Nebraska Defeats JoePa-Less Penn 17-14

(19) Nebraska 17

(8-2, 4-2 Big Ten)

(12) Penn St 14

(8-2, 5-1 Big Ten)

#19 Nebraska took a 17-0 lead in the third quarter before allowing #12 Penn State to score in the quarter then close to three at 17-14 in the fourth. Penn had a chance but was stopped on 4th and 1 at their own 38 with 1:49 left in the game.

After a week of shock and awe at Penn over the Jerry Sandusky/Joe Paterno debacle, resuming football today seemed to be a welcome relief for some and an added curse for others. Folks are still angry with Penn State for the actions and non-actions of a few. The innocents at the University would like to move on from the issue, but there's too many people still wanting to know "How the Heck Joe Pa or any of those who'd heard about Sandusky ignore and overlook the abuse of children on their campus?" With nobody immediately coming forth with an honest answer, it paints an accusing picture of all those involved as guilty of conspiracy to ignore and cover-up the crime.

I understand the innocent community of Happy Valley, PA. wanting to leave this ugly controversy behind, but I agree with those who wanna hold the university accountable and get to the truth about who knew, when they knew and why they did nothing to stop a serial child abuser from repeating offenses on their watch.

It's sad to say but I think this case will get a lot uglier before the answers are pried out of Penn State. One commenter on Penn State playing the game against Nebraska today had this to say:

Dr van Nostrand III

Joe Pa should have been watching this on a TV hanging on a prison wall, while toweling off from a shower session of his own...more

User ID:http://sportsnation.espn.go.com

First Place

Denarius Moore makes a fingertip catch of a Carson Palmer pass in front of San Diego's Quentin Jammer on Thursday. Moore had two touchdown catches. AP Denis Poroy

Read more at Sacramento Bee - Oakland Grabs The Lead

Thanks to the "Bruising" running of Michael Bush, the lightening strike pass plays of Carson Palmer to rookie Darnarius Moore, the "Ferocious" quarterback feeding frenzy of Kamerion Wimbley and the defensive line, the Raiders ended a Thursday Night Football feast with first place in the AFC west fully bloating their belly.

The Oakland Raiders, injury plagued and all, showed nothing is going to stop their return to greatness this season. These are not your faithlessly led Art Shell/Lane Kiffin Raiders. The Raiders of 2011 are coach Hue Jackson's revival meeting Raiders, and their belief in their leader strengthens their belief in themselves. It really is a most beautiful fellowship to behold.

Michael Bush, you and your 242 yards from scrimmage, fourth most ever by a Raiders running back, are the banner under which all silver and black clad soldiers march today. You stood tall while leading a Raiders assault in enemy territory. More comrades would fall, but you did not let the team colors waver while keeping all eyes on the victory prize.

For courage in the line of silver and black duty, Michael Bush we salute you!

Final Score

Raiders 24

Chargers 17

Raiders Chargers Thursday Nite

It's Only For First Place!

Tonight's NFL matchup between the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers is a welcome break from the Penn State Joe Paterno fiasco. With both AFC west teams at 4-4, this game promises to be a battle to the end.

The winner will take a one game lead in the division while the loser will begin doubting themselves and their chances of making the playoffs. Both teams are attemptiong to end losing streaks and with rejuvenated division rival Kansas City in the conversation at 4-4, losing simply is not an option.

My Raiders, hobbling into this game without starting running back Darren McFadden, will need to pull out every trick in the playbook. The offensive play calling must be fresh and unpredictable. I suspect new Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer will attempt airing it out in San Diego. With Marcel Reese, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford and hopefully Tight End Kevin Boss, Palmer has the targets to throw to. The question is will passer and receivers finally synch-up and produce consistently on the field. Let's not forget newly acquired receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. It could be a breakout game for Palmer.

The Chargers are as vulnerable on defense as the injury plagued Raiders. Raiders tackling must improve and they must get back to playing as one unit. This is not week 2 in Buffalo, it's show-me week 9 in sunny San Diego. Well, show us!

The Raiders will prevail if the defense plays a full four quarters and can get off the field on third downs and avoid penalties. Special teams must contribute somehow. We need playmakers tonight in all phases of the game. You wanna be a bully and dominate your opponent? Then it starts tonight on national television. Be Somebody! Be Raiders! Just Win Baby!

"JoePa" Relieved Of Duties At Penn State

It's been a long week at Penn State. But we must remember that the pain and shame the University of Pennsylvania feels is miniscule compared to the pain, shame and suffering felt by the young men who were mere boys when sexually assaulted on the Penn State campus by a trusted Penn State assistant football coach.

Yes, Joe Paterno was "relieved of his duties" as football head coach along with university president Graham Spanier. However the decision was made and carried out, it was the only acceptable decision. Again, no hurt, shame or loss can compare to that of the victims, none!

My prayers and blessings go out to the young men who showed courage in coming forward with their stories of victimization as children. These young men have shown more courage and integrity than anyone at the university who either knew or heard rumors of assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's actions.

The victims, who came forward after many years of suffering in silence, are true heroes to many unsuspecting parents and their kids. The predator has been exposed as a cowardly lion and has been banished from the Land of Oz.

The Penn State football program will heal and the university will continue to patch up it's image, but the young men are sadly sentenced to a life of cloaked pain by sexual predator Jerry Sandusky and his enablers at Penn State.

Child Abuse is a social evil that effects our roots - "children".

Young Men, We Salute Your Perseverance and Courageous Stand For justice.

Money Earnin Mt. Vernon Loses Heavy

Ole Skool Rapper, record producer and actor Heavy D has passed on at the age of 44.

Rest Well Heavy

Damon Bruce Delivers

Yesterday I listened to KNBR radio host Damon Bruce report on the "Sodomy" accusations surrounding Penn State's former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Trust me when I say, the topic of discussion was gutwrenchingly brutal to listen to.

With his masterful breakdown of six pages from grand jury testimony, D.Bruce surgically removed any doubt from my mind that the infamous Pennsylvania college shares in the guilt of crimes against children on their campus; crimes that the university enabled through their silence and possible cover-up. Whatever happened to behavioral accountability and moral obligations at our institutions of learning?

It's not only the shocking information D.Bruce delivers in breaking down the Penn State silence, it's the way in which he methodically covers every angle of the neglect and failure to act. Bruce does it better than any prosecutor would dare. He does it by calling a spade a spade, and has the eyewitness testimony to back it up.

Bruce begins with warning listeners about what they're about to hear, then he gives all the incriminating details and ends it with an educational tip to parents and/or their listening children, urging them to immediately report anything in their own experiences that sounds familiar to this horrific story. He reiterates the fact that the actions Jerry Sandusky's accused of performing against a minor are criminal.

Mr. Damon Bruce, today you've won my honorary citizens award for speaking directly to the matter, providing fact-based information and giving hard-nosed advice to our society on the importance of bringing this particular "sexual predator" and those who enabled him to reign for decades, to justice.

As D.Bruce so aptly states, this is "Much More Than A Sports Story!"

11/7/2011 - Damon Bruce Show Hour 2

note: Where is the outrage against the Penn State University? The Protests? Media and Human & Animal Rights organizations were ready to "Lynch" Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick when the story about his involvement with a pit bull fighting ring emerged.

related: State Officials Blast Penn State In Sandusky Case

Integrity

Robert Lee Carter 1940-2011

in·teg·ri·ty/inˈtegritē/

Noun:

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. The state of being whole and undivided: "territorial integrity".

What a coincidence that on a day that I sat with the ashes of a special friend, I'd be using the biblical quote from his obituary in a post for Boxing Legend Joe Frazier.

My friend Bob Carter had also done some amateur boxing and won a championship or two himself. He'd been a Marine and was a man that truly enjoyed life. A humble man who felt obligated to make sure those inside his circle as well as outside it were comfortable. A trusted and loyal friend loved by so many.

Bob simply was a champion in more ways than the fingers can count. I'll miss you Bob, but I'll never forget you Bob. Peace Be With You My Friend!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

Legendary Boxing Champion Joe Frazier Passes

Smokin Joe Frazier passed away today. He was the first American heavyweight to win an olympic gold medal (1964). He'd also won Golden Gloves championships in 1962, 1963 and 1964.

He became Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion in 1970 with a knockout of WBA champion Jimmy Ellis.

His signature punch was a crushing left hook that came out of nowhere like a heat seeking missile. Legend Muhammad Ali would go down after tasting that left hook with his jaw. Frazier would go on to win a unanimous decision. That was the first meeting in 1971. They'd meet two more times in the 70's, and as the saying goes;the rest is history.

Without Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali would've just been another flash in the pan fighter. Frazier and Ali made each other great, that's what great competitors do. Ali might've marketed himself as "The Greatest," but if you ask many from that early 70's era of boxing, Joe Frazier was the Champion most feared for his punching power in the ring.

The Bell Tolls 10 Times for a Worthy Champion

Joe Frazier

1944-2011

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

Raiders 2nd Half Flop Against Broncos

*Opening ceremony American Flag & Jets Fly Over

*Raiders 17-7 Halftime Lead over Broncos

*Halftime Surprise Reunion on Field with Military Father & Family

*Second Half Raiders Offensive, Defensive, Special Teams Flop

*Tim Tebow & Broncos Walk Away with A 38-21 Final

With a chance to take over the AFC western division lead the Raiders failed miserably. Something is seriously broken in Oakland, besides the collar bone of QB Jason Campbell. Who knew just how much the injured starting quarterback meant to the team. Seems the Defense has also gone on an early Holiday, being out-smarted by Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos much of the day.

At this stage of the season, the Oakland Raiders might still be in a 3-way tie for first place in the division, but the way they've played these last two games against division rivals Kansas City and Denver there's no way they make the playoffs.

Granted McFadden hasn't played in the two losses, but the problem isn't necessarily a running back problem, it's a "Team" problem. Coach Hue Jackson needs to handle it quick, or find himself losing hold of this young team. The future is truly beginning to look Silver & bleak.

Halftime Surprise-

A special military family reunion was held at halftime, a father returned from 10 months of military service in Afghanistan. The reunion was disguised as a field goal kicking challenge and the soldier was in a Raiders uniform complete with a helmet with a dark shield to hide his identity. The reunion will be featured on an upcoming episode of Lifetime’s Coming Home.

Steve Jobs Tribute

Steve Jobs

Feb. 24, 1955 - Beyond

logo design by Jonathan Mark

Without his creative mind, the world would surely be a smaller, boring place. Mr. Steve Jobs, the Thomas Edison of our time, we salute you!

Quote of the Day

"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."


Frederick Douglass
American abolitionist, lecturer, author and slave, 1817-1895

Wide Receiver Housh is in the Raiders House

The Oakland Raiders signed wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh today. Great move. I was hoping they'd get him last season. (TJ Housh Available)

Hoosh brings experience, familiarity with QB Carson Palmer as well as leadership to a young receiving corps in need of a spark plug. Of the three former Bengals receivers (T.O., Ocho Cinco & Hoosh) I feel that Housh is less disruptive to a winning Raiders squad. He can still play.

I'll admit, the Terrell Owens workout had me chewing at the bit, but I knew signing him carried a heavy price for coach Hue Jackson. Better at this stage of the season to bring someone like Housh in than an Owens. Maybe!

Besides, although his contract is only one year ($910,000), the name Houshmanzadeh is worth investing in to wear on a silver & black jersey come Sunday.

Welcome to the Raider Nation T.J. HoushMANzadeh!

Wrong About Cam Newton

I just watched Carolina Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton play better than many veteran quarterbacks in a losing effort against the Minnesota Vikings. I'd seen highlights of the phenomenal quarterback but until today hadn't watched him in a full game.

Well, I've seen and I'm a believer. Cam Newton simply is a leader on the field, commanding his troops like a general. His field presence is one of quiet calm and composure, ready to strike at any moment. That composure is also apparent when he's on the sideline, there's no panic or angry outbursts.

Cam reads defenses like a veteran, throws with a quick, crisp release and has running back skills in the open field. His composure in the pocket is so uncharacteristic of a rookie quarterback that you have to remind yourself it's his first season.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady comes to mind when comparing past young quarterbacks who immediately produced with command and composure. Mind you Brady rode the bench as a backup behind veteran QB Drew Bledsoe his rookie season, as well as a quarter of his second season.

The (2-6) Panthers are a young team going through growing pangs. They seem to have beaten themselves more than being dominated by any opponent. There may still be many football aficionados and analysts writing off any Panther's success this season, but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone doubting the success and future potential of Cam Newton. Nobody!

Interesting, how after so much early criticism from mainstream sports media analysts about Cam Newton's pro football potential, those with enough cojones have completely retracted their critical predictions. Not often in sports do we see this type of media behavior where the so-called experts and not so expert bloggers in unison apologetically admit their mistake by singing the same lyrics:

"I Was Wrong About Cam Newton"

I always find it gratifying when any athlete makes a sports analyst eat every morsel of the condemning words spoken or written about that player. And I must say Cam, with your stellar play at quarterback, you've served up a banquet to those who were wrong about you. And based on my google search, the "Haters" are still lining up to order the "I Was Wrong" blueplate special, a most filling meal indeed.

Cam Newton Has Made The Panthers Relevant Again | NFL ...

Warren Moon on Cam Newton: I hate to say I told you so, but ...

Newton ranked 5th best in ESPN's Total QBR - Cat Scratch Reader

Cam Newton Dances With Wolves - was wrong

NFL Week 5 Picks: Lazy Observations from a Casual Fan | Bleacher ...

There's no doubting Cam Newton now

Why Merril Hoge was wrong about Cam Newton | Pro Football Chick

1) We were wrong about Cam Newton's start to 2011.

We are anti-rookie QBs for Fantasy Football as a default. We don't care who the rookie QB is. Rookie QBs can be solid, like Sam Bradford last year, or Andy Dalton (who we love) this year. Solid isn't what we want in Fantasy Football, we want video game type numbers from our Fantasy Football QB. Cam Newton is putting up video game type numbers. This is NOT an endorsement of Cam Newton. We still have our doubts on him being top-tier. However, it is an admission...he is not an NFL disaster rookie situation. He's going to hold his own, and then some. We are not seeking Newton for our rosters, but we are changing Fantasy Football scoring projections of team-defenses facing him upcoming. We are also going to upgrade Steve Smith and Greg Olsen higher than where we had them.

We thought Newton would be an early season/all season disaster...that was wrong, time to change projections accordingly.

World Series Back 10

Yr Winner Loser Series

2011	St. Louis Cardinals	Texas Rangers	4-3
2010	San Francisco Giants	Texas Rangers	4-1
2009	New York Yankees	Philadelphia Phillies	4-2
2008	Philadelphia Phillies	Tampa Bay Rays	4-1
2007	Boston Red Sox	Colorado Rockies	4-0
2006	St. Louis Cardinals	Detroit Tigers	4-1
2005	Chicago White Sox	Houston Astros	4-0
2004	Boston Red Sox	St. Louis Cardinals	4-0
2003	Florida Marlins	New York Yankees	4-2
2002	Anaheim Angels	San Francisco Giants	4-3
2001	Arizona Diamondbacks	New York Yankees	4-3

And That's Why They Play The Games

The wild card St. Louis Cardinals win game 6 and 7 to claim the 2011 World Series Championship. I still have the improbable game 6 still swimming around in my head, but it was a dominating pitching performance with key hitting in game 7 that clinched the title for St. Louis.

Almost every baseball fan feels a bit sad that the two time American League champion Texas Rangers couldn't win their first world series. They fought a good fight and ran a helluva race but the historic game 6 loss seemed to take the wind out of their sails while giving the Cardinals just the gust they needed to push onward to victory. We Giants fans know well the course both ships took; the lost ship agony and the good ship ecstasy.

The WS MVP went to Cardinals third baseman David Freese, and rightfully so. No Freese and the Texas Rangers would be parading in cowboy boots down Dallas streets as I write this blog. Was it me or did every heart go out to Ranger president Nolan Ryan every time the cameras showed him? As much as I wanted to see the Cardinals win it, the way they finished off Texas made it almost shameful to celebrate the Cards victory.

For those who saw the series, we share in witnessing one of the best World Series ever, right up there with last year's San Francisco Giants win of course. For those who were too heartbroken to watch, and you know who you are yanks, sux and that dream team in philly, shame on you.

Baseball may no longer be the great American past time, but the entertainment and competition it brings to many fans around the world does that past time proud.

game 6

Congratulations 2011 World Series Champion!

Road To Ecstasy

World Series News

It's the bottom of the 8th in St. Louis. The Cardinals just made it a two run game with a home run, trailing the Texas Ranger 7-5 in game six of the world series. I'd like to see the Cardinals pull out a win and extend the series to game 7. The reason is simple: I want to enjoy one more night as a fan of the CURRENT World Series Champions.

This past season as Champions has been everything I imagined it would be and more. The city of San Francisco has savored every juicy morsel of flavor out of the championship steak. We're still chewing on the gristle while watching the Cards and Rangers battle it out for this season's crown.

Though tonight or tomorrow night there will be a new major league baseball champion, the San Francisco Giants 2010 World Series Championship will always be alive and well in the hearts of fans who wear the orange and black. It's been one heck of a journey, more like an adventure. An adventure I'll be talking about as long as I breathe.

Thank You Giants! It's Been Magical!

There will be a game 7

Final in 11

TEX 9

STL 10

Another Millionaires vs Billionaires Brawl

NBA Basketball
Today
Portland		Cancelled
Golden State

Greed knows no compromise. It will cut off it's nose to spite it's face. In business this is called Corporate Strategy!

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Food Freedom

Did you Know? Genetically engineered food is bred with the genes from bacteria that act like a pesticide?

Just finished reading an article in the East Bay Express by Jessica C. Kraft, The Rapid Growth of GMOS. The article is a definite eye opener and makes one seriously consider conspiracy theories associated with pharmaceutical, healthcare and food companies. And wouldn't you know that our good old pals the Lobbyists play a role in all this.

It's a scary thought to consider, the manipulation of the world's food supply for profit with the collateral damage being an unhealthy body in need of medical attention and genetically produced medicine to survive. Just when we're trying to Go Green in our external environment we find the food and drug administration has been approving unhealthy internal sources of energy.

Wanna know something else? It ain't limited to food; clothes, toothpaste, shampoo, lotions, you name it and there's something in it that could be hazardous to your health. Something man-made that you pay dollars for.

GMO's is a topic you want to educate yourself on, especially if you have kids suffering asthma or other child illnesses so common in today's environment. It just might not only be the chemicals in the air they breathe that's causing health problems.

Deregulation of genetically engineered crops

Terrell Owens Should Be On Raiders Radar

If you ask me, the Oakland Raiders should acquire wide receiver Terrell Owens immediately, if the price is right. T.O. has something to prove to himself and the league, that he can still play professional football at a high performance level. The Raiders need to prove their passing game is just as dangerous as their running game with Darren McFadden. The two simply need each other in order to succeed.

T.O. played for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, yes, the same team where quarterback Carson Palmer played. He had 73 receptions for 983 yards and 9 touchdowns, leading the team in all categories, a team with Chad Ochocinco no less.

He tore his ACL during the preseason lockout, first major injury in 15 season, and held a special edition workout in Los Angeles to show that after six months he's healed and ready to contribute to a teams passing game. All 32 teams were invited to the workout. Zilch showed up.

Raiders coach Hue Jackson has said they're not interested in Owens. Come'on Hue, our team just got embarrassed by our division's last place Kansas City Chiefs 28-0, partly because McFadden left the game early with an ankle injury. If you don't think a Terrell Owens/Carson Palmer duo won't add star quality and free up our younger talent to make plays, then just look at the game he had last season against the Cleveland Browns (10 rec 222 yds 1 td).

Maybe after 15 years of playing pro ball T.O. is no longer T.O.. But you don't pass up an opportunity to find out, not when the Raiders could use someone with his competitiveness. That's one thing that T.O. has never lacked, competitiveness. Can you honestly say the same for these Raiders receivers who've spent as much time on IR as on the field:

Chaz Schilienz

Louis Murphy

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Come on Raiders, do it for AL!

Raiders Shutout At Home

Final Score

Chiefs 28

- McFadden

=Raiders 0

Fan Highlight of the Game: Witnessed one burly fan perfectly place a right cross punch to the jaw, lifting a trash-talking foul mouthed fan over the seats below where he lay stretched out like a corpse. The entire section reacted like we'd witnessed an iron Mike Tyson knockout. It was close.

In all the years I've been attending games I'd never seen a better display of physical skill in shutting up a troublemaker. The punch was quick, powerful and precise. When the row of fans below realized there was a grown man sleeping on their backs they lifted him to his feet where he quietly grabbed up his belongings, took one shy peek at a glaring iron Mike, and headed for shelter elsewhere to clear his head.

The knockout victim would eventually return with renewed courage, start loud-mouthing Tyson from afar again and get the stadium police involved. When all was said and done the two would make up, sort of, return to their seats and join the rest of us Raiders fans in watching our team get knocked out by the visiting Chiefs.

I don't condone violence in unsportsmanlike form, but after watching the boring Nonito Donaire boxing match last night, I suppose I was still hungering for a knockout punch to land. I finally got one!

In fairness to the real Mike Tyson, neither of these two men resembled him in any way, shape or color.