NFL FOOTBALL SEASON

I Can Taste The Touchdowns!

Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame Guard Passes

Raider Legend Gene Upshaw has passed away at 63 years of age. Our Raider prayers are with his family and friends. Upshaw, #63, was and always will be a Raider, an Oakland Raider.

World's Fastest Man

USAIN BOLT

Sounds like a new Nike line of sneakers doesn't it? But its his name, and he just swept the Olympic Mens Track competition.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica has run faster than any human being who's been timed running. Ever. So we should expect to see him soon racing a cheetah in a commercial, or something like that.

I wonder what a track star does after the Olympics. I also wonder if Usain has ever caught a football pass. I'm sure Al Davis is drooling just thinking about having the fastest man in the world as a Raider. I am. We already have one of the strongest arms in JaMarcus Russell. Wow, what a dream I just had. Bolt Deep!

So come on over and visit the Black Hole when you're through in Beijing Usain. We'll sign you to the silver and black and make you a huge Star! And all we'll ask of you is that you run like a cheetah and catch the damn ball. The world can be yours. Just stay away from Las Vegas.

Track Stars and the NFL
Renaldo_Nehemiah

It only lasted three years. Nehemiah was fast, but he had trouble catching the ball. (Catching a speeding football is harder than it looks.) Also, his body had difficulty adjusting to getting walloped by cornerbacks and safeties.

Plus, as football coaches were learning, there's a difference between "track speed" and "football speed." The former is running in a straight line, and though sprints are very short, there's a strategy for the beginning, middle and end of the race. In football, however, the focus is on proper route-running and breakaway speed -- the ability to quickly accelerate now. Nehemiah didn't have it. His replacement, a man drafted in the spring of 1985 from a small college in Mississippi who wasn't particularly fast on the track, did have "football speed." His name was Jerry Rice, and most think he's the greatest wide receiver ever.

Trouble of the World - Mahalia Jackson

In Memory of A Friend: Whitney Henderson
Miss You Whit. Rest Well!

Rabid Vampire Bats

See the map above? See that red circle with a birdlike shadow inside? (it was red in the newspaper) Well that ain't no prayer dove and its definitely not the Gotham City batman beam. You should know that the color red in symbols usually means a warning. So if your as smart as a fifth-grader you should be able to put the characteristics of this symbol together to come of with its meaning; Warning Bats.

That's right, bats with sharp, long incisor teeth that prowl the South American countryside in search of fresh blood. Sounds like a cheesy horror novel or movie, but this is real. Its happening in the continent just south of these United States and could just be a matter of time before they venture north for fresh pickings. Wait, didn't the killer bees take the same route? Another story.

Thanks to the weekly newspaper column, Earthweek: A diary of the planet by Steve Newman, you can read about such natural phenomena as Vampire bat deaths. The scary part isn't the view of these flying mammals swooping down and sinking their incisors into unsuspecting sleeping victims. Oh no, the scary part is when the victim experiences the symptoms of rabies (fever, paralysis and extreme fear of water) and their convulsing bodies become rigid just before death.

Dozens of tribespeople in Venezuela's Orinoco River delta have died over the past year and sixteen of them, mostly children, have been afflicted over the past month by rabid vampire bat bites. Rabies is curable if treated in time but in some of these small villages, who knew that waking up with puncture wounds on the body could mean a one-way ticket to "The Upper Room."

I really need to thank Earthweek for their almost biblical revelations of life on this planet in the 21st century. Personally, I don't think Moses could've come up with such catastrophic earthly occurrences as these. For instance, I've never heard of "Bovine terror," have you? The thought of 150 ornery cows invading villages in search of food just isn't in my bank of reality. But its happening in a small village in southern Spain as I speak. Talk about mad cow disease, this hungry marauding pack of cows are foraging what they want, when they want it and wherever they find it. The villagers seem helpless in driving the beasts away. Gee, sounds like the Oakland Raiders defense of glory days past.

So if you find yourself surfing the web for some revelatory information about this big world of ours, look no further than Earthweek: A diary of the planet. Its information like this found at Earthweek that make my problems here in the United States seem puny.

Raiders Look Sharp in Loss

Maybe its too soon after the game for me to be writing about it. The Raiders fumbled away a sure win and it brings back that empty gut feeling of past seasons. However, I shouldn't be so tough on myself and my team. They showed they can be physical and dominate away from home. Our running backs were making titans defenders pay when tackling them. We dominated the time of possession and had some young guys step up.

Actually, if it weren't for the two fumbles the game would've been mostly all Raiders. Our defense was good and our passing game gave hints of success. That JaMarcus pass to Zack Miller for the first touchdown was a threaded bullet that oozed pass defenders by a hair. JaMarcus is the Real Deal.

Special team penalties were up this week. This problem should be correctable. Our defense stopped the Titans most of the night. RELIABLE is the word I felt best described our starting defense. A good word in sports.

The pain from the loss is still kicking at my gut, so I must continue to remind myself of the overall good play of the Raiders tonight. It is still exhibition season and they've proven that they can go on the road and compete with dominating efficiency. That'll bring back a swagger to the team. Can't wait for the Arizona Cardinal game next week at the Coliseum.

The Oakland Raiders will be competitive this season. Its an improved team with a strong will to win.

Raiders 16
Titans 17

Why I Can't Watch Gymnastics

This story is NOT for the weak hearted. Actually, its not for the mild hearted either. While attempting to lift 248kilograms, using a lifting technique called the "Snatch,"Hungarian Olympian Janos Baranyai suffered a dislocated elbow, and that's putting it mildly.

Injuries occur in sports competition and athletes know it. But they can never prepare for the agony and pain of such injuries. The agony of defeat is probably as painful as physical injury to the body. Then again, one look at the dislocated elbow of Janos makes that old theory sound like hogwash. Warning, some of the pics at this link are horrific, but not bloody. Click Here

I once heard Oakland Raiders wide-receiver Tim Brown describe a medical procedure involving a torn leg ligament. After informing the radio listeners of how the inner thigh ligament tore away from the femur bone, he described how the surgeon cut down to the bone then stapled the ligament back onto the bone before closing the incision with more staples. Doctor Brown then calmly assessed that the stapled ligament would take blank amount of weeks to adhere back to the bone sufficiently.

I mention this snippet from "Mornings with Doctor Tim Brown" because It was one of the few times I recall wincing at someone's description of an injury and the surgical procedure to fix it.

We've all seen horrific injuries in sports; Joe Theisman's leg break, A boxer's swollen eyelid, a basketball player's knee cap turned sideways after a collision. But seeing this Gymnast's elbow popping out and witnessing the expression of agony on his face might just top all others. The fact that it happened on a world-wide stage makes it a memorable moment in sports. I personally can't watch young girls vaulting, uneven bars or rings. I feel every miss of theres too painfully. I think the last one I watched was Nadia Comaneci, 1976. She nailed them all.

My heart and prayers go out to Janos Baranyai. May his competitive psyche mend along with his physical rehabilitation so that he may compete in future Olympic games.

In the meantime, may the 2008 Summer Olympics resume safely and may the Americans Win it All!

Raider Nation Celebration 2008

Arrived-Purchased-Ate-Drank-Applauded-Yelled-Enjoyed!

The Raiders Organization definitely has mastered the Fan Appreciation Day activities. It was a bright, warm day for Oakland Raiders fans to come out and relish in the glory of being a part of the Raider Nation.

The best part is watching the kids faces light up with joy as they take in all the Raiders festivities available to them. It may be the one time in a kid's young life that he or she will find themselves in total agreement with their parents. The Raider Nation crosses generational, ethnic and social lines with a creed of malice toward none and equality and acceptance for all.

To see a father with a proud smile while raising his JaMarcus Russell jersey wearing little girl (eyepatch donned over one eye) onto his shoulder is a sight to behold. Yes, the Raiders Kids bring out that childish glee in all of us Raiders fans. Many adult fans have been passed the torch by their parent(s) and therefore its a no-brainer to indoctrinate their kids into the Raider Nation. I swear I saw yesterday a newborn infant with a Children's Hospital I.D. bracelet still around its tiny wrist. The infant was wearing a Raiders bib and already had that chucky scowl, I swear!

If America wants to end the divide that separates its citizens they should consider taking a page from the fans of the Oakland Raiders.

One Nation, One Goal and All Inclusive








I'm Proud to be a member of the Raider Nation!

Raiders Run Over Red&Gold 49ERS

Oakland Raiders
248 yds Rushing
2 Fumble Recoveries
2 Interceptions
1-53yd Punt Return For TD

49ers
2 FG's

Final Score
Raiders 18
49ers 6

The San Francisco Chronicle called the game "Sloppy Play" and commented that both teams should keep this opening preseason skirmish in proper perspective. Obviously, the SF media is in denial about the domination of the Oakland Raiders over their pampered media darling 49ers. But that's okay, we of the Silver and Black world didn't expect the crowning of the Battle of the Bay Champion Oakland Raiders to get print copy in San Francisco, its too soon and much too painful for them. Our crowning was actually done on the field last night in front of a hungry bay area football fan base of Raiders fans peppered with some brave 49er souls wearing their Red and Gold. Or as I heard it said after the game, Gold and Pink!

The three outstanding performances as a team were the Running Game, Defense and Special Teams. How is that for a three-headed monster. Speaking of which, it was the running game that electrified the Raiders fans and gives promise to a much improved team. Seems we have the blocking schemes to open up running lanes for all five of our featured backs. Johnnie Lee Higgins punt return for a touchdown highlighted the solid special teams play. With kicker Janokowski out, the fill in free agent Aaron Elling did a heck of a job kicking. Shane Lechler is still doing his Ray Guy impersonation and looks to be ready for the season.

I will try to keep in perspective this game as being an opening exhibition game, but I can't deny to myself what my eyes witnessed last night at McAfee Coliseum; the Oakland Raiders football organization fielded a disciplined team with a game plan that dominated their cross bay rival San Francisco 49ers.

Battle Of The Bay 08

__Champion__

Oakland Raiders

Undisputed!

Summer of #4

For those of us old enough to remember the movie "Summer of '42" the Brett Favre/Green Bay Packers fiasco isn't much off the mark.

In the movie a 15-year old boy (Hermie) falls in love for the first time. His love interest is a 22-year old housewife who's soldier husband is off fighting in WWII. So you have a lonely woman and a horny young boy on an island with a summer full of time and dreams. There's also the tearjerker theme song that pulls at your heartstrings and begs you to shed a tear for Hermie.

Well in this summer of '08 love story the soldier (Brett Favre) has come home to find his wife (Greenbay Packers) has moved on with life and is committed to the young man (Aaron Rodgers) a quarterback who's been courting the older woman and given the green light.

In the movie, "Summer of '42," the husband, after a short visit home, is killed in the war and the young boy learns about love and loss of love all in one summer. When the summer is over the girl leaves and the boy is left to ponder what he had, how it was lost and will he ever have it again, Love.

Today our story has a bit of a twist. The focus isn't on the young man who finally gets his chance to love, but on the old war worn soldier who's return was met with contempt. As with all good soldiers, duty and honor are what makes him a respectful man. When that respect is no longer felt, its time to move on to your next battleground. As the soldier walks off into the sunset you can hear the theme song playing in the background.


For the old soldier Brett Favre, that battleground will be in the Meadowlands where he'll wear the green and white of the New York Jets. Many are asking if Brett will ever get over the dishonor the Green Bay Packers have shown him this summer. Ask any man who's had his true love taken away from him, I don't think you ever get over it. As with the young man Hermie in "Summer of '42", only time will heal that wound.

But this summer's biggest NFL story has something that the hit movie never had, a sequel in the form of a football season. We football fans now have some drama to watch for this season. The emergence or downfall of a young Aaron Rodgers as he tries to fill the shoes of a legendary quarterback, and the emergence or downfall of a legendary quarterback as he tries soldiering his new team to respectability.

Whatever the outcome for these two quarterbacks come end of season, we fans have sure been given a "Summer of 08" that'll stay in our memories for tears.......I mean years to come.

correction: the movie "Summer of '42" did have a sequel, "Class of '44." It wasn't as good as the first one. It never is.

Horrific News Quote of the Day!

"They returned to the back of the bus to find that the person who was stabbing the person in the neck had now sawed off the head of (the victim)."

(CTV correspondent Murray Oliver in Winnipeg)

Please, someone pinch me and tell me the year is 2008A.D. and armed Barbarians are not gathering at the gates of civilization.

And I was just asking myself who in their right mind still travels Greyhound bus? Answer: Alfredo Garcia

Newly Signed Linebacker Ed Hartwell

Just by his commitment to the Raiders alone, I'll say he's a keeper. Ed Hartwell comes to the Raiders after two seasons in Atlanta. Drafted in 2001 by the Baltimore Ravens, he had five years to learn from MLB Ray Lewis, one of today's best.

I don't know much else about Ed, but this following quote by him is what forced me to post him on my blog today. Any player, fan or casual observer of football who says the things Ed says about the Oakland Raiders is welcome on any blog of mine.

In Ed Hartwell's own words; "Becoming an Oakland Raider means more to me than just getting back on the field. It's a chance to play for the best franchise in football history. It has the best fans that any sport has to offer, a great cast of talented players & coaches, a legend as an owner, one of the best (attack style) defensive coordinators in the league in Rex Ryan, and most of all I get to be reunited with the best coach I have EVER played for Coach Don Martindale. I vow to do everything in my power to bring another Superbowl to Al Davis and the Raider Nation."

Honorable Mention: WR Marcel Reece

Clip 1

Clip 2

Oakland's McAfee Coliseum - Judgment Nite

Girls Gone WnbaWILD!

Unfortunately, the WNBA women's basketball league is getting huge press coverage today. Its unfortunate because the news has nothing to do with their skills as basketball players, but instead focuses on a bench emptying brawl between the Los Angeles Sparks and Detroit Shock.

Shocks and Sparks were seen and felt at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, in the form of punches, shoves, body slams and all out pandemonium. Actually, it didn't go down quite like that but it sure sounds good in a story doesn't it?

The truth is one player, an all-American rookie, got tangled up with the opposing team on one play. Then on the following play that same all-American player got tangled up again and in the infamous words of Peter Finch of the movie "Network," decided;

"I'm As Mad As Hell And I'm Not Gonna Take This Anymore."

And The Rest is Herstory!

Al's Place For A Mean Steak and Beer

"A delicious steak that reminds you why man
decided to domesticate those dang cows in the first place"
customer's review

I was recently told of a place north of Stockton,Ca. that serves a mean grilled steak. Says they've been serving them since the 1930's. I hesitate to visit because today its supposedly a biker bar in GMC truck country. Need I remind you that I'm a six foot brotha from New York with good grammar who many country folk perceive as an uppity yankee. Of course some of these same folk are still angry they lost the war. The "Civil War" that is.

But what lengths would you go to get your choppers around a mean grilled steak? Especially here in cholesterol conscience California where eating rare cooked meats is like abusing a pet or something. Heck, I'll probably pay a visit to Al's Place just to be able to talk about it in front of those self-righteous salad eating city dwellers I always seem to dine around.

Al's Place, better known as Al the Wop's, is a bar and grill in Locke, California, (added to the historical registry in 1970) near Walnut Grove, Ca. The town was once populated by mostly Chinese and all businesses in town were Chinese. Not suprising since Chinese actually built the town back in 1915. But that was before 1931, before Al Adami bought Lee Bing's Chinese Restaurant on main street making it the only non-Chinese establishment in town.

I can only assume that Al himself was a good ole Italian tough guy with possibly a shady past and the cajones to open up shop where no wasp had ever been before. Coming from New York I know Italians, many good folks who honor family and community. So when I see the term "Wop" as part of a restaurant name I know that it must've been an Italian who posted it. Like with many cultures, you can call each other a term, but just don't let an outsider call you by it. I suppose Al must've figgah'd it be good for business.

Well, Al was right, he's outlasted many a business in town I'm sure. Were he still alive he'd be welcoming customers as he must've done from day one. Wait, is Al still around? I'll get back to you on that.

I only hope my cajones can match up in size with Al's though, because as much as I feel brave enough to tred into unknown territory, there's this distinct cautious flutter I get when I find myself around trucks with gun racks, hunting dogs, Confederate flags, gun show signs and signs with "Zeke For Sheeriff "on poles. Any chance there's some wise guy Italian running the joint these days? He I understand, "It's just business."

So, how far are you willing to go for a great juicy steak? Goto reviews on Al The Wop's to convince yourself its worth the travel and potential risk.

Negro League Baseball Sportscaster Passes

Honestly, I've never heard of the man. Never even thought there was anyone announcing negro league baseball games over the radio. Guess I should've asked my dad or uncles about it. They remember the negro league games and those associated with it. Supposedly, one of my great uncles played for a Jersey team.

In either case, its never too late to honor a man who had what all of us sports fanatics have in our blood; a passionate love for the game, whatever that game may be. Sherman L. Maxwell, announced negro league baseball games over the radio beginning in 1929. He wasn't paid any money for doing what he did. He kept box scores of games he witnessed and intervied players after games.

When he visited the National Basebal Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. in 2001, he told the Star Ledger then that "I never had a nicer day in my whole life - and I'm 93, so that's saying something." Hats off to Major League Baseball for recognizing the negro leagues and bringing back wonderful memories of negro baseball to a centenarian.

If only someone from ESPN, like a Bob Costas, had interviewed this man and picked his brain about the legends of negro baseball. Though the Newark Eagles out of Jersey whom he followed were no negro league powerhouse, I'm sure they played some of the best and Mr. Maxwell was most likely there, calling the game. Imagine, someone who can tell you about Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, manager Rube Foster and the list goes on. I hope to find out more about this pioneer of sports and fellow fan of the game.

Sherman Maxwell
1907-2007
"He Announced For The Love Of The Game"

Dave Wilson's Key Raiders List 2008

Came across some insightful Raiders team and player analysis for 2008 that deserves checking out. Dave Wilson's article "Across The Pond" points out the key players that'll help make or break this season for the Raiders.

JaMarcus Russell – QB
Kwame Harris – OT
Darren McFadden – RB
Javon Walker – WR
Tommy Kelly – DT
Gibril Wilson – S

Dave points out some promising aspects of this year's team ability. He also gives you a bit of a chill when highlighting the holes of our defensive line. Gotta give it to Dave, he's a passionate yet realistic Raiders fan unafraid to admit what could be weaknesses in the team, and that's what makes his Raiders Report so interesting. Honesty!

If you wanna begin the football season by saying, as every die hard Oakland Raiders fan pledges to friends, family and opposing fans each season, "This Is Our Year," then you should take a peek at Dave's assessment of the team and its key players for 2008.

"THIS IS OUR YEAR"

Note: You can mail your Get Well Soon cards for former Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter to the Jaguars facility in Jacksonville. After signing a $30 million dollar six year deal the the Jags, Porter underwent surgery this week for a hamstring tear and will miss the pre-season. At least now he has a doctor's note to explain why he can't perform.

First Ammendment Wrongs

In response to the Satirical Cartoon of Barack and Michelle Obama on this week’s New Yorker Magazine cover:

The magazine gives its reasons for why they put such a derogative image of a potential American President on their cover:

“Satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the Presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.”

Isn’t “Satire” supposed to be funny? Their reasons are neither funny nor reasonable to many Americans, especially those who see this Presidential Candidate as a hope for change in future American politics and racial attitudes. Insensitive and poorly thought out journalism like this is what continues to undermine the American people’s fight for justice and equality for all its citizens.

For a respected magazine like the New Yorker to cross the line toward inappropriateness at such a crucial time in American economics and politics gives fuel to the rumor that there is a contrived and coordinated effort from within to bring America to its knees, by any means necessary.

If, after the September 11^th attack, the New Yorker printed the same cover with the likes of Pres. Bush and Vice-Pres. Cheney replacing Michelle and Barack, adding maybe a hanging painting of the smoldering WTC with oil drums rising from the ashes to go along with the Osama Bin Laden portrait, would the editor and all involved still defend such a picture? Would they ignore the sensitivities of families who suffered the loss of a loved one, all in the name of Satire? Would some Americans find it truthful or even funny? This “attack” on Barack and Michelle Obama is an “Attack on America” and what it is supposed to stand for.

My final question or maybe I should put it more in a statement than a question. Had the New Yorker consulted an African-American or any minority for that matter, about the offensiveness of this image, I’m sure they would’ve been told of its unpleasant inflammatory inference. Are we as a nation also still treating all Muslims and people of middle-eastern descent as terrorists?

Is it possible that someone will take responsibility and apologize for this juvenile decision so that we as a country can move on with a more refined Presidential race that’ll deal with the pressing issues we face as a nation? Perhaps!

I fear to think that someone paid a lot of money in hopes of damaging the “Barack For President” campaign. Yes, magazines sell to the highest bidders also. Or is it possible the owners of the New Yorker are just spreading their political wings and saying “to hell with the American public’s feelings.” In times of change, it’s always those with the most to lose, whether real or imagined, who perform such immoral and malicious acts.

Oakland Raiders Three-Headed-Monster Attack!

Remember Ghidorah aka Monster Zero? He was one nasty SOB, ripping through military defenses and causing havoc amongst the monster kingdom. In one movie it took a ferocious Godzilla, a teradactyl flying Rodan and Mothra the killer Moth ( remember it's 60's television) to bring down Ghidorah, and still he went down swinging.

In 2008, Ghidorah is what they're calling the Oakland Raiders projected trio of running backs. Each brings a little something different to the battle and all can cause havoc on an opponent.

Listen --->

There's a great article about this group of Raiders backs (The Three Headed Monster Of The Oakland Raiders) that convinces me we Raider Fans are in for a treat this season. We may not be so high on the receiving corps yet, but this Ghidorah of a backfield is looking like the answer to an offense that needs to attack defenses in multiple ways.

If we had to name this explosive backfield something that symbolizes mass terror and annihilation, I can think of nothing better than Ghidorah the three headed monster. With a weapon like Ghidorah, all we need is a decent offensive line and some creative play calling to subdue opponents this season.

GHIDORAH IS COMING! AND ANYONE THINKING OF STOPPING HIM BEST BRING GODZILLA, KING KONG AND THE WHOLE DAMN MONSTER KINGDOM COME NFL SUNDAY.