March Madness - It's Not Always Just About Basketball

The NCAA basketball tournament begins this coming week. College kids, both athletes and fans, should be getting into the madness that is march college basketball.  But it seems there's another sport that has caught the attention of college campus life across these United States.

Politics and the race to the white house 2016 has all the competition, intrigue and mud slinging to attract the reality tv generation and some.  The political arena this season is full of terrible actors and actresses trying to win the role of our country's next Commander-in-Chief. Can't we just fire them all and bring back the British rulers. 

Meanwhile, there's March Madness to contend with on the basketball court. I'm guilty of not paying much attention to college basketball this season. When you have the hottest basketball team with the hottest player on the planet in the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry, who needs NCAA basketball. 

The Warriors are a record setting 58-6 as they try to close out the regular season with the best record ever in league history. I do hope to sprinkle in some college hoops this month, but we Warriors fans have waited so long for a winner that we are just beside ourselves when it comes to our NBA champion basketball team. 

Who knew that watching championship pro basketball can make a sports fan one dimensional. Nothing in sports today compares with watching the Golden State Warriors play their style of basketball. Definitely not an annual college tournament. 

But the presidential race, with its cartoon caricatures and controversial moments, is garnering attention from sports fans and regular civilians alike. And it should. For as important as electing the next leader of our nation should be, the contestants make it a painful and shameful competition to watch.

I'll take watching the 89th Scripps National Spelling Bee competition set to run from May 22-27, over viewing anymore political hate mongering.
  

So bring on college March Madness.  Let's indulge ourselves in seeing a cindefella or two break the heart of a powerhouse team. And bring on the presidential primaries. Let's see a few more political campaign riots spice up the 'breaking news' reports that have become anything but breaking or news these days.  

In the SF-Oakland bay area, our eyes are on the prize of our glorious NBA team breaking records and winning another championship.  We may be the only fans of anything these days who are not mad, but united and glad to have our dog in the race. It doesn't bite, piss on or piss off anybody. All our dog does is win baby!

W-A-R-R-I-O-R-S.......W-A-R-R-I-O-R-S.......W-A-R-R-I-O-R-S.......

NFL Football Returns To Los Angeles

With the start of today's NFL free agency market there was a sighting of nostalgic proportions.  An NFL team has Los Angeles preceding it's name across the wires. Not since 1995 has there been a professional football team calling the City of Angels its home. And not since Christmas Eve 1994 has there been an NFL game played there, "The Day the NFL Died in L.A.." The cherry on top is the team now calling it home has a long, rich history with Los Angeles. 

The St. Louis Rams are no longer. Beginning this season the Rams belong to Los Angeles once again and will be playing their games in the city they called home from 1946-1994. The franchise was originally founded in Cleveland in 1936 and who knew that they were named after the Bronx, N.Y., Fordham Rams.

I grew up in New York and remember watching the coach Chuck Knox led L.A. Rams go up against the Jets, Giants and Bills.  They were a good team with some very good, unforgettable players like Jack Youngblood, Merlin Olsen and Jackie Slater to name a few.  The L.A. Rams had one particular running back who I remember as always doing damage. I hardly ever hear his name brought up these days, but back in those ground control frozen tundra days he was the Rams winning edge over most opponents.

He wore #30 and his name was Lawrence McCutcheon.

From 1972-1979 he ran fast and hard in helping the Rams win the NFC West division title seven straight years. The San Francisco 49ers were abysmal during much of that era and the Rams owned the division while Atlanta and New Orleans struggled as most expansion teams do for years.

I don't know all McCutcheon's stats, but he rushed well over 1,000 yards for five straight seasons, all of which he made the Pro Bowl. He wasn't big but had a way of making tacklers miss and punishing them if they took a wrong angle on him.

McCutcheon was also a threat as a receiver and punt returner. He played with some memorable Rams quarterbacks:  Jack Hadl, Pat Haden, Joe Namath and James Harris, the first black player to start a professional football game at quarterback. 

The 1970's had some great, bruising running backs who could run with power and finesse. McCutcheon was a product of that style of play and could be mentioned right up there with the best of those times.

Earl Campbell, Franco Harris, Marv Hubbard, Walter Payton, O.J. Simpson just to name a few.  You'll find his name on most "best of" 1970's running backs lists. I found one list on a site named Shareranks.com, that lists McCutcheon at #5 out of twenty. 

It's no surprise that the Raiders, "team of the decades," have two running backs listed; the late great Marv Hubbard and the great Mark van Eeghen. Raiders RB/KR Clarence Davis, given more carries at running back and barring knee injuries, could've easily made the list. Davis is a Raider Legend!



Lawrence McCutcheon joined the Rams front office after retirement and has been a part of the Rams family for 38 years.  He'll be returning to Los Angeles with the team to begin a new chapter in the long, rich history of the Rams franchise.  

Welcome Home Lawrence McCutcheon and 
The Los Angeles Rams, Welcome Home!

Note: RIP Mack Herron, the littlest big man in 1970's running backs
(July 24, 1948 - December 6, 2015)

Raiders Getting Early Jump On Free Agency

The NFL Free Agency market opens tomorrow afternoon.  The Oakland Raiders are reported to have reached an agreement to sign former Seattle Seahawk linebacker Bruce Irvin, a top five free agent.  Second in cap space, the Raiders are expected to make a splash in free agency and the draft.  Irvin gives the team a hefty splash of defensive versatility as he rejoins former Seahawks coach Ken Norton. Defense wins championships!

I'd also heard rumor of a top offensive guard/tackle free agent signing by the Raiders. Kelechi Osemele, a five year veteran from the Baltimore Ravens is reported to have agreed in principle to a deal with the Oakland Raiders. This signing is huge for the Raiders O-line. Kelechi O is listed as top-top free agent.  

GM Reggie McKenzie has improved each year with making good off-season acquisitions. Finally, Reggie has the cap space and money to get elite soldiers. Also, the Raiders are sparkling with potential to be a great team. Good players wanna be a part of great teams. The missing parts that'll make the Raiders engine roar are out there. Go Get'em Reggie!

With the Golden State Warriors wearing championship rings around Oaktown, the Raiders are just itching to become the next big sports story in the bay. We could see some football championship rings being worn around Oaktown in the very near future. Can't Wait!

Northern Kalifornia has waited way too long for the return of a Raiders winner.  The Wait is over son, say hello to Kali:

Buggery On The High Seas

Just a Cheech & Chong Memory that sprung up out of nowhere. Guess It came to mind after I checked in on a good friend who now lives on a boat. The bay area has been experiencing rain storms with heavy winds.

As for the fate of seaman Kelly after the whipping of his sissy snitching accuser, one can only wonder. 

Audio Link to “Buggery on the High Seas”




Lyrics

Bugatti Unveils Chiron

There will only be 500 Bugatti Chirons produced.  It's not much faster than the Bugatti Veyron and its $2.6 million dollar price tag puts it almost $1 million dollars above the 2015 Veyron base price. 

Boxer Floyd Mayweather dropped down a whopping $3.5 million dollars on a 2015 Veyron super sport just last October. Guess he couldn't wait for 2016 Chiron orders to begin. I'm sure he'll get a good trade-in price for a Chiron if he chooses to upgrade.

So for those ultra-rich street car aficionados who must have the fastest and most furious car available in the world, don't sleep on the Bugatti Chiron, named after Louis Chiron . 

Mr. Chiron was a winning race car driver who's career spanned about 30 years through the 1920's, 30's and 50's. He was from Monaco with dual French citizenship. He loved speed and would've loved strapping down inside the luxurious Chiron to drive this baby, even in his senior years. Mr. Chiron continued racing until his 60th birthday.

"Before a race he used to walk round his car, stroke it, talk to it as if to a horse and then sit smilingly at the wheel."

As for this beautiful 1500 horse powered machine, if you love fast cars, you'll love dreaming about driving this beauty at its top speed of 261 miles per hour. Keep dreaming!

The Fastest Car in the World Chico. The World!

Ri·dic·u·lous Scores 46 pts, Strikes Down Thunder In OT

Here's what the basketball world is trying to put their head around tonight.  The Golden State Warriors, finishing the final game of a seven game road trip, forced the Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City Thunder into overtime.  How they got it to overtime is mind-boggling. How they won it in overtime is as unbelievable as their 53-5 league leading record. It took guts, composure, tenacity and a long-range shooting guard I call Ri-dic-u-lous. 

I think it was last seasons' Finals MVP Iggy (Andre Iguodala) who pressured Kevin Durant into a bad half-court pass that Klay Thompson tipped, Draymond Green barely saved from going out of bounds and passed back to Klay for the steal.  With less than ten seconds left Klay pushes it up court, passes to Iggy who takes the shot, misses, but is fouled with 0.7 seconds left on the clock.  Iggy is a 61% free throw shooter. He needs both baskets to tie the game and give the Warriors a chance for over-time. No Problemo! Iggy sinks them both, then gives the "Jordan Shrug" on his way back to the bench. Durant misses an inbounds turn and shoot and we go to overtime.

With the Warriors down again in overtime, the man I like to call Ri-dic-u-lous led the way to victory. Game tied at 118-118 and again with less than ten seconds left on the game clock, Steph Curry gets the ball past mid-court and takes the shot from what must've been midway between half-court and the three point line; nothing but net and the Warriors begin celebrating. The game clock is showing 0.6 seconds remaining. Ri-dic-u-lous!

Hell, I and every fan not wearing OKC gear was celebrating .  It was one of the most exciting, clutch shots in a big game this season and Ri-dic-u-lous nailed it like just another day at the office. With the game being a nationally televised Saturday night NBA showcase, everybody was watching and saw the greatness of Steph Curry that over and over only one word can justifiably describe; Ri-dic-u-lous.

The game likely solidified Curry's greatness in the eyes of many fans still stuck in the past. He'd come back from an ugly looking ankle injury earlier in the game, a showing of leadership and toughness. The guy is already legendary, tying or breaking more league and team records in this game. Kids and grown men on basketball courts around the world no longer wanna be like Mike, Kobe or Lebron. They wanna be.........Ri-dic-u-lous!

The Warriors had no business winning this game. They turned the ball over, they missed shots, they were out-rebounded 32-62, they put themselves in a big hole from the start. And yet and still they found a way to put away an elite team who's superstars (Westbrook (26pts) & Durant (37pts) were on fire. 

One stat I heard that shows just how amazing a feat this win was, even for a team like the Warriors, was how they led for only 29 seconds of the game. Practically an entire game plus overtime playing catch-up, unheard of for this seasons' Warriors. That's a 'never retreat, never surrender' attitude that champions are made of. It's a no worries, no panic while under pressure mentality that can bring out your best. The Golden State Warriors, with last year's regular season MVP knocking down 12 of 16 three pointers, were at their best when all looked lost. And this incredible win clinched them an early playoff berth.

46 pts

Ri-dic-u-lous!

Final Score
Warriors 121
Thunder 118

Warriors Just Can't Lose (51-5)

I swear I'd written off the Warriors in last night's game against the Miami Heat. Early in the game the Heat had everything clicking while the Golden State Warriors struggled.

I believe it was the first time this season, besides in the blowout losses, that I saw a team keep the lead away from the Warriors for the majority of the game. The Heat looked champion caliber last night. But there were some things the Warriors did that keeps them in all games when things are tight; they kept their composure, played solid defense and trusted in their superstars to make clutch plays. 

Steph and Klay. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson put the lid on a hot, three game winning streak Miami team that hadn't lost since the NBA all-star break. The Splash Brothers provided all the offense needed down the stretch for the Warriors to win the game 118-112.

Klay made a clutch defensive play by reading the offense on an inbounds and anticipating the right place to position himself for a deflection and steal.  It might've been the play to seal the game in the final seconds.

Our Champion Golden State Warriors are finding ways to win games when they're out of synch and playing hot teams on the road.  The Atlanta Hawks gave the Warriors a run in the previous night's game that the Warriors won 102-92. Every team is gunning for the champions, bringing their "A" game when facing the Warriors.  Especially in the East where they believe physical basketball wins championships. Doesn't matter the opponent's record, when the Warriors are in their town its a playoff atmosphere with a packed audience, there to see the team that is breaking league records and changing the culture of professional basketball.

Tonight they'll play the Orlando Magic, a team with a losing record at 25-30. Don't expect the Magic to treat this game like a visit from Disney World characters. When the World Champions come to play in your town it's not about fun and games, it's about showing the basketball world that your team has heart and is not intimidated by going up against the best.  

It wouldn't hurt the Orlando team to have some of that Disney World magic dust sprinkling down on them from Tinkerbell's wand come the fourth quarter. Because the Golden State Warriors are defying all odds of losing during crunch time, when the game is on the line.  

A Crime That Hits Home For Uber

Another mass shooting, more shocked and grieving families. All because yet again, someone with a gun lost all sense of what is right and did the wrong thing.

What caught my attention in this all too familiar occurrence was this description:

The suspected killer, a 45-year-old Uber driver named Jason Brian Dalton, was in custody Sunday but had not been charged, police said.

I understand that suspected killers have to eat too, but to think what triggered this guy to go off might possibly have been the pressure of being an Uber driver is a serious concern. I'd like to think that 99.9% of Uber drivers are well balanced and adjusted individuals just trying to get by making some extra dough on the side.  What's scary is accounting for that 0.1% who are walking (driving) time bombs set to go off at any time. 

Uber is known to not have the best set of screening protocols for hiring drivers. I expect to someday read a story that includes Uber in the heading along side terrorist threat or something of that nature, but that's just me. Not much that's reported in today's media surprises me. Why is it that life just seemed much safer when industries had government regulators breathing down their necks. 

Uber let's drivers carry guns

Uber bans drivers & riders from carrying guns 

Uber driver shoots passenger days after Uber bans guns

As a global community we should remind ourselves that random acts of kindness far outweigh the random acts of violence in the world.  We must not perceive these violent acts as the norms of life today. Unfortunately, media journalism is a for profit business that thrives on sensationalizing acts like this. It becomes just another form of entertainment for news consumers.

We must see the forest from the trees and acknowledge that sometimes bad things happen in a good world and not the other way around.  Or else how could we ever teach our children to have faith, hope and love for all that is in this big beautiful world they'll inherit when we're gone.

Again, my prayers go out to the families of the victims of this crime. The calming news from this tragedy is that the Uber Driver, I'm sorry, the suspect, has been apprehended and is in police custody.

And remember, Uber doesn't kill people, people kill people. Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood NRA supporter out there.

Kalamazoo Shootings: 6 Dead, 2 Wounded After 'Random' Shootings in Michigan

Abuelita, Still A Valentine

Sometimes Valentine's Day finds you visiting with those who've touched you in your past.  I had a wonderful visit with my Abuelita and her daughter.

Blessings Grandma & Alva

Von Miller Leads Broncos To Victory

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Von Miller causes two Cam Newton fumbles that lead to Broncos touchdowns. After the first fumble Cam and the Panthers offense would have one good drive the entire game ending in their only touchdown.

But back to that first Von Miller strip sack, it was HUGE!  It put the Broncos up 10-0 and sent a message to players, coaches and fans that the #1 Defense has taken over the game.

The Panthers could do little against the #1 Defense. A few big plays you can count on one hand and some Cam first down runs all seemed to occur on that one touchdown drive at the end of the first/ beginning of the second quarter.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense didn't fare much better against the Carolina defense.  Manning was sacked 5 times for 37 yards. He also fumbled twice, losing one, and threw an interception.  The difference was that Carolina only capitalized on one turnover with a field goal whereas the Broncos turned their recoveries into two touchdowns.

Panthers coaching staff had no backup plan to handle the Broncos pass rush. Cam was missing short passes and receivers were dropping some.  Their running game was bottled up most of the night and Cam seemed unwilling or unable to run after doing it successfully on the one touchdown drive.  

If ever a team got into the head of its opponent this Broncos team is that team. We watching the game might question why the Panthers didn't do this or that, but for the Panthers players out there going up against Von Miller and that punishing defense no explanation other than 'we got beat' will suffice.  

Sure Peyton Manning got another Super Bowl ring, likely his last game, but this championship belongs to the Denver Defense with SB50 MVP Von Miller leading the way. 

For us who love hard hitting and relentless pursuit in football, this game was one heck of a show. For those who wanted to see anything else, I hope the half-time show was as good for you as it was for me. Beyonce' in fishnets and stylish boot-pumps does it every time.

So let this football game be a lesson to all fantasy fans once again, Defense Wins Championships. Well, make that defense and a sexy half-time treat, u-go-gurl!

Final Score

Panthers 10
Broncos 24

Broncos Have A Shot

We've seen it before in Super Bowls, high powered offenses matched against number one defenses. More times than not, the number one defense wins the game.  We Raiders fans know all to well how shocking and painful it is to watch a high powered offense get annihilated in a Super Bowl.  

Super Bowl Fifty has the hot Carolina Panthers offense going up against a number one defense in the Denver Broncos.  I'd say a good 90% of people think Carolina will win the game.  As of this morning they're favored by 5.5 points.  

But us who have been around football for awhile know better than to rule out a good defense.  The Broncos can win this thing and give QB Peyton Manning a beautiful parting retirement gift.  But they'll have to find a way to stop the hottest offense in football who's only lost one game all season.

I'd like to see Cam Newton put on a good show and win a super bowl.  But I also like rooting for an underdog, and coming into this game the Broncos are the underdog.  

The Panthers will win this game if they don't beat themselves with penalties and turnovers or an Injury to Cam.  Who's Cam's backup anyways, Jake Delhomme?

The Broncos, fighting for one of the best field generals in Peyton, can win this game with ball control (running game/first downs) and getting to Cam like they got to Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game. I also believe that the coaching favors the more experienced Broncos' Gary Kubiak.

I want to sit back and watch a good competitive game of football.  If I had to pick a final score I'd go Broncos 20 Panthers 16.  Again, that Defense Wins Championship motto is no cliche. Don't believe it just look at last year's Patriots snatching victory from the jaws of the Seattle Seahawks with an end zone interception to end the game.

It's Super Bowl Sunday right here in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area, time to grind.

San Francisco Bowl Ready

Courage is life's only measure

A quote attributed to Danish philosopher Kierkegaard in the 2010 Swedish movie "Pure."

I thought the quote brilliant, but the movie itself, slow with limited dialogue, held my interest just enough to make it to the end. The young actress playing the lead, Alicia Vikander, did a knockout job portraying a 20 year old girl facing the challenges of life choices and relationships. The classical music, with Mozart's Requiem as its theme, might've out-starred all actors. As foreign independent films go, its success was its simplicity and realness. 


Since I'm talking movies of late let me list two other films viewed recently that I thought deserve praise.

The Physician.  Epic historical period drama that takes viewers back to 11th century medical practices and religious differences between the east and west. Mostly superb acting, but as always a young love story that wreaked of Hollywood looked pretentious. All in all its realistic plot and descriptive scenes convince you of what it might have been like as a doctor (barber) or patient in the middle ages.  Had everything but the smell of those plagued times.  Loved it!

Crossroad.  A faith based thriller that convinces viewers of God being everywhere and in everything. As the coincidences and confessions mount, you realize just how connected strangers in a Diner can be with God battling evil in their midst.  Definitely not your average Christian movie.  I liked it very much and hope to watch it again.

Golden State Blows Up San Antonio Spurs

Damn Those Golden State Warriors are Good!

Final Score
Warriors 120
Spurs 90

Stephen Curry led scorers with 37 points as all but one player on the roster scored. And he only played three quarters. The Spurs, without 39 year old Tim Duncan, looked confused and over-matched, turning the ball over throughout the night. They simply had no answer for the Champions.  

As for those Golden State Warriors, they showed up and manhandled what many considered the best team in the league. What's the saying, if you wanna be the best you have to beat the best?

It was a game that would determine just how good the Warriors really are and every basketball fan alive was tuned in to see this one. 

Well, if they didn't know, now they know.  Sure its only one regular season game, but the way the Warriors dominated leaves the burden on the San Antonio Spurs shoulders to prove they can hang with the World Champions.  I believe they meet again in April.  

And If I hear any basketball analyst question the Championship caliber of the Warriors after seeing them annihilate a good Spurs team tonight, I'm calling him out. And that includes Mr. Charles Barkley.  It's a wrap. The only team that can stop the Warriors are the Warriors.

Can You Dig IT!

The best quote I heard was on Tom Tolbert's after-game show that said teams are having to guard Steph Curry at the half-court Logo. That's how much of a threat he is.  Steph has changed the way NBA basketball is coached and played.  He's revolutionized the game. Can You Dig That!

The Super Bowl Party Is On!

Defense Stuffs Patriots, Cam Picking Apart Cardinals

Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton throws Patriots QB Tom Brady to the ground for a sack in the third quarter Sunday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The AFC Championship game was a defensive battle from start to finish.  The Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning did just enough to end the New England Patriots hopes of returning to the Super Bowl.

Who knew that a Patriots missed extra point kick in the first quarter would play a huge part in the final minutes of the game.  

Trailing in the fourth quarter the Patriots scored on a 4 yard pass from Brady to Gronkowski with 12 seconds left in regulation. Down 20-18, in part because of the missed extra point, the Patriots had to go for two points. The Broncos defense, with five sacks and one interception on the day, got another interception in the end zone and all but sealed the fate of the Patriots.

Sometime during the game (actually twice in the fourth quarter) Patriots coach Bill Belichick decided to go for it, unsuccessfully, on 4th down instead of kicking the field goal. The field goals that wasn't could've changed the strategy and chances for the Patriots down the stretch, but hindsight is a painful viewing point from the seat of the losing team. 

It'll be the Denver Broncos with 39 year old Peyton Manning trying to cap his great career with a championship.

As I finish writing that last line the Carolina Panthers quarterback just completed a long precision pass to former 49er receiver Ted Ginn, again.  Both Panthers players are having a helluva first half as Carolina leads the game 27-7.  

Carolina defense has all but shutdown Carson Palmer and the Cardinals offense.  I'd say this game is over, unless Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald can find a way to play defense effectively, because Cam Newton is performing like........Superman!

Wow, Cam just ran past and through Arizona defenders for a first down and now a diving touchdown.  And wouldn't you know it, the Carolina stadium is playing the theme song to "Superman the Movie."

34-7 Panthers with 2:08 left in the 3rd quarter.
(Final Score Panthers 49 Cardinals 15)

Panthers vs Broncos Super Bowl here in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

WarriorTrotting Through Cleveland

The Harlem Globetrotters are in town performing at Oracle Arena in Oakland. But they just might have a hard time impressing Bay Area fans with their gravity-defying basketball skills. Why?  Because Oracle (RoaR-acle) is the lair of the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, best basketball team on the planet. 

Last night the Warriors air show returned to Cleveland, home of the best basketball player on the planet.  By the end of the first quarter they led by 13 points. By half-time the lead was 26 points.  By the end of the night they'd dazzled the Cleveland crowd with their championship caliber play, silencing any who doubted their win over Cleveland in last year's finals. No excuses from the Cavaliers this time as they came into the game at full strength with a healthy squad.

The best player on the planet had a pedestrian 16 point night and no highlights to think of.  Meanwhile, the best team on the planet was simply on fire after losing their previous game to the upstart Detroit Pistons. As usual, the team was led by the Human Torch, Steph Curry, who was launching shots from what looked like Meadowlark Lemon distance, may his soul rest in peace.

Where the heck was Charles Barkley last night? Oh, here he is:
TNT studio analyst Charles Barkley said: "I don't think the Cavs realized that Golden State wanted to send a message. Golden State is letting them know: If we see you in the Finals, this is what you can expect.''

Last year's finals MVP, Andre Iguodala, this time around scorched the Cavaliers for 20 points off the bench and did it in globetrotting fashion; flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Even the Brazilian Blur, Leandro Barbosa, had a few Harlem Globetrotter moments showing off his speed and ball handling skills.

It was a night best summed up by Steph stating in his after-game interview that the win was a good message to themselves of what they're capable of. "Scary" is the message to the rest of the league; scary to think what the Warriors are capable of, on the road, against the best, after a loss.     SCARY!

Final Score
Warriors 132
Cavaliers 98

NFL Divisional Playoffs Weekend

So either Alex Smith manages the game well or Tom Brady takes over the game. It's the Patriots and Chiefs in a divisional playoff game.  The Patriots will need all that Tom Terrific magic against a very good Chiefs team. The Chiefs are the hottest team entering the playoffs.

Should be a good game, but there's one Pats player who can make Andy Reid and his team sorry they ever saw the dawn's early light. That be wide receiver Julian Edelman. If the Chiefs defense don't spy and short circuit the little dynamo in the #11 Jersey, expect the Patriots to sizzle and shine on their way to another AFC championship showdown.

It's the Patriots and the Chiefs kicking off this afternoon's second round of the NFL playoffs. I personally want the Patriots to lose just so I can get a good look at that grim, ghostly losing reaction on the mug of the ever inspirational coach Bill Belichick. He's one of a kind, Patriots coach Belichick is.

Before You Bet Again - Checkout Lottery Fixing Scandal

Wanna hear something that looks and sounds like a conspiracy cover-up?  I go to check the news for the winning $1 billion plus powerball drawing and the first story I come across is this:

Lottery Fixing Scandal Spreads Nationwide

The convicted criminal behind the fixing is Eddie Tipton, a former security director of the Multi-State Lottery Association. Fast Eddie has already been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for a high-tech scheme that installs software into the lottery selection program to manipulate the numbers.

Prosecutors say Tipton installed software known as a root kit that enabled him to manipulate numbers without a trace. What tripped him up, investigators say, was his decision to buy the winning ticket himself at a service station near the headquarters of the association, whose workers are prohibited from trying their luck.

Fast Eddie must have paid millions to a good lawyer to get himself out of jail on an appeal. But I'm not hating on Eddie, I'm mad at the Multi-State Lottery Association who oversaw Wednesday's $1 billion drawing.  Why didn't they and/or the media spill the beans on Fast Eddie and other scammers that have been attacking lotteries nationwide?

Makes you think they're in on the scam doesn't it? You encourage millions of citizens throughout 46 United States to run out and bet the farm on a chance to win a Billion dollars and you don't inform them of a rogue former employee and the risk that lottery scammers might pose to the drawing? Come'on Man! That's just foul........

Did I mention that Fast Eddie's brother, Tough Tommy Tipton, is under investigation for Lottery Fraud as well.  Yep, Authorities say in 2005 Tommy collected  $537,000 as his cut from $4.5 million jackpot split in Colorado.

Imagine, these cats have been scheming and scamming lotteries nationwide for at least ten years. There are other names coming up in the ongoing investigations.

My advice to you suckers still playing the lottery straight, google the term "RootKit" and learn as much about it as you can before plopping down anymore on lotteries.  Its obviously worked for Tough Tommy and Fast Eddie for years, and I suspect its also filling the pockets of those pimping the lottery to the public. If you can't beat'em.......

So come the next big Lotto Jackpot, don't be a sucker and play it straight, let Eddie and Tommy Tipton educate you on how to really become a billionaire. Get the kit, get creative and then get busy greasing some hands brother. It's the American way.

Inside The Biggest Lottery Scam Ever 

Kill RootKits (Malware)

Raiders To L.A. IF Chargers Opt-Out

Regional loyalty? Humbug!  It's just Bizness Baby 

The NFL Owners voted 30-2 in favor of the Rams moving to Los Angeles and playing games there in the 2016 season.  The Rams accepted and will play games in the old Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until a new $1.89 billion dollar stadium in Inglewood is completed in 2019.

The NFL offered the San Diego Chargers a share in the new stadium and they can join the Rams in old Memorial Coliseum beginning the 2017 season. The Chargers have until January 2017 to accept the NFL offer.  

IF

If the Chargers do not agree to the move/share offer by January 2017, the offer transfers over to the Raiders to join the Rams in Los Angeles beginning the 2017 season.

IF

If both the Chargers and Raiders choose not to accept the offer, the Rams will continue play as the Los Angeles Rams in L.A.. The team that does not move to Los Angeles will receive $100M from the NFL toward a new stadium in their market.

This is all I know as of now.  The Raiders option to share in the new Los Angeles stadium with the Rams hinges on a Chargers 'yea' or 'nay', which the bolts have a year to voice.

So what do the USC Trojans, who play games at the old Memorial Coliseum, think about the move.


Better yet, what do the silver & black clad L.A. Temptation, the all female flag team of the LFL, think about it. 


Time and pressure friends.  Time......and......pressure!


Legends Football League 

Jayne Kennedy Sports Salute

For those of us watching sports in the late 1970's, Jayne Kennedy, a former beauty pageant title-holder, made viewing the football pregame show NFL Today a blast.  She was young, smart, articulate, fine as heck and could talk football with the best of men.  

Her story of rising to the top as a female African-American broadcast host and celebrity actress before being brought down by a leaked sex tape, an unthinkable and unforgivable celebrity sin at the time, is a story full of many firsts in sports and broadcast tv.

I came across an article, Revisiting the first celeb sex tape, that gives Jayne's story and does it in a way that makes one wonder if she was just too smart, sexy and ethnic for CBS in that era.  They could probably handle her being one, but smart, sexy and ethnic all together might of threatened perceptions. All her co-hosts were ugly, older males.

She wasn't the first pretty female broadcaster on the sports show; she'd replaced former Miss America beauty Phyllis George.  Phyllis was one of the first females to have a prominent role in national sports coverage.  She was pretty and smart, but Jayne just had that charm and sex appeal which put her in a league of her own.

Fans of football and television were easy to forgive Jayne, seeing it really as her doing nothing wrong. No scandal could smear her beauty in our eyes. Might've even added to her appeal. But network television and the NFL weren't so liberal and forgiving and her career in sports and television fizzled afterward.   

In 1988 a former co-host of The NFL Show, Jimmy 'the Greek' Snyder, would also see his career ended by an over-sensitive NFL Today as he made a racial remark on-air that was not intended to offend. 

But the Greek was nothing pretty to look at. Sports television could afford to lose his services. But Jayne was the heart throb to young and old men across the nation. She was the beauty that somehow effortlessly tamed the beast in football men.  She was beauty and brains pioneering a way for women and people of color in sports broadcasting.  You'd swear the television set turned High Definition when Jayne was on the air; and HD wouldn't exist for another decade or more. That was how buttery and lovely her skin looked on television; in color or black & white.

If they haven't already, I'd like to see the NFL honor Jayne Kennedy for her contributions to NFL football and sports broadcasting.  Jayne is a legend to many of us sports fans.  She fits right in with the nostalgia of that era's professional football.

Thanks for being our Beauty in the broadcast booth Jayne.  You were that and so much more. 

Raider Nation Salutes You!

It's Football Playoffs Time

With two teams from the AFC West representin' in the NFL Playoffs, I should feel better about my Raiders 7-9 regular season. It means they had four divisional games against teams good enough to make the playoffs, not to mention the four non-divisional playoff teams they played (bengals, steelers, vikings, packers). The Raiders will be back in playoff contention next season; I guarantee it! (thanks Broadway Joe)

I'm not sure who to cheer for in this year's Playoffs. I suppose for the AFC I'd like to see Peyton Manning get another shot at the title.  Of course I'd like to see Cam Newton and the Panthers get there also for the NFC, but something about seeing Vikings RB Adrian Peterson doing his thing in the Super Bowl excites me. 

Speaking of AP, there was an interview where he acknowledged Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch as being the best running back in the league today, " hands down". 

Now that's one hell of an endorsement coming from a great player like Adrian Peterson.  It shows how much respect Peterson has for the game and the players he competes against.  

Wait a minute; correction. AP called Lynch the second best running back?  Second to AP, I suppose. Oh shucks! Oh well, there's no room for humbleness in football, and Peterson just might've put his arrogant foot in his mouth and awakened a Beast. 

Imagine a playoffs showdown between AP and Beast Mode?  I'd pay Floyd Mayweather Fight money to see it, with money down on Oaktown's Lynch.

Well, tomorrow I get that wish, minus the Money May pay-per-view robbery, as their two teams (vikings & seahawks) faceoff against one another in a wild card game. It's the beginning of the second season as the NFL Playoffs take over the sports world in a last team standing tournament.

Good Luck gentleman, "and may the odds be ever in your favor."


Raiders News: Khalil Mack has made All-Pro history.

Raiders End Season With A Loss

Just Stay Baby

Cheer up Raiders fans, it could be worse.  We could've been the New York Jets blowing a chance to clinch a playoff birth.

#29 David Amerson

The Raiders lost in Kansas City to the Chiefs 23-17. So long Charles Woodson and hello David Amerson, who provided the Raiders defensive highlight of the day, a pick six.

The best things that can be said about this Raiders squad is that they're young and they never quit. Obviously there's some talent, but we've seen teams with talent in the past who couldn't produce on the field. Not being able to pinpoint the Raiders offensive drop-off in play ever since the Pittsburgh game, I'm a bit skeptical about next season being a breakout year for them. Carr and Cooper gotta get better.

When they can give me a dominating running game with an offensive front that can push defenders backwards, then I'll believe the hype.  Same with the improved defense, it needs more D-line push to be consistently effective. A defensive line that can quickly get to the passer is a defensive backfield's best friend.

So here we are at the end of the regular season. The Oakland Raiders finish with a 7-9 record.  It's improvement. It's promise. But then again, it's 7-9.

Win, Lose or Tie

Thanks for a competitive season Raiders. Now get better.

College Bowl Comeback

Today's college football bowl game between #11 TCU and #15 Oregon went from a 31-point Oregon Ducks first half rout to a TCU comeback of unbelievable proportions.

It took the TCU Horned Frogs a full game of regulation along with three over-time periods, but they pulled off one of the most improbable come-from-behind wins in college bowl history.

The football analysts will be talking for days about what went so wrong for the Ducks and so right for the Horned Frogs in a game that was truly a tale of two halves and more. 

Was it coaching, fatigue, over confidence or just plain bad luck that saw the Ducks squander a 31-point lead and lose the game.  I'm convinced it was the Frogs bruised pride responsible for the Ducks misfortunes after halftime. Time and pressure can move mountains.

TCU was embarrassingly out-coached and outplayed in the first half by a lesser ranked team. Their coach must've reminded them of what got them to the bowl game and all the hard work they'd put in over the season.  The comeback was epic.

It takes a smart and passionate coach to lift the heart and spirit of an underachieving team up to their level of full potential in so short a time. Somebody out there has the coach's half-time speech. If its you, TMZ will pay a fortune for an exclusive I'm sure.

The Horned Frogs are Alamo Bowl Champions with the scent of never-say-die still emanating from the scoreboard.

	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	OT		Total
Oregon	21	10	0	0	7	3	0		41
TCU	0	0	17	14	7	3	6		47