger to his friends.

So Digger and I............(he asked that I please just call him Digger), So Digger and I chewed the fat for a good twenty minutes or so talking about people and places we both know. He's really just a regular Joe who loves basketball with a passion. He's also a guy who hasn't forgotten where he came from which is how I ended up getting the call in the first place.

Digger's latest book "Undertaker's Son: Life Lessons From A Coach" just so happened to have found me while I was browsing at the Library last month. Since March Madness was just beginning I figured it would make a good basketball read during the tournament. What I found in the book was a very familiar voice talking about familiar people and places.

Imagine opening up a book of someone nationally known and reading of names, places and events that are in your hometown, population around 15,000 or so. Teachers from your high school, coaches from your pop warner league, go cart derby locations and stores on main street. Well, that's what I experienced once I began reading Digger's book.

Us who come from small towns will always have a bit of that small town in us. What Digger does in his book is show how the small town values he came from helped mold and prepare him for the many successful things he's experienced in life, basketball coaching included.

If you're a sports fan and are looking to read a fun action packed sports book, then this book of Digger's may not be for you, try his "Tales From The Notre Dame Hardwood." But if you wanna know the type of place, people and things that go into making a man like Digger then I strongly urge you to read his "Undertaker's Son." It really is a book on life lessons and its heartening to know that many of those lessons came from a small town in these United States of America. In a time when there's so much anger, resentment and distrust of the American way of life, I found Digger's book a much needed injection of what makes America and Americans so great.

After reading his book I wrote a letter to Digger expressing just how touched I was by the familiarity and the message in it. It wasn't just that I grew up in the same town, but that I felt the same way Digger felt about the town. I felt that this small town in upstate New York provided me with all the basic needs and character strength to be a success in whatever endeavors in life I chose. And I can be successful in any place in many ways. Knowing how to give back is one way and Digger seems to have done just that.

So the call from Digger was to thank me for understanding the message of his book and expressing it so well in a letter written to him. And my thanks to Digger was for just being a small town boy who went on to national fame and success yet still finds time for another small town boy like myself. True, the lessons of life never stop teaching.

Thanks Digger!

LOCK AND LOAD!

So Far So Good!

• 2008

Raiders Transactions
Date	Pos.	Player	Description
03/31/2008	C	John Wade	Signed
03/28/2008	LB	Akbar Gbaja-Biamila	Signed
03/28/2008	DE	Kalimba Edwards	Signed
03/25/2008	QB	Jeff Otis	Signed
03/24/2008	QB	Erik Meyer	Signed
03/20/2008	CB	DeAngelo Hall	Acquired via trade (ATL)
03/14/2008	DT	William Joseph	Signed
03/12/2008	WR	Drew Carter	Signed
03/06/2008	T	Cornell Green	Re-Signed
03/05/2008	WR	Javon Walker	Signed
03/05/2008	T	Kwame Harris	Signed
03/03/2008	DT	Warren Sapp	Reserve/Retired
02/29/2008	OT	Barry Sims	Released
02/29/2008	S	Gibril Wilson	Signed
02/29/2008	DL	Tommy Kelly	Re-Signed
02/20/2008	CB	Nnamdi Asomugha	Franchise Player Designation
02/13/2008	RB	Justin Fargas	Re-Signed
02/13/2008	WR	Todd Watkins	Claimed off Waivers (ATL)
01/16/2008	RB	Adimchinobe Echemandu	Reserve/Future Signing
01/11/2008	WR	Will Buchanon	Reserve/Future Signing
01/01/2008	WR	Drisan James	Reserve/Future Signing
01/01/2008	C	Jesse Boone	Reserve/Future Signing

Lady Vols & Jayhawks Men Are Champions!

It's April, and the Madness of March is finally sprinkling showers of confetti for the two teams standing. Yes, the NCAA Championships, both women's and men's, have concluded tonight with one repeat champion and another returning after many years.

The Tennessee Lady Vols downed the Stanford Cardinal tonight in a fairly dominating way. Pat Summit wins again and all is normal in the Women's league. I wasn't able to watch the game, shame on me.

As for the Men's, league, it took a very lucky 3-pointer and over-time for the Kansas Jayhawks to whip the Memphis Tigers. Some may call this game a case of one team choking under pressure while others will say the other team wanted it more. Whatever your view, it was a great game, ranking right up there with the best.

Congratulations Tennessee Lady Volunteers and Kansas Jayhawks on your successful Basketball Championship Drives.


Final Scores

Tennessee 64
Stanford 48

Kansas 75
Memphis 68

Good Luck Chris Carr

Chris Carr, the Oakland Raiders punt and kick-off returner since 2005, has been signed by the Tennessee Titans. Carr was and always will be a Raider at heart. He gives the game his all and has made the most of his playing opportunity.

I don't understand why the Raiders didn't re-sign Carr. Is 2 million dollars too much for a proven return man? He has been one of the few positives in these four win seasons of late. It would've been nice to have given JaMarcus Russell decent field position come this season. There must be a plan to replace Carr with someone better, though who that might be is a mystery to me. We can't risk injury to any of the highly paid speedsters. I suppose Johnnie Lee Higgins might be the guy, if he can hold on to the ball. That's the one thing Carr did regularly, hold on to the ball.

I wish Chris Carr the most of success with his new Titans team. And mark my words, Carr will help make the Titans a better team and a playoff contender.

My greatest memory of a Chis Carr play was when he intercepted that Ben Rothlisberger pass around the Pittsburgh goal line and returned it 100 yards for a Raiders touchdown. We beat the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers that day in our house. It was a game to savor.

Good Luck Chris Carr, and thanks for the Silver and Black Memories!

Just Because it's Basketball Season

If only he'd been just a bad boy off the NBA court, he'd be remembered as a great basketball player with two championships under his belt. On the court you loved him. He brought excitement, energy and total competition to the game. He could shoot the 3 pointer with a soft stroke and his defense was game altering. He once held Michael Jordan to 9 points total in a game. If you weren't around to see his act then you missed seeing a player who comes along once in an era. He was electrifying, he was tenacious and did I mention..........He Was MAD....as in 51/50 MAD.

Vernon Maxwell, better known as Mad Max, played basketball in the NBA throughout the 90's and gave us fans one heck of a show. Love him or hate him you knew Mad Max would do something to make the game exciting. He was a great basketball player, but was also a walking time bomb on and off the court. He went into the stands to attack heckling fans long before Ron Artest was in the league. Maxwell just simply didn't have that filter in him to control his emotions. He didn't just wear his emotions on his sleeves, he came out swinging, cursing and spitting with them. Yeah, he spat into the stands too, a la Bill Romanowski. The moniker Mad Max fit him better than actor Mel Gibson who played the character in the movie. I suppose you could say he was the bad athlete of the future.

By the time he left the NBA in 2001 his personal life was in shambles. The sad thing is because Mad Max was so.......MAD........nobody seemed to be surprised or even care about his troubles off the court. As with most people who show signs of madness (schizophrenia) you remember analyzing the two opposite sides of them. Mad Max had a warm charm about him when all was well. He seemed to gel well with his teamates, well enough to win championships. But when his alter ego arose and his, for lack of a better fitting word, MAD button was pushed he went into MAX mode and was a monster. In MAX mode he could help his team take over a game and win, but if winning was out of reach it seemed all that pent up energy went into negative eruptive actions.

I'd like to remember the Mad Max who played good ball while keeping his emotions in check. As for that other side of Max, I hope he's found help for taming the monster inside. And it was a monster inside no doubt.

I went searching for a "Where is he now?" story on Mad Max and found nothing current. Figured he must be in jail or hopefully in rehab. Here are two write-ups that highlighted some of Mad Max's actions on and off the court:

Story #1

Story #2

Story #3

Story #4

9/8/2008-715PM Oakland,California

RAIDERS! ESPN! SEASON OPENER!
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!

The Oakland Raiders open the regular season in prime time for the third time in the past four seasons when The Team of the Decades hosts the Denver Broncos on Monday night, September 8, on ESPN, the NFL announced today.

Only 5 months and counting.
I Predict a Sellout.
I Expect a Win.

I Already Smell the Blood!

Scary News Reporting

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and happen to read the local SF Chronicle Newspaper, add a little horror to your mornings by reading the section titled Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet.

Now I'm a man who gobbles down horror for breakfast. Though as I get older I like gentler non-abusive news stories, but give me a headline that reads Man Attacked by Alligator, Tiger Attack or Severed Finger Found in Chili, and I'm zoned in reading all the details and spilling coffee on the paper while oogling at the picture.

Reading the Chronicle's Earthweek section is a Horror of a different color. As stated, its a diary of the planet's actions in the past 24 hours and the gossip ain't usually good. As a horror junkie I can handle the man-made type horrors; shootings, plane crashes, oil spills, car crashes and building fires are now just common daily news. These horrors fall under the "Shit Happens" column. Violent crime is just that, violence acted upon one human being by another, actions that can be attributed to emotional, economic or social/domestic disturbances.

But you give me a report on the Antarctic's Wilkins Ice Shelf collapse due to climate change or Rio de Janeiro's state confirmed outbreak of dengue fever being spread by mosquitoes and I get that deer caught in the headlights look.

And never mind the usual roarings of Mother nature in the forms of Volcanic rumblings (Kilauea) in Hawaiia or Earthquake Temblors and Tropical Cyclones in the Orient (China & India), there's a new scientific discovery that sends chills down my spine.

Keep in mind that this Earthweek section gives an icon that relates to whatever happening for that paragraph. For example, the diary entry for Antarctic collapse pictures an iceberg, that for Hawaiian volcanic activity pictures a volcano spewing ash/lava, and so on and so forth.

Well, there's this one icon that when you see it you know its bad news. This icon is a simple picture of a Rat in a circle of green. I assumed the diary entry would be a case of plague or something worse. It was worse. With a heading that reads Rodent Tools the following diary entry makes one wonder:

A highly social, intelligent rodent native to the highlands of Chile has been trained to use a tool and understand its function. Researchers at Japan's Riken Brain Science Institute say they trained six adult degu rodents to use a tiny rake to obtain food at a 75 percent success rate. The findings suggest that many animals could use tools, although such ability may be doubtful for fish.

So me being the horror buff that I am immediately envision a degu rodent being trained to use a small caliber handgun to obtain whatever the trainer needs obtained. Sounds a bit far fetched? What about rodents being trained to carry out terrorist acts? Starting to get a bit scary isn't it. Bet you could train a rodent to pull the pin out of the metal pineapple that's been placed ever so strategically. Or maybe saw through an elevator cable. How about nuclear power plants? Now that's a man-made disaster waiting to happen. Nothing like a trained rodent to squeeze in through the nuclear cooling coils and follow some mad man's trained instructions to the letter.

Remember, the initial report did say Rodent Tools. In other words, some foolish human had to provide the tools and training for the rodent to carry out the mission. And the foolish human experimenting with this is a scientist who'll probably end up with a Nobel prize. This the same Nobel prize award named after the man (Alfred Nobel) who invented dynamite without considering man's violent intentions in its future use. Seems anytime man invents something supposedly for the good, sooner or later it ends up being used for something terribly bad.

So should you ever find yourself in a public place or on some form of public transportation , and you happen to see a furry rat squeezing itself underneath a locked door or cabinet, think about the Earthweek Diary Entry with the heading Rodent Tools. Then start being afraid. Be Very Afraid.

Talk About Classic Hollywood

Talk about Classic Hollywood. The "Dame" above would be a classic whistle getter in any era. But it was the 1940's movie era when her star shined brightest and U.S. soldier's fighting in Europe in World War II couldn't have been more grateful.

Unfortunately for this blonde bombshell who spawned the infamous "peek-a-boo" hair style ( a cascade of golden tresses that obscured one heavy-lidded eye), her life and career would flame out and end without much fanfare.

Who was she?

Classic Hollywood Actor Richard Widmark

It was actors the likes of Richard Widmark who's craft stood the test of time. For those of us who remember him, his acting and looks left a lasting impression. I was fortunate to grow up in a time with Black & White war movies and Technicolor westerns. A time in which the broadcast of a late night or Sunday afternoon classic movie was a family event. There weren't many channels to choose from and sports on television was seldom shown in the evening. Sunday afternoon television usually had an old war or western movie playing.

My mother enjoyed the classic drama movies and we kids watched what she watched. We got to know the older actors and actresses from my mom's youth. I always mistook Bette Davis and Joan Crawford for one another until I saw them together in " Whatever Happened to Baby Jane," a psychological thriller.

Richard Widmark played many roles where he was cast as a gangster, a soldier/lieutenant or an sheriff/outlaw in westerns. Though I would confuse the names of the many great actors of the day, I always remembered their unique faces. Jimmy Stewart, Henry Ford, Jack Palance, Richard Burton, William Holden and many more.

Richard Widmark had the perfect face for the roles he played. His eyes were dark and piercing, his facial bone structure was skeleton-like and sharp with leathery skin that seemed pulled on as if it were a mask. He seldom smiled and usually had a look of surprise, anger or disappointment, or at least that's how I remember him. You always took his character serious and new that wherever he was trouble or conflict was sure to follow. On the screen he was the long sizzling fuse slowly approaching the powder keg.

A bit of sports trivia about Richard Widmark, he was father-in-law to the late great Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax.

Richard Widmark, Classic Hollywood Actor


1914-2008

Beat L.A. Beat L.A. Beat L.A.

The Golden State Warriors blow a 26 point lead but find a way to put out the hot L.A. Lakers in Los Angeles this evening. On a night when Dallas Mavericks star player, Dirk Nowitzki, goes down with an ankle injury during a loss to the Spurs, the Warriors find themselves a half game away from tying Dallas for the seventh seed in the West. If the two week projected absence of Dirk is accurate, the Warriors could find themselves going into the playoffs as a number seven or possibly number six seed. And as long as Stephen Jackson continues making back-to-back three pointers in the last minute of games, the Golden State Warriors will continue to scare the teams at the top of the standings.

Jack, say hello to Jack!

Final Score
Warriors 115
Lakers 111

"Ghost" by J.N. Williamson

Book Review

Ghost

By J.N. Williamson

For a book written in 1984, it sure was a mysterious and interesting read. I found the story excellent. And although I had a hard time with keeping track of the heaven and hell characters, I understood their roles in the story. I may read it again sometime soon just to get a better hold on their intentions and battle, which probably had a much deeper meaning than I found in its ending.

This book had just the right mix of spiritual, racial, gender, love, trust, parenthood, youth, old age, heaven and hell, and of course a Ghost.

I’m sure that someone involved in the movie Ghost, which came out around 1990, must’ve read this book to get their initial idea.

What I found interesting were the relationships of the characters. There’s much conflict and change going on in the families of the White Ghost and the little Black boy who helps the ghost. It takes the love between family members to bring about the success of the story.

To have a ghost narrate to you about what it feels like to be dead does get a bit spooky. The ghost, being a writer in his earth life, has the skill to describe his after death existence in a way the reader finds believable and captivating. Constantly while reading this book I found myself putting my being in the ghost’s position. What if I’d died and had to watch my ex-wife and family move on with their lives without me. The resentments and apologies in you can no longer be shared with your family. You’re cut off from any form of contact. Your anger drives you to haunt the living as you become an introverted unhappy entity without a home and no future to think of. What would you do?

I suppose the isolation is what makes the book so real and scary. Not knowing who’s running the show and after awhile not caring about anything.

To have a child be the hero and savior in this book was perfect. Reminds me of a biblical quote which says “In order to enter the kingdom of heaven we must become as children.” Yes, it took a child to see and do what adults were unable or too busy to even see. And it took a wise old man to help prepare that child for the day when he’d need to use his special gift.

I’m still not sure if the plan was for all of them to end up in heaven or not. Maybe the ghost was resurrected as talked about earlier in the book. If that was the case, then the ghost was the second coming of Christ and his supporting cast were maybe disciples.

The book leaves you with so many thoughts. The one thought that hits me the strongest is that my Mother and other loved ones who’ve passed over most likely visited me before moving on. And I wonder just where that beyond is and what they’re all doing in that far away place. This book also awakens in an individual all the childhood beliefs about death along with some of those young fears. Maybe it took a child’s mind to concoct such a story. Or maybe it just took a real ghost to tell it. I think I’d better read it again and make sure it’s not me who wrote this story.

Not an exciting book and definitely not horror. But a philosophical/metaphysical journey down a mysterious path that we all must take and this one writer found in him to narrate one possibility. I know, it’s a mystery book. What is death and where do we go once we die? What is heaven and hell and who determines our destination?

I almost forgot to mention the humor written effortlessly into this story. The author talks intimately with the reader about his dilemma and if the reader’s mind can respond to the nifty flow of dialogue then the story becomes alive. I really couldn’t put this book down. It was a quick 283 pages that I couldn’t guess what would happen and didn’t want to end. The ending was very mystical and nothing corny at all. It would take Hollywood to screw up this story and make it something of a tear jerker. Fortunately for the movie Ghost, it had a love story, comedy, good special effects and a great soundtrack. Where as this book had a real ghost, a gifted child and a struggle between good and evil. A very good read indeed.

DeAngelo Hall Deal Is Done!

We Got Hall!

DeAngelo Hall, two-time pro bowler and former cornerback of the Atlanta Falcons, is a Raider. He comes to the Raiders to join Namdi Asougha in the defensive backfield, making it one hell of a show.

I know we need defensive and offensive linemen, but adding Hall in our defensive backfield is an upgrade of monolithic proportions. Did we really want to see Fabian Washington or Stuert Schweigert caught out of position and unable to make plays for another season? I don't think so. Expect this Dynamic Duo to wreak havoc on opposing quarterback passes. Also, their man coverage shutdown should free up a safety or two for blitz packages. Can't wait to see it Live!

They can say all they want about Al Davis, but when it comes to negotiating with a player to join the Silver and Black, Al gets the damn job done. So what if he gave up our second round pick in this year's draft, "We Got Hall." And its been proven time and again, "Defense Wins Championships."

Welcome To The Oakland Raiders DH.

$4,300.00/HR. Hookers?

Take My Wife......Please!

Emperor's Club VIP was a high priced escort/prostitution service that catered to wealthy clients. Unbeknownst to it's client's, the Federal Government had been gathering information to bust the club and shut it down. And as with many sting operations, someone who's an upstanding leader or role model gets snagged in the net.

For New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who's allegedly an Emperor's Club regular customer, the snag could cost him his governorship. It could get worse for Big Daddy Spitzer if they find he used State monies for some of those non-civic hanky panky hours.

Now if I were a governor with a sinful habit I'd just legalize the activity throughout my state, make it lawful. Think about it, if Marion Barry had legalized crack in Washington D.C., If Bill Clinton had legalized intern acts of fellatio in the White House, if Jeb Bush had legalized voting poll tampering in Florida. Scratch that last one, Jeb was a man ahead of his time. But you get my drift. If it’s legal it must be ethical and acceptable to others and definitely not investigated.

Unfortunately for Big Daddy Spitzer, the only legal proceeding in his future will most likely be at a congressional hearing. Whatever you do Big Daddy, don't hire Roger Clemens lawyer as your counsel for defense.

On the brighter side Big Daddy, you're a hero to many men who get busted with prostitutes who cost far less than what you paid and have no dental plan. Sometimes it’s the wife who hires investigative reporters (see show Cheaters) and the poor sucker is caught in the act. Looks like Mama Spitzer is still in your corner. You Dah Man!

Is It Football Season Yet?

Warriors Slay Boston's Green Monster

It was almost as thrilling as watching the New York Giants slay the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

The Golden State Warriors took down the "Alleged" best team in the NBA tonight. With seconds left in a tie game Baron Davis hit a game winning fade away jump shot to give the Warriors an exciting 119-117 Victory over the 41 win Boston Celtics.

The Warriors bench and defense came through and played the type of game they had to play in order to beat this deep Boston team. Throughout the game most Warriors fans probably felt elated just to be hanging with the Boston Celtics. Not having Steven Jackson made for even a more improbable night to pull off a win. Yet the Warriors played four quarters of basketball and shined down the stretch to pull off the upset.

The Celtics were the first team I've seen use a defensive attack strategy on Monta Ellis. It almost worked. But Don Nelson adjusted by using a quicker offensive attack and catching the Celtics off guard.

The Warriors played a great team game with all contributing to this win. Pietrus, Biedrins and Harrington all stepped up big and Webber contributed a bit early.

But it was that final shot of Baron Davis that thrust the triumphant dagger to puncture the heart of the Green Monster of Boston. After swishing the shot, Baron elatedly skipped back down the court with .03 seconds left on the clock. He had this school boy type joy in his skip and the Oakland Arena fans wildly ate it up. Even the Boston players had to give it to Baron afterward. There's no doubt in Warrior-land that Baron plays all-star basketball for Golden State..

On an evening where a lunar eclipse shadowed over the Bay Area, the Golden State Warriors lit up the evening with an all-STAR team performance.

Final Score
Warriors 119
Celtics 117

Superman Wins Slam Dunk Competition!

Not A Bird
Not A Plane
Not A Rocket

The Caped Dwight Howard Soars Through The NBA Skies to Win Slam Dunk 2008

Fox Top News Stories For Today

Sometimes I wonder just what this country of ours is coming to. If a person living 100 years ago was able to peek at today's news headlines they'd think Satan himself had taken over the country. They'd probably agree that Armageddon had arrived in year 2000 and the headlines are typical of daily activities in Hell. Actually it was the year that George Bush was elected as our 43rd President, mere coincidence. There's simply nothing else to explain the madness.


And here now the news:

• Former Student Guns Down 5 Before Killing Self at Illinois University
• O.J. Simpson's Girlfriend Hospitalized With 'Severe Head Injury'
• Peeping Tom Arrested After Hiding Under North Carolina Man's Bed
• Gorillas Caught Making Love, Human Style
• Report: Man Questioned in Brutal Murder of New York City Psychologist Released
• Female Referee Removed From Officiating Boys' Basketball Game by Religious School
• Handshake Saves Man's Life: Doctor Diagnoses Man's Brain Tumor Through 'Spongy' Handshake
• Mom Finds Blade in Valentine's Day Heart Lollipop
• San Diego Border Patrol Discovers Wire Possibly Strung to Decapitate Agents
• 'Today' Show Apologizes for Jane Fonda's Use of C-Word
• Siblings Celebrate 391 Years of Wedded Bliss
• Pentagon Plans to Shoot Down Failing Satellite
• Hezbollah Chief Declares War on Israel After Militant Commander's Death
• Billy Ray Cyrus Says He, Miley Just Forgot to Buckle Up
• Cops Investigate California Child Abduction; Parents Blamed
• Federal Appeals Court Overturns Texas Sex-Toy Ban
• Best Buy Sued for $54M Over Lost Laptop
• CDC Warns of 'Choking Game' After 82 Youths Die

WHAT TO GET YOUR GIRL FOR VALENTINES DAY?

How about an injection of illegal HDH steroid in the booty.

Nothing says I love you like a syringe filled dose of "THE JUICE" being pumped through her veins. That woman of your life will know not only that you love her but that you'll share with her your deepest secrets.

It didn't matter that the man who injected her has no hint of a medical degree, the fact that you'd have another man "JUICE" her up for you was enough to convince her of your trust and devotion to her. And why not talk about it on national television to rekindle the love.

So you still not sure what to get your girl for Valentine's Day? Roger Clemens Knows!

Friends don't let friends inject their wives with steroids, period.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson A Raider?

No, Ocho Cinco hasn't been fitted for a Silver & Black jersey yet. But hearing it straight from his mouth that he'd like to be a Raider was enough to make any Raiders fan dream.

headline:
"Come Get Me, Says Ocho Cinco to Al Davis"

Though the cost involved would seem to make this fairytale trade a pipe dream, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Al Davis has just a tad bit of magic left in his negotiating bag of tricks to make it happen.

I know we need defensive players and O-lineman, but just imagine if you will a Chad Johnson / JaMarcus Russell connection. Where you at Oucho Cinco?

Monta "OH MY!" Ellis Leads Warriors to Win

I hear they're still trying to come up with a nickname for Golden State Warriors guard/forward Monta Ellis. Look no further please. Since Monta first arrived and began showing hints of basketball stardom I've caught myself whispering the two words that best describe his play.

Tonight, along with the rest of the viewing public I'm sure, I caught myself yelling those same two words both during the Monta finger roll layup play and while watching it again on replay.

Monta has worked on and stepped up his game from a year ago and its only a matter of time before the rest of the league has to take notice. He's young and quick with good floor vision and a solid jump shot. Not to mention that he has defensive skills and leaping ability that has his 6'3 height working for him better than Manute Bol's 7'7in. frame ever did out on the hardwood floor.

So why is everyone finding it so hard to pin a nickname on Monta Ellis. Maybe they're all just trying too hard, after all this isn't the Los Angeles scene where a catchy name can put you into instant celebrity status. This is the Yay Yay where only proof of skill brings about celeb fame and nickname patents.

To be honest I think Monta Ellis has enough game where just the name Monta can evoke thoughts of great plays. But if you must name the budding star, just think of what it was you said when first seeing him fly through the air with the greatest of ease to lay down a dunk or finger roll over a suprised opponent. Remember yet! I remember what my thoughts were both the first time and the last.

"OH MY!"

You'd better get used to it. Because the Monta "OH MY!" Ellis show has arrived in the Bay, and if you miss it you'll only hear those who witnessed the new Warriors legend say: Did You See Monta Ellis last night, "Oh My!"

final score
Warriors 105
Kings 102

Monta had 34 pts, 9 rebounds and 5 assists tonight. "OH MY!"
Shooting 85% from the field in his last two games. "OH MY!"
Did I mention that Monta has unbelievable hangtime? "OH MY!"

Amazon Book Deal Sacked!

I didn't know about the book deal until I saw a guy at the super bowl party wearing a black tee-shirt with prophetic white lettering that read: "18-1."

A Day after the New York Giants upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, I attempt a online glance at the Boston Globe's book entitled "19-0: The Historic Championship Season of the New England Patriots." I'd heard they were still taking pre-orders for the book right up until the game ending whistle. Here's what I got when I clicked on the link:

Looking for something? We're sorry. The Web address you entered is not a functioning page on our site Go to Amazon.com's Home Page

Patriots Fan Blog Sees Book As Ultimate Jinx/Curse 7 Days Before Game: Too Funny!

UNDERDOG N.Y. GIANTS ARE SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS

Today is a day that'll live in football infamy. A riveting game and a most beautiful ending. The New York Giants smothered Patriots QB Tom Brady all game. Meanwhile, Giants QB Eli Manning became a football legend as he led his team to victory in a stunning 17-14 win over the fourteen point favored Pats.

Everyone loves an "UNDERDOG", and for one game an underdog made believers of a nation.


Congratulations New York Giants on your Super Bowl XLII Victory!

ROAD TO SUPER BOWL XLII

COULD BE A CLASSIC!

Cheech & Chong Presents

Up until now I've thought of Los Angeles as a plastic culture in cars. Now I suppose I'll have to revise my thinking to a plastic culture in cannabis smelling cars. Only in L.A., where you have eight lane freeways that become parking lots at any given moment of the day, can an idea like this make sense. Maybe a bit of cannabis is just what they need to ease the road rage attacks and such.

I still don't understand it though, why a vending machine? What about privacy? Why not provide a place of calm and leisure in the likes of Oaksterdam (Oakland) up north? Who wants to be seen entering a well lit place with security cameras recording while you stop and cop? Even Bodegas give a sense of wanting to be discreet though everyone and their mama knows never to buy edibles from the place .

And what about the cops? You'd better hope they've got stock in the vending machine business, because if not you can expect a search and seizure that will make the Rodney King beating look like a resuscitation attempt. After all,, you ain't in Amsterdam, your in L.A., remember? Or did you smoke so much weed that you forgot exactly where you lived?

Like I said, I just don't get it. Maybe its the coolest thing to hit the west coast since casinos. Whatever the reasoning is behind it, medicinal or otherwise, I'm sure it won't be long before the thrill of it all is gone, and the first lawsuit claiming "negligence due to unsupervised dispensing" is filed. Until then L.A., smoke ti'l your broke.

Don't Forget to Vote Black!

After Jimmy Carter

Before Bill Clinton

There Was ................CLICK!

1998 Movie "Fallen"

Just from the opening credits I knew this movie was going to be something special. Anytime a movie starts out with a narrator introducing you to bits and pieces of events that have already occurred, buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a wild ride.

Below is the opening piece where a madman, made believable by actor Elias Koteas, is on his way to the gas chamber dancing and singing to the tune of "Time is on my side" by the Rolling Stones. Remember that theme, it rears its haunting head when least expected and makes for a creepy outcome.

This movie is intelligently scary to watch. Even with Denzel Washington playing the lead role, you just don't know where it'll take you, until you're there.

Time is on my side, yes it is!

Can G-MEN Clamp Down on SpyGate Parolees?

Welcome to Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Me being a Native New Yorker and a 2002 "Tuck Rule" Survivor, you know who I'm rooting for.

The Giants have a real good shot at winning this thing and leaving the Pats at 18-1, one game short of a perfect perfect season. It'll take Eli having a great game and pressure on Brady. Hitting receivers hard and good tackling will also be in order. If ever the phrase "Chop off the Head and the Body Dies" fit a situation, this is it. Take Brady out of the game with pressure and the Patriots are a wagon without wheels. Who the hell's their backup quarterback anyway, Steve Grogan?

Don't get me wrong, I like Brady. I think Brady's a great quarterback and wouldn't really want to see him get hurt. But these are drastic and desperate times that call for Tanya Harding-esque measures to be taken. If not before the game then heck, during the damn game. Whatever it takes, someone's gotta get to Brady and put him down. Maybe we can bribe Tony Romo to send Jessica Simpson to Brady's hotel room a night or two before the game. The Romo Jinx is as good as the red sox curse of the 20th century.

Either way Super Bowl XLII should be hyped so much that by kickoff time you're loving one team and hating the other with a passion.

My money and passion is with the Giants, bless their road warrior hearts. Not many gave them a chance on the road against Dallas or Green Bay and yet they're still standing. As for the Brady Bunch, you're head coach is a bum, you were caught cheating and the 1972 Miami Dolphins will always be the undefeated darlings of the NFL. And besides, nobody wants to see quitter Moss holding up a Lombardi Trophy. I'd rather see Eli Manning and Michael Strahan at the podium celebrating. We'll see!

Congratulations New York Giants for winning the NFC Championship in classic non-spying fashion.

Imagine how these Giants fans (pictured before the game) must of felt afterward?

On the road at Lambeau Field, -24 degrees wind-chill factor, Overtime, Brett Favre interception, 47 yard field goal wins it! TRULY PRICELESS!

Pensacola,FL. defeats Puerto Rico

Yes, my boy Roy Jones, Jr. takes out Felix Trinidad in a unanimously decided 10 rounder. A knockdown in the 7th and another in the 10th may have been the deciding factor, I'm not sure since I didn't see it. Who's paying to watch pay-per-view these days when you can see it on HBO the following week? But based on this article at ESPN.Com, my boy Roy won it handily.

Tito has been a great fighter and champion, making Puerto Ricans across the world proud, but Roy's my boy. The Pensacola native keeps it real and very well may have been the best fighter "pound-for-pound" during his reign. Unfortunately, both these fighters best days for boxing may be behind them. Memories of Roy's supine body corpse-like on the canvas after a Glen Johnson knockout punch is still clear in my mind. Maybe Roy should just take this win and step away from the game with a winning image intact.

Either way, you can take nothing away from these two lion-hearted warriors who've brought excitement and respect back to the Boxing World.

Roy Jones, Jr and Felix Trinidad, we salute you!

THE PLAYOFFS!

JOE

Suicide Jumper Spotted Today

Today I put on the face of a hero by running into a residence hotel here in downtown San Francisco to report a man dangling from a third floor window ledge of a building. After my initial yells to the potential jumper to "just go back inside", I realized the man was beyond any reasoning as he was building up the courage to let go of the window frame he was holding onto with one hand.

It was like watching a person hesitating to jump into a cold pool. You could see that he really wanted to but an internal instinct kept just enough tension on his fingertips to prevent the mindless body from falling forward.

After looking around and seeing the half-dozen or so people looking up in tourist like fashion, as if the poor bastard was an entertainment snack, I dashed into the lobby and informed the deskclerk and others that a man was sitting on a window ledge of their building and about to jump. The desk clerk was stunned and appeared in shock as I yelled to him to call 911.

While he was on line with the 911 operator we heard a barrage of sirens indicating someone had probably already called, most likely one of the audience out front who were getting pics and video clips via cellphone to upload to a blog or youtube account no less. Oh well, who am I to judge. I've always liked watching fires for some odd unknown reason. Maybe watching someone jump from a building and splat on the asphalt gives the same sort of dramatic rush.

Police, firefighters, paramedics and just about any and everybody with responsibilities for SF City Health services and rescue were quickly on-site. For a minute I thought I saw the tiger-handler from the SF Zoo pacing nervously behind the area taped off by police. (I know, bad joke).

At one point a guy rides by on a bicycle, looks up, and yells don't do it such and such, just go back inside. It appeared he knew the would be jumper and knew of his unstable condition. But close friends they could not have been, for the bicycle rider said his piece without breaking a stroke in his peddling as he continued riding by the tense scene with nary a concern.

With the yellow tape cordoning off the asphalt below, probably making the area more appealing to the jumper than safer for pedestrians oblivious to the drama unfolding three stories above, a single police officer stepped into the area and began talking up to the guy. The first thing I heard him say was exactly the words I heard come out of my mouth when I first spotted the guy up there, "Just go back inside."

There are times when you stop looking at the main character in a drama and take in the supporting cast and their actions. I did this and found myself pitying the poor guy up on the ledge about to end it all. Again, the crowd, which had been hearded to the other side of the street by police for their own protection, were talking on cell phones, taking pictures/videos with cell phones or struggling to get their cell phones out of their pockets to do one of the aforementioned. The firefighters, with looks of disappointment because their were no hot flames licking at the poor guys ass in the window, had taken a back seat to the police. The police, except for the one negotiating and those who'd gone inside and up to the 3rd floor, were jockeying for positions outside the front of the building. They didn't appear to be getting ready for a rescue as much as not wanting to miss the inevitable human pumpkin smash. I myself was wondering why the fireman didn't pull out some kind of tarp to catch the guy in should he decide to jump or fall. Guess I've seen too much tv as a child.

Around the 20th minute or so of which this episode began, it ended with me not seeing whether he returned back into the room on his own accord or whether rescuers pulled him back in. All I saw was the disappointment in the faces of the crowd below as they quietly dispersed. You'd have thought someone was ready to throw dollar bills out the window and before they got the chance the police stopped them, ending hopes for a jubilant scuffle in the streets by all bystanders. In the eyes of the bystanders was a dull sadness as if they'd wasted their time waiting for nothing. In the time you could count to fifty was about the time it took for the block to return to normal, as if the incident hadn't occurred. Unlike fires where there's water, ash, burned furniture or something, here was nothing but minor gossip about what had happened and who the would be "Jumper" was. Nobody really seemed to know or care. He'd survived and all the pictures and videos taken were worthless.

It felt good to have the desk clerk and another staff member who was in the lobby initially when I ran in, come up to me and thank me for alerting them. I think we all, those who just weren't there to see a show, felt a huge sigh of relief when the police began removing the yellow tape and the firefighters began shuffling onto their trucks for departure.

Suicide attempts occur more than we care to think. Should you one day find yourself faced with a situation where a person is ready to attempt suicide, don't try to be a hero, just be human and offer or get help.

I'd like to commend all the city of San Francisco's Police, Firemen and Health Services persons who arrived in a timely manner and saved one human life today. Though I may have painted the scene as one full of uncaring service people just kind of doing their jobs, I acknowledge that they see these types of incidents and worse everyday and have to deal with the psychological aspects that surely stay with them once its over. I myself could barely watch the dangling legs of the guy much less look him in the eye without shuddering from the thought of falling.

Unfortunately, just another day in a city full of stories.

The Thrill Is Gone

It was 17 Wonderful Weeks ago that I fell in love with this NFL season. 17 weeks of heartthrob, heartache and heartbreak all wrapped into one glorious affair. As the saying goes,

"Its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."



My Raiders may have lost more than they won this season, but I still enjoyed every passionate pucker of professional football they presented to me this year. Now comes the time of mourning. The week following the end of the regular season where you're team is out of the playoffs and gone til next season. Some of the coaching and player personnel may never return. You're left feeling abandoned, lonely, unfulfilled and wondering what if only this or that could have happened to make it last longer. You already try to fill-in the time slots that were spent thinking of the next game and opponent. You miss seeing your team play on Sundays as much as seeing your gurl in a silver & black thong after 17 weeks of Jenny Craig.

Let's face it, B.B. King couldn't have said it any better; The Thrill is Gone, And Now that its Over, All I can do is Wish You Well!

The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong baby
And you'll be sorry someday

The thrill is gone
It's gone away from me
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away from me
Although I'll still live on
But so lonely I'll be

The thrill is gone
It's gone away for good
Oh, the thrill is gone baby
Baby its gone away for good
Someday I know I'll be over it all baby
Just like I know a man should

You know I'm free, free now baby
I'm free from your spell
I'm free, free now
I'm free from your spell
And now that it's over
All I can do is wish you well

Its 12:30am on a Saturday and I've just finished watching a Discovery Networks piece about a photograph entitled "The Falling Man."

The photo was taken during the hours of the World Trade Center disaster on 9/11/01.

Driving the 1hr 45min documentary was one man's search for the identity of the man in the photograph.

As the searcher begins his journey into this sacred and painful photograph you begin to discover along with him the many reasons why America had such a difficult time with this one photograph.

As stated in the Documentary, the media did not want to put focus on the victims, some 200 of which had jumped or fell out of windows to their death, but instead hyped the heroism of the rescue efforts.

The photograph was run in one paper "The Morning Call" the following day on September 12th, but hasn't been printed in any paper or magazine since. After running the photo the paper received a monumentally angry response from a stunned American public. Though the media considered it to be one of those rare pictures that reflects life-altering events that can change the way we view our future, its impact was simply too much for a grief stricken nation and the photo was pulled from publication.

The documentary touches on many of our thoughts and feelings about the photograph. It was very gratifying to see the researcher discover something as important, if not more important, than the identity of the person in the photograph, but I'm not gonna spill the beans here. You'll have to check it out for yourself.

What I enjoyed about this documentary is discovering the influence a single photograph can have on an individual just by viewing it. Watching your own thoughts try to grasp the feelings of "The Falling Man" just seconds earlier as he grapples with the decision to jump instead of burn up in the north tower. The calm reserved manner of his body language and its alignment to the building as depicted in the photo. More thoughts of "What Would You Do?" if in the same circumstances with the same exact decisions confronting you.

The Circumstances. Something pretty much none of us alive today can even fathom. And yet in the photograph, "The Falling Man" appears to me to be at peace with his decision and is leaving the outcome, body and soul, in his God's hands.

It may anger you, it may frighten you, it may make you cry. The one thing this documentary won't do is have you saying "Thank God It Wasn't Me." Because in the end "The Falling Man" photograph makes it personal. In the end it is you and me we're watching fall from the 106th floor to our death. The only difference being that we're left alive wondering what it was like, while "The Falling Man" died knowing what it was like.

Peace Be With You "The Falling Man"

Call It A GirlyMan Song If You Want - But I Like It

FOREVER

BY STRATOVARIUS

The Language of God's Love

Lewis Warren Jr. performs his own arrangement of the classic worship song "Sing Hallelujah to the LORD"!

Just Beyond The Horizon

After beating up on the Denver Broncos the previous week, The Raiders came crashing back to earth in their Lambeau Field loss. Are the Packers as good as they look or was the frozen tundra's December deep-freeze just too paralyzing for the visitors from Oakland, California?

Whatever the cause of our ugly 38-7 loss in Green Bay, I'm still optimistic about the future of Raiders Football. Remember, we're not a full season removed from the Art Shell coaching debacle that did more damage to our teams' confidence and conviction than anything else. Lane Kiffin has kept this 2007 team believing throughout his debut coaching season. And I'll be the first to say that we're a better team.

I'm close to believing once again that in OUR HOUSE on any given Sunday we can play with the best and come out victors. I'm giving the Raiders a little more time to put all the right pieces together and field a team committed to excellence once again. It won't be long.

I see a bright glow twinkling just beyond the horizon. No need to jump ship now mates? We've made it through the worst part of the journey. Ahead lies victory! Arise! Arise and count your blessings you didn't abandon ship like some fair-weather scurvy of a fan. We're Raider Fans one and all, and we bloody well know the grit it takes to survive the monstrous sea of pro football. So Rise! Wear your colors of Silver and Black proudly. For we shall return to the days of glory.

Golden State Warriors 2007-08

STILL BELIEVING!