Raiders Kick Jamarcus While He's Down

News reports don't lie, ex-Raider Jamarcus Russell gets caught sipping "Sizzurp" in July.



I know there won't be one Raiders fan crying over this bit of news. It appears the Raiders may have a case for recouping some of the monies paid Jamarcus. I myself had never heard of the "Sizzurp" aka "Purple Drank" until this incident. Come'On Man!

- Raiders say they tried to help QB Russell before release

A Vega$ 4th Of July Weekend

It was hot and the lightly clad babes were slutting it up in Las Vegas over the 4th of July weekend. So excuse me for missing a few days in the wide world of sports. Vegas is definitely the place to spend a holiday weekend.

Upon opening the Las Vegas Review Sunday morning, July 4th, I began to read about two gladiator battles taking place in a fighting ring approximately 100 years apart.

The one, accompanied by color photos, took place the previous night. The local sports talk on Saturday night had been all about the Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin UFC 116 match at the MGM Grand Garden. The stage had been set for a dramatic clash of big powerful men.

The headline of the Sunday morning sports page revealed the winner with this caption:

"Lesnar's fury foils flurry"

The color photo below this headline (see above) showed a rejoicing Lesnar with forefinger held high as he triumphantly strutted around the octagon cage as UFC Champion. In the background was Carwin lying flat-backed on the canvas with the referee knelt over him trying to encourage a response.

It had been a battle of two opposing rounds. The first round belonged to a punishing Carwin as he drove a knee to the head of Lesnar then sent him back against the cage with a straight right and a left hook. Pummeling punches from Carwin forced Lesnar to cradle the fence and the onslaught was on.

The fight was almost stopped by the referee but Lesnar blocked enough punches to hold off that decision and survive the round. The second round saw Lesnar rejuvenated and making quick work of his tiring opponent. Lesnar secured a takedown, locked Carwin in an arm triangle hold and forced a tap out at the 2:19 mark.

Shane Carwin's after fight comment describing Brock Lesnar:

"Brock's a tough son of a bitch."

As for the other battle that took place in a ring some 100 years ago, the site was Reno, Nevada and the implications were much greater. It was billed as the Fight of the Century and pitted two men of different races against one another. The outcome would spark a clash of the races nationwide which would echo through the country for years to come.

Jack Johnson knocked Jim Jeffries down three times in the 15th round of their 1910 "Fight of the Century" in Reno.

- 100 years later, fight of the century resonates

- Jack Johnson shuts down Great White Hope in Fight of the Century 100 years ago

-Fight of the Century Highlighted U.S. Racial Divide (Video Footage)

- The Fight of the Century -- Really

-Fight of the Century - A Century Later

- Johnson, Jeffries Clans in Reno

California Without Budget

Why talk politics on a sports blog? Because the decisions, or lack there of, of elected State officials are costing us "Joe Plumber" taxpayers big time.

Today begins the new fiscal year for California. Today lawmakers and the governor are far from agreement on a spending plan to decrease the $19 billion dollar state deficit.

Every day after today without a budget to address the state deficit, costs California tax payers $52 million dollars. FIFTY-TWO MILLION DOLLARS A DAY!

The lack of a budget costs the state $52 million a day, according to the Department of Finance, and if an agreement is not reached by the end of July, the state's financial situation would worsen. The state would probably have to issue IOUs, halt infrastructure projects and slash state worker pay.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/01/MNTI1E7EIC.DTL#ixzz0sU3Otd00

Now think about it. If you or I went to work and our inability to perform the duties our employer contracted us for cost the company bucks, who's check do you think those bucks would come out of? Not the customer who is paying the company to handle their business, that's for sure.

Its time United States politicians be held accountable for their negligent performance in carrying out their duties. I believe the pay of a politician should be based on performance with penalties and/or impeachment for negligence.

I'll take the old Tijuana, Mexico version of fair business practice, * No Money No Honey *, over this current political privilege setup anyday. Make the politicians accountable in dollars and cents and see how quick a fiscal budget is passed.

"No Money......................No Honey"

Its a basic principle of economics; Dig Now, Food Later.

A Most Private Intrigue by Leo Rosten

High-voltage suspense adventure by a master novelist......"whose writing and imagination seem boundless" - San Francisco Chronicle

copyright 1967 Fawcett Crest Book

THE ORNATE CALLING CARD READ:

THE REV. THEOPHILUS SULENKIAN
Church of St. George the Redeemer
ISTANBUL
TURKEY

But this was Connecticut - and the bald, sweating mountain-of-a-man smiled silkily, "I come to sell you something."

"Sell?" frowned Jarvis. "What Reverend, do you sell?"

"People."

So begins A Most Private Intrigue, a novel that moves from New York to Washington, London to Istanbul - and beyond.....


I give this book a 4.5 rating, a half off for some of the confusion the language caused me. The author, I suppose, gave the Turkish and Russian characters terrible english so that the reader would know they weren't to be fully trusted. It may have been better to have just changed the print type for the English words spoken by foreigners, just as some words spoken in Turkish or Russian were italicized.

That being said, this book was definitely entertaining and a thrill to follow. Though you never really thought of Peter Galton as a heroic type, you believed he was smart and gutsy enough to pull off the deal.

Even when it appeared Galton and his mission were possibly doomed, you never gave up on the man.

The best part of this book is not in the writing but the story itself. The author uses a mystery story approach as he patiently exposes bits and pieces of the people, places and events that are served up to us in this thriller. Never do you feel lost in the story, which makes for a smart read.

As the baiting suspense and intrigue builds, then collapses under an unsuspecting explosion, then builds again to a final climax, you find yourself on the hook for a fully loaded espionage ride.

And the true beauty of this book is it believability and that you never would have guessed how it all plays out in the end.

Very Enjoyable! And I learned what a Turkish Sunnet Room is used for.

We Interrupt This Program

Retired Los Angeles police Capt. Greg Meyer in defending former Bart policeman Johannes Mehserle, on trial for the on-duty murder of Oscar Grant, made a very telling and revealing statement during testimony.

The former captain, now a "use-of-force" expert being paid in the neighborhood of $44,000.00 to testify for Mehserle's defense, claimed to have studied the 1991 Rodney King case where policemen were caught on tape beating King unmercifully.

Yesterday, while on the stand and under oath answering questions from prosecutor David Stein, use-of-force expert Meyer was prompted to say that officers who beat Rodney King in 1991 did not use excessive force.

Is this so-called expert trying to set-off another Los Angeles riot or what? Now I know the true reason why the defense succeeded in getting this trial moved from Alameda County to Los Angeles; in L.A. it seems you can pay anyone, especially so-called experts, to say anything on a stack of bibles and the citizenship will believe and swallow every morsel.

-$44,000.00 paid to a former police captain to testify in defense of a policeman charged with murder by use of excessive force.

-$44,000.00 paid to a man who believes there is no use of excessive force in this video from 1991 and that the actions of the police officers were justified.

-$44,000.00 paid to Mr. Greg Meyer to help the cause of defendant Johannes Mehserle who is on trial for shooting to death an unarmed and subdued man.

-$44,000 paid to convince jurors and the public once again to suspend belief of what their own eyes see on video

Ladies and Gentleman, please take the time to painfully view the Rodney King beating as recorded by a passerby-er and tell me what part of the tape is "Not" excessive force? Then ask yourself if you truly think this policeman will be found guilty of any wrongdoing in a Los Angeles court of law.



Sometimes the inconvenient truth about these United States of America is scary to the core! Cops Gone Wild.

Odd that I found an on-line article about the Rodney King incident written by the same former captain Meyer in 1994. In this article, Mr. Meyer seems to lean more towards excessive force when commenting on the Rodney King Beating:

In short, Mr. King was something more than what the media calls "a motorist." Still, he should never have been subjected to the tactics we see on the video.


After Rodney King: What Have We Learned? by Greg Meyer

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Subdues Russian Champion

Werdum submits Fedor via armbar

An MMA main event in San Jose,Ca. saw the favored Russian Fedor Emelianenko tap-out against Brazilian Fabricio Werdum 60 seconds into the match.

"It was only a matter of seconds before Emelianenko turned purple and his arm was bent out of its natural shape."


San Francisco Examiner Article:

After a 27-bout win streak that was only briefly interrupted by a No-Contest-decision the seemingly invincible and #1-ranked heavyweight fighter in the world, Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko, was defeated by two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum in one minute flat in the main event of the Strikeforce/M-1 Global mixed martial arts fight card at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on June 26.

Read full article

Bang! Bang! Michael Vick Birthday Bash Bullets

Reinstated NFL QB Michael Vick had a birthday party early this morning in Virginia Beach, Virgina. The "Birthday Bash" was billed as a star-studded event on Twitter. We don't know if guests were blinded from seeing stars at the event, but we do know that they caught flashes of bullets being fired as the party got out of hand in the early morning hours.

Its reported that unfortunate guest, Quanis Phillips, was taken to the hospital for gunshot wounds and is listed in good condition. Phillips just so happens to be a former co-defendant of Vick's 2007 federal dog-fighting trial. Yes, the same federal trial in which Vick's guilty plea landed him in prison for 21 months.

Oh well, someone let the dogs out last night on Mike Vick, and though he owes none of us fans an explanation, I'm sure the NFL can't wait to question the man who put Animal Abuse on the national awareness map.

Its a "dog eat dog" world"
K-9 Justice

USA Defeats Algeria To Advance

The USA Soccer team pulled off the equivalent of a baseball walk-off home run. Well, Almost equivalent anyway. Bottom line, facing elimination in the closing "stoppage time" minutes of a hard fought World Cup game against Algeria, the USA punched in a goal and went on to win the game 1-0.

USA is showing their "fight to survive" mentality in these games. They've scored in the last minutes of games to claim a draw or win and keep their World Cup hopes alive.

WE BELIEVE USA!

USA advances to round two of the 2010 World Cup.

Rest Well Big Fella

Former NBA player Manute Bol passed away over the weekend. Manute had two stints with the Golden State Warriors in his career and was a joy to SF Bay Area fans. Watching Manute jog down the court with his seven foot seven inch watusi-like frame was a site to behold. Never before or since has the NBA entertained us with a character the likes of Manute.

Memories of Manute taking a three-point attempt with encouragement from the fans always brings a smile to my face. As much as I'd like to be able to say that Manute changed the way professional basketball was played, the truth is that the NBA changed the way Manute played and lived.

Manute may not have been a dominating force on the basketball court, but to the poor peoples of his homeland in Sudan he was a Godsend and hero. His humanitarian efforts in Sudan to help the oppressed made him a knight in shining armor to his people.

I remember attending a party at a friends bachelor pad back in the days when Manute-mania plagued the bay area. When I'd called to get directions to the place the person who answered the phone said to just look for the life-sized Manute Bol cut-out glaring out from the bay windows of the apartment building. Sure enough, when I arrived in the designated block I had no problem spotting the life-size image of Manute, which looked so real that I thought maybe my friend had actually gotten the big fella to make an appearance at the party.

To us in the SF Bay Area the big fella will always be a symbol of hope, courage, compassion and fun in sports as well as in life.

Manute Bol
1962-2010

Educating Women AND MEN On Anorexia

What brought my attention to this horrible disease of the mind was the following Hollywood "Glamour" shot of actress Megan Fox at the premiere of her new movie "Jonah Hex."

Though I must admit that I'm a man living in a cave because I didn't know who Ms. Fox was until recently, her body structure resembles many of today's starlets. Bodies that best compare to these are those of World War II concentration camp survivors, crack addicts or sufferers of Anorexia, an eating disorder.

Its been no secret that advertisers and promoters of various products are feeding the gullible public an unhealthy image of itself. The scary part is that the public masses are so mesmerized by what their told the image represents that they find it overwhelmingly beautiful. Just look at the face and wrapping, pay no attention to what's behind the curtain.

The women who are used in this trick to mask and distort the judgment of the public's sense of beauty and health are nothing more than mere victims brainwashed into believing the hype. The real perpetrators of this sick trickiness are ill men of power and influence who dictate what's acceptable and what's not in our social society today. And they have the influence of money to see it through.

Don't get me wrong, all of us carry some blame for allowing ourselves to be so brainwashed by unhealthy images being fed to us daily through various broadcasting mediums. But at some point we as human beings must break away from the life controlling mediums of today and re-think what's right from what's wrong. We must break the chains that bind us to the perverted images of ourselves. The chain is the hype.

America is a consumer society that is fed the products of profit seeking organizations who have little concern for the well-being, both medical and mental, of its customers. Their first priority is money and profit. Their only concern is the well being of the organization. They'll use just about any means necessary to accomplish their goal, consumer addiction. Consumer Addiction insures that the returning customer is hooked on a product enough to keep them coming back for more. This allow the organization to turn their attention to fishing for new customers and developing new products.

If a baby smoking a cigarette can bring one of these profit seeking organizations more money, they'd find a way to "Market" that image to you and make it acceptable. Social Scientist have helped such organizations map exactly how human beings are wired and what methods of influence best work on us. Oh yeah, these organizations have done their homework, having practiced on a global pool of consumers for years.

Hey, did you see the cigarette smoking baby from Indonesia who smokes two packs a day? I was floored by it. I refused to post anything about the hot topic a few weeks ago just because of my mixed feelings about it being so funny and yet so sad. I wonder if any of these organizations have signed the baby's family to a contract yet?

As for the anorexic image that modern women and men throughout the world are being force-fed, we as a society need to fight the projections of such images by getting informed and educated about the issue. Then once armed with the information, share it.


Watch: CBS NEWS - ANOREXIA'S LIVING FACE

Seymour Signs, Russell Booed Again!

All Cheer the Oakland Raiders for taking care of business this off-season. Yesterday they inked a one-year, $12.4M, Franchise Tag contract with Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour. Seymour returns to what appears to be a much improved Defense that can make some serious noise this NFL season.

Speaking of "Noise," an ex-Raider who'd broken hearts, hopes and promises of Raiders fans the past two seasons showed up at the Oakland Arena last night giving Raider fans in attendance a chance to pelt him one last time with their boos and disapproval.

The event was the Andre Ward WBA super middleweight fight which Ward won handily against challenger Allan Green. The ex-Raider who's late arrival caused Boos to rain down from the Black Hole of the Arena was guess who?...............Jamarcus Russell.

The nerve of him to show up in town, as if he's a former local hero returning for a final standing ovation, after robbing our silver & black franchise of millions of dollars while making a mockery of the Raiders quarterback position. Why if this were the old wild wild west there would of been shouts of "get a rope" mixed in with the booing catcalls.

Old frontier justice was quick and deadly back in those days and sent a strong message of warning to all horse thieves, cattle rustlers, bank robbers and bandits; the message? Violators will be dealt with, Severely!

Lets hope we'll see no more players the likes of Jamarcus Russell in a Raiders uniform ever again.

The Nerve!

Friday Night Fights - "The Twins"

The music, the action, the twins; all this and Jet Li is what makes the clip from the 2001 movie "Kiss of the Dragon" one of my favorite fight scenes. After today's USA soccer team robbery by referee Koman Coulibaly, seeing Jet Li kick some a@@ was the perfect relief tonic.

USA Gets Shafted Against Slovenia

"WE WUZ ROBBED"

Now I don't have much experience with World Cup Fifa soccer rules, but I'm an avid sports fan and a quick learner. This morning I watched the USA soccer team post a 2nd half comeback as dazzling as the Los Angeles Lakers rally against the Boston Celtics last night in game 7 of the NBA Championship (Lakers won 83-79).

Unfortunately, the soccer referees monitor 10 players as opposed to 5 in basketball. Those extra five may have contributed to referee Koman Coulibaly's controversial call that negated a goal by the USA which could possibly have won it for them.

The go ahead goal was the result of a free kick from the corner that appeared to be an impressive feed to a USA teammate who timed his charge to the net perfectly. The feedee was called off-sides, the goal was disallowed and the game stayed a 2-2 draw. Replays clearly show the USA feedee was not off-sides and the goal should have counted.

I didn't know Walt Coleman, the NFL referee infamous for the "Tuck Rule" call against the Raiders, is now working the World Cup.

If I can I'll post the commentator making the call in a British-like brogue stating "That Was Robbery!"

The good news is that the favored USA staved off what appeared to be a Slovenia upset to possibly avoid a next round elimination. Great Fifa Word Cup Competition!



Final Score
Slovenia 2
USA 2

Frank Forgot!

A fugitive who managed to avoid authorities for 40 years has been caught and is back behind bars thanks to the diligent work of a relative of the victim.

Clem Pellett, who's grandfather Clarence Pellett was shot six times in the back by Frank Dryman in 1951, spent a year tracking down the killer of his grandfather. Clem, whose family never talked about the murder because of lingering pain, says he was driven by an intense curiosity.

Frank Dryman has lived 40 years as honored citizen Victor Houston. He is now 79 years old and will most likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. Though the articles comments are mixed as to whether Frank should be kept in jail or released, most expressed their good'ol "Eye-For-An-Eye" philosophy in saying Frank should die in jail.

I felt compelled to write something in defense of Frank, hoping to awaken some compassion in the commentors. But after much thought about this changed senior citizen, and re-reading the article (Fugitive hid 40 years in plain sight) it was I who was awakened to the fact that our honored senior might not be deserving of compassion.

Here's my Comment:

I tried to think of reasons why the law and the victim's family should forgive and exonerate Frank Dryman and show compassion for this changed elderly man. Then something that Frank repeated throughout his interview hit me. Frank "Forgot."

"Frank Forgot he was a wanted man."
"Frank Forgot he was a parole violator."
"Frank even Forgot about hiding."

All these confessions of Frank's forgetfulness made me wonder if Frank had any remorse or compassion for the life he'd taken with six shots in the back when he was young and wild. Further along in the interview Frank's words confirmed what I suspected:

"Only since I have been back here did I start to think about it," said Dryman. "To be honest, I didn't even remember the victim's name."

Frank had forgotten his victim and his crime. He had lived freely in complete denial of the young and wild Frank Dryman while his victim's family lived with a scar too painful to glance at. If not rehabilitate, prison should at best remind criminals of the wrong they perpetrated that landed them behind bars.

Frank may be a changed man from his young and wild self, but it damn sure wasn't a compassionate heart or a guilty conscience that brought about the change. Frank Forgot or never learned the most important part about human growth and spiritual change; acceptance of who we are in all our imperfections.

Frank Forgot to Pray for himself and those he caused harm. He was too busy living as Victor Houston to ask God's or anyone's forgiveness for Frank Dryman/Frank Valentine.

Frank Finally Remembers!

Slap Attack!

Raiders Add Another Defensive Piece

John Henderson was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars in April. Henderson made the Pro Bowl twice as a Jaguar.

Word is that the Oakland Raiders have added a 6-foot-7, 335 pound piece to their revamped defense. Big John Henderson, 2-time pro bowl defensive tackle with the Jackson Jaguars, is said to have signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders.

Henderson started in 120 of 124 appearances with the Jaguars, proof that he knows how to stay healthy and on the field in today's injury-plagued game. His unusual ritual of having a "puny little trainer" slap him across the face before games is cool with the Oaktown defense. Whatever gets your motor running Big John, just win baby.

The Jags tried trading Henderson to Oakland for a 4th round draft pick, but the Raiders offered only a fifth round pick which Jacksonville turned down. At 31 years old, its said that Big John still has a lot left in the tank. Now with a big chip on his shoulder to prove his worth, Big John is exactly the piece the Raiders defense needs, an experienced run-stopper with a face-slapping mean attitude.

Welcome to the Silver & Black Big John Henderson. Don't worry about the pre-game slapping ritual, we got "Smacks-For-Days" here in Oaktown!

Its Official! = Blackhawks Are Champions!

Chicago Blackhawks celebrate after they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime to win Game 6 of the NHL hockeyStanley Cup finals Wednesday, June 9, 2010, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

It ends the longest active championship drought in the NHL

Congratulations Chicago Blackhawks

NHL 2010 Champions

Final OT

Chicago won 4-2 (Game 6 of 6)

Game 6: Wednesday, June 9th
Blackhawks	4	Final OT
Flyers	3
Recap »Boxscore »

Chicago Blackhawks Take NHL Stanley Cup

The Chicago Blackhawks "Road to the Cup" was a twenty-two game battle through four Cup-hungry opponents;

Predators-----Canucks-----Sharks-----Flyers

Although I rooted against the Blackhawks through two of the four series (Sharks, Flyers) I definitely tip my hat to them tonight as they wrap up ........................

Oh Shucks! My Bad. I didn't realize there's still over 12 minutes of championship hockey left in the third and final period with the Blackhawks up 3-2. I was way too busy sulking in the San Francisco Giants loss to the Cincinnati Reds 6-3. Buster Posey did get his first major league home run.

I could've sworn I saw a Blackhawk player lifting the Stanley Cup over his head as I switched briefly to the game. Did they have color television in 1961, the last time Chicago won it all?

Apologies Hockey Fans!

The good news is that my Philadelphia Flyers, down 3 game to 2, still have a ghost of a chance to extend the series to a game 7.

Go Flyers!

Stephen Strasburg Inauguration Day In D.C.

Washington Nationals' new darling pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, showcased his phenom talents in today's debut major league game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Strasburg, the 2009 #1 draft pick, struck out 14, gave up only 2 runs and walked zero in pitching a full game that took 2 hours and 19 minutes.

His fastballs reached 100 mph and his curves were nasty. The Nationals now have an east coast version of "The Freak" and I can't wait to see Lincecum and Strasburg battle one another.

Final Score
Pirates 2
Nationals 5

Shame On Israel

I could see attacking a shipment of weapons of mass destruction, but a ship loaded with aid for the poor in occupied Palestine? In International Waters?

Come'On Man!

Joy In Pictures

Spring is truly a time of year that reflects God and his/her creation.

One look at the natural blossoming of anything during springtime gives us a glimpse of what the great creator must of had in mind.

Life Is Beautiful!

Almost Perfect!

On a day in sports where Ken Griffey, Jr. announces his retirement from baseball after 22 seasons, the talk is all about 22-year veteran umpire Jim Joyce.

So what feat did Mr. J achieve to put his unrecognizable name atop headline sports news? He simply made a human mistake; a big one.

His mistake cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfectly pitched game and a footnote in the history of Major League Baseball.

• Armando Galarraga of the Tigers lost his bid for a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning on a call that first base umpire Jim Joyce later admitted he blew. First baseman Miguel Cabrera cleanly fielded Jason Donald's grounder to his right and made an accurate throw to Galarraga covering the bag. The ball was there in time but Joyce signaled the runner safe.

You can imagine how all the baseball enthusiasts who've been screaming for "instant replay" are using this unfortunate incident as a springboard for their cause. It appears that MLB is looking into a review of the play and may reverse the call.

In the meantime, umpire Jim Joyce should not be made a "whipping boy" for blowing the call. He's admitted his error and has more than apologized to Galarraga and fans. It is Major League Baseball who find themselves on trial today for not implementing a rule or review that would correct the human errors made in the game. Court is in session!

ARIZONA STATE MOTTO: DITAT DEUS

A Reminder to Arizona Lawmakers

Remember, remember always, that all of us... are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

What, then, is this new man, the American? They are a mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans, and Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race, now called Americans, have arisen.
- J. Hector St. John de Crevecouer

In times of shrinking expectations,... everyone feels like a victim and pushes away outsiders to defend his own corner.
- Oscar Handlin

Remember that when you say "I will have non of this exile and this stranger for his face is not like my face and his speech is strange," you have denied America with that word.
- Stephen Vincent Benet

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
- Emma Lazarus

Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.
- John F. Kennedy


In response to Arizona's "Enactment" of State Bill 1070.

A little reminder to Arizona Senator (R) Russell Pierce, Governor Jan Brewer and the peoples of the State of Arizona.

DITAT DEUS (Latin: "God Enriches")

Attaboy Clarence! Receiver Earns Angel Wings

NFL Player Chad Ochocinco Johnson and Ruben St. Hilaire on stage during the Children Mending Hearts 3rd Annual "Peace Please" Gala held at The Music Box at the Fonda Hollywood on April 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America)

You've gotta give it to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson for his making a dream come true for nine-year old Ruben St. Hilaire, Jr. of New York City.

This is what the term "Role Model" was meant to be when applied to a sports figure. Chad performed his role admirably at the third annual gala fundraiser for the Children Mending Hearts organization in Hollywood, California.

Ruben, recipient of Chad's angelic role playing, reminded us all that children still dream of heroes and are hoping to grow-up to be heroes themselves someday.

Rueben's letter of thanks to Chad is truly a certificate of achievement for sports. Chad and the NFL nudged a child closer toward a dream and and a continued belief that good people and organizations still exist here in the United States of America.


Ruben and Chad's Story:

Nine-year-old Ruben St. Hilaire, Jr, who lives with his mother in a homeless shelter in New York City, received an autographed jersey from Ochocinco after sending a letter. He then sent a second letter that would have melted the heart of the hardest individual.

Mr. Johnson, you really make me happy. One of my goals in my future life is to be just like you when I grow up. I wonder who was your role model when you were little? I have three role model(s) in my life that's my mom, Mr. President Barack Obama and my favorite football player Mr. Chad Johnson. To me you are the best football player in the NFL. May God bless you and your family happy holidays.

Ruben's dream was to go to a football camp, and that particular prize was donated by Deion Sanders. Presenting the certificate for camp attendance, unbeknownst to Ruben, would be the very same Mr. Ochocinco. Ruben's hero was introduced after the young boy read his letter. Bonus — it was Ruben's birthday! Rich Eisen of the NFL Network set the scene at the podium, and what followed was a pretty great moment.

The Devil's Excrement

A famous Venezuelan, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonso, referred to oil as "the devil's excrement." Today we Americans, guilty of greed and corruption, feel the devil's excrement running all down our legs and filling up our shoes.

The largest oil spill in U.S. history, which is filling up the Gulf Coast like a shoe-load of shit, is teaching our country a very valuable lesson. If nothing else we should learn that regulation in businesses that potentially pose disastrous threats to our country, whether it be economic, ecologic, medically or militarily, must be monitored and held accountable by our government.

Anyone found taking bribes or giving preferential treatment to assist a corporation in bypassing set regulations should be heavily penalized and jailed for treason against the U.S..

The threat to our country from this latest disaster will hopefully wake us up to the realities of the cost of doing business with corporations that put profit over protection of people and environment. Countries in South America such as Ecuador, Venezuela and Columbia know the fatal cost of "dancing with the devil" in having corporations drill for oil in their backyards. Some of those greedy corporations drilling without conscience in South America call these liberty-filled shores of North America their home.

So maybe this Gulf oil spill is just another recent example of the "Chickens Coming Home To Roost."

What I find so hard to believe is that our country would allow foreigners and/or multi-national corporations to perform potentially disastrous operations on our soil without us having a back-up plan should things go wrong and the foreigner find themselves incompetent to right the wrong. Talk about being at the mercy of an outsider.

Here's a quote from a newspaper editorial that raised my eyebrow:

Americans should be shocked by all of this. And then they should pressure Congress to do something about it. The government's startling helplessness in the face of unprecedented disaster is the direct result of our decades of deregulation. We can't take over responsibility for this spill from BP because we have allowed the company to own all the technology that's responsible for it.

Yes my fellow citizens, when our government is left "helpless" to resolve a problem on our own shores, something is terribly broken in our way of governing our country. And if we don't fix it soon the world will stand by and watch the scavenging hyenas and vultures picking over the stripped carcass of this once great nation that was America.

A skeleton of a dog lies next to an oil pump in the Susha oil fields in the Sucumbios region of Ecuador. Many animal have died do to the pollution of the water from the oil. Picture taken Saturday, October 25, 2003.

Until now, few people outside of South America have never heard of Lago Agrio, a crime-ridden oil boomtown in Ecuador's Amazon rain forest, near the Colombia border. A trial began that's pits California-base ChevronTexaco against 30,000 rain forest residents who allege that from 1971 to 1992 a subsidiary of Texaco dumped massive amounts of oily wastes in the region. Those wastes, they claim caused illnesses ranging from skin rashes to cancer and contributed to the destruction of land inhabited by indigenous cultures. It is a drama that some say has the potential to recalibrate how major corporations do business throughout the region and world.

Nothing Like A Tailgate!

If you've ever tried doing barbecue at a tailgate and found yourself chewing leathery meat then you need to checkout AmazingRibs.com.


AmazingRibs is a site for meat lover's who want to know the where, what and how's of Barbecuing. One look at the delicious meats dripping with barbecue sauce is enough to make you wanna..............Smack Yo Momma!

Barbecue has to be one of the few foods that satisfies the animal appetite as much as sex. Give a man a juicy baby back rib soaked in barbecue sauce and after devouring it he'll want a cigarette and a nap.

Some sauces are known to come with warnings about its spiciness and suggest wearing protection to avoid the messiness. Nothing like a wet, greasy session of doing battle with a rack of ribs.

Barbecue Ribs are Sexy & Seductive!

Bruce Almighty Is Still My Guy

Check out this Raiders 2009 clip highlighting the homecoming game of QB Bruce Gradkowski in Pittsburgh. The clip includes a segment of Bruce getting game tips from his mom, Debbie Gradkowski, on speakerphone while driving in his car.

The game, a 27-24 win over the Steelers, is one of those Raiders victories that gives us Silver & Black fans goosebumps. It was a glorious win!

I never get tired of watching that game and I still believe that Bruce Almighty is a modern version of Stabler 2.0. Year 2010 will be something special to watch in Raider Nation.

Watch on Emmy Award Winning Raiders TV.

Poem by James McNutt

A wise incident during a trialing time in life brought this book of poems to me many years ago.

I post the one poem that "spoke to me" here for two reasons; to keep it close as a reminder of my journeys and to share with other travelers along the road.

A Man


Once I met a man,
Traveling down the road,
He asked me for a hand
to remove his heavy load.

It was quite a weight
He carried in that sack,
It was he said hate
He had upon his back.

Why I questioned
Did he travel alone?
"No one will be my friend
And I have no home."

Hate is an odd thing to carry
For a frail old man,
It seems to make you weary
And blisters your hands.

"Young Man, I carry these belongings
So I won't forget,
The places I've been traveling
And faces I have met.

They give me gladly
All the hate they can,
And I take it sadly
For now I can barely stand.

Young Man, travel with me
For just a little while,
The end is close you see
Just a few more miles.

When it comes to pass
And I lay quite still,
Bury me as I ask
High upon a hill.

Don't open that evil sack
And let the hatred free,
Place it on my back
And bury it with me."

Book Title: "Along The Way"
Author: James McNutt
1972

Coach Cable Speaks on KNBR

Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable gave a loud and proud interview on KNBR's Mac&Murph show.



I still say the local radio stations treat 49er interviewees like saints and Raiders like sinners, its just an accepted fact. It probably has to do more with Al Davis and the secrecy of Raiders on-goings than with hating the Silver & Black. Al feels they can all kiss his Ass.

The interviewer this time got stuck on stupid with his ongoing questions about Jamarcus Russell. Then when coach cable swiped at his persistent Jamarcus questions, suggesting they talk about something else, the wussy tried to hide behind us fans by saying "Raiders fans want to know."

Cable should've pasted him across the lip with a "Dirty Sanchez" then and there.

Listen to Coach Cable on KNBR

Well Mac & Murph let me skool you on Raiders fans; We, like coach cable, are thrilled to be moving on and burying the Jamarcus Russell era. We don't need to hear radio interviewers drill our coach with past, present and future Jamarcus stuff. If you can't respect our coaches wishes at least respect the wishes of Raiders fans and KNBR listeners. Let it Go!!!

Good Job Coach Cable. Good Job!

WR Terrell Owens Still On Free Agent Market

I LIKE ME SOME ME!

That was then, when wide receiver Terrell Owens was a young and brash NFL weapon. In 2010 T.O is past his prime and has toned down his "ME" image. So can he help the Raiders offense this coming season? I believe he can. However, the contract that brings T.O. to Oakland should be packed with performance incentives as well as suspension penalties for conduct detrimental to the team.

I like that in T.O's 14-year career he's been durable and productive on the field. He brings experience and know-how to the Raiders young receiving corps. People ask what'll happen when T.O. doesn't get the ball as much as he likes? Well, winning shuts the mouth of many a ball hog. Sure he's probably lost a step, but experience can make-up for physical attributes in competitive sports.

I want to say the pros outweigh the cons in bringing T.O. to the Raiders. I'm craving to believe that an older, more mature T.O. can handle his business like a professional on and off the field. I pray I'm right, because if Al Davis wants to win as bad as his draft day acquisitions indicate, then its only a matter of time before talks begin with T.O..

I vote Yea in welcoming T.O. to the Raider Nation. The Coliseum might even sell out a few more home games just on the T.O. factor. He, unlike Randy Moss, plays hurt and plays every down. The Oakland Raiders with Owens would definitely make some noise in the NFL. A noise that comes with winning.

Sermon Over.
Let Us Pray!

French Make Gory Horror Movies

I'd heard about this horror movie from one reviewing fan who suggested it was better than "The Collector." When I first read the fan review I thought he had to be joking, something made in France that was better horror than the suspenseful Collector, who ingeniously trapped his victims in a booby-trapped house before killing or "collecting" them? No way.

But then I rented the movie "Inside" and all I can say to that reviewer now is "Oui Oui Monsieur!"

The French are fast becoming in horror film making what the Japanese are known for today in automaking; innovative leaders in their field. And their doing it with budgets that appear to be less than generous.

Simply put, the movie "Inside" hit a fear nerve in me that few movies of late have even come close to. This movie is not a scary movie in the sense of "Scary Movie" Hollywood. This movie...............THIS MOVIE grabs you with its G-O-R-Y intentions and G-R-I-S-S-L-Y assaults.

Unlike the movie "The Collector" where part of the thrilling-suspense was the killer's unknown identity and reason for killing, in "Inside" you are made well aware of who's doing the killing and what they're after. Its the "what they're after" part that makes a grown man like myself jump off the couch and crumble to the floor while watching this movie.

What the movie lacks in cinematography and acting quality it definitely makes up for in raw, in your face horror. The horror becomes even more horrific when you think that the psychotic needs that drive the killer are taken right out of today's news headlines in the real world.

Be warned though, this movie is not for any and everybody. "Inside" should definitely come with a Surgeon General's warning printed on the DVD cartridge. But for us already deranged horror movie lover's, its a movie feast we don't wanna miss.

Bon Appetite!

note: be sure your copy has english audio. sub-titled horror is a no, no.

Other French Made Horror: High Tension

SHARK TERRITORY!

The San Jose Sharks are one series away from advancing and playing for the NHL Stanley Cup. They'll face the Chicago Blackhawks this coming Sunday in game 1 of the Western Conference Finals to be held at HP Pavilion (The Shark Tank) in San Jose, Ca..

I've not been much of a hockey fan in the past. I've attended two games of the Stockton Thunder, an Edmonton Oilers AA minor-league affiliate, in two seasons. The up-close action was awesome. From those two experiences I'm hooked on watching Hockey Live.

So as I type this blog I'm also browsing Craigslist for a ticket to this Sunday's game. Tickets for game 1 are averaging about $225-250 a seat, whew boy! Oh hell, its the playoffs.

Go Sharks!

sidenote: The Philadelphia Flyers have tied up their semi-final series against the Boston Bruins and will play the deciding game 7 Friday in Boston.

I happen to own an orange Flyers cap that I wear to SF Giants games sometimes. Go Giants! I'm putting a blog curse on the Bruins in hopes that the Flyers defeat the Bruins in game seven.

So if you see a Hockey fan walking around with a Flyers cap on his head and wearing a Sharks Jersey please don't taunt. Understand that you can wear another team's gear in support of their upcoming battle against a team you despise. And I have a cold disliking for sports teams from Boston and Los Angeles. Yep, a COLD disliking! As cold as the 'snow-job' my Raiders got in the 2001-02 playoff game against the New England Patriots there at Foxboro.

IT WAS A FUMBLE!

But that's another story for another time. GO FLYERS!

Better Homes?

No, this elegant picture is not a photo from Better Homes magazine. And its not the abode of the late great pianist Liberace either. No,no. This little piece of heaven overlooking a pond with several estate bridges and selling at $2.5 million with the baby grand thrown in for good measure, is the former home of NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.

The home, located in Moorestown, N.J., an affluent Philadelphia suburb, is one of the many things that McNabb is leaving behind in Philly as he begins anew as quarterback for the Washington Redskins.

If fate has its way this mansion could become the property of former Raiders quarterback Jamarcus Russell. You know how the NFL just loves a good game of musical chairs when it comes to trades and acquisitions. Well, now that the Raiders have former Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell and with McNabb a Redskin, it stands to reason that the Philadelphia Eagles will pick up Jamarcus at a bargain basement price.

There's is one thing that Jamarcus should know about the house. The kitchen cabinets do not come fully stocked with Campbell's Chunky Soup. Though Campbell's would welcome the overweight Jamarcus as a chunky sports figure hawking their product,

Donovan and his mom, Wilma McNabb, aren't ready to deboard from that gravy train just yet.

Lena Horne Passes Away

Ask any elderly African-American male their most dreamed about female entertainer of the old days and you'll hear one resounding name; Lena Horne.

Lena Horne was a most talented entertainer, but it was her unmatched beauty and elegance that mesmerized men worldwide. She had a polished smile that glistened white, eyes that sparkled like pearls inlaid in onyx, flawless skin that looked and smelled of butterscotch and a sleekly sumptuous body that put a lump in your throat. She was a cross between an angel and a Greek siren who beckoned the male species to 'come hither' and drown in her delicious treats.


I, a child of the 70's, was first introduced to Lena while watching a skit from the sitcom "Sanford & Son," featuring comedian Redd Foxx. Lena was older then but her beauty was still so apparent. In the sitcom, Fred, played by Foxx, and his side-kick Grady were known for reminiscing about the beauty of Lena. So when Fred stumbles across the chance of a lifetime to get a peek at Lena, he comically takes the plunge.


Sanford and Son: A Visit From Lena Horne



Lena Mary Calhoun Horne
(June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)

Lena Horne, an acclaimed entertainer and civil rights activist Born in Brooklyn, New York, Horne spent part of her childhood in both Fort Valley and Atlanta before beginning her career in New York at the age of sixteen. In 1984 she received the Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievement in the performing arts.

Goodbye Jamarcus Podcast Party

Click On RaiderNationPodcast for the "Goodbye Jamarcus" Jamboree!

I swear I haven't heard this much happiness from a nation over change in leadership since Barack Obama replaced George W. Bush as President of the United States.

"Change We Can Believe In!"

ERA OF FUTILITY OVER IN OAKTOWN!

Long Overdue Surgical Procedure Successful!

290 lb. Tumor Removed

Annual Healthcare Costs:

2007: $2.976M
2008: $20.27M
2009: $13.105M
2010: $3M*

2010 Savings: $6.45M


Jamarcus Signs With New Team


Doctors reported that once the malignant tumor was extracted from the team it simply crawled off the operating tray, slithered into its team bought mink stole and headed for Oakland International Airport. A recurrence of the illness is unlikely.

Only In Philly!

Yesterday a Philadelphia Phillies fan ran out onto the field during play and was "Tasered" by security. It is said the 17-year old victim called his dad to tell him of his hair brained scheme to storm the field. The quotes I've heard of the dad's advice to his son weren't very fatherly. In fact, it didn't sound as if the father was completely against his son doing the deed.

Maybe the Dad figured his son could learn a lesson from being tased better than any he could give his bonehead son. In either event, the tasing was brutally effective and the bonehead made the news, first running, then flopping, and finally being escorted off the playing field.

Lucky for bonehead the security guard who did the tasing wasn't Johannes Mehserle, the Oakland,Ca. Bart police officer who claims he mistakenly pulled out his revolver instead of his taser and shot unarmed victim Oscar Grant in the back while in custody. Mr. Grant is "Dead."

Mayweather OutBoxes Mosley

The Boxing event of the year turned out to be little more than a good sparring match. Floyd Mayweather dominated ten of the twelve rounds and came away with a convincing unanimous decision over Sugar Shane Mosley.

The fight wasn't a complete waste of of time. In the first two rounds Sugar Shane fought on all cylinders displaying quickness and power that gave appearances of overtaking Mayweather. With a solid punch in the second round Sugar Shane rocked Mayweather as the Pretty Boy's legs slightly buckled on impact. That punch and round was the end of the feeling out phase along with any chance of a Mosley win.

From the third round on it was all Floyd Mayweather with Mosley giving a few sparks of courage but no real offensive threat at all. If anything you were left wondering why Mayweather didn't finish off Mosley after the third round.

Seeing Mosley sitting on his stool between rounds told the story of the night; Shane got the Sugar beaten out of him by a younger, faster and possibly stronger fighter. Maybe Shane was tight, maybe as he stated in the post-fight interview that he mistakenly got caught up in looking for a knockout punch after rocking Floyd in the second round. Or maybe the fix was in and we got exactly what Mugsey and the boys cooked up for us.

Out of all the possibilities behind the ineffectiveness of Shane Mosley after the second round last night, only one can wear the hat of truth. The truth is that Floyd Mayweather out boxed Shane Mosley and showed he's one of today's best fighters. Mayweather didn't dance and run like many, myself included, thought he would. Floyd "Money" Mayweather is a Champion Fighter.