Gruden/McKenzie Call-In A Blast

Today at 4:00 p.m. PST, Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Reggie McKenzie hosted a Season Ticket Member conference call. It was all good! 

A heartfelt Thank You goes out to Lincoln Kennedy for emceeing yet another great conference call-in with Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and new head coach Jon Gruden. The "Big Fella" done got good with a mic in his hand. He kept it moving with a rhythm and flow that would make the top chart rappers jealous. Good job Linc!

This year's conference call was extra special because it featured "CHUCKY" being back in black, reminding us Raiders fans why we love our team so much; we got history. Gruden hasn't lost his touch with communicating his thoughts and passions for the game of football and it's players. He came across as excited to be back with a genuine love for Oakland. Sure he threw a sales pitch for buying tickets to the games but whaddaya expect, he's on the job.  

The call-in went great with many questions asked that Raider Nation felt were important for Reggie and Gruden to give their take on. It wasn't an interrogation type call but an informative one. Nothing but respect on both ends. Reggie McKenzie has gotten better at answering questions and even welcomed the joking criticism of his son being drafted a Kansas City Chiefs. Reggie was great when asked how it felt to see his son go to a rival; "come game day it is what it is!." 

The callers were very respectful as usual and 99.9% were definitely on top of their game with questions that needed to be asked. Maybe it was due to good caller screening by the Raiders organization for there to be no questions about the team moving. That kept the conference call positive and upbeat, smart move.

Although the Raiders had a disappointing season last year there was nothing but love for Reggie and the direction the team is heading. A lot of that probably had to do with Gruden being back. Chucky is likely the best addition the Raiders have made during the offseason. He's looking to prove to himself and doubters that the game has not past him by. He trusts the pedigree of his assistant coaches. They've put together a football teaching clinic in Oakland; teaching our guys to win.

For those who couldn't listen in on the conference call, a season ticket members only event, trust me when I say we Raiders fans will see an improved football product wearing silver and black on Sundays come this fall. Gruden is not making any guarantees nor is he shying away from the notion of a Raiders return to Super Bowl greatness in the near future. 

Yeah, Go Talk To Him Charles, He's Downstairs"

Finally, basketball commentator Charles Barkley was silenced after asking a chump question of a Golden State Warriors player. 

The Question:  "Is Draymond Green as annoying in person as he is on television?" 

The Answer:  "You should go talk to him, he's downstairs." 

And you guessed it, Charles didn't move one ounce of his big biscuit eating butt toward the stairs. You know why?

Yep, Draymond Green don't take kindly to someone wanting him punched in the face. Even if the wanna be perpetrator is slinging a mock punch from upstairs behind a desk. Dray is simply Ol'Skool when it comes to anybody throwing threats his way. He knows talk is cheap and his feeling toward that type of cheap talk is simply they know where to find him. 

Because Dray ain't hiding from nobody. His teammates know it, us Warriors fans know it and now I suppose Charles Barkley knows it. And if Chuck knows what's best for him he'll finish up his game 4 visit to Oracle Arena Tuesday and go directly to Oakland Airport to get out of the bay. And don't even think of catching a bus or train. Because as Cyrus once said in a legendary speech of the streets; 

BECAUSE IT'S ALL OUR TURF

The Thought of Death - Maurice Guest

“Do you ever think of death?”

Maurice had been the listener for so long that he started.

“Death?” he echoed, and was as much embarrassed as though asked whether he believed in God. “I don’t know. No, I don’t think I do. Why should one think of death when one is alive and well?”

Krafft laughed at this, with a pitying irony. “Happy you!” he said. “Happy you!” His voice sank, and he continued almost fearfully: “I have the vision of it before me, always wherever I go. Listen; I will tell you; it is like this.” 

He laid his hand on Maurice’s arm, and drew him nearer. “I know—no matter how strong and sound I may be at this moment; no matter how I laugh, or weep, or play the fool; no matter how little thought I give it, or whether I think about it all day long—I know the hour will come, at last, when I shall gasp, choke, grow black in the face, in the vain struggle for another single mouthful of that air which has always been mine at will. And no one will be able to help me; there is no escape from that hour; no power on earth can keep it from me. And it is all a matter of chance when it happens—a great lottery: one draws to-day, one to-morrow; but my turn will surely come, and each day that passes brings me twenty-four hours nearer the end.” 

He drew still closer to Maurice. “Tell me, have you never stood before a doorway—the doorway of some strange house that you have perhaps never consciously gone past before—and waited, with the atrocious curiosity that death and its hideous paraphernalia waken in one, for a coffin to be carried out?—the coffin of an utter stranger, who is of interest to you now, for the first and the last time. And have you not thought to yourself, with a shudder, that some day, in this selfsame way, under the same indifferent sky, among a group of loiterers as idly curious as these, you yourself will be carried out, feet foremost, like a bale of goods, like useless lumber, all will and dignity gone from you, never to enter there again?—there, where all the little human things you have loved, and used, and lived amongst, are lying just as you left them—the book you laid down, the coat you wore—now all of a greater worth than you. You are mere dead flesh, and behind the horrid lid lie stark and cold, with rigid fingers and half-closed eyes, and the chief desire of every one, even of those you have loved most, is to be rid of you, to be out of reach of sight and smell of you. 

And so, after being carted, and jolted, and unloaded, you will be thrown into a hole, and your body, ice-cold, and as yielding as meat to the touch—oh, that awful icy softness!—your flesh will begin to rot, to be such that not your nearest friend would touch you. God, it is unbearable!”

from the book titled "Maurice Guest, by Henry Handel Richardson (aka Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson) 1909

Author Portrait

Quality book review and breakdown of Maurice Guest novel

Maurice Guest (gutenberg.net.au)

It is the first day of September 2024, and I have just completed reading the entire book "Maurice Guest, by H.H. Richardson." While it was the writing that attracted me to this tome of a book, the story it tells of obsessive love is one for the ages. The saying, "I stayed up into the wee hours engrossed in reading this novel," is no cliche when reviewing the book Maurice Guest. The 1909 edition I read was somewhat challenging, with descriptions of old and German words thrown in here and there. But it's a challenge I would encourage other avid readers to take on. For you don't just read about the characters and events, you see, feel, and experience their entwined lives along with them, both emotionally and psychologically. And should you find familiarity in a character's love dealings with your own personal experience of obsessed love or love loss, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Love throughout history has not always been patient and kind. And in many cases, it hurts and leaves scars.

It's Not Just Starbucks - RACE

This article about Native American teens pulled off a college tour because of a white woman's discomfort with their presence says a lot about American race issues today. As with anti-communist scares of the past (Red Scare), our country has gotten stuck on a media diet of foreign invasion and homegrown race hatred. When every incident is seen as a potential racist or terrorist event, maybe it's time to change our diet and start addressing the underlying issues of race and privilege.


We live in a time when the American government encourages us to "see something, say something." But, increasingly, it feels to people of color like being seen by white people means having the police swiftly called on us, because we make those white folks feel uncomfortable based on our presence alone. What they're "seeing" is people of color in spaces they expect to be more white, and they're calling law enforcement to reassure them of that - and it's blatant racism.


THINK: Native American teens pulled off college tour are latest victims of the push to police white spaces

John Ruskin - The Art of Becoming Rich

Historic Guinea Coin

The Veins of Wealth
By John Ruskin
(English art critic and university professor, 1819–1900; author of many works upon social questions, and master of perhaps the greatest English prose style)

PRIMARILY, which is very notable and curious, I observe that men of business rarely know the meaning of the word “rich.” At least if they know, they do not in their reasonings allow for the fact, that it is a relative word, implying its opposite “poor” as positively as the word “north” implies its opposite “south.” Men nearly always speak and write as if riches were absolute, and it were possible, by following certain scientific precepts, for everybody to be rich. Whereas riches are a power like that of electricity, acting only through inequalities or negations of itself. The force of the guinea you have in your pocket depends wholly on the default of a guinea in your neighbor’s pocket. If he did not want it, it would be of no use to you; the degree of power it possesses depends accurately upon the need or desire he has for it,—and the art of making yourself rich, in the ordinary mercantile economist’s sense, is therefore equally and necessarily the art of keeping your neighbor poor.

Andrew McCutchen Lifts Giants Over Dodgers

#22 ANDREW

M-c-C-L-U-T-C-H-E-N!

San Francisco Giants newly acquired right fielder Andrew McCutchen, the former Pittsburgh Pirate, hit a two run walk off home run in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the home team the win. McCutchen had his best game as a Giant producing 6 Hits on the night with 4 RBI and 2 Runs. 

You could see his frustration of a 2-24 at bat season melt away with each successful hit of the night. Then came his twelve pitch at bat that ended in a walk off home run. Afterwards McCutchen was pumped up like any game winning hero would be as new teammates and home fans showed him all the love that San Francisco baseball is capable of.

As a Pirate he was a 5-time All Star, NL MVP, Silver Slugger (4x) and Golden Glove Awards winner as well as a Roberto Clemente Award winner.    

Seeing McCutchen in tonight's game swing, celebrate with class and gusto and round the bases in a Giants #22 jersey brought back shades of Will "The Thrill" Clark. The Thrill had some big moments as a Giant against the Dodgers in his playing days. Let's hope this is just a small sample size of bigger things to come for McCutchen this season. 

Final Score (14 innings)
Dodgers 5
Giants 7

Clutch adjective

adjective: clutch; comparative adjective: clutcher; superlative adjective: clutchest

1. 1.

   (in sport) denoting or occurring in a critical situation in which the outcome of a game or competition is at stake.

   
   

   "they both are hard-nosed players who seem to thrive in clutch situations"

Raiders Rewards Points Pays

R-A-I-D-E-R-S!

Got a call from my no-nonsense, tough as nails Raiders client service representative to inform me that I'd just won a #89 Amari Cooper jersey. I've received many gifts from the Raiders in the past, but never have I actually won anything Raiders. It was a welcome surprise to a wonderful Easter weekend. Heck, I even enjoyed my visit to the fiery Pentecostal Easter celebration being held at a huge convention center. Had to give thanks for the jersey and all the blessings that life offers.

If you've never received a call informing you that you've won something then I should tell you, it's as joyous as driving down the road in a brand 'spanking' new car. You feel like the spotlight of lucky success has just shined its light down on you, if only for a moment. And you bask in the glory of it all. You immediately want to share it, not the prize but the news of your triumph. Nothing says "YOU DAH MAN" like a winning ticket or prize. Especially when the prize is from your Favorite Sports Franchise.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Golden State Warriors. Been a suffering fan of the gold and blue since I got to Cali. back in the 1980's and my aunt gave me a surprise birthday party with Warriors players Mickey Johnson and Sleepy Floyd in attendance. I WAS DAH MAN then. Going to Warriors games with free courtside seats. Special access to guests post-game area outside players locker room. Back then I was having a hard time just giving tickets away. Now I can't get a sniff of the Upper Rooms at the Coliseum without borrowing from my 401K. Ain't that nothing, gotta steal from myself to see a basketball game. But I'm ecstatic to see the Warriors on top of the NBA.

Yep, love the Dubs. Also, excited to see baseball season begin here in the Bay this week. My Giants, injured pitchers and all, should be contenders. A World Series championship for the A's or Giants would be most welcome, again. 

But seeing the Oakland Raiders win the AFC and take out the NFC champion in the Super Bowl would be the best moment of my modern day sports life. Is it possible that my winning an Amari Cooper Raiders jersey is an omen of things to come? Yes, I'll take it as a sign, a sign that the Raiders are destined to have a winning season to top all seasons.

2018 is gonna be a silver and black block party that'll make the 2017 Fly Eagles Fly tour look like a bird watchers convention. We're talking Raiders fans from all walks of life coming out to reunite and be a part of something that began way back when Al Davis first joined the franchise in 1963 as head coach. We're talking an upcoming season of historic and monumental proportions. A season where every game, every down played is a countdown to the franchise leaving town. If the team still wants to leave for that desert oasis in Nevada after winning it all, they'll have my blessings, just as long as the Lombardi(s) stay in Oakland. Because this season, it's our year dammit!

Hear that NFL; the 2018 football season will see a Raiders team that is playing for more than just a damn Lombardi. They're playing for a city and its loyal fans who know the clock is ticking for when their house is no longer a home to the silver and black. The greatness that is their football franchise will become no more than a memorable slogan around town. But they'll show up and support their Raiders to the end; win, lose or tie. Because that's what Oakland Raiders fans do.

I'll be there this season, at the Coliseum wearing my newly won #89 Cooper jersey, Black! Because as a Raiders fan on football Sunday, Where Else would you rather be than suited up in battle fatigues at the game yelling and screaming for your nation, the Raider Nation.........soldiers one and all!

Where Else, Huh! Where Else?

Congratulations Notre Dame Women's Basketball

Guess I missed a good one. The Notre Dame Women, a basketball wait til next year story since 2001, has finally reached the mountaintop again. They were down 30-17 at the half and I suppose it was feeling like another wait til next year moment. But a super hero stepped up her game in the second half and made a heroic three point shot with 0.1 seconds left to catapult the Fighting Irish over the threshold of runner-up. 

Arike Ogunbowale is her name and making winning baskets has become her game. She did it in the Friday night semi-final game against UConn with a game winning two point shot with one second remaining in overtime. She is the Stefon Diggs of the moment and the Fighting Irish are NCAA Champions of the 2017-18 Season.  Congratulations ND.......

Arike Ogunbowale, center, hit a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to give Notre Dame the championship.
Credit Tony Dejak/Associated Press


Final Score
(1) Notre Dame Fighting Irish 61
(1) Mississippi State Bulldogs 58

Winnie Harlow - More Than Just A Super Model

If I had to choose a hero/role model for my Granddaughter I could do no better than give her Winnie Harlow to look up to. This woman has it all; brains, beauty, spirituality and the courage of a lioness.

Upon first seeing Winnie you can't help but notice the patchy skin condition (Vitiligo) overlaying her hidden beauty. But as you continue to look and analyze the person before you it becomes apparent that the Vitiligo is what's hidden behind a most beautiful smiling face with sparkling eyes and abundant spirit.

Winnie's presence completely engulfs and overtakes us as we rediscover what the romantic artists must've envisioned while painting and sculpting mythological Goddesses; Aphrodite, Athena, Persephone and such. This young lady has not only been a beacon of hope to others living with conditions of the skin, but she's been a speaker at events targeting the restoration of self esteem in young girls and grown women alike. Winnie reminds us all of how inner beauty seems to always trump outward appearances. It's a shame that we've bought in so committedly to what's been marketed to us as beauty. But with Winnie fearlessly doing her thing, times are definitely a changing.

"Courage is life's only measure" Soren Kierkegaard

Courage is the one word I'd use to describe all that Winnie stands for. In an age where women are standing up to the abusive power of men and yelling 'Enough!" She definitely has a place in the conversation. It takes a courageous woman to see herself and her inner world as beautiful while living in an outer world that feels uncomfortable about you. Well, Winnie has forced folks out of their comfort zone and the world is a much better place for it. Thanks Winnie!

Do you see me suffering?

Beauty Idol changing face of fashion

Helps transform YouTube toddler

Helps woman with Vitiligo accept herself

A Genie, A Guy, and a Bridge to Hawaii

A man was walking along a Florida beach and stumbled across an old lamp. He picked it up and rubbed it, and out popped a genie.

The genie said, "OK, You released me from the lamp, blah blah blah. This is the fourth time this month, and I'm getting a little sick of these wishes so you can forget about three... You only get one wish!"

The man sat, and thought about it for a while and said, "I've always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I'm scared to fly, and I get very seasick. Could you build me a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over there to visit?"

The genie laughed and said, "That's impossible!!!
Think of the logistics of that! How would the supports ever reach the bottom of the Pacific? Think of how much concrete -- how much steel!! No, think of another wish."

The man said, "OK, I'll try to think of a really good wish."
Finally, he said, "I've been married and divorced four times. My wives always said that I don't care and that I'm insensitive.

So, I wish that I could understand women, know how they feel inside, and what they're thinking when they give me the silent treatment. Know why they're crying, know what they really want when they say "nothing,", know how to make them truly happy."

The genie said, "Do you want that bridge to be two lanes or four?"

What is going on in The World of Sports?

Wait just a gosh darn moment. Did I fall asleep and wake up in a world gone off its frick'in sports rocker? Somewhere on the green I hear there's a Tiger on the prowl again in golf. Yesterday's football free agency saw my Raiders replace wide receiver Michael Crabtree with an equally proven veteran from Green Bay named Jordy. I just checked into the NCAA March Madness tournament to see that a sixteenth seeded UMBC beat #1 seed Virginia by 20pts; a first in the tournament history. Tennis saw Venus beat younger sister Serena the other day, finally. Retired boxer Floyd "money" Mayweather wants to jump into the MMA cage and reportedly will begin training "soon." Lebron had a McNasty Dunk go off the viral charts, even though his team lost the game.

And if all this weren't crazy enough, I just watched my defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors fall to the cellar dweller Sacramento Kings, in Oakland. This after it was announced that Kevin Durant will miss two weeks with a rib injury joining Klay, Steph and a host of other Warriors already out due to injuries. 

So what should I expect next, a ground splitting Earthquake to rattle the Bay Area out of bed on Baseball's upcoming opening day? At this rate of unbelievable events altering the sports scene, anything is possible and everything suspect. Maybe Kapernick, who was seen in Houston privately working out throwing the ball, will get signed. If the Juice can get Loose, cant Kap finally come back? Come'on Man!

And to think I recently made fun of a friend who had a framed certificate of achievement on his wall from his college days at guess which school? University of Baltimore County (UMBC)......Who Knew! I had Virginia winning it all.

UMBC Retrievers Dominate Virginia Cavaliers in Upset

16UMBC

25-10

74

Final

	1	2	T
UMBC	21	53	74
UVA	21	33	54

54

1UVA

31-3