Hear A Tiger Roar: C-L-E-M-S-O-N

The 2013 NCAA Football Season will bring to an end the Bowl Championship Series, to be replaced by a College Football Playoff.  As of this week the Clemson Tigers are ranked #3 on two of the three top college football polls.  It just might be the year for that long awaited second Tigers championship.  

The team and their fans are feelin it.  Tradition  has them primed and ready as they run down "The Hill," rub "The Rock," and do battle on the "Death Valley" gridiron to show their one of the best and/or thee best college football team in the nation.  Time will tell as these "Fighting Tigers" roar through a challenging season with glaring eyes focused on prey & prize; a championship.

GO CLEMSON!

Raiders Apply Rule #2 - Double Tap

Rule #2 of Zombieland – Double Tap.

You think it’s dead (technically it was before you shot it), one more makes 100% sure.

Last night's Oakland Raiders game was truly a thing of beauty, watching the underdog silver & black put together a complete game against rival San Diego with its so called high-powered offense.  In an unusual 8:35pm Sunday night showdown at the Coliseum, thanks to the Oakland A's postseason play, the two teams met to decide which would go chasing after the AFC West division leaders and which would take a seat in the division cellar.

It would turn out that the (2-3) Oakland Raiders, led by electrifying QB Terrelle Pryor, are the better team and deserving of going after the two (5-0) division leaders.  The Raiders jumped on the Chargers early in all phases of the game.  In the second half they let up a bit, allowing Chargers QB Phillip Rivers to infuse his team with new life that was enough to bring back thoughts of last week's Redskins comeback against the Raiders.

But the Raiders would not allow themselves to be bitten again by an opponent who they'd subdued early.  This week's second half would find the Raiders applying Zombieland's Rule #2 as they caused fumbles, intercepted passes, converted key first downs and continued to put points on the board to ensure that the crusty, stinking corpse did not recharge.  The double tap never fails. Just follow the rules baby!

  Final Score

Chargers 17

Raiders 27

note: Josh Freeman signs with the Minnesota Vikings

Intervention Works - Combat Alcohol & Drug Addiction With Love

I awoke to a short piece on BBC radio about former first lady Betty Ford's battle with prescription drug and alcohol addiction. The show, titled "Witness" gives a quick rundown on what it took for the first lady to eventually seek help for her crisis. The method that seemed to reach her best and convince her to go outside for help and treatment was family intervention.

I myself have been involved with one intervention of a loved one.  As with the first lady's intervention, we the loved ones began and ended everything said to our victim of addiction with the words "I Love You."  For those who are choosing the intervention method of reaching out to someone in need, it is essential that the one you are trying to help knows and feels they are loved.  

Amazing that first lady Betty Ford would not only win her battle but also co-found the residential chemical dependency recovery hospital named after her (BettyFordCenter.)

Imagine the courage it must've taken for this woman, a first lady married to a non-elected President who'd taken over after one of the worse scandal's in Presidential history (Watergate), to come out of the closet and seek treatment in public?  

For those unsure soul's out there suffering alone and fearful of what their job, family, friends or strangers will think when they let the cat out of the bag to seek outside treatment for drugs and/or alcohol, I point you to this courageous first lady and all that she had riding on the line.  

For Betty Ford it wasn't about position, gossip or doing the politically correct or incorrect thing at the time; it was about reclaiming a healthy life and being able to return the love of family and friends. It was a courageous act by a person under a magnifying glass who probably felt small, scared and anything but courageous.

First Lady Betty Ford, I Salute You!

Ticket Scam Advisory - A's Fans Beware

I came across this post on craigslist.  If it can save one poor soul from being scammed, then its worth the repost. Good Luck!

 

A's fans be advised: Hard tickets purchased for cash are NOT safe - $2 (So know who you are buying from or ..)

get them electronically. All Athletics tickets can be sent by ticket-relay by anyone. Once that is done the hard tickets are dead. Just as if they had been used for entrance. So unless you are buying from someone you know or a ticket-broker, be careful. When I do, I always enter the ticket codes into my relay account to validate them. This will just tell you whether the ticket is still good. It will not protect you from someone entering the ticket codes into ticket-relay and relaying to tickets to someone else. Again if they do that, your tickets will be dead. So to really protect yourself have the seller relay the tickets to you. This generates a new bar code and only you will have it.

I guarantee this post will be flagged and deleted quickly by all the crooks and scammers out there. That is because they do not want the truth to get out. If you read this post check back later to see if is still here. I will try to re-post it when I can.

The $2 refers the small charge they used to charge for ticket-relay. Now they do not charge. Since anyone can do ticket-relay there is now no reason not to.

Many of you have seen this same post regarding Giants tickets. Since the Oakland Athletics are in the playoffs, their tickets will the focus of the scammers. Same principal here. They will sell the hard tickets that have already been transferred. So they are dead and there is nothing you can do about it. Like the Giants, the A's will say they are sorry for your loss but not replace the tickets. If you had paid by Paypal at least you would get your money back. Make sure you get acknowledgement from Ticket Services that you had the tickets. They will not give them back to you.

 

 

Have any of you ever heard of Giants Ticket relay? It allows a ticket holder/person to code into the site the ticket serial numbers and then email or "relay" the tickets to somebody else. But, guess what happens to the hardcopy ticket that was just relayed? It gets resold as a hardcopy ticket. Now there are two tickets. If one ticket beeps through the turnstile then the other one becomes invalid because the first person is already in the park......get it?

Oakland A'S Playoff Baseball

The Oakland Athletics, AL Wesr champions, will be taking on the Detroit Tigers in a MLB Divisional Series that begins Friday in Oakland.  I could easily find myself camping out at the coliseum this weekend in between A's and Raiders games.

The NFL has pushed Sunday's game between the Chargers and Raiders back, back, back, back, back to 8:30pm pst in order to give the coliseum crew time to convert the place from a baseball venue to football venue.  the coliseum is the last remaining two sport stadium in professional football. 

So get ready Raiders Fans for a Sunday Night showdown that could run into Monday morning.  I'll be there and i'm sure the silver & black faithful will throw caution to the wind when it comes to choosing between work monday morning or Raiders sunday night.  

And A's fans, its payback time for a Tigers team that ended your post-season dreams last fall. get to the coliseum early and stay late, because the green & gold are gonna put on a show that'll have The place rocking and warmed up for the Raiders closing act sunday night.

Does it get any better than this for sports fans? Don't pinch me, I wanna bask in this dream a while longer.

If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here

Dear Fans,

Sunday night football under the lights in Oakland.

We would like to inform you of a scheduling change for the Raiders vs. Chargers game.

Due to MLB’s Playoff scheduling, kickoff time for the Raiders vs. Chargers game will be moved to Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 8:35 p.m. 

Important Information:

•  Your tickets and parking passes (if applicable) will remain valid for this game;
•  Parking lot gates open at 3:00 p.m.;
•  Raiderville will open at 3:30 p.m.;
•  Club and Suite stadium gates open at 5:00 p.m.; and
•  Reserved seating stadium gates open at 6:00 p.m.

For more information please visit www.Raiders.com/Gameday. 

Go Raiders!

Missing A Spare - Raiders Find Themselves Stranded

Once in my youth, with my newly purchased used Dodge Dart car, I took a road trip that today I would call foolish and destined to fail. I'd just bought the Dart, a 1968 rust-bucket with a dependable slant-6 engine, and couldn't wait to hit the road.  

The car wasn't much to look at, but it always started up regardless of weather or wear. The problem with it from the get go though was while the engine was un-killable, the rest of it had seen its best days and was heading to hell in a handbasket piece by piece.

But telling that to a teenager with his first set of wheels is like raining on his adventurous parade. He'll listen for a minute, then decide rain would make it that much more a challenge. He feels indestructible.

Well you've heard the horror story before.  A four hour adventure turned into a ten hour tour of every mishap imaginable. From lost muffler and overheated radiator to broken windshield wipers and bald tires blowing out. But the kicker was opening up the trunk (for the first time ever) and finding not only that there was no jack or crowbar, but there was No Spare Tire. 

At that moment, in the middle of hicksville with nothing but acres of cornfields and barns sparsely spread out, me and my boy realized we simply hadn't prepared properly for the journey. Reality set in and it was then that we heard echoes of the voices of older and wiser souls who tried desperately to warn us of the bumpy road that lay ahead of us.  

We  came close to kneeling down on the side of that country road and praying for mercy and forgiveness. But the optimism of youth does not bow so quickly, be it a higher being or proven master. Youth cannot accept the steering wheel of life being taken out of their clutches so quickly or easily.

So a desperate decision was made to salvage our broken down dreams of adventure. With A hopping jaunt through corn stalks that blocked out the sun, we found ourselves at the doorstep of a farming family who sounded as if they rescue foolish city boys full of adventure all the time.  Farmer John took us under his wing, got us to someone's place who had all that we would need and left me with advice too wise for my young mind to fully appreciate at the time; travel with a toolbox and always with a spare. And more than anything, prepare for a journey as best you can.

Today my Oakland Raiders reminded me of that had-earned lesson of long ago.  We all knew the team to be fragile; from RB Darren McFadden's durability to young starting QB Terelle Pryor's inexperience. From the patched up offensive line to the suspect defensive secondary. From a young unproven coach to questionable offensive game planning.  Simply put, the Oakland Raiders 2013 are a football team that looks new on the surface, but has a lot of life lessons to learn when it comes to taking a serious journey along the road to the super bowl. They're high on enthusiasm and low on working parts. 

Could it be they just couldn't afford the tools necessary to tune-up a vehicle and make it purr along the football freeway?  Whatever happened to Next-Man-Up?  The Raiders looked as flat as a busted bald tire on a used car with No spare.  I only hope that from top to bottom the team man-up and take full responsibility for the dilemma they found themselves in today.

Today's loss to the Washington Redskins showed the Raiders to be Inept, Injury Prone and Ineffective.  It was a frustrating day of questionable coaching, play calling and player execution. I'm feeling totally lost at sea.  And the season my Nation, is only a quarter of the way through.  Jeez Louise!  What Next, Lane Kiffin Returns to Oaktown? Spare Us! 

Final Score
Washington 24
Oakland 14

America's Cup Bought And Paid For? - Say It Ain't So!

 ”Your Majesty, there is no second,”

Sorry folks but I gotta call this one like I see it.  The 34th America's Cup boat racing event held right here in my neighborhood sure has the smell of a stinking old Black Sox, if you get my drift.  

All the ingredients for a fix were shipped into San Francisco bay a few months back; expensive boats, rich tradition, foreign investment and one stubborn bay area billionaire.  Most will call it a great, stunning comeback, but to me it looks like an offer was made that someone couldn't refuse. And if they wanna know why the crowds didn't turn out as projected for this mega-marketed event, the secret is in the sauce.

Down 8pts to 1 a week ago, the american team won the damn event over the streaking New Zealand Emirates team 9pts to 8 today. Is this the new era of moneyball or did team america really have what it takes for such an unprecedented comeback?

So someone tell me how a hot NZ team all of a sudden turns into Gilligan and can't find the freakin finish line?  Where the heck was the Skipper?  I can understand a billionaire making the offer and showing the money, easy come easy go, but I can't fathom the Zealanders taking the money and throwing away the win. Come'on Man!

Maybe it was one of those things where all parties involved believed a dramatic, drawn-out, made for hollywood comeback would put the sporting event on the map and bring in more fans and moolah the next go round.  The Zealanders might of simply took one for the America's Cup teams.

I may not know boat racing and all it entails to win an event like the A-Cup, but I sure have a sensitive nose when it comes to sporting event smells and champions. And no disrespect to the hard working boating crews but I Smell A Rat crawling out of the SF Bay. And It Stinks!

Billionaire's Winning Comments:  
"We're competing with other sports to get kids attention. We've got to make our sport exciting and we've got to modernize it. ... It can't be unchanged since 1851."

Classic Rivalry? Please, Enough With The MNF Raiders Games

Raiders MNF Underdog Role

Silver & Black will put Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos to the Test!

Good Outweighs Bad in Raiders Season Opener

Maybe I should go out and buy an "I Survived A Week #1 Raiders Game."  The Oakland Raiders proved the analysts wrong this first Sunday of the season.  They may not have  won the game, but they sure showed the league that they're not a pushover.  Barring a few costly mistakes, the Raiders had the hometown Indianapolis Colts on the ropes and wobbling in the final minutes of a well fought battle.

Thanks to a mobile quarterback, creative play calling, ball control offense and a stellar defense when it mattered most, the Raiders begin the season as a team that opponents must seriously game plan for.  I see them as only getting better the more they play together.  Today was the first time all eleven defensive starters were on the field at the same time and they had four sacks and limited the Colts rushing game to 127yds, not bad. 

The Colts with QB Andrew Luck at the offensive helm, are being projected as an AFC contender for the crown this season. They were a surprise playoff participant last season, Luck's first as a replacement for the Denver bound future hall of famer Peyton 'seven touchdowns a game' Manning.

Luck is definitely a quality quarterback, young and tough. But what I saw of Terrelle Pryor today made me smile with renewed hope and promise that our Raiders football team is on track in their return to greatness.  Porter's good outweighed his bad, two interceptions and a untimely sack.  You could say he lost us the game, but you could also say we wouldn't have been in it without his performance.  I'd like to chew on the latter.

Next week the Raiders will host the Jacksonville Jaguars, another team that analysts have put at the bottom of the NFL barrel.  For as good as the Raiders played today, they cannot believe what media say about the Jags and take them lightly.  More to the point, they cannot rest on today's accomplishments and start believing they've arrived, not just yet.  Win something first, then we can begin believing in greatness.  As for now, there's more hope than gloom.


Win, Lose or Tie!

NFL Game Summary

Raiders 2013 - Ready for Combat

Its the opening weekend of NFL 2013 and Yes, I feel like most Raiders fans, we got a shot to shock and awe this season.  The cards are not in our favor, but since when have they ever been?  We have a young and hungry team who are starting new without a losing taste in their mouth from previous seasons. 

Yes Raiders fans and Raider Haters, the baby is out of the oven. Its time to take the field and show mamma the man child you are.  Win, Lose or Tie, the 2013 season is gonna be one where only the strong survive.  Stay healthy, attack and get the job done Raiders!

Just Win Baby!

New Bridge Span Opens - U GO 1st!

Its Labor Day 2013 and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has a new eastern span set to open tonight, a day ahead of the delayed schedule date. As of 5pm the time for the bridge opening, ceremony and all, has not been announced.

I suppose us who'll use the bridge should be excited and elated about its opening. But after seeing costs run rampant, materials and design flaws exposed and threatened lawsuits, I'm really just left with one very basic question;  Is It Safe?


Ever since the infamous S-Curve design, I've been skeptical about the planning and architecture of the bridge. In May, 2013, there were concrete concerns being reported and talk of a coverup. There's probably a scary timeline of bridge building incidents you could find online.  


We must remember one fact that's key to the safety of THIS particular bridge. This is California, a place located on geological fault lines that move. A place waiting for The Big One.

The old span was built in 1936, back when the Great Depression had a strangling grip on the economy and work force.  It is said that some of the best architecture and strongest structures were built during that depressed time period, New York's Empire State Building and our own Golden Gate Bridge being two others.


Here we are some 8 decades later with a depressed economy and shrunken work force once again signs of the times. But I keep hearing that old saying "they don't build things like they used to" in the back of my head.  Maybe I'm just one of those over cautious worry worts.  Maybe I see today's disposable society wanting things made quick and cheap as opposed to making things that last. Can we trust steel from China?


I won't be the first car going over the bridge tonight, that's for sure. I hear they've gathered a bunch of classic cars that crossed the bridge when it first opened back in the 30's.  I truly don't know exactly why I even posted this story. I suppose its just to get the jitters out of my system about the quality of the new bridge span. Oh, well, congratulations bay area on your new bridge span.  May it last as long as the old span.  

But do consider this; before crossing over the sparkling piece of compressed aluminum think about pinning down your city leadership and asking them that one tooth rattling question;  

IS IT SAFE????

Oakland A's Pounce on AL Champ Tigers

The Oakland A's are showing that they can hang with the elite AL teams.  Today they blasted the 2013 AL champion Tigers 14-4 in Detroit.  With my NL Giants just trying to end the season on a not so low note, the Oakland A's are enjoying the title of bay area baseball darlings and this year they own that title outright.

As much as I wanna see the Oakland Coliseum dressed in full football attire for Sunday Raiders football, I'll tolerate the infield dirt if it means the A's are still fighting for the fall classic championship. Its a remember the 70's moment in Oaktown, and A's colors are flying everywhere.

1974 A's defeated L.A. Dodgers 4 games to 1 in World Series

I plan to watch and support the Oakland A's all the way down the yellow and green brick road that leads to their World Series appearance.  On their best day, no team in either league is better.  Let the A's find their late season rhythm and the bay area just might be celebrating back-to-back baseball championships.

Let's go A's.

Trivia: Who can claim the title of only designated runner in major league history?

50th Anniversary March On Washingston Speech

Today marked the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement MARCH ON WASHINGTON.  President Barak Obama spoke and from what I heard on the radio he highlighted not so much Martin Luther King the man, but the man's dream of a future America.  As President, Barak Obama understands that some of the dream's promises have been met but much remains still a dream with hope of becoming a reality.  We should remember that in 1963 there were still "White People" and "Colored Folks" water fountains, bathrooms and theater seating, not to mention unequal employment, housing and healthcare.

The President urged Americans not to give up on fulfilling that wonderful dream of a great American who hoped one day that all Americans would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Its sad and unfortunate that some Americans still cannot envision such a dream and find any and every opportunity to bash the ongoing hope and message of all beings created equal, and that here in America all are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Here's one reportage that I came across where in talking about President Obama's speech today, the young reporter uses a sly, sarcastic, delivery in steering listeners away from the President's message of continued civil rights legislation and equal opportunity for all.  The young man simply missed the message and instead edited his story with footage of the President's speech that could easily be misconstrued when viewed in part instead of whole.  Such is the enemy that divides in order to conquer.  When all else fails, manipulate the truth with a smirk and a sly smile and a soundbite.

But we Americans have learned and are well prepared for such low-level tactics.  Know the enemy!  He looks like a lamb, sounds like an intelligent teacher, but definitely carries the smell of a wolf separating the flock in order to prey on the weak. If I've learned nothing else from browsing information on the internet its to never trust one source and always seek out the full story in order to get a glimpse of its truth.

Article: Wall Street an elusive dream for black Americans

Raiders Conference Call - Sweet!

The Oakland Raiders exclusive conference call-in today was a good thing.  As a season ticket holder I had access, but was only able to catch pieces throughout the hour long event.  

The parts I caught were nothing special, basically Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen enlighteninng fans to how they're putting together a team of great football players who'll compete for championships. The fans asked smart questions and the GM and Coach did a great job explaining their vision for Raiders Football without too much avoidance of the issue at hand; this season.  

It had a family feel to it, with fans being so patient and respectful in their questioning that one might have thought it was staged.  It was a far cry from the accusations and criticisms I thought would surface in the call.

I was proud of the respect and integrity the fans showed in their questioning.  The Raider fans just wanna see change they can believe in, and I think the conference call established a good foundation for the team leadership and those supporting it to acknowledge each other. The Raiders organization didn't have to do it. I don't think any professional organization has ever offered a conference call-in to their fans. We raiders fans recived a duly earned privilege today, and we are grateful.

What the call-in shows is that owner Mark Davis and the rest of the organization truly believe in the changes being made and want committed Raiders fans on board and informed.  Hats off to J.T. The Brick for hosting a kick a$$ hour of a Reggie and the coach meet, greet and answer session.  

What the call-in also shows is just how far Mark Davis has steered away from the road Big Al had paved.  Mark wants to win just as badly, but he's doing it by trusting those he's chosen as leaders and making sure the fans aren't left in the dark.  Right On Raiders, Right On! 

correction:  my bad, looks like the conference call-in idea wasn't a Raiders original.  Seems the Sandog Chargers General Manager had a 45-minute conference call with their fans a few months back. Oh well, no harm no foul. 

Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor Got Game

The Oakland Raiders might not have named their starting quarterback yet, but there's a strong wind a blowing with the name of Terrelle Pryor being whipped around.  In Friday night's game against the Chicago Bears Pryor showed all the reasons why he should be starting quarterback.  Granted, if the offensive line were stronger maybe other Raiders quarterbacks would step up and deliver, but such is not the case.

The Raiders offensive line struggled and faltered not only to protect the quarterback, but to open holes for running backs.  Finally, when Pryor took over he gave the Bears fits with his running ability and seemed to lift the entire team up off the canvas.  Yes, they were being knocked down repeatedly by the Bears in all phases of the game.

I and many of the Raiders fans say start Pryor, what have we to lose this season? We're a team picked to finish last not in the division, but in the league.  Pryor brings excitement, determination and a comittment to just win baby!  Is it really so important as to how he gets it done so long as the team competes and doesn't lay down?

I vote Terrelle Pryor as starting quarterback of these Oakland Raiders.  To me it seems he's earned the start while the other prospects have shown they cannot handle an offensive line leaking defensive pressure. Pryor has seen nothing but pressure since the supplemental draft that brought him to Oaktown, but that's another story for another season. Today, We Got Pryor! 

note: Please Raiders, just put in #85 Sam McGuffie and let the little whirlwind do his thing.  Returning punts, kickoffs, wide receiver, split back.  Or just partner him up with Pryor and watch the QB/WR tandem florish.  He's West Coast Welker I tell you.  You won't know what you've got until you take him out for a spin.

2024: Sam McGuffie's HS Highlight Tape Is Still The Greatest Of All Time | Barstool Sports

2018: Ex-UM football player Sam McGuffie makes U.S. bobsled team

USA Bobsled-Skeleton | Sam McGuffie

Bay Area Bolts

Give us an earthquake and we sigh with relief as if just escaping a close call. A few snow flurries or thunder and lightening and we watch in awe like little children at a circus.  Such were the many San Francisco bay area residents last night who stood outside unafraid, watching the rare lightning show illuminate the dark skies.  It really was a thing of beauty.

Only in California!

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/More-lightning-in-the-forecast-4745795.php

The Man Behind The March - Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights. In the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation, Rustin practiced nonviolence. Wikipedia

I stayed up late last night mesmerized by a documentary on Bayard Rustin. Who knew that this man, so intelligent and way ahead of his time, was the organizing force behind the March On Washington in 1963.  Mr. Rustin was arrested for refusing to leave the white persons's seating only section of a bus years before Rosa Parks.  

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5z98A_eAo

What was so fascinating about this man was his honesty, drive and perseverance to steer humanity toward more peaceful and non-
violent ways of protesting injustices. Whether confronting inequalities in labor, housing, public transportation  or healthcare, Mr. Rustin was there not to just join the movement but to help organize and steer the cause toward a goal for the greater good. And to think he began as a conscientious objector to being drafted in world war II, spending three years in prison for his refusal to kill another human being.

Though too late to meet Mahtma Ghandi, he traveled to India in 1948, a year after that country gained independence from Btitain, and was welcomed by its leaders.  Mr. Rustin's life is full of fight and resistence.  He was always the man in the background of large movements for social change.  He debated with various leaders and overcame charges of being a communist and sexual pervert.  He was openly homosexual at a time when it was illegal to be so.

Throughout the documentary there would be footage shown at a protest and there you'd see Mr. Rustin on the platform behind a main speaker or waiting to speak himself. When the Vietnam war came around it seemed he may have compromised his non-violent position and went along with the Johnson administration, but his strategy was to make sure that when black soldiers came home from the war that they'd have all the social services, educational and job opportunities equivalent to their white brothers returning home from serving their country.

Bayard Rustin challenged blacks and whites to step outside their own skins and see the beauty of all humanity. His debate with Malcolm X was a classic example of the battle between integration and seperation from a black peoples standpoint.  His mentoring of Martin Luther Kng was crucial in helping the young civil-rights leader steer through the turbulent times and accomplish greatness.

At one time in my understanding of the history of civil and social change in America I may have viewed Mr. Rustin as a sellout and weakling.  But having more life experience under my belt, as well as, interactions with a wider range of persons of different ethnic, political, religious and sexual preferences, I must say that Bayard Rustin the man is one deserving of the title Leader For Humanity.

Peace and Blessings to a man who helped make it possible for me, a black man, here in these United States of America, to see past the limits my country still imposes on peoples of color.  It is because of courageous men like Mr. Rustin that I, through non-violent actions, hope to always question and challenge othe evils of civil and human injustice.  Lord give me the courage to be true and righteous.

Bayard Rustin
1912-1987
http://newsreel.org/video/BROTHER-OUTSIDER-BAYARD-RUSTIN

T-Shirt of the Month

This is for my engineer cousin who agrees that the majority of Americans nowadays let technology do their thinking for them.

Google This

Exhibit 1: Raiders 19 Cowboys 17

With the Oakland Raiders first exhibition game of the 2013 season in the books, we fans can let out a sigh of relief.  The young team has some fight and bite in it.

The upper tier of the Coliseum was sporting a new black tarp imprinted with a Raiders shield.

As it glistened in the night lights the tarp gave the place a kind of "new stadium" feel to it. And believe it or not, the Coliseum seemed louder with less seats as the place was on fire with fans of both teams pumped to see some football.  The Raiders and Cowboys both delivered some good exhibition football; and the crowd went wild!

While the Cowboys seemed to get their passing game going early, it would be the Raiders with the eye catching touchdown that brought the place to a roar. Penn State QB Matt McGloin teamed up with San Diego State WR Brice Butler for a spectacular 30-yard throw and catch.   There were other throws and catches by other quarterbacks and receivers, but this one was the highlight that left everyone wondering who McGloin and Butler are.  Well folks I can tell you in a nutshell, they're Raiders, pillaging just for fun.

“I’m the kind of person who knows I have to buckle down and get to work,” the 23-year-old McGloin said.

"I am 23-years old and I have been waiting on that moment my whole life," Butler said.
The Raiders came away with a win full of impressive examples of things to come for the new season; a blocked fg attempt, a sack of Tony Romo, an interception, 4 of 5 field goals made, open offensive play calling (read option), and most of all for anyone with a silver & black history, few penalties (4).

I left the game feeling as if just maybe this could be a turnaround year for the Raiders. I'm not expecting anything historic, just entertaining, competitive, week to week improvement as opposed to the familiar dropoff of production midway through the season.  Last night's game definitely supports my hopeful expectations.

Here's to the Raiders fans from L.A. that I had a blast at the game with. May you guys be safe on the roads and blessed to attend many more Raiders games.  And how about that John Vella guy? Cool huh? 

"And on the seventh day, God made football"

Shoutout to Raiders WR Andre Holmes who had a good game.  Keep working it Holmsey, the drops at training camp must've been a fluke.

A Training Camp Visit

And so it was that I made my first visit to a Raiders training camp practice.  The Good was no possibility of injuries due to non padded practice and no contact.  I did see second year wide receiver Travionte Session limping around badly during practice, but for all I know it could've been a bad bunion that was irritating him.

More Good was the explosiveness of Jacoby Ford, Jeremy Stewart, Marcel Reece, Rod Streater and Brice Butler. Those were the players I had the opportunity to catch more action glimpses of.  There really wasn't any Bad, other than not getting a chance to see rookie RB Lativius Murray who's nursing an injury. The explosive rookie out of UCF  battled injuries in college.

On a day that began with overcast Napa skies a beautiful sea of silver and black clad fans ended the training session cheering their team under blue and sunny skies. It wasn't as fun and explosive as I'd hoped, but seeing the Raiders up-close and running plays was really a summertime treat.  We all miss footbal, Raiders Football.

Free agent quarterback Matt McGloin showed the poise and smarts that got him a look-see, while draft pick Tyler Wilson had some nice zip on his throws.  Can't say I saw much of Matt Flynn. As for Terrelle Pryor, I want to see him give the offense that extra weapon with his running ability. He looked as good as any passing.

No pads, therefore the Defense were nothing more than bodies on the field, but it was good to see C Wood out their dressed in black. Just a great day, thanks Raiders.

Oh, almost forgot the ugly; rookie receiver Andre Holmes entertained the crowd with his repeated drops and dejected body language.  Couldn't blame "Hey Holmes" for everything, a few of the balls thrown his way were off the mark.  But on a day when all receivers seemed to be snatching every pass gracefully out of the skies,  Holme's misfortunes were animated. At least "Hey Holmes" now knows should he make the team what to expect from Raiders fans; their expectations of players wearing silver and black are nothing short of excellence.  

The fans had fun cheering and jeering Holmes throughout the training day session, but come the regular season dropped passes are seldom forgiven.  Work it out Holmey, work it out!

I was impressed with #85, free agent rookie wide receiver Sam McGuffie.  He has quickness, toughness and you can smell his fearlessness on the field returning punts and/or kickoffs. Something a bit Wes Welker-like in this young man out of Rice.  I hope to see him play this Friday when the Dallas Cowboys come to Oakland.  McGuffie is definitely one tough Mick I'd like to see make the team.  He's ol'skool football, I like'em!

 More on McGuffie -
McGuffie became a YouTube star during his High School days. Most notably for hurdling over a defender, stepping on his back and continue running for the touchdown.

Win, Lose or Tie!

Rise Raider Nation - It Never Gets Old

When I first saw this ESPN masterpiece I damn near cried while cheering it on before the televised game.  I got choked up because I was watching at my parents house in New york, missing my brothers and sisters in silver and black.  Its one of those moments that reminds me just how committed I am to my team and my nation.  

I just laid out my gear for a visit to the Raiders Napa practice facility tomorrow.  It may sound crazy to non-sports fans, or those fair-weather types, but I'm getting that emotional craze just looking at my shyt. Ya' Feel Me!

Win, lose or tie I'll always get emotionally charged when reminded of our Oakland Raiders. I can't imagine being any other way about them.

Can You Dig It!

Warren Sapp Hall of Fame Speech
First HOF Bust With Braids

Finding Your Element

The Commonwealth Club of California continues to amaze me with their selection of guest speakers. This morning I tuned in to hear the thoughts and ideas being shared by Sir Ken Robinson, English author out of Liverpool, speaker and International Advisor on education.

You truly step into a sort of twilight zone when listening to Sirken speak. He seems to open up that other dimension of life that we all seem to put aside and forget about so that we can better focus on just surviving.  He does it with facts, statistics, humor and common sense. The man is obviously a great teacher, one we should take timeout to listen to.
http://audio.commonwealthclub.org/audio/podcast/cc_20130619_robinson.mp3

Sirken suggests so many good directions on how to get the most out of the one unique, magical life that you've been granted.  He touches on evolution, energy, education and self-discovery.  How refreshing to hear someone on an international level expressing the need for our modern culture to step back and take a wider view of ourselves and our future world.   

Hearing Sirken talk about the world population and consumerism reminds me of an old hippy I once met who said he knew the source of all humanities problems,"too many poeple."  I still consider that old hippy a genius in how he applied basic common sense to world issues.  Sirken may or may not have been a hippy back in his day, but his genius sure shines through when sharing ways to better our world.   

The Beatles, Slaughterhouse, Depression, Education.

"A Fredo Moment"

Someone Knows My Name/ Book of Negroes

I picked this book up when it first came out in 2007. I put it down after flipping through a few pages and learning about the black british loyalists who were shipped to Nova Scotia after the american revolution.  The book was then titled "The Book of Negroes" by canadian Lawrence Hill. 

About a week ago I picked up a book titled "Someone Knows My Name" by the same author.  It wasn't until I'd purchased the book and returned home to read it that I realized it was in fact the same Book of Negroes book under a different title.

I'm completely taken by this book and have shared my excitement about it with friends and family.  I list it here on my blog to share with others and further the cause of enlightening readers to the story of slavery.  Here is a story of Faith, Struggle and Survival.

So how does one survive crossing the Atlantic Ocean shackled inside the belly of a stinking, overcrowded, human hell that was the slave ship?  Where comfort lies in the thought of a chance to break free and jump overboard to drown away the god-awful misery and torture?  Below is a line from the book where the main character, a young girl of twelve or so, has survived in body but who's spirit is crumbling from the atrocities she's seen and witnessed since forcibly being taken from her village.  

She witnessed her mother and father killed, felt the harsh beatings and flesh scraping manacles of her captors and was shocked into compliance when during the slave march out of the jungle her bare foot crunched down into the crunchy, maggot-infested carcass of a captive who'd died along the way, his body left to rot alongside the path leading out of the African jungle.   At the end of the path along the coast were two more introductions to the world of slavery; slave pens to buy and sell human chattel and slave ships that would carry the captured cargo to the Americas. 

Her name is Aminata Diallo and as the harsh reality of her enslavement sets in, a wise african adult male, after telling her that her duty is to stay alive, encourages her with these words:

" turn your mind from the ship, child.  It is nothing but a rotting carcass in the grass. The carcass has shocked you with its stink and its flies. But you have walked past it, already, and now you must keep walking."

This is advice for us to heed today as we struggle with the injustices and shocking realities of life today.  Leave yesterday's worrying thoughts and problems in yesterday's ship. We must keep walking and living.

It appears that someone is working on a movie version of this book.  Bravo!


Updated:
This is a preview of the movie "The Book of Negroes"


Amazon Book Reviews

Timmy Smokes!

Giants Legendary pitcher Tim Lincecum did something in San Diego's Petco Field tonight that restored his confidence and fans confidence in him.  Timmy pitched a no-hitter...........

The Giants exploded for nine runs and it was Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Punce making big defensive plays to keep the no-no alive.  Hunter "rally-round-the-campfire-boys" Pence was on fire with five RBI's and a catch that should win him some kind of award. But tonight was Lincecum's night, he pitched the Padres into complete submission.

The last Giants no-no on the road was 1976 by John 'the count' Montefusco.  Giants pitchers have been spoiling us the past few years with this their no-no's in 2009 (Jonathan Sanchez) and 2012 (Mr. Perfect Matt Cain).

So go ahead Tim, spark up a big fat one. You're a legend and legends don't need permission to smoke. Not in the bay area where your a Giant legend.

Final Score
Giants 9
Padres 0

Pamplona Bull Rush

They say that yesterday's annual running of the bulls event might have been one of the goriest in recent memory with one runner getting horned up into the air by a charging bull.  Of course it was probably some wealthy american banker who's retired in Spain after profiting off the housing market collapse years ago.   Well you can bet I'm rooting for the Bulls in this one, Go Bulls Go!

Score
Bulls 2
Runners O uch

Multi-Universe Tournament

Stumbled across this virtual sporting event recently.  Its rounds of deathmatches between characters from every story in exisistence.  Winner will be crown God of Champions. I'd like to find out more about the battle, but not being a virtual fighter/gamer, I'm on the outs. One thing I will say about the participants is that their fighting characters come in all shapes and sizes with impressive looks.

Alex Mercer

As read in the introduction, this game with will be a tournament with characters from every story in existence. From ancient mythology to the latest hollywood movie. Any kind of character is allowed here. The game will be in a deathmatch between the characters. Which means they will be put together in the same arena and the last one standing is the winner. They will the become the champion of the tournament.

But that doesn't end there! Once 8 champions have been found, there will be a special tournament of champions! 8 people will select one of the past winners and they will be put into a deathmatch to determine who is the champion among champions! Then once again, when 8 champions of champions is selected there will be a special tournament to determine which of them is the God of Champions. The God of Champions will be forever immortalized in the thread.

Then the whole process starts over again. Characters that was used before can be used again to try there hand at ultimately becoming the next God of Champions.

Multi-Universe All-Star Tournament

Go Black, All Black, Go Rugby

I really wish American Football teams still carried the passion and loyalty of the place they represent and the fanatics that wear the colors and root for them unconditionally, win, lose or tie.  That's why whenever I see footage of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team, I get pumped. 

You can see the love the players have for their country and home.  In a game against France, an All Blacks player is shown shuddering with tears during the national anthem, so moved by his love for country and the opportunity to represent it on the rugby field. Rugby is an intense sport, but the All Blacks make it Super-Intense just by stepping onto the field, dressed in black.

American football has lost this type of honor mostly due to free agency and corporate sponsor contracts.  But in the minds of us Oakland Raiders fans, our team will one day recapture that old Raiders mystique that saw players in silver and black shedding tears before games, excited to take the field and represent one of the toughest and winningest teams in professional football. 

We hold dearly to those memories of old and look forward to each and every season with hope of maybe this being that return to glory season. And what better organization to compare our team loyalty to than the All Blacks rugby team of New Zealand, a champion in Black.

Its 2013 and the Oakland Raiders are still the team I hold nearest and dearest to my heart.  They're the only team that's ever brought tears of pride and joy to my eyes by just stepping onto the field.  Many of today's sports fans get pumped and fanatical only when their team is in the playoffs or championship game(s).  Raider fans get emotionally hyped just by meeting another fan wearing silver and black, or hearing the Autumn Wind fight song anytime, anywhere. As I once heard one old, white-haired Raiders fan say about our fight song before a game, "now that's a fight song that makes you wanna kick some a$$!"

Yep, it's 2013 and I can't wait to get inside the Oakland Coliseum and leak passion and loyalty as the Raiders step onto the field dressed in black.  In the meantime, there's nothing wrong with watching a match between the All Blacks and France while counting down the days to NFL football. Haka Haka Y'all!

On This Day In Sports History

 

Stunning Silva Loss, Satisfying Victory For All

I'm not much of a MMA fight fan, but when a reigning fighting champion disrespectfully clowns around in the ring with a hungry opponent of lesser talent, I'll be the first to hope for an stunning upset. 

We all remember scenes like this in the past; Roy Jones Jr, Sugar Ray Leonard, Hector Macho Comacho Sr, Tyson vs Douglas for christ sakes just to name a few.  All were great champions, but many fans couldn't wait for an opponent to catch'em with a good shot to put their butt down on the canvas.

Well folks, last night Chris Weidman caught the seven-year reigning UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva with a shot for the ages.  Silva, hands down, bobbing and weaving ala Roy Jones, got knocked silly with a Weidman left after dancing away from a backhand right that glanced Silva's upper lip.  It was a thing of underdog beauty I tell yah.

The best thing about the Silva loss is the lesson; all the talent, cockiness and confidence in the world can be humbled in one split second when the sports gods look down upon a great one and whisper the words "Time's Up!"  Anderson Silva, last night was simply your Cinderella hour. Times Up! Its a Wrap! Get Your Coat & Hat! Did you really think you could taunt the fighting gods forever? Those who blessed you with such athletic talent ability?  Sorry Silva, "Time's Up!

Joey Takes Coney Again!

 
Here we are again, the July 4th Nathan's hot dog eating competition at Coney Island.  And as the saying goes, "It wasn't even close."

Defending champion out of San Jose, California, Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut retains the mustard yellow championship belt with a record 69 hot dogs eaten. Jaws went into the competition ranked #1 and guess what, he's now the undisputed Hot Dog eating champion, bar none.  

Here in the Bay Area we just might need to add Jaws to our Wall of Fame.  This is his seventh consecutive championship since first taking the belt from six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi.  Las Vegas even had a spread on Jaws, imagine that.  Joey Jaws, welcome to the pinnacle of sports. You Go Dog!

Competition Preview

Competition History - On July 4^th, 1916, four immigrants on Coney Island were having an argument debating who was the most patriotic.  They decided to settle the argument by having an eating competition at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs stand.  That eating competition became a yearly tradition that has continued to grow in popularity over the past 96 years. 

Oakland A's Say Heyyyyyy

While the San Francisco Giants are starting the summer abysmally by getting No Hit against the Cincinnati Reds, the Oakland A's are leading the AL West and have the second best record in the American League.

Yesterday the A's dropped one to the Chicago Cubs at the Coliseum, but the team is doing everything that the World Series defending champion Giants are not; hitting, pitching and playing like a true contender. 

Think I'll try getting out to their ballpark to see'em soon, that is if Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will share some of the profits they've pocketed with the Union Workers who make it all happen.  Come'on Bart, Get Smart, End The Strike!