“Are the Raiders in Better Shape Than People Think? Key Stats on The Teams of the AFC West”

Navorro Bowman makes a tackle against the Chiefs

 

While people were trying to figure out why the Raiders were 2-4 in the early season, I and others took a simple approach and looked at the x’s and o’s. Teams had adjusted to the short passes of the Raiders passing game and we’re forcing them to throw deep and they were failing. I’ve been screaming for three weeks for the Raiders do to two things; open up the offense and throw downfield; and blitz often. They did both and pulled out a win at home against Kansas City and looked like a different team.

Even with the trying season and the need to talk fans off the ledge due to week to week reaction, in reality the Raiders have more of a chance than people think to get into the playoffs and possibly even win the division.

In Reality:

Let’s stop kidding ourselves. No, the Raiders don’t have amazing talent on defense and no they are not going to be good on that side of the ball this year. They may have some moments but for the most part they are not able to get it done.  The offense is going to have to carry them and if they don’t play well, the Raiders are toast. Next year the Raiders HAVE to fix the defensive front 7 or they are going to turn into the Miami Dolphins of the 80’s and 90’s; all offense, little defense. Ask Dan Marino how many Super Bowl trophies he has.

No, Derek Carr isn’t the greatest QB in Raiders history and yes, he struggles big time if he’s rushed. Last year he was the best protected QB in the NFL and he thrived. This year he has had just ok protection and he’s struggled for the most part. In the KC game he was never sacked and had great protection and threw for over 400 yards. NOT a coincidence.

After admitting these facts, we can now look at the 4 teams and how they may fare for the rest of the season.

L.A. Chargers Melvin Ingram

Los Angeles Chargers:

As wrestling star Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner used to say, pass rushing star Melvin Ingram is “legit”.  While future star Joey Bosa gets most of the publicity, Ingram has turned into a one man wrecking crew with his fast and physical style.  The Chargers DL is the real deal.

I like what is happening on the defensive side of the ball in Los Angeles for both teams. The formula in the wins for this team is simple; keep it close or get a lead, and then let the pass rush and pass defense take over. In the last 3 weeks that formula has worked.

The Chargers have been on their biggest high in a very long time. They have won their last 3 games beating the Giants and the Raiders on the road in close games, and then last week they shut out the punch-less Denver Broncos 21-0 in Los Angeles.

Their defense has been a key to their wins, especially in the red zone, not allowing a red zone touchdown in 3 weeks. They are 5^th against the pass but are 31^st against the run.

We will find out just how good the Chargers are this weekend when they visit New England. At 3-4 they still have a long way to go to take the division and their offense hasn’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard. They are still very one dimensional being 8^th in the NFL in passing yardage per game, and even with Melvin Gordon they are 31^st in the run game.

Can They Win The AFC West:

The Chargers have some brutal road games ahead at New England, Jacksonville, Dallas and at Kansas City. They also have home games with Washington and Oakland ahead.

They will go as far as their offense takes them which I don’t think is far enough. Even with all of the publicity Phillip Rivers gets, earlier this year they broke a 24 game streak of not scoring a TD in the last two minutes of the half or at the end of a game. Could you imagine Tom Brady, Joe Montana or Ken Stabler having that streak? I don’t trust Phillip Rivers who to me is more of a stat stuffer than a winning QB at the end of games. A good guy, good QB but not great. The new rules are making legends out of average to good Qb’s because their stats are extremely hyper-inflated due to the rule changes the past 6 years.  Look at the ridiculous illegal use of the hands call against KC on the play when Derek Carr fumbled.  He literally didn’t touch the WR after 5 yards and barely patted him within 5 yards.  In the 70’s-90’s that would have been considered a hand shake.  That changed the game and it was a call you don’t see in flag football.  The rules have gone overboard, but that is for another day.

The Chargers lack of a running game also continues to limit their offense. I don’t see them winning the division but a possible .500 record isn’t a crazy idea.

Kansas City Chiefs:

I’ve never been a huge Andy Reid fan but I’m really not getting what is going on in KC.  I just read where Justin Houston; the Chiefs all star stud pass rusher; is now being asked to fall back into pass coverage 25% of the time.  That is the third highest % of any edge rusher in the NFL.  Here is a guy that can take over a game by himself and he’s in coverage 1/4th of the time?  Wow.

The Chiefs defense used to carry them, and now it hinders them and they continue to struggle on defense. They are 25^th against the run and 28^th against the pass. Their pass rush when only rushing 4 players, hasn’t been good at all. They have only 15 sacks in 7 games and that is not KC football. The offense continues to shine being a top 5 offense. They did fail on their last drive against Oakland though when they could have iced the game.

The Chiefs offense is still on a roll and they have a key game at home with Denver next. With Denver struggling so much on offense this looks like a Chiefs win right?   This is the NFL folks.

Can They Win the Division?:

Right now they are in the drivers seat, and if they beat Denver they are in great shape. With the easiest schedule ahead of all of the 4 teams, it will be hard to beat the Chiefs for the division.  KC is the odds on favorite right now but anything can happen.

Broncos CJ Anderson scores a TD in the snow in Denver.

Denver Broncos:

I don’t care about all the love that Tony Romo and all of the other announcers give to Bronco QB Trevor Siemian; I think it’s become illegal for announcers to tell the truth anymore about NFL QB’S; he is a bad NFL QB.

With a lack of accuracy and vision to make the right throw, the Denver offense is hamstrung at QB. In their 3 losses this year, Denver has scored a total of 26 points. And to be shut out on the road against the Chargers 31^st ranked run defense, is a bad sign. Bill Musgrave is Denver’s QB coach and he seemed a lot better coach when he had Derek Carr didn’t he? For all of you that want coaches fired after every loss, isn’t that crazy how that works out? Better players make coaches look better?  Insane, I know. (highly sarcastic comment)

To be fair the Broncos left side of their offensive line has struggled all year and that hasn’t helped. Denver is 24^th in scoring offense and is middle of the road in many offensive categories, but where they fail is in the red zone. They are 29^th in scoring TD’s in the red zone and in their last 3 games they scored a TD in only 11% of their times in the red zone.   On the road for the year their % is an abysmal 25% TD rate in the red zone. I don’t think this trend ends any time soon either. Siemian is a very limited QB and they will struggle in the red zone all year. What is scarier is how come Paxton Lynch cant’ beat him out when he was healthy?

Defensively Denver is 6^th against the pass and 2^nd against the run but they are 13^th in sacks with 18 for the year. Their defense is still really good, but just not as dominating as in the past.

Can They Win The Division:

Denver will always be in the hunt because of their defense, but their offense is a hindrance. It’s hard seeing Denver taking this division unless Siemian improves, especially in the red zone. Don’t be surprised if you have a Brock Osweiller sighting soon.  Osweiller was re-signed in the first week in September.  Looking at the QB situation in Denver, it’s like I’m a sick child and the doctor asks if I want castor oil or a shot. With Paxton Lynch’s constant injury issues, the QB situation is as bad as it gets in the mile high city.

In regards to their schedule, Denver also has to play away games in Kansas City, Oakland, Philadelphia and Washington, along with home games with New England and Kansas City.  With that schedule the odds of winning the division is shrinking. They are on the outside looking in if they lose to Kansas City in their next game.

Raiders DeAndre Washington scores a TD against KC on a tough run

Oakland Raiders:

After 4 straight losses with some Raider fans getting ready to throw everyone off the plank including the cheerleaders and announcers, the Raiders saved the season from going under with a big win against Kansas City at home. Even with this win there is a lot to do.

With the signing of Navorro Bowman, the Raiders now have a quality LB that is better than anyone they presently have on the roster. He’s no where near the same player that was one of the best in the NFL, but he definitely can still produce. Even with Bowman the Chiefs were 8-15 on third down and had 425 totally yards of offense. I’ve talked at length about the defense in past articles, so let’s just say that Oakland’s defense is not good, and it’s not going to be good for the rest of the season.  He’s not going to help much in coverage but he does make the defense a little better.

For the Raiders to win, their offense will have to carry them like they did in the previous game. I was against the signing of Marshawn Lynch from the start and I really like the Raiders stable of RB’s.  It will be interesting to see how they do against the stout defense of the Buffalo Bills.  The Raiders have a nice match-up against a Buffalo team that has a solid defense but not much of an offense outside of LeSean McCoy. Tyrod Taylor is very limited at QB and a close Raiders win is probable but nothing is for sure.

The problem is down the road. After playing in Buffalo, they play a night game against Miami which I think they can do well in. Then it gets interesting. The Raiders go to Mexico to play New England, and have home games against Denver, Dallas & the NY Giants. Add road games in Kansas City, Philadelphia and against the Chargers and the Raiders second half schedule is as tough as anyone’s. The Chiefs and Eagles (on Christmas Day) games will be at least cold if not snowy. California teams don’t exactly thrive in the snow.  As a lifelong northern Californian, I personally don’t even like to open the freezer let alone be in the cold midwest or east.

Will The Raiders Win the Division?

There are two huge games that will help in determining if the Raiders can win the division. One will be the Denver game in Kansas City this weekend. If KC wins that game, they regain control. Another game is the Chiefs hosting the Raiders in December.   If the Raiders lose that game it’s hard to impossible to see them winning the division. As viewers it’s always fun to look ahead but in reality every week is like the playoffs and you can’t take anyone lightly anymore in the salary cap era.   Every team has issues and it all changes week to week, especially with injuries.

The Bills game should be a tough, grinding game for Oakland.  With temperatures in the 40’s with a 70% chance of rain expected, the road starts out as a tough one in upstate New York for the Silver and Black.  The road to the AFC West crown will be a wild one for each team.

“Glen Campbell Performances: From Elvis to Johnny Cash & his last appearance on Stage In Napa, CA”

 

On a day that his fans and those close to Glen knew was coming, Glen Campbell passed away quietly today in a Tennessee long-term care facility for Alzheimer’s patients. Glen Campbell was one of those voices that transcended all music genres and put smiles in people’s hearts.

With the help of his talented kids in the band, in 2012 he played his final live concert in none other than Napa, California to an adoring crowd at the Uptown Theater.

In 2014 Glen Released the Movie “I’ll Be Me” which chronicled his battle with Alzheimer’s and a behind the scenes look at his farewell tour. Below is the trailer.

And here is an excerpt from this inspirational film. His vulnerability and courage in fighting it head on are amazing. “I kept going into the kitchen and then forgetting what I came in there for. So I solved the problem; I stopped going into the kitchen!

The Alzheimer’s Association has said what Glen is doing is unprecedented and his humble courage has been an inspiration to both families and patients of the dreaded disease.

Glen began his career dropping out of high school at 14 and eventually becoming a great studio musician in Los Angeles playing for some of the great performers in the music industry like Waylon Jennings, Elvis Pressley, The Beach Boys and Johnny Cash. He broke out in 1967 winning 4 Grammy’s.

Included in his legion of fans are The Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and President Bill Clinton. Tom Petty once said, “Glen’s songs really weren’t hip enough for the 60’s but then you’d listen to how good they were and how great he played and you soon loved it.”

Not everything was peaches and cream for Glen. There were public battles with drugs and alcohol along with arrests and the ups and downs of the music industry. He was front page fodder with his controversial cocaine induced relationship with Tanya Tucker who was 22 years his junior. He had a variety show from 1969 to 1972 but that was cancelled. He had 3 failed marriages until he got clean during his 4^th marriage with his present wife Kim. He ended up having 8 kids.

It was hard to let go of Glen even during his worst times. His personality, kindness and charm were hard to let go of. A writer on his variety show; future star Steve Martin; said that Glen was fun and easy going and never took himself too seriously. “He was up for anything and he was so much fun to work with”, said Martin.

In 2011 Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As a way to say goodbye to his fans and to tell them that was going to be ok through this journey, he went on tour. In a People magazine interview, Glen and his 4^th wife Kim said that they wanted to come out and talk about the Alzheimer’s so fans would not be alarmed when he occasionally forgot words or lost his place in a song. With social media and online publications, they did not want rumors of drugs or alcohol to tarnish his new good name.   Below are some amazing performances with Glen and many of the giants in the music industry that are sadly gone as well.

Here is Glen Campbell on the Johnny Carson show in 1985.

Glen Campbell talking about the loss of his good friend John Denver.

John Denver and Glen Campbell singing on John’s Variety Show in 1977.

Elvis Presley and Glen Campbell sing a duet.

Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash just having fun.

 

A goodbye interview with Glen Campbell and his wife and daughter.

I would like to thank Glen’s social media team who have always been so kind to me whenever I brought Glen’s name up online. They have been very supportive and pro active with all of his fans and they are a reflection of his fighting spirit and positive attitude.   I hope that even with Glen being gone, that they work harder than ever to help his fans celebrate his talents and his life.

And finally thanks to Glen and his family for their kindness, truthfulness and vulnerability.   Glen’s music will live on forever and the bond between he and his fans will never be broken because of the way you handled this terrible situation. Rest in Peace Glen.  And thanks for sharing so much.

“From Super Trolls to Sexual Trolls; How to Handle Social Media Trolls”

https://theforumcelebritypodcast.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/update-my-horror-stories-why-im-no-longer-an-open-book-online-privacy-overview/

For me the internet has been a blessing and a curse.  In my previous article (found above), you can see the nightmares that I’ve endured being naïve about my internet activity.  From dating, to business to every day life; the internet is like riding down the Amazon river.  It’s beautiful but there are a lot of things around you that can hurt you.  One of the dangers are the internet Trolls.  These trolls can fly around the internet like Dementors in the Harry Potter series hovering overhead just waiting to be offended or angered.

What a Troll IS and ISN’T:

Society has changed a lot.  People in general are much less into facts or what is really happening.  Some people in general are much more insecure as well.  They are into their own biases and want to be around those that feed that bias.  They don’t want to debate; they want to hear what they want to hear and they want to be followed.  That’s why people watch certain news channels.  Preaching to the choir.

Television producers have seen how the new generation LOVES drama.  Reality shows; even though they are staged (I know some reality show participants and all of them say this) some people treat them like they are fact.  Will anyone watch a show of kind people loving one another?  No way.  They want fighting, arrogance, selfishness, yelling and insanity.  Usually the nastiest people are the most popular.  Well, that is the desire of an internet troll; to create drama and feed off of it.

A troll is someone that goes onto forums or social media posts and likes to stir it up anyway they can.  Most go way off topic and they try to entice others to challenge them.  They want chaos, anger, dramatics and any other kind of conflict.  They are outraged at pretty much everything people say, and they have the victim mentality.  They want to ruin reputations and are often wrong but never in doubt.

Not everyone is a troll.  Some call people a troll if they don’t agree with them.  That’s NOT a troll.  If someone brings up facts or a reason why they disagree with a person without saying something offensive, they are not trolling.  They are debating and disagreeing.  There is a huge difference.  Some people just like the sound of their own voice and spew nonsense and then get mad when people call them out on it.  They are not being trolled.

I experience this on Youtube all the time.  Some of the insane conspiracy theory videos from people like Alex Jones and others are scary.  Like the crazy idea that all of these mass shootings are staged and faked.  Or that lizards and shape shifters are living among us and they are marrying regular people to become a part of our society to take it over.  Some of you are shaking your head and smiling but what’s not funny is that they have THOUSANDS of followers, and they believe these are facts.  Some will even post photos saying here is the person that supposedly died in a mass shooting and they are now married with kids so the shooting was fake.

I went on one of the videos forums and all I asked is where is the proof?  I said, “so all of these families are acting and not really grieving?  All of these funerals are fake?”

OMG you would have thought I killed puppies.  Literally dozens of people started attacking me.  They ripped me to shreds, found my email and began to pummel me with “proof”.  I literally had to block several dozen people.  In this case I was not being a troll.  I wanted to know why they thought like they did.  Instead of sending real facts, they attacked me.  Insecure people tend to do that.

How to Handle Facebook Trolls:

Facebook is used more by middle aged people than the younger generation.  It’s a different type of animal.  When I go on Facebook I know I’m going to see the same posts from the same people pretty much every day.  The political posts will be extremely close minded and based mostly on biased opinion.  Even though some adults are still learning and evolving like you should, for the most part a middle aged person is NOT going to change their mind on things.  Thus it’s pointless debating them.  If the person is open minded and will think about things, then it’s fun to debate.  For the most part though, I try to avoid political comments all together.  It’s also sad to like people and then find out how extreme and bad their points of views are on politics or society.

To combat trolls, personally I would stay away from political comment unless you like wars.  Trolls love political posts and you will almost for sure be attacked.  If you are, just stop commenting.  If they email you or try to egg you on, just ignore or even block them.  If you are still going to post, then remember that just because someone disagrees doesn’t mean they are attacking you.

I remember one lady from Texas (always Texas) started emailing me on Facebook every morning telling me what posts she liked and didn’t like.  She would also leave comments in my posts.  She then started to demand I take some of my posts down or she’d report me to Facebook.  Huh?  She was a friend’s mom so I didn’t want to block her but I finally had to.  She once demanded I take a dog’s photo down because a dog had once attacked her cat and that it was inappropriate.

Another important part is some employers SCOUR Facebook to see comments on their employees.  I know many HR people and don’t think for a second that this isn’t happening.  I know one guy that was flat out told that his sexual posts on Facebook were the reasons he didn’t get a job.  Don’t be naïve.

How to Handle Twitter Trolls: 

Twitter is fun.  It is more hip and used by the younger generation a lot.  Usually half of the top 10 trends on Twitter are based on young people’s topics.

That being said, you have to be careful on Twitter.  Before you get the hang of Twitter, start slow.  Be positive in your comments and don’t be too confrontational.  If someone says something really stupid or crazy, it’s not a rule that you have to respond.  People with big ego’s or who love to give their opinion all the time can struggle on Twitter.

Remember trolls want to get a rise out of you; they want you to get mad.  The key to Twitter? NEVER get mad.  I never tweet something when I’m really emotional or angry.  I remember posting something on a kid that had cancer.  A troll literally started laughing saying one less ^^^%%.  The child was an American but they were of Mexican descent.  All of a sudden the troll flooded my post with anti-Hispanic tweets that were extremely racist while calling himself a patriot.  I didn’t battle him.  I said, get some help; good luck to you; and in 30 seconds I blocked him.  He got my message and now he can never see or react to my posts.  No 20 minute battle; no anger; no stress.  Just get some help and that’s it.  So if a troll tries to hijack your post, don’t argue; don’t stress; and don’t battle!  JUST BLOCK.

How to Handle Sexual Trolls:

This is a tough one because so many young women are addicted to the attention they get from strangers when they post photos of themselves or “selfies”.  I know one middle aged woman who is really pretty and she posts photos of herself just about every post.  Not all attention is good.

Read the news and you will see some of the most horrendous things done to young women these days.  It’s scary how perverted so many people are, especially young men.  Sexual assault is a huge problem in our country and so is sexual trolling.  There have been many deaths and assaults where the first meeting was on social media.

My friend had his college aged daughter do a video for his business explaining an accounting program that she had set up for him.  They put it on Youtube because other companies had asked her to, because she really explained it well.  Bad idea.  His daughter isn’t a vixen, but she’s cute and did the pervs come out.  By the time they handled the problem, he counted over 189 sexual comments written by men on her video; 99% young men.  They didn’t care about this program, they just saw a cute girl.  Some were EXTREMELY vulgar.

He asked me what to do.  I said turn in the real sick posters to Youtube and block the comments sections.  People can still see the video and you don’t have to worry about all of the nasty comments below.  If it’s on Instagram, do the same thing.  Block, Block and Block.  Don’t be afraid to turn people into the site either if they are very aggressive.  It’s unacceptable to be that nasty.  That’s why I tell some young women to be more secure in yourself as a person in real life, and don’t rely on pervert strangers liking your looks for your confidence.

How to Handle a Super Troll:

I got a super troll on my Twitter account last year that wouldn’t let up.  He trolled many of my posts.  I would block him and then he’d make another account.  He finally made an account that said @Ihatejimjax.  Now to be honest I think it’s kind of funny but what wasn’t funny is that his 36 followers were being fueled by him.  The lies that were spread were of legend.  He then asked for the followers to find out where I lived.  That was it.  I contacted Twitter; gave them all his accounts and tweets, and they deleted his URL from twitter and closed all of his accounts.

Jim’s Jamz:

If you take care of trolls early, then you will have little issues with them.  Blocking or ignoring are your best tools.  Debating is fine but fighting with people that just want turmoil and drama is counter productive and a waste of time.  Don’t be a victim; be pro active and if people are harassing you, then erase them from your social media life.  If you follow this advice, worrying about trolls will be a thing of the past.

“Saying Goodbye to Another Iconic Raider Fan; RIP Raider Gloria”

Raider Gloria on the Cover of ESPN the Magazine Bay Area Edition

Charlie Chaplin once said our greatest enemy is time.

As time goes on, more and more of the great people that we’ve come to know and love in our lives are leaving us. The sting of loss hit again yesterday with the passing of an all time great Raider fan, Raider Gloria.  She had struggled with an infection due to complications from a recent knee surgery.  Gloria Trujillo Malvaez was quite a character that no one will ever forget.

Gloria began dressing up as Raider Gloria in 1987. She became quite well known and was always ready with a quick wit and a willingness to take pictures with anyone who wanted a photo opportunity. She was feisty, but kind and passionate and loved by all.  To find a kinder, sweeter and more gentle person would be hard.  The outpouring of love and support upon her passing on social media has been amazing and heartfelt.  This loss is a big one.

In 2013 she was asked by ESPN to be a part of their ESPN magazine spread with other iconic fans being featured. Eventually she was told that she was not only going to be in it, she was going to be featured on the cover.  Below is her story on ESPN.com.  She was also mentioned in People magazine in 2003.

http://people.com/archive/no-pastels-vol-59-no-4/

http://www.espn.com/espn/photos/gallery/_/id/9697611/image/19/makeup#

She often told people that it took 2 ½ hours to get ready to become Gloria Raider; but only 90 if she wasn’t drinking. Even though he did not dress up, her beloved husband Gabriel would go to the games to represent his Raiders as a regular fan without ever asking her to tone it down. “He let me be myself”.  She dressed up and he didn’t and they were a great pair. She was married to him for 21 years until he passed away in 2010.   There were some close to her that said she never really got over the loss. They are now together once again.

The Raiders donated $1000 dollars to Gloria’s family after hearing of her passing

Gloria was a character with many funny stories. She often talked about going to the Raider games as a kid before the Oakland Coliseum was built. She talked about her father and godfather being huge fans and they took her to the games. At 14 y/o they would bring pillows for her to sit on and she often would drive home because they would be “blitzed” and couldn’t drive. She would wear a hat and they were never pulled over.

In probably the biggest Raider fan wedding in history, she was a part of the over 1000 people who attended the wedding of Gorilla Rilla. Super fans Marc (Gorilla Rilla) and Marilyn (Jungle Jane) Acasio had a wedding with famous Raider fans in full makeup and Raider dress.   Gloria proudly was a part of her friends Marc’s nuptials which even the Raiders themselves covered.

As with many of the “characters” that dress up, they have very warm hearts.   Gloria was quick to help others and was an encouraging force in many peoples lives. Here she is below feeding the homeless without much fanfare.   A selfless, kind soul who’s actions were often for the benefit of others.  She encouraged and supported and was a positive voice in many peoples lives.

Gloria Showing Support for the Homeless

In the last few years that I’ve gotten back into writing it’s been both rewarding and heartbreaking. I’ve written about several amazing people and triumphs but all and all the tragedies are hard to take.   A spouse of one player that was lost said I was their memory.  I don’t know about that but I  guess I just don’t like us to forget good people.  The losses lately have been great.

“She was my Raider mom” proudly says Raider fan Gilbert Cano.  “We had so much fun going to the games. We would stay up all night at the gate & get 1-2 hrs of sleep before they’d open”

Other Raider fans like Social Media Raider Icon Tim Casto was lost in a tragic house fire at 49.

https://theforumcelebritypodcast.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/a-horrific-tragedy-ends-the-life-of-another-iconic-raider-fan-tim-casto/

And NFL Hall of Fame Fan Ron “The General” Rickard died at 54 after a long battle with cancer:

https://theforumcelebritypodcast.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/the-passing-of-nfl-hall-of-fame-raider-fan-ron-the-general-rickard-fans-from-every-team-mourn-their-amazing-friend/

And who will ever forget the Oaktown Pirate Azel Grasty Sr. who was also lost at only 57.

https://theforumcelebritypodcast.wordpress.com/2014/10/16/a-tribute-to-an-iconic-raider-nfl-fan-azel-grasty-sr-aka-the-oaktown-raider/

It would take a lifetime to list all of the lives they touched with their positive and enduring spirits.  I hope that no one forgets these great people and their love and contributions to so many. The friendships we create through meeting such unique people are more important than any win or record.

So again sadly we have to say goodbye to another amazing person who represented her team so well, but more importantly represented humanity even better.  In a country so divided and angry and lost, remember the spirit of people like Gloria.   Encourage each other and be positive.  Have fun, enjoy life, help others and don’t take yourself too seriously.  Live life with a wink in one eye and a twinkle in the other.  And don’t worry Gloria. It’s ok to wear full Raider gear when you get to heaven. God and Gabriel will totally understand.

“The Tragic Loss of Raider Derrick Jensen & the Mounting List of Players ALS & CTE are Claiming”

The nightmare continues.

When ESPN’s article on the money grab which is the brain injury lawsuit against the NFL came out recently, it showed just how little is being done for former NFL players struggling with head injuries. So far they have not seen one dime of the settlement money. With lawyers charging outrageous fees, and medical corporations and doctors practically targeting them, you wonder how much money the players will really see. The extreme greed is hard to watch.  The sad part is, more players are being diagnosed with ALS and CTE and many feel this is just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/19029607/billion-dollar-nfl-concussion-settlement-turns-nasty-lawyers-others-vie-pieces-payouts-players

Studies now show NFL players are 4-5 times more likely to get ALS than the regular public. The famous Italian soccer study showed Italian soccer players were 6 times more likely to get it. Severe forms of CTE are now feared to be a cause of ALS.  Former woman’s US soccer star Brandi Chastain has agreed to donate her brain to CTE studies. The first MMA fighter has now been thought to have CTE. Even BMX legend Dave Mirra was shown to have CTE after his suicide at the age of 41.

Now present and former NHL players are coming out to talk about it.   If you thought the NFL was obtuse about head injuries, the NHL makes them look like Mother Theresa. They sued to block their emails dating back to as much as 10 years ago trying to block studies on the effects of concussions partly because they didn’t want to limit fighting.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl-doctor-slams-situational-ethics-on-concussions-in-unsealed-lawsuit-documents-1.708729

Last month the NFL world was shocked and dismayed to hear that former 49er great Dwight Clark was diagnosed with ALS. Alabama great Kevin Turner; an 8 year veteran of the NFL; died last year at 46 from ALS. He was one of the key witnesses in the CTE trials v.s. the NFL. His brain was later studied and he was found to have severe CTE damage. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2010.

Raiders stud FB Steve Smith has been battling ALS for 15 years. And sadly the Raiders and Seattle families lost a valuable person last week in Derrick Jensen.

I still remember Cowboys owner Jerry Jones last March saying he personally still didn’t think there was a link to head injuries, concussions and CTE.   That’s what players are up against.

Mark Davis & Reggie McKenzie honor former Raider Derrick Jensen before Seattle Seahawks game

Derrick Jensen Loses His Battle With ALS:

http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Raiders-Mourn-the-Passing-of-Derrick-Jensen/ca64a3e6-8b9d-4ceb-8815-1a93ad9ba9d0

Raiders super sub and special teams captain Derrick Jensen lost his battle with ALS last week after being diagnosed in 2012. Jensen was 60. He was a key member of the Raiders and won 2 Super Bowls. In the first 5 minutes of Super Bowl XVIII, Derrick blocked a Washington punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown that set the tone for a huge win against a team that most in the media at that time was calling the best ever.   I remember pretty much going insane as a kid when it happened.

Davis & Derrick Jensen

Derrick was a solid and valuable player, but he also was a long time respected scout for the Seattle Seahawks with over 2 decades of amazing evaluations.   He was beloved for his kindness and respect towards people. He was eclectic and fun and went out of his way to just say hi to Seattle staffers.   You would be hard pressed to find a more loved guy. His death was a great loss to the NFL. The Seahawks have renamed their draft room in his honor. Sadly Derrick lost his wife Amanda in 2009 in a car accident and now his 19 y/o son Davis (in honor of Al? I don’t know) must go on without his parents.

http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/04/07/seahawks-remember-longtime-scout-derrick-jensen

A 5-Star Must Read Book on Players & Their Families Fighting CTE:

Many are reading this book in one sitting.  If you want to get a raw, in depth look at what players & families go through with CTE, read Cyndy Feasel’s book “After the Cheering Stops”. Her late husband Grant Feasel; a former Seattle Seahawk OL; was struck by CTE and this story is an amazing one. I can’t recommend this book enough. Grant sadly, was far from being the only one.  RIP Grant.

http://afterthecheeringstops.com/

NFL Royalty Now Struggling:

When Ken Stabler’s partner Kim Ross-Bush came out talking about the CTE symptoms that Ken was suffering from, it seemed that more people started to listen.   Sadly, the list of players struggling continues to grow.

Cowboys great Tony Dorsett has done several national interviews talking about his battle with depression, mood swings and extreme memory loss.  Ex-Raider/Eagle/49er RB Charlie Garner says he can’t go anywhere without someone coming with him because he forgets where his car is & has trouble in conversations.

NFL Royalty and super man Gale Sayers barely talks anymore.  One of the most articulate and smart people in NFL history, can no longer remember some people or even carry on simple conversations.

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9931754/former-nfl-stars-tony-dorsett-leonard-marshall-joe-delameilleure-show-indicators-cte-resulting-football-concussions

Detroit Lion legend Mel Farr died in 2015 and it was shown he had severe CTE which he suspected.  At one time Mel had the largest African American owned company in the U.S.

Frank Wycheck, Mike Adamle, and so many others are now saying they are afraid of what lies ahead with their symptoms.  Raider great George Atkinson says it’s hitting him as well and Phil Villapiano says it’s the scary thing everyone is talking about.  Their memories fading, while their thoughts get lost in a fog.

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/18585718/former-detroit-lions-rb-mel-farr-had-stage-3-cte-died-2015

These aren’t dumb football players folks. These are smart, articulate, and successful men who contributed great things to the NFL and they are now losing their faculties. AND STILL, no support from the NFL.

The NFL Needs a Wake Up Call:

http://www.myajc.com/sports/football/fate-dwight-clark-gale-sayers-reaffirm-nfl-not-doing-enough/oh3s4BqtAVhI6nye7XQbEN/

People have changed in our country and some leave their brains at the door.  If some belong to a political party, love a football team or belong to an organization, they will blindly defend it no matter what.  Right and wrong no longer matters to them.  It’s like they take it personally if someone questions what they are a part of.  It’s pathetic and insecure to be honest.  You can’t fix problems unless you admit them.

The NFL see’s that same phenomena.  “Don’t be a hater, don’t be negative; you are a troll”. It’s like a bunch of cult members are walking around saying question nothing. To admit a terrible mistake by something they belong to or like is out of the question.

“I’m loyal from the crib to the grave. Win lose or tie, loyal til I die”. These are sayings that are seen often in fan groups of all NFL teams.   Unfortunately the league, the teams, and the owners don’t feel the same. They will move to another city without a worry, buy off politicians and not support the players that made them rich while not thinking twice about it. Their goal is one thing; make more money.  Some NFL fans are the abused spouses of the sporting world and they don’t even know it; enabling the NFL to the end blindly defending anything they do, or fail to do.

Cheerleaders had to sue to get minimum wage and the overwhelming support in social media was for the NFL. The names these women were called by some male fans on social media shouldn’t be repeated. The Ref’s were destroyed by fans for wanting to be full time employees with full time training and salaries. This would greatly improve the calls in games and improve the integrity of the game. Sadly the “cash strapped” NFL said they couldn’t afford to pay them full time. Most fans backed the NFL and told refs to get other jobs if you don’t like it.

The treatment of the retired players is worse. Our society has lost it’s ability to be compassionate, especially to elderly people. If I wrote a story about Derek Carr giving someone a ride, I’d get thousands of readers an hour. Talk about the sad demise of a great player from the past and the numbers drop significantly with a yawn. It’s too sad and no one wants to bother.

What Can We Do:

It will take maturity and confidence from fans to create change. First, we can listen. We can listen to the players and their families.   We can support them by complaining to the league and owners in social media or in actually writing letters that we need to respect them and their needs. A little bit of effort goes a long way. The NFL was going to do nothing in the Ray Rice case until fans were outraged when TMZ proved them to be liars.

The NBA had a known racist, Donald Sterling as an owner.  They knew and supported him for years through his racist actions and rants.  They defended him until a video came out that was seen by fans.  The outrage was epic and public opinion forced the NBA to get rid of him.  Professional leagues morals are based on money & public opinion.

We can also support pages, stories and the players themselves.   Instead of putting up that 1000th team meme or 5000th cat photo on Facebook, teach yourself and/or your kids about the history of the teams and the great players from the past. These players sacrificed a great deal to play football and many were extremely loyal to the cities and fans.  Some became integral parts of the community with many living and dying in the area they played in. We need to stop acting like 18 y/o gang members and respect all players from all teams. You can hate a team or player in fun but remember we are all in this game called life, and that is much more important than any football rivalry or team loyalty.

What is happening to retired players is unacceptable and we need to be the answer. You can still love football and the players in it while not condoning some of the actions of the NFL and the owners. The NFL’s actions show it is loyal to one thing; money. It is their god. Well it’s not mine. They are not loyal to players, fans, cheerleaders, cities and even the refs.   I’m not letting ANY corporation or person use me or disrespect me, and you shouldn’t either. Look at their actions, and not the words. Love the game, and the teams and players but be respectful of what’s going on.  And if we are as loyal and respectful to the game as we say, let’s make a difference and show the NFL that the sport is about the people in it, and not the profit from it.

“Mark Davis’ Quick Meeting With an Iconic Oakland Fan; Everything About the Raiders Move to Vegas”

 

“never, ever, ever give your heart to a professional sports team”

Ann Killian, Bay Area Sportswriter

 

 

In a 31-1 vote with only Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross voting no, the NFL approved the vote to have the Oakland Raiders move to Las Vegas. The numbers still don’t add up but that doesn’t seem to worry anyone; until now.  Even if the Raider’s can’t pay back this loan, the NFL has a hold in sin city, something they always wanted.

The National Media:

What bothered me most about yesterdays and today’s sports reports, is that FINALLY many are now talking about the numbers and questioning whether this is a viable deal. Even KNTV out of Las Vegas did a live report saying it will be interesting to see if this can financially work long term because some of the numbers don’t add up. ESPN also questioned the deal and talked about the extreme greed of the owners and that the message to fans is clear; you mean nothing; revenues mean everything. Are you kidding me? After the fact? Where have you been for the last year media?

People wonder why I quit my writing jobs and went solo. It’s because I don’t want to have to kiss up to the NFL, companies, owners, or players. After Bill Simmons of ESPN was fired for calling Roger Goodell and the NFL liars (which TMZ proved they did lie), you realized the power the NFL had over the sports media. This move to Las Vegas shows it even more.   Remember when the NFL wouldn’t let Tony Romo have a fantasy sports conference at a Casino? Yet the NFL, MLB, and the NBA were kissing the hand of daily fantasy betting sites even though the Feds were investigating the sites for being so crooked.

NFL slams door on Romo-organized fantasy football convention

Las Vegas & Nevada:

Las Vegas and Nevada is a hot mess. Like I said in my article last week, Nevada is last in the U.S. in education and near last in many other categories. Instead of using a hotel tax to help the people of Las Vegas and Nevada, they use that money to build an NFL stadium which in no way is going to bring the same money in return. Lobbyists at work.

The city of Oakland announced that they still owe $95 million to the Raiders from the insane deal they made back in 1995 to bring them back. The city of St. Louis now says they still owe up to 128 million for the stadium for the Rams who are now playing in Los Angeles. Politicians that use tax dollars to fund stadiums are irresponsible. Good luck Vegas; you’ll need it.

Also add the 900 million dollar Nevada road project that will be needed for the new stadium; state and federal sources will be needed to help foot that bill. They hope that the Raiders will at least pay 400-450 million for this project but the money has not been allocated for that yet and is an extra cost, just like the relocation fee. This stadium is costing way more than 1.9 billion. As I said before, this is a terrible deal for Las Vegas and the state of Nevada and the Raiders. If the Raiders default on the loan the NFL still wins big time and that’s what the owners want.

Mark Davis & him reaching out to an Iconic Raider Fan:

I’ve said it before, Mark doesn’t seem like a bad guy. He is though way out of his league. Instead of reading the room and being gracious after the vote, Mark Davis ripped on local officials in Alameda and Oakland and said he pretty much blew them off after the Carson vote and wanted nothing to do with them. He blamed the increase in rents (even though they were minimal) and the counties saying they’d wait to negotiate until he had no other options as to the reason he no longer wanted Oakland. Some can finally stop acting like Mark Davis did everything to stay in Oakland. Saying you want to stay and trying to leave may fool some but it doesn’t fool me. His reasons are obviously CYA.   Actions show a man’s heart, words are the BS to hide those actions. His hurt feelings mattered more.

Mark Davis never wanted to be in Oakland; he wanted the glitz of LA or Las Vegas. He’s like the nerd in school who’s rich dad gave him a big football team and he now wants to hang out with the cool jocks. He never got Carson done. He said Adelson was in the bag until he tried to trick him into agreeing with all his demands. He then said Goldman Sachs was in the bag as an investor and that was news to them. Finally it was obvious this was becoming a joke so arrogant rich big brother Jerry Jones came to the table. As everyone close to the situation has said, Jones secured the Bank of America funding and, he also got the votes to pass this move. Davis again being put on 3^rd base thinking he hit a triple.

It’s now no surprise that ESPN (Colin Cowherd; who I’m not a big fan of also said it this morning) and other media outlets have said there are rumors of verbal deals with some of the services at the new Las Vegas stadium being done by Jerry Jones owned companies. What an amazing coincidence.

Mark Davis is already in damage control. He has reached out to a well known Raider fan to start the process of smoothing things over. He’s going to say it’s not his fault. He even said in a press conference after the vote that he wants to bring a Super Bowl to Oakland. Here is Zennie Abraham’s interview with Raider fan Godfather Griz & his interaction with Mark Davis.

Emotions aside, I still haven’t seen ONE financial person say this is a good financial deal for the Raiders and that they are going to make a ton of money. This deal almost reminds me of all the no money down housing loans banks gave out like candy for a while. Be careful what you wish for Mark Davis. You owe a lot of money; I mean a lot. The new black hole is going to be Mark Davis & the Raiders need for money.

John Madden’s omen about NFL Fans:

John Madden said about 5 years ago on his morning radio bit that he does locally that within his kids lifetime NFL fans will be little more than props. He said the most wild ones will be let in nearly free to create an atmosphere, and only the rich will be able to afford games. Most average fans will watch on tv at home where teams make most of the money.

Backlash in Other Communities:

Already the backlash of the ridiculous corporate welfare that Mark Davis is getting is being seen.   Two months ago North Carolina law makers called for a tax to help pay for their stadiums upgrades fearing they’d leave. Jacksonville and other areas also are beginning to shake in their boots and talk about tax money. It sets a bad precedent; pay NFL owners money for stadiums like a gold digger trophy wife, or they will straight up leave you, blame you, and break your hearts.

Everyone should do their own thing. For me though Mark Davis and the NFL doesn’t care if I live or die; they just want my money. I’d rather give thousands of dollars to my friends or family, pay bills, or buy people gifts than give it to an NFL team. Where I come from loyalty is a two way street.  You have to find your own way.

Oakland Raiders Writers and Bloggers:

There has been a lot of angry backlash against some of the more popular Raider social media voices for some of their predictions. I’m rare in that I can write about things and not be biased. Few can do that anymore.

Raider voices were just so emotionally involved that I think they kind of heard what they wanted to hear.   I didn’t have a clue what the vote would be but I just knew on paper this deal stunk & I said it. I argued with some of them. I said all of the rah rah stuff, the rally’s, and the talk of history and loyalty mean ABSOLUTELY nothing to NFL owners and they disagreed. I hate being right in this case.   I hope that you give them a break though; this team meant so much to the community & it’s hard to not understand it.

Libby Schaaf & Oakland/Alameda:

I was driving home on election night and a local reporter was walking with Libby to her election victory party. The reporter asked live on camera about keeping the A’s. “The A’s are going nowhere. They are staying in Oakland”. She was then asked about the Raiders. “We are going to do our best to keep the Raiders here”. I think that was always the vibe that worried the NFL and Raider fans. If you were to talk to Oakland people, they’d rather keep the Raiders than the A’s. If you talk to politicians though, the A’s seemed to be untouchable. In a second year of almost 100 losses, the A’s drew a total of about 1.5 million fans in 81 dates. The Raiders drew about 570,000 in their 10 games in 2016.  Bauce man and Dr. Death were both right on the A’s.

Libby was right in not using tax money for this stadium, but she was way wrong in the way she went about it. Right or wrong, with the A’s always in the background picture, this just wasn’t going to work for the NFL.

I also think they should have done a PR plan a long time ago, and released the plan then.   Doing this at the last second was wrong.   Uninformed fans took this as a last second deal thrown together to save the Raiders. It came off as desperate and unorganized. Months before I would have had ALL Oakland and Alameda officials, Fortress, Ronnie Lott, and everyone involved at the table in a press conference with smiles in one hand and Oakland Raider t-shirts in the other saying that everyone was in this together. Doing this the Saturday before the NFL vote was almost ridiculous in my mind. It made people feel good but didn’t do anything for the NFL.

Fan’s:

No team in the history of any sport in any country has left their city twice. It’s heartbreaking & eye opening. The very thing that players and people close to the team said when the Raiders went to LA is exactly what’s going to happen in Vegas.  Just like when they moved to L.A., I think over time the Raiders are slowly going to go from a gritty, tough, blue collar team with a lot of diversity in the stands, to a glitzy made for tv product. As so many players said in 1987 in the TV interview I showed on Facebook, (I couldn’t load it on this blog)“We changed”. Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.

If you are in southern California, Vegas is closer so if you are into going to the games that will be good for you.  If you choose not to go, again that is your choice and there is nothing wrong with that.  Do what is best for you and don’t let others tell you different. You are not a better or worse fan by doing one or the other.

For fans to tell others how to feel (I hope they don’t teach their kids this) and react to this move is as immature and selfish as it gets. Everyone is different and however you feel is alright with me. If you blow off the Raiders I get it. If you are no longer a fan I get it. If you stay loyal I get it. I used to be a Raider, Warrior & partial A’s season ticket holder up to 10 years ago, but I woke up. The Raiders are not paying my bills or making me soup when I’m sick. I realized a long time ago my loyalty to them was much more than their loyalty to me so I didn’t invest near as much as the past.  Again; you have to find your own way.

(a quick history of Raiders memories)

10 great Oakland football memories the Raiders won’t be able to re-locate to Las Vegas

For Oakland and east bay fans I think it’s time you moved on. A lawsuit isn’t keeping the Raiders here. I’ve heard of some saying this deal may financially fall through in the future and maybe they’ll come back, but I say enough.   It’s now an abusive relationship.   The Raiders do not care about you or the bay area and once they move you will be nothing more than a distant memory.   You are a prop and an ATM. They love your money but they don’t think you are good enough.

What will remain though are the memories and friendships along the way. This includes all of the great players and their families that were a big part of the Oakland community. They worked, partied and enjoyed life with the players and the players felt just as much adoration for the fans.   The relationships were deep and passionate. From the 1960’s before some were born to now, I don’t know of a more special bond with a community than the Raiders players had with their fans. Those that didn’t live it will never understand it. The Raiders were much more than a football team. They were family.

Thinking of parents, players, coaches & grandparents that are no longer with us, you realize an era has ended and it will never be the same. Remember though that no amount of arrogant greed can ever take these special memories & feelings away. How innocent were those days; how rich we are to have known them.

“An Unsung Hero in Raider & Vol Lore; Mickey Marvin and the Amazing Legacy He Leaves Behind”

A treasure of a man.

From Tennessee to North Carolina; from Los Angeles to Oakland; the heartbreaking news was released that former Tennessee Volunteer All-American and Oakland Raider great Mickey Marvin had passed away today at the age of 61.

Raiders announcement on the passing of Mickey Marvin:

http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Raiders-Mourn-Passing-Of-Mickey-Marvin-George-Karras/097fc1ce-1a35-4de0-b7d2-1cb6d52e0816

WHKP in Hendersonville, NC statement on the passing of Mickey Marvin

http://www.whkp.com/news/3441-breaking-mivkey.html

The cause of death has not been released but in 2015 the tragic news had spread that Marvin had been diagnosed with ALS; Lou Gehrig’s disease. The news hit the college & pro football community hard.

Last year the Raiders honored Mickey with a lifetime achievement award through the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation. Even though he could not attend due to health reasons, he received a standing ovation.

http://www.raiders.com/media-vault/videos/Mickey-Marvin-Wins-Lifetime-Achievement-Award/b9b5792a-9c33-4569-87bc-550489d21363

https://fritzpollard.org/

Mickey was honored with his own golf tournament. He also was honored in 2016 by western North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows when a proclamation in Mickey’s honor was read on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and entered into the Congressional Record.

After a great career at Tennessee, the 6’ 4”, 270 pound Marvin was drafted in the 4^th round of the NFL draft by Oakland and he was a mainstay in a long line of great Raider offensive lines. He helped them to 2 Super Bowl wins against Philadelphia and Washington.   He played from 1977 to 1987 and in 120 games he started 108 of them. On the field at the guard position, he was physical, consistent and someone that Al Davis loved to have on his team because he knew he could count on him. Davis was so taken in by Mickey, that he told him 5 years into his career that when he could no longer play there would be a job waiting for him. Al Davis cut Mickey Marvin before the 1988 season,  and true to his word, 3 weeks later Mickey was now a Scout for the Raiders.   A position he held for 29 years.

 

On the field……..

People forget just how good Mickey was. In the biggest games he played his best. Much was said before Super Bowl XV by the east coast media that the likes of Mickey Marvin, center Dave Dalby and an aging Gene Upshaw would be no match for Eagles nose tackle Charlie Johnson and linebackers Bill Bergey and Frank LeMaster. The Raiders ended up controlling both lines of scrimmage on the way to a 27-10 defeat of Philadelphia. The Raiders gave up only 1 sack the entire game, which ended up to be nose tackle Charlie Johnson’s only tackle. The Raiders chewed up 231 yards rushing against Washington who at that time was thought to be the greatest NFL team of all time leading the way to a 38-9 dominating Super Bowl win. Mickey and Dave Dalby again were the unsung hero’s and in my book, are two of the finest OL that never got their due.

Mickey Marvin v.s. the Miami Dolphins

Off the field……..

Mickey helped anyone and everyone spreading a positive and passionate message that made people love him.  He received countless requests from organizations asking him to share his passion and faith. Mickey Marvin put many smiles on peoples faces that will never be forgotten. He never turned down a fan’s request and even though he was a huge giant, kids and adults alike loved his positive and humble personality.

Here is a pastor’s wife blogging about meeting Mickey 

http://tonyarmayfield.blogspot.com/2008/08/mickey-marvin.html

Mickey With A Pastor & His Wife After a Church Service

Mickey was a man of great faith. He was in constant appreciation for what had been given to him, and he loved showing that appreciation through his kind actions and gracious spirit.

Mickey Marvin’s autograph with an inspirational note

“Henderson County has lost a great champion,” WHKP’s Richard Rhodes said. “Mickey Marvin was a friend to all. In a day where most pro athletes aren’t who you want your kids to look up to, Mickey was. He was a true role model and a true friend.”

Henderson County (North Carolina) Manager Steve Wyatt said “People are always talking about the best sports rivalries, like Carolina-Duke basketball. In pro football, it was the Raiders-Chiefs rivalry for years,” Wyatt said. “Me and Mickey talked about that rivalry a lot, and when he talked about it, I was hanging on his every word. His face would light up when he started talking about it. I’ve seen old photos of Mickey in the trenches, covered in mud and with blood on him, and he’s grinning. He was in his element. He was a true warrior.”

“Then you meet him off the field, and he’s the nicest guy you could ever meet. I always thought Mickey was a better man than he was a football player,” Wyatt said.

Mickey Marvin was a popular speaker for the Senior Bowl preparing players for life on & off the field.

Jim’s Jamz:

I really like social media. It allows me to communicate and meet people that I would never have been able to in the past. But what I don’t like about our social media culture is how quickly we forget the past, and how clueless so many are to it.  Some parents don’t instill the importance of those that came before us or the respect that we need to have for them.

That’s why I couldn’t go without saying a little something about another unsung hero that needs to be remembered.  I know many football families will appreciate and respect this good man.

Mickey Marvin’s legacy will be seen in the memories on the field, and the inspiration and smile’s that he created through the friendships of so many people off of it. He was a loyal family man with over 3 decades of marriage, and the love of his family was always in his heart. He now become’s another sweet spirit in the lore of Raider football and I’m sure I speak for Raider & Vol Fan’s from all over in saying thank you.  The NFL and the world need more Mickey Marvin’s.

Raider great Mickey Marvin getting congratulations from referee after Super Bowl XVIII

 

 

 

“The NBA’s & Sports Worlds Amazing Ride Through Life With Craig Sager”

 

In the medical field; and in life; you see so many amazingly brave and kind people battling diseases.  Their courage is never seen or talked about.  They worry about their families and are selfless in their battle.  People in the news also have those battles.  Some choose to fight them publicly; some privately.

Warriors Give out Sager Strong T-Shirts on Opening Night vs Spurs

For Craig Sager he somewhat had no choice.  In today’s hyper sensitive society which judges anything that is seen or done; especially on television; Craig Sager was seen all the time.  For him though he wanted to show that you can fight things with strength. determination and with a sense of humor.  He knew every move he did would be watched but that he would always just be himself. Little did anyone know how much this would touch people.

http://www.nba.com/article/2016/12/15/turner-statement-passing-craig-sager-0

Craig Sager was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2014 and it was obvious that he was not going to be working the 2014 NBA playoffs.  The severity of the disease and the diagnosis hit the NBA and Turner television family hard.  Without treatment he had 3 to 6 months to live.  Even with treatment this form of cancer was very aggressive and the long term prognosis was not good.

While his father was out, in a moving scene Craig’s son Craig Jr. interviewed the surly coach of the San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich.  His nastiness to reporters is of legend.  During the interview Gregg was very kind and showed a lot of love to Craig Jr. but he added that he would rather have Sr. there instead.

Along the way #sagerstrong began to pop up on Twitter.  People would see news stories of Sager in his extremely upbeat battle with the disease.  He was positive even through the worst of times.  He had an amazing 3 bone marrow transplants and went through chemotherapy along the way.

His daughter Kacy didn’t seem too pleased with her dad at one time on Twitter.  In the middle of an 8 day chemotherapy session Craig drove 3 hours to do the Oklahoma Thunder-San Antonio Spurs game after a treatment.

“My dad is in the middle of 8 days of chemo, drove 3.5 hours from HOU to SA to work this game, driving back in the am. Absurd. Meanwhile my roommate called out of work because she feels like crap”

The whole NBA community was pulling for Craig.  During the playoffs that he missed, for one day the entire Turner team dressed in crazy suits like Craig.  Many even from other networks did it.  It was an amazing show of support to a man that was battling so hard.

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tnt_overtime/2016/04/05/20160405-inside-sager-tribute.nba

Charles Barkley had hip replacement surgery and was told he could not fly for a while. When he heard Craig’s wife Stacy had a cold and could no longer be in the room with Craig, Charles hopped on a plane and visited. “Craig Sager is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.  You go to visit him to cheer him up and his attitude is so upbeat he cheers you up”.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/17443442/nba-charles-barkley-defies-own-doctor-visits-craig-sager

Craigs shining moment was his story and then speech about fighting cancer at the Espy’s, the annual award ceremony ESPN does.  He was given the Jimmy V award in honor of former North Carolina St. coach Jim Valvano who passed away of cancer.  The Jimmy V foundation has raised millions for cancer research.

http://www.jimmyv.org/

His appreciation to the Turner broadcasting team for helping him to keep working was one of the first things he talked about.  In a day when corporations seem to have no morals, character or heart, he appreciated their amazing support.

Craig talked about living with passion and having fun.  Fighting it with a great attitude and fire and how that attitude can help the way you act.

When Craig first started he took a lot of ribbing.  Some didn’t take him seriously due to his crazy suits.  But in time people realized he was real.  He was fun, kind, hard working and loyal.  He loved life and loved and appreciated people.  He took his job seriously and loved the NBA and the whole experience.  He loved the hustle and bustle of his job but he never took himself too seriously.

In reality what we loved about Craig Sager is he was how we wanted our athletes and our news people to be.  In a day with so many scandals, arrogance, pettiness and dysfunctional actions, we loved that Craig was kind, caring and full of fun. He was vulnerable and humble and kind in a way that made us feel connected to him.  An everyman.

Craig was given a terrible sentence and he battled an amazing 2 years.  I’m sure the doctors didn’t expect him to last that long but Craig did it in a way that inspired millions.  Our family like all of yours, has probably been through the pains of cancer.  I’ve sat with patients as they died.  I’ve sat with loved ones as they took their last breath.  The torturous battle that is sometimes seen in cancer is a battle that so many have endured.

But in the end it’s not how people die that matters; it’s how they lived.  How we fight the battles and how we touch others doing it.  We’ve seen the tragedies but we’ve also seen the courage and triumph.  The passionate battles and the perseverance through treatment and adversity.  The amazing human spirit that is seen in people that never get the publicity or the attention during their quiet battles.

Reporters give tribute to Craig Sager

http://screengrabber.deadspin.com/former-craig-sager-colleague-rachel-nichols-reports-his-1790157916?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

To all of you battling, I pray for you deeply and hope that one day they will find better treatments which lead to finding cures.  And for loved ones and those with cancer, I say one thing.  Stay Sager Strong and live with all  you have no matter how long the time.

 

 

 

 

 

“A Horrific Tragedy Ends The Life of Another Iconic Raider Fan; Social Media Icon Tim Casto”

I told several people last December that I had a horrible feeling about 2016.  Personally it’s been a terrible year for me and I know I’m not alone.  Several Raider fans; prominent ones; are now gone.  Add celebrities and many people’s family members and 2016 is a nightmare that can’t end soon enough.

Over the holiday weekend, in one of the saddest stories I’ve heard in a while, we lost another person that touched many lives.

Tim Casto, owner of Oakland Raiders Homeport and founder of Oakland Raiders Rumors, Rants & Reports, lost his battle for life after a horrific fire burned down his home.  He was the only one in the house.  Neighbors said they heard small explosions.  Tim had to be rescued by two firemen who were at a firehouse near by.  His family lost everything they had.  He was taken to a local hospital and was in a coma for days before passing away yesterday after life support was turned off.  Loved ones talked about how grateful they were to the two brave firemen who entered the burning home to try to save him.

http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Man-rescued-from-burning-home-in-Putnam-County-402462286.html

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Tim’s family; including his wife Karen and daughter Rhianna; were at his bedside praying for a miracle while Tim lay in a West Virginia hospital on life support.  Here was a family who lost every possession they owned now having to deal with even more tragedy.  There were prayer vigils and support coming from all over the country.  What made it even worse was that during this time, Tim’s wife and daughter had birthdays.  Karen spoke about her husbands deep love and kindness towards her and his daughter.  His daughter posted on Facebook a few days ago asking for people to pray for her dad to wake up.  Sadly he never did.

Tim (A.K.A. the Captain) was the owner and/or administrator of several of the largest Raider pages on Facebook.  It’s hard to find someone who didn’t have an interaction or a debate with him on one of the sites.  Tim was smart, knew football; especially the history; and was well respected.  I liked him immediately.

He was also very caring often forwarding gofundme pages for people that were going through something.  His sense of humor was seen so often, especially in his crazy avatar’s on Facebook depicting himself as different Captains.  My favorite is still Captain Crunch and he even caused a stir with a Fidel Castro avatar.

Tim with his daughter Rhianna

When I first got back into writing, I thought I would put an emphasis on the Raiders.  They hadn’t been good for years but I took a chance that things would get better.  I started out young and had written about the Raiders for years on another site and wow, was it painful.  With record setting losing streaks, fans were over the top nasty and as the years went on, less and less fans would be involved with the team.  When I started again, I would sometimes write an article that wasn’t positive towards the Raiders, and some Raider fans would go crazy and attack me viciously.  Even though I was right most of the time, fans had changed and honesty and truth was out of vogue.  It was now about cheerleading and butterflies and puppy dog tails.  When some fans tried to ban me, Tim defended me to the nines.  I’ll never forget that.

Instead of scolding me about the negativity on his page, he told me he loved my writing and asked if I would send him all my articles so he could put them on all his sites.  I was reluctant and told him no.  He was really trying to grow his groups and most of the popular people on their were the cheerleader types; some minor social media bullies; and I was a bit turned off by it.  He said he understood.  He started to copy and paste some links to my articles and forwarded them onto his site anyway.  Tim was persistent.

Tim and I would converse a lot online and it was fun.  I got on him a few times for being a bit too controlling on his sites.  He realized what I was saying and even if someone was way out there, he would let them talk.  It helped make his pages more fun.

If Tim had something on his mind he would try to do anything to prove he was right.  I loved battling with him.  He was the type that had to have the last word so I would mess with him by adding little words to our conversations.  He would laugh knowing what I was doing.  He said, “I love debating with you; you know we like each other and you never take it personally and I’m the same way”.  He GOT social media and all the petty and immature grudges were not what he was about.  I liked that.

When Ken Stabler died and I wrote my semi-famous article on Ken, the two people I spoke with that night before writing it were Tim and Mike Yokum.  Mike had petitioned to get Ken in the Hall of Fame for years.  I knew how much they loved Ken and I needed to talk with people who understood what a big loss he was.  I used Mike and Tim’s quotes and takes in the article.  I soon was on various ESPN radio shows and other stations talking about Ken.  Tim and Mike’s words helped me a lot.

There were some though that liked to take pot shots at Tim but he let it roll off his back.  Social media can show how nasty and mean some people are; mostly men; and we talked about having to have a thick skin and not taking things personally.  When Tim would bring up his much beloved predictions on who would get traded or cut in the near future, many would attack him.  He was right a lot though and it was fun to see his post reactions to his detractors.

He was also a huge voice during the election sparking controversy with some of his more zealous comments.  I appreciated his passion.

Tim was a great family man from West Virginia who loved his daughter and his wife immensely.  He talked about them at times in a self deprecating manner and you knew he enjoyed his family a lot.  Even his young daughter got in the act starting her own Facebook page showing her love for the Raiders as well.

I looked in my Facebook emails and saw the last time we sent emails to each other.  It was a couple of months ago where Tim had said his family needed prayer.  I sent him a prayer and he told me how much it meant to him and that he really appreciated it.

With the loss of Tim, social media/Facebook for the Oakland Raiders has a huge hole in it.  He was a prominent voice on Facebook for the Raiders and there were few groups that he didn’t have a hand in it’s success.  Personally, he was one of the reasons I didn’t take a writing job with a major company.  He encouraged me to be honest and to keep telling the truth and that I had freedom where others didn’t.  He was also the first person on the fan sites that supported me.

It’s going to be hard to get up in the morning now and not see Tim’s meme’s or his posts talking about the Raiders.  He was a positive and supportive person online and would help anyone that was going through a hard time.  This one hurts deep and I’ll miss him; a lot.  He reminds me of a lot of the blue collar Raider fans.  Kind and caring but a little gruff on the outside.

Thank you Tim for all you did for so many and for sharing yourself with all of us.  Tim proved that you didn’t have to be famous to be great.  He was a good man and in today’s world we need more Tim Casto’s.

“Calling Out NFL HOF Voters; How Future Raiders Can Get In; New Info On Stabler Vote”

 

“Ken Stabler & His Teammates In the Final Seconds of 24-21 Playoff Win v.s. Patriots”

Hypocrite:

A person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs.

Wow did I miss this one. I once told my niece, “when dealing with guys, what they do shows their heart. What they say shows what they want you to think. Always look at what they do.”

During the time when the mild controversy regarding the NFL HOF Nomination of convicted serial rapist and ex all pro safety Darren Sharper was going on, famous SI sportswriter Peter King took to twitter to defend the HOF voters. I was taking some time off and relaxing and I didn’t comment on it or write about it.   Recently though people have shown things that Peter King said and I was floored.

I’ve given the Deadspin article link to you; the only one that I could find; that repeated Kings serial tweets.

Here are some of his EXACT quotes.

The 46 HoF voters are asked to consider only on-field factors for ex-players. That is what I do. 

We would be shirking our duties if we did not consider him. What has happened since should not be factored in.

The bylaws of the Pro Football Hall of Fame forbid the 46 voters from considering players’ off-field lives.

If I said, “I will not consider Sharper for induction because he has been accused of multiple rapes,” I would resign from the committee.

For the sake of not giving Peter King’s worshipers fuel, I say don’t even read the article. Just read his comments.

http://deadspin.com/peter-king-defends-hall-of-fame-s-right-to-honor-allege-1683701729

Ken Stabler and Peter King Ties:

For almost 3 decades starting in the 70’s, the most popular teams in the NFL were the Cowboys and the Raiders. Their ratings were always on top. People loved them or hated them. Sports Illustrated sold a lot of magazines with Raiders stories. Here is a great one on Ken Stabler from 1977 after the Super Bowl win.

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/07/10/si-vault-ken-stabler-oakland-raiders

That all changed though after Ken Stabler was falsely accused of planting cocaine on Sportswriter Bob Padecky after a terrible year by the Snake in 1978.   Here is my popular article on that story:

https://theforumcelebritypodcast.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/part-csi-part-breaking-bad-the-real-reasons-why-ken-stabler-is-not-in-the-hall-of-fame/

Paul Zimmerman was a friend of Bob Padecky. He was the king of east coast media and was a voting member of the HOF and senior committee until his stroke in late 2008. He was the first expert to be used by ESPN during the NFL draft coverage. He was the man at SI (Sports Illustrated) and is revered today by most sports writers.   He was the one that had a vendetta against Ken Stabler because of the incident with Bob. Peter King every year honors Paul Zimmerman for an entire week near the time of the HOF ceremonies. He did it again this year.

Below is Peter Kings article trashing Ken Stabler’s HOF credentials.   He said that he only had 5 good years.   Remember one of his best friends and his mentor is Paul Zimmerman.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/07/13/ken-stabler-hall-of-fame-nfl-peter-king

Peter King probably didn’t vote for the Snake but he was in the minority.   Players, coaches, owners and teammates all said he was HOF worthy a long time ago.

Why Peter Kings Words Are So Hollow:

Peter King brags about his integrity. He sticks out his chest saying that if he took into account things off of the field, he should resign as a voter in the HOF.

The Hall of Fame Voters should be called out. Their votes SHOULD ALL be released to the public. There is no accountability in their votes and there needs to be transparency. I respect the fact that you don’t vote people in; but the fans, media and teams need to know why.

Cris Carter was left out of the HOF for 5 years. Why? Carter was a tool at times. Even fans didn’t like him.

After his first 4 years in Philadelphia, the media, team, and the fans were sick of him. He was their leading WR and he was cut. He also took a beating from writers who talked about his drug use of marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine. He stopped talking to the media.

He regrouped in Minnesota and had amazing numbers. At the end of his career some said he softened to the media because his numbers might be HOF worthy and he wanted to find favor with them. Sportswriters have long memories though Cris.

Terrell Owens was another one. Of course he’s a HOF player. But he was dramatic, demanding and nasty to the media. One year during a contract dispute in Philly, he refused to LOOK AT media members let alone talk to them. He threw teammates under the bus, blamed coaches for losses and even told Playboy that QB Jeff Garcia was gay.

Why do I bring these 2 up? These are just 2 examples of obvious HOF players who weren’t voted in by the writers.   I thought anything off the playing field didn’t matter? Well obviously it does.

Stabler is the worst example of all. Anyone that is buds with Zimmerman knows how much he hated Ken, blaming him for the Bob Padecky fiasco.  How can you leave Stabler out of the Hall? Only 5 good years? Are you kidding me?

Are Hall of Fame Voters Really Biased?:

I was being interviewed by a small radio station in Pennsylvania and they thought I was nuts. “Jim you actually believe that HOF voters will hold grudges for years against a player?”

My answer was simple.

“Yes. Look at people who are staunch Republicans or Democrats. They would blindly support Charles Manson if he was part of their political party.   And if Mother Teresa was in the other political party they’d rip her to shreds with negativity. They have grudges for a lifetime.

Same with some HOF voters. I’m giving you facts not opinions. Zimmerman said in an SI article in 1979 after the Bob Padecky situation that he would NEVER vote Ken Stabler into the HOF as long as he lived. He also admitted Stabler was the only player he ever lobbied AGAINST. Zimmerman was one of the most; if not the most; powerful writers in the country.   SI was king and ESPN was just starting and he was chosen as their NFL and draft guru. Thirty years later in 2009, Zimmerman told the NFL Network again; “I’ll never vote Ken Stabler into the HOF. Facts gentleman; facts”.

Jim drops the mic. Ok I didn’t do that, but I would have if I was in studio!

Just the very fact that Zimmerman; after 30 years; STILL said he wouldn’t vote for Stabler into the HOF shows how right I am about some sportswriters.   Most are great I’m sure; but some?

New Information:

Frank Cooney; who has covered football for over 5 decades; wrote a great article earlier in the year. EVERYTHING I said from Randall Watson to Padecky, to Dr Z to Nick Dudich was confirmed by Frank; and countless others; and my articles were written way before theirs, last summer.

A tidbit that I never knew was Frank finding out that the voters to the HOF “innocently” received a huge binder of information on this years candidates.

One piece was a blog from 2012 by Andy Barall of the NY Times with the famous quote that supposedly Dave Casper said. “Ken took football back 50 years. He didn’t work hard enough at it. He fooled em his whole life”.

Yes I found the blog. Here it is.   Magically it has a link to a book by………..Paul Zimmerman, one of his buddies. This stuff writes itself friends.

Dave Casper has been very angry over being misquoted. “I’ve never said Ken set back football. I would vote him into the HOF”. Below is Franks article with Dave Caspers angry retort.

Jims Jamz:

I’m a realist, and I know nothing is going to change in the voting process.   So what needs to happen is that if you are a fan of a player that is deserving of the NFL HOF, it’s time to act.   Through petitions, writing emails, responding to social media posts and articles; in reality it’s up to you.   So many are working hard for players from the Raiders that deserve to be in the HOF.  But everyone needs to be involved.  Think of the loyal fanbase, families and children of these great players.

Some will say Ken got in so get over it.  But I remember the pain in the Stabler’s families eyes.  I don’t want ANY other Raider or NFL family to go through that.  If you grew up in the bay area the Raiders were not our team; they were family.

How a petition for a Ken Stabler or a Cliff Branch can’t get 50,000 signatures in a month is beyond me. I see a lot of posts online talking about fan loyalty, but in reality it’s going to be up to ALL fans actions to carry the torch.   Keep doing what you are doing to inspire others.  And for those that haven’t been a part of the support, it’s never too late to get on board.  Do your part for these players that gave generations of people so much enjoyment and pride.  Make NFL HOF voters do the right thing; because without you; some won’t.

Myth-busting Ken Stabler’s Hall of Fame credentials