It's Football Season. Be Careful! Lest We Forget.

Last Season Was A Complete Disaster For The Oakland Raiders. From The Owner To The Coaches To The Players, Not Everyone Was In On The Same Page Performing On The Same Professional Level.

Now They Know Better And Have Made Major Adjustments. Come This Sunday And The Following Sundays That Make Up The NFL 2007 Season, Who Are The Oakland Raiders Gonna Bring To Do Battle On The Gridiron?

EVVVERYONE!

Smoking A Health Risk? Humbug!

Every day a story straight from the headlines catches my attention. Be it a crime, a miracle or a politician caught with his hand in the cookie jar, stories light up my imagination.

That being said, the story that "lit up" my imaginative juices this morning is about a Centurian celebrating her 100th birthday. Nothing too miraculous about turning 100 these days, but add to this story the fact that our little whippersnapper has been puffing cigarettes since 1914, Now That's A Story!

Her name is Winnie Langley, and isn't she just a peach? Cigarette Smoking Haters, eat your heart out, Winnie's living proof that smoking helps you live a fuller, longer, stress reduced life. So put that in your "Green Pipes" and smoke it.

She's been through two world wars and all the shit between and afterwards, 1918 influenza epidemic (Spanish Flu), economic hardships, drought and ten years of Britain's version of George Bush; Tony Blair. In other words, she's one tough bitch. When Satin approached her in 1957 with a soul-selling contract she blew rings around his horns and told him what he could do with his flaming pitchfork.

Winnie says her secret is smoking in moderation (five cigarettes a day).

U GO GURL!

Its A Fan Thing!

Blood Red Lunar Eclipse Illuminates SF TransAmerica Building

Rumor has it that this same moon appeared over the Bay Area a few nights before the 1906 earthquake. Old-time Sailors always heeded the warning of a Blood Red Moon by seeking land.

Maybe we in the Bay Area should seek water for the next few days. Wasn't Vegas once a huge lake?

Chronicle photo by Frederic Larson

Little League World Series 2007

The slugger, hitting .769 entering Sunday's game, was 0-for-2 with a walk when he came up in the eighth.

He said a little prayer before settling himself in the batter's box.
"God, please give me the strength to get a hit and help my team out," Carriker said in recounting his prayer.

There was no doubt about his opposite-field shot off Kiuchi, which easily cleared the right-field fence 225 feet away from the plate.

And this is what makes Baseball so special. Its a game where both big and small kids prayers are answered.

Congratulations Little League World Series Champions of Warner Robins, Georgia.

Dalton Carriker's game-winning homer broke the hearts of Japan and powered the U.S. to its third straight LLWS championship.

Georgia 3
Tokoyo 2

Atlas Shrugged

Death Toll Hits 450 in Peru Earthquake

Just how devastating was the magnitude-8 earthquake that hit Peru?

Death Toll Has Hit 450

More Than 1,500 Injured

Dust-covered Dead Laid Out in City Streets

Damaged Hospitals and Morgues have Injured Lying on Cots in City Streets w/Dead

Huge Aftershocks, at Least 14 of Magnitude 5.0 or Higher

At Least 200 People Buried Alive in San Clemente Church in the Port of Pisco

The shaking lasted for an agonizing two minutes, burying at least 200 people, according to the town's mayor. On Thursday, only two stone columns rose from a giant pile of stone, bricks, wood and dust.

Rescuers pulled out bodies all day and lined them up on the plaza - at least 60 by late afternoon. Civil defense workers then arrived and zipped them into body bags. But relatives searching desperately for the missing opened the zippers, crying hysterically each time they recognized a familiar face.

Few in the traumatized crowds would talk with journalists. One man shouted at the bodies of his wife and two small daughters as they were pulled from the rubble: "Why did you go? Why?"

No Lights, No Water, No Communications, Most Houses Have Fallen

Prison Wall Toppled Allowing 600 Prisoners To Flee, Only 29 Recaptured So Far

Took Red Cross 7.5 hours to arrive in one city, three times the normal travel time, due to Damaged Roads

Scientists Define Quake as a Megathrust, the Largest Type of Quake on The Planet


If Nothing Else, Just Send A Prayer!

Original Story by JEANNETH VALDIVIESO

Why I Like YouTube

Considered by many to be the Most Beautiful Woman in The World, Aishwarya Rai's stunning beauty has mesmerized me from the moment I first laid eyes on her. She has that femininely angelic quality that lifts her beauty above sexual desire and onto a level of deity. Wow, that's deep. Me, a Red Blooded American Male deifying a beautiful woman who's not a Raiderette? Football season couldn't come soon enough.
The former Miss World has fantastic skin, long silky hair, and intoxicating eyes. Damn, Intoxicating.

Are You Kidding Me? Jake Brown Pulls A 720

Jake "SkyWalker X" Crashes The X-Games.

I can't do the man justice by writing about it. After all, he survived a 50ft fall onto a hardwood x-games roller ramp. This, after successfully pulling off a narly 720 skateboard jump. You just gotta see it to believe it. Watch the Video to the end for full commentary effect. The cameramen also deserve praise for catching every angle. Simply Thrilling!




Jake......U DA Man Bro!

Monday Night Football - 49ers vs Broncos

FEATURING THE SF GOLD TRIGGERS!





Final Score

Broncos 17
$49.ers 13

Preseason Win: Exhibition Game 1

The Oakland Raiders opened up the 2007 preseason with a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. As preseason goes, both teams were a bit rusty with dropped passes and missed tackles. But surprisingly the starting units didn't commit many if any penalties and only one turnover by Arizona.

The Raiders played with a passion, a smart passion. The obvious improvement from last year is the offensive line play. We now actually have a running game and are giving the quarterback time to do his thing. Also, the play calling, though vanilla for the preseason, fits the personnel on the field. The coaches are putting the right players in the right schemes to come up with productive plays.

There were more positives than negatives tonight for the Raiders. Its a new season and it looks promising. A great way to start the season, be it preseason or not.

Just Win Baby!
"Im In" (training camp theme)

PRAYER REQUEST

I went searching the web for a prayer site that takes prayer requests with no conditions attached. After doing a 30 minute search I realized that such a site just doesn't exist.


Every Prayer site wants a verifiable email address and other personal information. Maybe I'm just naive to the workings of internet faith, but I didn't feel like being sold an item later for a prayer today. I get enough spam already and I felt the sites were just gathering user information under the guise of faithful prayer.

So instead I decided to just post my prayer here on my blog. Who knows, maybe a faithful servant of God is a sports fan who randomly reads blogger news and events. This prayer request is for a relative, may she receive God's blessings!

I'm submitting this prayer request for a relative who's suffering from many illnesses, one being loss of hope. I believe that God will guide her through, but I fear she's lost her way and is following her own will. In following her own will it seems her life is becoming more diseased instead of healed. The effects of her illness has her believing that her will is God's will. I kindly request a prayer that helps her discern the path of God from all others and that she find the guiding light that leads one out of darkness and restores a broken soul.

Home Run King Barry Bonds - 756

Tonight Barry Bonds became the lone Home Run King in surpassing Hank Aaron's record with his 756th Career Home Run.

AND I WAS THERE; VIEW BOX SECTION 310 - ROW 7 - SEAT 5

A truly historic moment to be a part of in Baseball. The lightening bug-like camera flashes, the crowd noise, the fireworks, the orange and gold streamers, Hank Aaron's congratulatory comments on the big HD Jumbotron and Barry thanking baseball, family and the fans. His final thanks being that to his dad (Bobby Bonds) brought out emotions that it seemed Barry had been holding back all this time. It was only fitting that the game was halted a good seven minutes, which actually seemed like an hour. I just realized that Willie Mays was there. The Giants are planning a full pre-game celebration for Bonds in the near future.

Barry Bonds tonight was as stunned by his accomplishment as everyone watching. As they say with NFL Hall of Fame Induction speeches, you can try preparing for the emotional overload but once the moment is upon you there's no holding back the flood of emotions. Barry was flooded with emotions. Maybe thats why at the top of the 6th inning he went out to his left field position followed by a camera crew and surprisingly left the field to an ovation moments later. Young Speedster Rajai Davis replaced Bonds in left field as Roberts came in to play center field.

The emotions probably trickled over into the stands where San Franbcisco Giants fans were hugging, high-fiving and actually crying with joy. I believe only a World Series Win could bring on as much emotion and comraderie that was flowing through AT&T Park tonight.

So what if a Mets fan from Queens, NY came out of the pile bloodied and bruised with ownership of the HR treasure. We Giants fans were way to busy taking in the true treasure that was the Historic Crowning of A New Home Run King, Our Home Run King, #25 Barry Bonds.

Congratulations Barry for climbing a mountain and reaching its peak. A Truly Historic Achievement.

And as Hank Aaron said, "the achievement of this record, will inspire others to chase their own dreams."

Giants vs Nationals Game Ticket $26
Ghiradelli Ice Cream Sunday $8.50
Souvenir Beer Cup $8.00
Bootleg Bonds 756 T-Shirt $10.00
Home Run 756 Live Experience

PRICELESS!

Kung Fu Sunday

After watching the A's lose to the Anaheim/L.A. Angels, I made it home from the Coliseum to watch a Kung Fu Classic Movie; "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin."

Made in 1978 by Shaw Brothers and considered by many to be the best Martial Arts movie ever made, I kicked back and enjoyed every morsel of it. Its not so much a fighting movie as it is a training and philosophy movie on martial arts. If your a person with even the slightest interest in martial arts, then you'll be mesmerized by this timeless classic.

I'd seen it once many years ago and somehow found myself enjoying it more this time. The story, the acting and the martial arts were all top quality and the cinematography puts you right there inside the Shaolin Temple. You are actually transported back to when you might have been a child watching martial arts films and chopping everything in sight. I know that I replayed a few scenes while mimiciking the hung gar style kung fu moves myself.

I even watched the feature commentary with The RZA of Wu-Tang Clan who was influenced at a young age by the movie back in 1981, when he saw it for the first time in New York City.

I highly endorse a viewing of this movie to anyone interested in the outer training and inner discipline of a true martial artist and/or the Hung Gar kung fu style.

A beautiful peace of work by Shaw Brothers and director Liu Chia-Liang. You'll find it listed on almost any top ten martial arts film list. As for one of my favorites, check out this youtube fight scene between Jet Li and Billy Chow in Fist of Legend (a remake of Chinese Connection). Classic!

Dante Culpepper A Raider?

News of Dante Culpepper signing a one-year deal with the Raiders leaves me feeling funny. Funny because we probably could've used him, or someone like him, when Randy Moss was around. Oh well, we'll take Dante and hope that he's healthy enough to move around in the pocket a bit. His size does give us someone in the pocket who can actually stand up in the pocket. Dante is known for brushing off would-be tacklers like swatting away flies. He's a big quarterback and we can use that size. Welcome to the Oakland Raiders Dante!

Barry Slams No. 754 in wild Friday Night Win!

In a night where expectations were higher than high for Barry Bonds, the SF Giants slugger crushed Home Run No. 754 over the 404ft. placard near center field bleachers. It was only the first inning in what would turn out to be a wild home run derby of a night. Durham, Feliz and Molina would all receive ovations for their out-of-the-park hits, but it was definitely Bonds home run, the first of four for the San Francisco Giants, that sent us fans at AT&T park into a wild history being made mode. The Giants would go on to beat the Florida Marlins 12-10 in a game that featured six home runs on twenty-nine hits.

Funny how as a fan experiencing what would be history in the making, you tend to stop everything for a brief moment just to take in the moment and record it on your memory bank. The sounds of the cheering crowd mixed in with the public address announcer's confirming call, the flashing jumbotron HD screen showing HR754 before playing a clip of Michael Jordan congratulating Barry Bonds, the touch of the fans who though complete strangers seconds before are now giving you high-fives and gleeful smiles, the smell of the evening fog mixed in with hot dog farts and early game cha cha bowls, a kid (girl of course) sitting in front of me takes the time to look up from her reading of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book to cheer Barry around the bases. Priceless!

It truly was a night of historic baseball game images that I'll savor for some time. Sure, home runs 755 and 756 will be climatic in their representation of baseball glory, but witnessing No. 754 is like getting to the front of the line after a long wait and knowing that You Are NEXT. How often in life are we on the brink of achievement and want to just savor the accomplishment of arrival? The long journey will come to an end when Barry hits 755, but last night's 754 allowed us all to arrive with him at that monumental precipice called HR King of The Hill. As we peeked over the edge of that hill we saw the greatness that has been Barry Bonds all these years as well as the greatness of the game of baseball. We viewed those who came before him, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron & Willie Mays, as well as those who are coming after. Viewing the game of baseball was one heck of a sight to see at AT&T Park in San Francisco last night.

I'll probably sneak down to the game tonight to hopefully see Barry hit HR No. 755. But the memory of watching No.754 will remain for me the moment of achievement. Barry will tie baseball's career HR record with his NEXT one, and he'll break the record with the one after, but as of last night he's on deck and the fat lady is humming.

A Giant Loss

Last night everything was setup for a heroic SF Giants Victory Classic. They'd erased a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings against the Atlanta Braves. The atmosphere of AT&T Park was bustling with Barry Ball excitement. Bonds is on 753 and only needs two to tie and three to surpass Hank Aaron on the career home run list. Commissioner Bud Selig was at the game surprisingly. He'd said earlier in the season that he probably wouldn't make it for Barry's shot to be heard around the world.

Pitcher Tim Hudson (Former A's) had kept the Giants hitting into groundouts and double plays throughout the first six and two-third innings or so, while Matt Morris pitched well for the Giants despite four scores by the Braves.

Forget trying to recap the game though, let me get to the exciting finish. With more than half the house leaving or gone in the bottom of the ninth, the Giants rallied. After watching the game outside the park in the knothole, I spied the back entrance gate wide open, probably in anticipation of a no run ninth for the Giants and another loss.

I walked right in uncontested, found a great viewing spot in the bleachers and watched the Giants bats and pitching come to life. The Giants were the Giants of yesteryear in those four extra innings. They did everything with the exception of scoring a run. Even Barry, looking like the young Pirate that he was years ago, came up with a sliding catch that most thought he couldn't get to.

Give credit to Randy Messenger for stepping in and pitching like a true closer. He kept the Braves hitless and gave the Giants plenty of opportunities to win the game. Not to blame the umpire for the loss, but there were some odd calls in those extra innings. Unfortunately, it wasn't Sanchez's night as he gave up the winning runs. I still can't understand why Bochy left him in after seeing he didn't have his good stuff. By the time Vinny Chulk came in to relieve in the 13th, the Braves damage was done.

The Giants did rally one more time in the bottom of the 13th. but in the end, with the crowd still on their feet, with children asleep in their parent's arms, the clock struck twelve and the Giant Lewis was called out looking at a Tyler Yates fast ball with the bases loaded. Who the heck is this Tyler Yates anyway? He's a Beast of a pitcher.

Hats off the the Atlanta Braves for winning a competitive game 7-5. With two more games left in this four game series, the Giants best shot at winning one may have been last nights close one. The Braves seem to have everything the Giants didn't last night. But we've still got the one thing that no team in MLB has, that's Barry Bonds. And though Bonds didn't deliver last night, the anticipation and excitement of watching him come up to the plate is priceless. It's Historic!

President For A Day...........Or More

News out of Washington D.C. today makes life just a bit uneasy and precarious for us citizens of these here United States. Why? Well, Former Vice-President Dick Cheney is acting President as I write this blog. Sure George Bush Jr. hasn't lived up to his daddy's standard as President, but at least he's "stayed the course" of bringing democracy to the Middle East.

With President Dick Cheney in charge, that course could take a few unexpected turns within the time it takes to have a colonoscopy. That's the procedure GW is having that has him invoking Section 3 of the 25th Amendment to voluntarily transfer his powers and duties to the Vice President.

This might be the one time in the history of George Bush Jr's reign that all Americans of all political parties, should come together and pray for this land of milk and honey. Because if you think this country's foreign and domestic policies have soured over the years, you ain't seen nothing yet.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Saturday transferred his presidential power temporarily to Vice President Dick Cheney just before undergoing a routine colonoscopy.

President Bush temporarily transferred power to Vice President Dick Cheney Saturday, the White House says.

The procedure has already begun and is expected to take about 2½ hours, the White House said.

"This morning at 7:16 a.m., letters from President Bush were faxed to the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate," the White House said in a statement.

"These letters informed them of his decision to invoke Section 3 of the 25th Amendment to voluntarily transfer his powers and duties to the Vice President. This transmission transfers his duties, therefore the Vice President is now serving as Acting President."

The White House said the transfer will end when the president sends a second message to the congressional leaders, telling them he is resuming his powers.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Friday that the procedure, during which a doctor looks for any signs of cancer, was to be carried out at Camp David, Maryland, and the president would be placed under anesthesia.

Bush's last colonoscopy was in June 2002, and no abnormalities were found, Snow said.

The president's doctor had recommended a repeat procedure in about five years.

Run Forrest Run!

Us Father's do the darndest things when it comes to leading our sons toward manhood. But what Luis Miguel Gomez did was unthinkable. He led his 10-year-old son into the streets of Pamplona, Spain, during the annual running of the Bulls celebration. Does that constitute losing his part-time parental visitation rights? A judge thought so after his ex-wife found out and notified the family courts. Seems Luis will now be at the mercy of the ex-wife when it comes to seeing his son anytime in the near future. But for a father and son who've already been separated enough through the legal custody system, this incident will surely bond them together forever. They'll both have a story to pass on to family and friends for years to come. What a price for a lifelong story though. Thank God the kid's okay. Sure he'll have a few nightmares of being trampled by a bruising bull, but such is the price of hanging out with the dad who just wants to spend quality time with his son and help steer him toward manhood. Hey Luis, next time just take him to a restaurant that serves bulls balls, that'll be one for the ages, and a whole lot safer.

Dog Gone Wild!

According to the AKC, the perfect boxer's appearance should be:

..a medium-sized, square-built dog of good substance with short back, strong limbs, and short, tight-fitting coat. His well-developed muscles are clean, hard, and appear smooth under taut skin. His movements denote energy. The gait is firm yet elastic, the stride free and ground-covering, the carriage proud. Developed to serve as guard, working, and companion dog, he combines strength and agility with elegance and style. His expression is alert and his temperament steadfast and tractable.

Sooooooo, why was I and my partner unexpectedly attacked by this so-called "great family dog?"

Lucky for me, I froze like a mummy as the Boxer came charging from twenty-five feet or so away. I nor his owner had any warning of his instantaneous and unprovoked agression. Even after the attack the owner and those present that know the Boxer couldn't explain why he decided to bolt towards me full speed, come to a halt at my feet, then bolt the opposite direction and chomp down on my partner's ankle like it was a tasty snack. I can still hear those infamous yet all familiar words; "I don't know what got into him, he's never done that before."

Prior to my searching the web for Boxer Breed innuendo, my running theory was that some type of scent triggered a bad reaction in the dog, possibly a scent from another dog or a cat on me or my partner. We ruled out the other theory of my darker skin color triggering the reaction, since he came to an abrupt halt at my feet, sniffed my ankle area, then ran back the way he came to lunge at and bite down on my partner's ankle. Color was only considered after realizing that I was the only person of color in the building.

We all found it odd that the Boxer's initial charge took him right past his eventual victim, my partner. Think about it, why would an attacking dog pass up a nearer chunkier target (sorry partner), charge at a darker thinner plate of meat (that be me), stop just as he's ready to take a hearty taste, sniff around then go back for the chunky light meat and take a bite? If it were a human I'd understand. Greed. But this is a Boxer, an intelligent and proud companion of a dog. And no I do not suffer from athlete's feet or any smelly foot condition.

Upon researching this Brachycephalic breed of canine I found out something that the owner's must be ignorant of; Boxer's are very territorial guard dogs. It's strongly advised that a Boxer's owner "INTRODUCE" him to any person(s) entering their territory. Guess my partner and I we're just lambs being led to the slaughter. The Boxer didn't know we were there to work on the phone system, he probably figured it was a test of his guard dog skillz. He definitely passed the test.

It didn't help that a smaller chihuhuahua was cheerleading on the sidelines while the Boxer was tearing into his prey. After the attack an old German Shepherd strolled out of an office as if to see what the commotion was that woke him up from his late afternoon nap. I don't think he had the strength to even bark. Looked like Rin Tin Tin had come out of retirement only to find that he didn't have it in him anymore.

I did comment, after seeing my partner was okay, that Dog owner's are always giving that infamous line; "He's never done that before." I told them all that's why I became a damn cat lover. You'll never see a cat charge out from under a desk, bearing down on you with dark beedy eyes looking to rip you to shreds with his large incisors. Even if a cat did loose it like that, so what, he's a damn cat, grab his tail and sling him out the third floor window for chrissakes.

So with the end of yet another day of learning about life, I leave you with these canine rules of wisdom. Anytime you enter a room where there's a dog that you've never met, immediately turn to the owner and ask if you can be introduced to "The Boxer." And if the owner says wait a second while I go get the muzzle and leash, don't stand there like you've never heard of Cujo, find the nearest exit and immediately leave the premises.

Who's On First?

I loved this Bud Abbott and Lou Costello routine before I even loved Baseball.

Click to see: Who's On First?