The thing about holidays is the "post" aspect of it. As in the aftermath. Cleaning up and coming down. Like the song says "back to reality." In these weird ass times, "reality" is a bitch.
At least the moment of "holiday" can be, and often is, wonderful. If you look at the word, it's basically "Holy Day." A day of holiness. Not in the religious sense but of being wholistic. The state of "whole," i.e. you being you. Notice how much embracing occurs during holidays. That's you embracing various aspects of you. Why don't we do it more often?
Doesn't music sound better during holidays?
The best time to try some foul shit is during holidays. People are so intoxicated by happiness, food, and alcohol that you could start a war - and they have - but they wouldn't care. Why? Because most people are focused on themselves and things/people close to them. Only the diabolical think of this shit (i.e. Nixon, Kissinger, Cheney, Thatcher). You could raid a village or break into a house and start shooting at sunrise.
Holidays were very often depressing for me because I was not with family. Now, it's just a time to watch some football. Everything else is a bonus.
Members of the wife's family came by and enjoyed what had to be one of the finer moments of cooking we created.
Then there are my boys, the Oakland Raiders. They stunk up the television against my mother's favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. Goddamn! My mother became a "saved" Christian a while back. So she didn't talk too crazy to me.
We missed our annual sojourns this year. Weird times. Usually make that drive to see Moms, grandmother, aunts, cousins, and best friends. Gotta get back right side up.
The mind is not only a terrible thing to waste, it is an awful prison. The mind is a hard place to break out of when you don't feel like you. I advocate exercise and a walk in the open air to release yourself if you don't feel like you.
Why are they fucking with people? Jobs and shelter. Fucking with people's self-esteem. Are they that fucked up in their own head that you have to pass that along?
I am thankful for all the experiences - good, bad, and fucked up. They make me me.
I love you muthafuckas!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Giving Thanks, Pt. 8
So my wife's mad at me. Too many beverages but those are the breaks. I'm thankful for her and all that she has contributed to me and my life. She is a beautiful person and spirit. I don't know where I would be without her.
Cooking my ass off. You should be here.
I really love my cats from HU. Those cats are life-lines
Speaking of life-lines, my son is one. Football is my shit. He's killing my fingers playing catch.
Chef D, thanks for the lifeline. Love you, bruh!
Tracy Rice - what can I say? You took over Todd's spot. I need you and your love. Thank you!
Jay Barry. That was REAL bitchtified! One day you will learn.
Scott Evans, thanks for being a brotha! You have my loyalty.
Long-lost loves. It was real in my mind and there is love between us. I just don't want an ass-whupping from Angel. She's very strong!
Like Duke Ellington said, "Music is my mistress." Words, too.
Kathleen, I hope you have a better 2010 and beyond. Thanks for your Spirit. I hate what has occurred in your Life. But you have helped a brotha out. BIG TIME! Thank you!
Cooking my ass off. You should be here.
I really love my cats from HU. Those cats are life-lines
Speaking of life-lines, my son is one. Football is my shit. He's killing my fingers playing catch.
Chef D, thanks for the lifeline. Love you, bruh!
Tracy Rice - what can I say? You took over Todd's spot. I need you and your love. Thank you!
Jay Barry. That was REAL bitchtified! One day you will learn.
Scott Evans, thanks for being a brotha! You have my loyalty.
Long-lost loves. It was real in my mind and there is love between us. I just don't want an ass-whupping from Angel. She's very strong!
Like Duke Ellington said, "Music is my mistress." Words, too.
Kathleen, I hope you have a better 2010 and beyond. Thanks for your Spirit. I hate what has occurred in your Life. But you have helped a brotha out. BIG TIME! Thank you!
Giving Thanks
When you have difficult times, a life-line is much appreciated. There are folks who throw you lifelines and don't realize it because they are just being themselves. There are people who eschew the lifeline but blast noise just being themselves. And when you need that life-line, the masturbating noise-makers expose themselves.
To all who have offered but couldn't deliver, no worries. Your offer was beautiful and effort sincere. At least you care!
To all whom have constructive advice carved out of caring and love, THANK YOU! We will try to implement but these are weird times.
To the random well-wishers: Your love and admiration is much appreciated and inspirational.
To the Raiders: PLEASE win the rest of your games! I need stress-relief!
To all you beautiful-ass friends: THANK YOU for all that you do to sustain a brotha! I truly appreciate you more than you know or appreciate. I love you guys!!!
To all who have offered but couldn't deliver, no worries. Your offer was beautiful and effort sincere. At least you care!
To all whom have constructive advice carved out of caring and love, THANK YOU! We will try to implement but these are weird times.
To the random well-wishers: Your love and admiration is much appreciated and inspirational.
To the Raiders: PLEASE win the rest of your games! I need stress-relief!
To all you beautiful-ass friends: THANK YOU for all that you do to sustain a brotha! I truly appreciate you more than you know or appreciate. I love you guys!!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Raider Nation - Excitement Pt. 3
It's about goddamn time these cats started to play up to their potential. Me and my homeboy, Barron, watched the sheeit with jaded eyes. But our boys came from behind and played some offense. Defense was there, too. I think we lucked up that Cincy called some boneheaded plays but we gave some games away doing the same. Especially with DuhMarcus, I mean, Jamarcus at qb. We wasted a season trying to get him to play ball. Should've seen the writing on the wall during his laziness off-season and the Denver game. Dude has no accountability in him and that will cause you not to grow.
I think we get in the Cowboys' azzes next. They can't score and we have a qb who gets it now. Hopefully, Jamarcus learns his lesson and stops wasting Al's money and the Nation's time.
I think we get in the Cowboys' azzes next. They can't score and we have a qb who gets it now. Hopefully, Jamarcus learns his lesson and stops wasting Al's money and the Nation's time.
Giving Thanks
To my main man, Eric Easter, a cat with whom I share birthday but who represents what an editor is supposed to represent - a person who suggests what works. Thanks E-Money!
To my JPC refugees: My main man, Brian Gilmore, with whom I wish I could spend a weekly lunch. Vee Fusiller, a cat who has taken it to the next level. Would love to go through his album collection. Monroe Anderson. For his emails that suggested I might be on his level - humbled. Del Walters for making me realize there's always harder than you, Loved the brief encounter during the Conventiion last year. Terry Glover, my sista! Love you and how you and E made me work for it! Not enough credit for you two!
Now before we start crying, that's enougn
To my JPC refugees: My main man, Brian Gilmore, with whom I wish I could spend a weekly lunch. Vee Fusiller, a cat who has taken it to the next level. Would love to go through his album collection. Monroe Anderson. For his emails that suggested I might be on his level - humbled. Del Walters for making me realize there's always harder than you, Loved the brief encounter during the Conventiion last year. Terry Glover, my sista! Love you and how you and E made me work for it! Not enough credit for you two!
Now before we start crying, that's enougn
Some Rare Excitement
The past month has been difficult emotionally for me. We will elaborate in a hard hitting piece soon. You know we will deliver. But it's been difficult for me to write, really, for the past year. I promise you will receive more DeAng, and not the subtle DeAng either.
My boys pulled one out today. Watched the game on the Sunday Ticket with my son. Got him some Martinelli Apple-Grape for his Raider glass with some Cheez-Its and Oreos. My favorite moments are watching a Raider game with him with his drinks and snacks. Damn the outcome - it's the Moment. Only two seasons left before he's gone and those moments will be gone. Crying on the inside.
What can I say? The Bengals, like the Eagles, were sloppy and underestimated the Silver and Black. Defense has always been good. Just need those high draft picks to step up.
I really cannot express the love and joy I experience with my son during these moments. Thanks Barron! For being you. I 'll keep trying to be a better me.
My boys pulled one out today. Watched the game on the Sunday Ticket with my son. Got him some Martinelli Apple-Grape for his Raider glass with some Cheez-Its and Oreos. My favorite moments are watching a Raider game with him with his drinks and snacks. Damn the outcome - it's the Moment. Only two seasons left before he's gone and those moments will be gone. Crying on the inside.
What can I say? The Bengals, like the Eagles, were sloppy and underestimated the Silver and Black. Defense has always been good. Just need those high draft picks to step up.
I really cannot express the love and joy I experience with my son during these moments. Thanks Barron! For being you. I 'll keep trying to be a better me.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Stability
Stability. Who doesn't crave it in some form? Unless you're Miles Davis, you want that wall, that ground to understand yourself, that launching pad, that landing ground, that resting place where you are are you. That place to hug your kids and your spouse.
That place of meditation.
Stability.
Then THEY mess with it. Like a frat playing mind games. I'm too old and polished for mind games. I don't play mind games and never have. I'm direct. That's why we didn't pledge. I don't care if you did and there's no judgment involved. Some of my best friends pledged.
They want consumption but they keep interfering with your ability to consume. You want to come home and enjoy a glass of wine while watching your favorite moment. And they disrupt your moment of stability.
Because they induced you into their crap-out? They still have loads of money but want you to pay off their lost bets?
And so this is where we are as a society and economy? Why am I burdened with your bad decisions? We are all burdened by poor choices, why am I burdened by yours?
Being imperfectioned humans means we all have to choose. Otherwise, we'd know the answers before they were questions.
We have habits and things we rely on to be in the place that we want or place them. Then there's now. Where folks mess with mess with your stability. Where they play games with what you worked hard and sacrificed for. Out of greed. But all you want is stability. To get your feet under you.
Stability. Every sane person craves it. If we have to live together, what does it say about you to mess anyone's up?
That place of meditation.
Stability.
Then THEY mess with it. Like a frat playing mind games. I'm too old and polished for mind games. I don't play mind games and never have. I'm direct. That's why we didn't pledge. I don't care if you did and there's no judgment involved. Some of my best friends pledged.
They want consumption but they keep interfering with your ability to consume. You want to come home and enjoy a glass of wine while watching your favorite moment. And they disrupt your moment of stability.
Because they induced you into their crap-out? They still have loads of money but want you to pay off their lost bets?
And so this is where we are as a society and economy? Why am I burdened with your bad decisions? We are all burdened by poor choices, why am I burdened by yours?
Being imperfectioned humans means we all have to choose. Otherwise, we'd know the answers before they were questions.
We have habits and things we rely on to be in the place that we want or place them. Then there's now. Where folks mess with mess with your stability. Where they play games with what you worked hard and sacrificed for. Out of greed. But all you want is stability. To get your feet under you.
Stability. Every sane person craves it. If we have to live together, what does it say about you to mess anyone's up?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Reset
I've been wearing out Prince's 1999 lately. Against that backdrop is the reset we are experiencing in society. I had to cancel today's radio show due to being a victim of the reset. It's a trip. And very exasperating riddled with angst and anxiety. And they wonder why people resort to mind-altering substances? Not that I have beyond watching a good television show and listening to some Prince, but the hell are they thinking? Maybe that's what they want you to do. If you've read Brave New World, you know about the drug soma that induces inactivity and apathy.
So they kick a mug out of his job and now want his crib, too? But they want you to consume at the same rate they induced you to do. They don't want to pay you but want you to pay yesterday's prices to keep a crib over your head? Gas prices have crept back up along with the cost of food. Where do they think you're getting the money?
And so they get mad when folk engage strategic default. I read somewhere that they shouldn't be concerned about terrorists but whether people will wake up and make astute economic decisions. Is that why the banks claimed the sky was falling?
Like Prince said, albeit in a different context, "Something In the Water Does Not Compute." The way this society is going might lead to some kind of revolution. Because greedy theft and deprivation of the consumer is inconsistent. You can keep squeezing but there comes a breaking point, a point where there's a burst. Not advocating a riot but keep pushing those buttons and you might get one.
I mean really. You keep taking away a person's means to survive with no relief. You keep pushing at a person's self-respect. Most people can suck it up. But when they have kids, now you are fucking with people in the wrong manner. What do you think they are going to do? And how do you think the kids are going to feel? We are not living on the Gaza Strip, you know. And you see what that's gotten greed, right?
I thought we lived in a society and economy of Change. It looks like more of the same in yellow-face. Did we sign up for this?
So they kick a mug out of his job and now want his crib, too? But they want you to consume at the same rate they induced you to do. They don't want to pay you but want you to pay yesterday's prices to keep a crib over your head? Gas prices have crept back up along with the cost of food. Where do they think you're getting the money?
And so they get mad when folk engage strategic default. I read somewhere that they shouldn't be concerned about terrorists but whether people will wake up and make astute economic decisions. Is that why the banks claimed the sky was falling?
Like Prince said, albeit in a different context, "Something In the Water Does Not Compute." The way this society is going might lead to some kind of revolution. Because greedy theft and deprivation of the consumer is inconsistent. You can keep squeezing but there comes a breaking point, a point where there's a burst. Not advocating a riot but keep pushing those buttons and you might get one.
I mean really. You keep taking away a person's means to survive with no relief. You keep pushing at a person's self-respect. Most people can suck it up. But when they have kids, now you are fucking with people in the wrong manner. What do you think they are going to do? And how do you think the kids are going to feel? We are not living on the Gaza Strip, you know. And you see what that's gotten greed, right?
I thought we lived in a society and economy of Change. It looks like more of the same in yellow-face. Did we sign up for this?
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Raider Nation - The Bullshit of Tom Cable as a Physical Abuser
Okay, let's get one thing out of the way. Violence against anyone is not condoned. Domestic violence, where a dude uses his superior physical strength, is frowned on, shouldn't be done, is a display of mental weakness and insecurity, etc. I'm liberal than a mug when it comes to women (uuuhhh don't take that the way I think you might, even though we confess to a continual fascination with feminine beauty and curves).
That said I'm smelling a rat when it comes to the latest allegations of domestic violence against Raiders head coach Tom Cable. This is a story now?! He's had the allegations of a physical assault against an assistant football coach hanging over his head since August. I mean it's been in the news on a weekly, if not daily, basis since he allegedly broke this cat's jaw.
So approximately a week after those charges were dismissed, ESPN decides to air a report that he hit two of his former significant others, one his wife from 20 years ago?! This information, if true, makes the timing suspicious. These are not new allegations. They were in the public domain in August and up until the assault charges were dropped. So why bring them up now?
And while I sympathize with the alleged victims, their day in court has long passed with no conviction of Cable. And in this country, we're supposed to have the concept of double jeopardy meaning you can't be tried for the same crime twice. In the literal and legal sense, Cable has not been tried for these crimes. But that's not to say there wasn't the opportunity. And so why seize the opportunity now? Because it was a hot topic and it was your time to grab that 15 minutes of fame on ESPN?
Again, if true, I'm not co-signing Cable's actions. But even if true, why bring it up now? And why is ESPN airing the shit AFTER charges were dropped? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Now NOW is involved. Female sports columnists and reporters, particularly from the Bay Area, are Jane-On-The-Spot with this topic. Like vultures and/or sharks, they seized the moment to pounce on vulnerable prey.
So again, my point to you. This was information in the public domain for years. This was information in the public domain when Cable was named the Raiders O-Line coach. In the public domain when Cable was named the Raiders interim head coach. In the public domain after he was named the Raiders permanent head coach. In the public domain when Randy Hanson claimed Cable beat his ass and broke his jaw.
Further, ESPN has an investigative arm to its news organization. ESPN has deep Jacques Cousteau pockets. ESPN is into 24/7 news. And this only recently became a news story?! After assault charges were dropped?! You see where I'm going with this?!
I don't know what happened between Cable and his former wife and ex-girlfriend. I do know that there are two sides to every story and the Truth usually falls in the middle of those perspectives. I do know that it takes a complete psycho obsessive-compulsive liar (and I've been the victim of one, who, coincidentally, works for ESPN) to completely make that kind of shit up. But relationships are complicated. And a physical reaction may have been precipitated by some rancor. Does that condone a violent reaction? Hell no! But it points to communication problems and trust issues. Unless and until you get control of those issues along with your own insecurity, you may be prone that these kinds of episodes.
But what you don't do is publicly drag down a person who is trying their best to excel in a profession. He may or may not need help with his temper. But don't back-door the issue. Especially on ESPN. I'll tell you what. If the allegations are true, I have no sympathy for the victims. Why? Because of the timing and public nature of it. As a lawyer, I know this is a set-up for a hand out.
Tom, just coach a better game and let's get it on with some football excitement.
That said I'm smelling a rat when it comes to the latest allegations of domestic violence against Raiders head coach Tom Cable. This is a story now?! He's had the allegations of a physical assault against an assistant football coach hanging over his head since August. I mean it's been in the news on a weekly, if not daily, basis since he allegedly broke this cat's jaw.
So approximately a week after those charges were dismissed, ESPN decides to air a report that he hit two of his former significant others, one his wife from 20 years ago?! This information, if true, makes the timing suspicious. These are not new allegations. They were in the public domain in August and up until the assault charges were dropped. So why bring them up now?
And while I sympathize with the alleged victims, their day in court has long passed with no conviction of Cable. And in this country, we're supposed to have the concept of double jeopardy meaning you can't be tried for the same crime twice. In the literal and legal sense, Cable has not been tried for these crimes. But that's not to say there wasn't the opportunity. And so why seize the opportunity now? Because it was a hot topic and it was your time to grab that 15 minutes of fame on ESPN?
Again, if true, I'm not co-signing Cable's actions. But even if true, why bring it up now? And why is ESPN airing the shit AFTER charges were dropped? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Now NOW is involved. Female sports columnists and reporters, particularly from the Bay Area, are Jane-On-The-Spot with this topic. Like vultures and/or sharks, they seized the moment to pounce on vulnerable prey.
So again, my point to you. This was information in the public domain for years. This was information in the public domain when Cable was named the Raiders O-Line coach. In the public domain when Cable was named the Raiders interim head coach. In the public domain after he was named the Raiders permanent head coach. In the public domain when Randy Hanson claimed Cable beat his ass and broke his jaw.
Further, ESPN has an investigative arm to its news organization. ESPN has deep Jacques Cousteau pockets. ESPN is into 24/7 news. And this only recently became a news story?! After assault charges were dropped?! You see where I'm going with this?!
I don't know what happened between Cable and his former wife and ex-girlfriend. I do know that there are two sides to every story and the Truth usually falls in the middle of those perspectives. I do know that it takes a complete psycho obsessive-compulsive liar (and I've been the victim of one, who, coincidentally, works for ESPN) to completely make that kind of shit up. But relationships are complicated. And a physical reaction may have been precipitated by some rancor. Does that condone a violent reaction? Hell no! But it points to communication problems and trust issues. Unless and until you get control of those issues along with your own insecurity, you may be prone that these kinds of episodes.
But what you don't do is publicly drag down a person who is trying their best to excel in a profession. He may or may not need help with his temper. But don't back-door the issue. Especially on ESPN. I'll tell you what. If the allegations are true, I have no sympathy for the victims. Why? Because of the timing and public nature of it. As a lawyer, I know this is a set-up for a hand out.
Tom, just coach a better game and let's get it on with some football excitement.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Raider Nation - It's Time To Man Up
My boys are 2 - 5. I thought they'd be 3 -4 after last week with a good chance of being .500 going into their bye week the week after next. Staring at a losing record a seventh season in a row. This is horrific. The Raiders may have been mediocre since their last Bowl win but they haven't losers. Double-digit losers at that. That's where they are headed this year. Wow.
Like Bill Romo says, we need a team that flies around and makes plays. He played with HOF Ronnie Lott. He said Ronnie Lott would never allow that debacle. He would make sure every one held themselves accountable.
Now one muthafucka who thinks his shit doesn't stink is Jamarcus Russell. Everyone else is holding himself accountable. The one muthafucka who needs to hold himself accountable is the quarterback. He needs to recognize that he's fucking up just as much as the other folks he's accusing of fucking him up.
I think it would help the team for him to bang his chest and say it's on me. For him to point fingers is a bitch move. He's proving to be a bitch. Not just in his play but in his post-game comments.
Like Romo, I want to see some excitement.
Like Bill Romo says, we need a team that flies around and makes plays. He played with HOF Ronnie Lott. He said Ronnie Lott would never allow that debacle. He would make sure every one held themselves accountable.
Now one muthafucka who thinks his shit doesn't stink is Jamarcus Russell. Everyone else is holding himself accountable. The one muthafucka who needs to hold himself accountable is the quarterback. He needs to recognize that he's fucking up just as much as the other folks he's accusing of fucking him up.
I think it would help the team for him to bang his chest and say it's on me. For him to point fingers is a bitch move. He's proving to be a bitch. Not just in his play but in his post-game comments.
Like Romo, I want to see some excitement.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Raider Nation - Time to Abandon Ship
Maybe with the victory over the Eagles and the dismissal of charges against Tom Cable, the Raiders thought they'd won the Super Bowl. But then we're not even at the half-way point of the season. So how do you figure to go back to your suck-ass ways and win? Really? Isn't there a definition of insanity that says Insanity is doing things the same way while expecting different results?
What's up with these cats? I just don't get them - at all! I wish I could get a refund for the NFL Sunday Ticket because I don't need it anymore. The Raiders suck. In fact, as a Raiders fan, I may have to find a building. Any ideas about one where I can install a dive board?
Jamarcus, the number one pick holdout with 31 mil guaranteed dollars?! Either the brotha's not getting it or he doesn't care enough to get better. This offseason Cable hinted as much. It's evident he has not worked hard enough on the passing game or developing timing with his receivers. He is vastly overweight. He has no pocket awareness. He keeps making horribly stupid decisions with the ball. And he has not held himself accountable for his horrible play.
But for the game, what the hell is going on? First play, he fumbles and puts the defense on the four? Defense put up a gallant goal line defense. Not the first time they did it either. Then he throws a horrific interception that gets returned to the four. Defense is backed up again?! That's 14 easy points in the first quarter within the first four possessions. Come on, Jamarcus!
It's not solely on Jamarcus though. His coach, the play-caller, isn't giving him ANY help. The fumble? Why is that a pass play on the first offensive call of the game deep in your own territory with jitterish, inaccurate qb? You have as much to blame with the horrible start as your qb.
In football, playing defense takes up much more energy than playing offense. If the offense keeps playing for a couple of minutes with no yards, no first downs, and no points, what the hell is the defense going to do? Now if you're the Ravens with special kind of players, then you keep it close. The Raiders play with small balls on both sides of the ball.
As Bill Romo said, the Raiders lack passion, intensity, and excitement when they play. This is the worse I have seen the Raiders play in my 35 years as a fan. 2006? That was horrific offense, but it was pretty much no o-line play.
This year? It's no o-line play, no linebacker play, no receiver play, no runningback play, negative backwards, assholic quarterback play, no secondary play, no pass rush play, no offensive play-calling play, no defensive coaching play, no personnel play, no drafting play, no goddamn play.
I hate this product. Even the coach sounds defeated. But what can he do? The owner has an outdated philosophy with outdated schemes hoping that outdated profiles of certain players will fit. Football players that are great athletes will help the Raiders. I like the drafting philosophy of the Steelers, Chargers, Giants, and other teams above the Raiders. Jamarcus? Might be a bust if he doesn't get his mind and weight right. DHB? No hands or receiving sensibility. McFadden? Always hurt.
We need some passion, intensity, and excitement. And some football intelligent play from the passing game. A hardcore run would help, too. Knocking the shit outta someone on defense would set a tone as well. Otherwise, this shit really sucks.
What's up with these cats? I just don't get them - at all! I wish I could get a refund for the NFL Sunday Ticket because I don't need it anymore. The Raiders suck. In fact, as a Raiders fan, I may have to find a building. Any ideas about one where I can install a dive board?
Jamarcus, the number one pick holdout with 31 mil guaranteed dollars?! Either the brotha's not getting it or he doesn't care enough to get better. This offseason Cable hinted as much. It's evident he has not worked hard enough on the passing game or developing timing with his receivers. He is vastly overweight. He has no pocket awareness. He keeps making horribly stupid decisions with the ball. And he has not held himself accountable for his horrible play.
But for the game, what the hell is going on? First play, he fumbles and puts the defense on the four? Defense put up a gallant goal line defense. Not the first time they did it either. Then he throws a horrific interception that gets returned to the four. Defense is backed up again?! That's 14 easy points in the first quarter within the first four possessions. Come on, Jamarcus!
It's not solely on Jamarcus though. His coach, the play-caller, isn't giving him ANY help. The fumble? Why is that a pass play on the first offensive call of the game deep in your own territory with jitterish, inaccurate qb? You have as much to blame with the horrible start as your qb.
In football, playing defense takes up much more energy than playing offense. If the offense keeps playing for a couple of minutes with no yards, no first downs, and no points, what the hell is the defense going to do? Now if you're the Ravens with special kind of players, then you keep it close. The Raiders play with small balls on both sides of the ball.
As Bill Romo said, the Raiders lack passion, intensity, and excitement when they play. This is the worse I have seen the Raiders play in my 35 years as a fan. 2006? That was horrific offense, but it was pretty much no o-line play.
This year? It's no o-line play, no linebacker play, no receiver play, no runningback play, negative backwards, assholic quarterback play, no secondary play, no pass rush play, no offensive play-calling play, no defensive coaching play, no personnel play, no drafting play, no goddamn play.
I hate this product. Even the coach sounds defeated. But what can he do? The owner has an outdated philosophy with outdated schemes hoping that outdated profiles of certain players will fit. Football players that are great athletes will help the Raiders. I like the drafting philosophy of the Steelers, Chargers, Giants, and other teams above the Raiders. Jamarcus? Might be a bust if he doesn't get his mind and weight right. DHB? No hands or receiving sensibility. McFadden? Always hurt.
We need some passion, intensity, and excitement. And some football intelligent play from the passing game. A hardcore run would help, too. Knocking the shit outta someone on defense would set a tone as well. Otherwise, this shit really sucks.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Raider Nation - Excitement!!
In the immortal words of PE's Flavor Flav, yeah bbooyyyy!!!!!! Finally, some fucking excitement on Sunday. Line-muthafucking-backers. A goddamn blitz! Some real professional football!
Jamarcus moved around and got rid of the ball quickly and smartly. Justin Fargas ran violently. Make-shift o-line blocked. D-line whupped ass!! And the linebackers played like line-fucking-backers.
Better play-calling today, too. The coaches gave Jamarcus a chance to make some plays.
And the defensive coaches stepped it up with the calls. Blitz! Thank you. Welcome to the 21st century. Al, leave the defensive staff alone. Blitzing, zone, zone blitz - it worked! That 1960s, 70s man on man single safety defense can only be part of the package - unless and until you get back Mike Haynes, Lester, Jack Tatum, Rod Martin, Ted Hendricks, Mike Davis, Lyle Alzado, Otis Sistrunk, Howie Long, Bill Pickel, etc. But let the coaches coach! Especially on defense!
The Jets are next. I think we can get in that azz. The Chargers after that. We were already in that azz first game of the season. We might just turn this season around.
Jamarcus moved around and got rid of the ball quickly and smartly. Justin Fargas ran violently. Make-shift o-line blocked. D-line whupped ass!! And the linebackers played like line-fucking-backers.
Better play-calling today, too. The coaches gave Jamarcus a chance to make some plays.
And the defensive coaches stepped it up with the calls. Blitz! Thank you. Welcome to the 21st century. Al, leave the defensive staff alone. Blitzing, zone, zone blitz - it worked! That 1960s, 70s man on man single safety defense can only be part of the package - unless and until you get back Mike Haynes, Lester, Jack Tatum, Rod Martin, Ted Hendricks, Mike Davis, Lyle Alzado, Otis Sistrunk, Howie Long, Bill Pickel, etc. But let the coaches coach! Especially on defense!
The Jets are next. I think we can get in that azz. The Chargers after that. We were already in that azz first game of the season. We might just turn this season around.
Friday, October 16, 2009
HU Homecoming Tears
It looks like I'm about to miss my peeps for the first time since '04. And it hurts. I get my Black on when we go to DC. That's really more home to me than Denver. All my peeps are there. To be honest, I really hate living in Denver. I only live here for love of family.
But my other family - my HU family - I miss. Roll call: Bob Nunes, Angela Acree, Rudy Acree, Bernard Parks, Robin Smith Rose, Beverly Bains, Antonio, Ernie Champelle ("Fuck you, Soccer Boy!"), Tim Eure, Toya Watts, Lisa Beal, Donald Temple, Chris Cathcart, Petey Cooke, Manotti Jenkins, Howard Hamilton, Mike Bell, Ray Spears, Tiffane White, Tiffany Hamilton, Marc Joyner, Jonny Malone, Chill, Beano, it's getting too many to call, and all the fine-azz sistas from back in the day that wouldn't talk to me, or was it the other way around? I'll tell you what, I was in love anyway and still am. Sorry Angel.
HU Homecoming the preeminent Black event. I hate missing it.
But my other family - my HU family - I miss. Roll call: Bob Nunes, Angela Acree, Rudy Acree, Bernard Parks, Robin Smith Rose, Beverly Bains, Antonio, Ernie Champelle ("Fuck you, Soccer Boy!"), Tim Eure, Toya Watts, Lisa Beal, Donald Temple, Chris Cathcart, Petey Cooke, Manotti Jenkins, Howard Hamilton, Mike Bell, Ray Spears, Tiffane White, Tiffany Hamilton, Marc Joyner, Jonny Malone, Chill, Beano, it's getting too many to call, and all the fine-azz sistas from back in the day that wouldn't talk to me, or was it the other way around? I'll tell you what, I was in love anyway and still am. Sorry Angel.
HU Homecoming the preeminent Black event. I hate missing it.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Raider Nation Is Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way, Pt. 5
The Giants' game. Or as Antonio Pierce put it, "the scrimmage." Where the Raiders played like some fat, wet, tight pussy, i.e. getting fucked with enthusiasm. Or better yet, tackling dummies for a team playing like Super Bowl Champions.
It was the first time I turned off a Raider game prior to the ending. I mean I have sat thru some ugly games. Everytime they lost to the hated Broncos has been painful. Real painful. I've sat thru some lopsided losses, too. The AFC Championship in Buffalo where the game started at 9a PST. I was brewed up by then but quickly the high was blown so that by 10a I needed a nap. But I stayed up until the bitter end. Then crashed hard - real hard.
The most humiliating thing was sitting thru the Super Bowl where they lost to Tampa Bay. I was at a Super Bowl party. Surrounded by Bronco fans and they were in my ear the whole time. There was a kid (he wasn't exactly a kid just younger than me) sitting behind right ear hollering every time the Bucs did some cool shit (which was like every other minute). I wanted to whup his ass. And it would've been very easy. But taking the Raiders' loss out on him and his exuberance in said loss, especially pursuant to several tequila shots, would've been unseemly.
Which brings me to now. I really can't stand watching the Raiders. I mean, I'm a lover of football. And the Raiders rule my football watching universe. But they are fucking that universe up right now. It's like going to a tittie bar, and your favorite dancer showing up with shit in her thong all the time. You gonna allow her to lap dance?
The Raiders under Art Shell and Tom "Bed & Breakfast" Walsh directed an unspeakably bad offense in 2006. But you sort of knew what you were in store for at the time because the whole offseason was a comedy of errors.
This year was full of youthful promise. But, goddamn! This shit is really fucking bad. Jamarcus needs to step up. The line needs to block. And the receivers need to hang onto the ball. But offense-bashing is reserved for another post. This post is reserved for the defense.
The linebackers suck asshole and have for quite sometime now. I know people extol the speed of Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison in the passing game. Fuck the passing game. How about stopping the run? That's really supposed to be an lb's thing. Knocking the snot outta a running back when he crosses the line of scrimmage. Stopping the run is the essence of football. Listening to pads crack and helmets explode at the line of scrimmage is what gets the dick hard. A "whooo" hit at the line of scrimmage or behind it bespeaks the primitive nature of contact. Observing the mano a mano competition is what ignites our salivation glands.
The Raiders are not competing on defense. The safeties shouldn't be making tackles 12 yards down the field. The linemen can stand up the o-line. But the linebackers are supposed to crash the gaps and knock the shit outta the ball-carrier.
Instead, they miss the ball carrier. That would be okay if they at least knocked the shit outta a blocker.. They're not even doing that. They are receiving the contact. You're a linebacker and you're receiving, as opposed to delivering, contact?! Linebackers are supposed to be the most wild-eyed crazy muthafuckas on your team. And they aren't knocking the shit outta people on the regular? They are nice guys with speed? Man, fuck that! I need some excitement. Knock the shit outta somebody even if you don't make the tackle. I want to hear "Whoooommm!" at the line of scrimmage. Betcha the guard or fullback won't be so bold next time.
Tackling is about attitude and shoulders on the correct side of the body. You cannot grab. You must collide.
When I played football, I was used as an example of the correct way to tackle. Because I attacked with head across the body. I drove through the ball-carrier. And I finished off the tackle by grabbing the ball-carrier behind his kneecaps pulling his legs up and stopping his momentum. Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't make that textbook tackle everytime, but when I did, it was a thing of beauty. My protege, David Tate, went to the pros following that technique.
The Raiders defense is the grabbingnest team right now. Reminds me of that Vince Lombardi clip from NFL Films. "Everybody's grabbing out there! Grab! Grab! Grab!!!" Fuck grabbing. Hit some-goddamn-body! Let's inject some excitement into the game! Knock the shit outta somebody!
Al has his theories about defense. Steve Young ridiculed those theories the first game of the season, rightfully so. But if that's what you want Al, recognize you need some crazed maniac at linebacker because you don't have Rod Woodson, Ronnie Lott, or Jack Tatum to create fear anymore. I know you don't value linebackers in the grand scheme of things - thinking four powerful d-lineman and cover corners will dominate. It ain't like that anymore, dawg. You need linebackers. Even when you had Lester and Mike Haynes, you had Rod Martin, Ted Hendricks, and Matt Millen holding it down at linebacker. Linebackers and the strong safety define the toughness of your defense - not your d-line and cornerbacks.
You need ass-kickers on defense. Who's your ass-kicker on that side of the ball? Nnamdi? He's an artist. You need a thug. Who's your thug?
We don't have a thug on our roster. Which explains the problem with Al. He's used to having thugs on his roster so the X's and O's weren't a big deal. No thugs. We need some attention to detail. Or some thugs. A blend might bring us back to respectability.
Al, I know you used to be a football genius. Re-read the phase "used to be." I just told you what's missing. Hire my ass. I need a job anyway. In the interim, the linebackers need to grab their nuts and let's go!!!
It was the first time I turned off a Raider game prior to the ending. I mean I have sat thru some ugly games. Everytime they lost to the hated Broncos has been painful. Real painful. I've sat thru some lopsided losses, too. The AFC Championship in Buffalo where the game started at 9a PST. I was brewed up by then but quickly the high was blown so that by 10a I needed a nap. But I stayed up until the bitter end. Then crashed hard - real hard.
The most humiliating thing was sitting thru the Super Bowl where they lost to Tampa Bay. I was at a Super Bowl party. Surrounded by Bronco fans and they were in my ear the whole time. There was a kid (he wasn't exactly a kid just younger than me) sitting behind right ear hollering every time the Bucs did some cool shit (which was like every other minute). I wanted to whup his ass. And it would've been very easy. But taking the Raiders' loss out on him and his exuberance in said loss, especially pursuant to several tequila shots, would've been unseemly.
Which brings me to now. I really can't stand watching the Raiders. I mean, I'm a lover of football. And the Raiders rule my football watching universe. But they are fucking that universe up right now. It's like going to a tittie bar, and your favorite dancer showing up with shit in her thong all the time. You gonna allow her to lap dance?
The Raiders under Art Shell and Tom "Bed & Breakfast" Walsh directed an unspeakably bad offense in 2006. But you sort of knew what you were in store for at the time because the whole offseason was a comedy of errors.
This year was full of youthful promise. But, goddamn! This shit is really fucking bad. Jamarcus needs to step up. The line needs to block. And the receivers need to hang onto the ball. But offense-bashing is reserved for another post. This post is reserved for the defense.
The linebackers suck asshole and have for quite sometime now. I know people extol the speed of Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison in the passing game. Fuck the passing game. How about stopping the run? That's really supposed to be an lb's thing. Knocking the snot outta a running back when he crosses the line of scrimmage. Stopping the run is the essence of football. Listening to pads crack and helmets explode at the line of scrimmage is what gets the dick hard. A "whooo" hit at the line of scrimmage or behind it bespeaks the primitive nature of contact. Observing the mano a mano competition is what ignites our salivation glands.
The Raiders are not competing on defense. The safeties shouldn't be making tackles 12 yards down the field. The linemen can stand up the o-line. But the linebackers are supposed to crash the gaps and knock the shit outta the ball-carrier.
Instead, they miss the ball carrier. That would be okay if they at least knocked the shit outta a blocker.. They're not even doing that. They are receiving the contact. You're a linebacker and you're receiving, as opposed to delivering, contact?! Linebackers are supposed to be the most wild-eyed crazy muthafuckas on your team. And they aren't knocking the shit outta people on the regular? They are nice guys with speed? Man, fuck that! I need some excitement. Knock the shit outta somebody even if you don't make the tackle. I want to hear "Whoooommm!" at the line of scrimmage. Betcha the guard or fullback won't be so bold next time.
Tackling is about attitude and shoulders on the correct side of the body. You cannot grab. You must collide.
When I played football, I was used as an example of the correct way to tackle. Because I attacked with head across the body. I drove through the ball-carrier. And I finished off the tackle by grabbing the ball-carrier behind his kneecaps pulling his legs up and stopping his momentum. Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't make that textbook tackle everytime, but when I did, it was a thing of beauty. My protege, David Tate, went to the pros following that technique.
The Raiders defense is the grabbingnest team right now. Reminds me of that Vince Lombardi clip from NFL Films. "Everybody's grabbing out there! Grab! Grab! Grab!!!" Fuck grabbing. Hit some-goddamn-body! Let's inject some excitement into the game! Knock the shit outta somebody!
Al has his theories about defense. Steve Young ridiculed those theories the first game of the season, rightfully so. But if that's what you want Al, recognize you need some crazed maniac at linebacker because you don't have Rod Woodson, Ronnie Lott, or Jack Tatum to create fear anymore. I know you don't value linebackers in the grand scheme of things - thinking four powerful d-lineman and cover corners will dominate. It ain't like that anymore, dawg. You need linebackers. Even when you had Lester and Mike Haynes, you had Rod Martin, Ted Hendricks, and Matt Millen holding it down at linebacker. Linebackers and the strong safety define the toughness of your defense - not your d-line and cornerbacks.
You need ass-kickers on defense. Who's your ass-kicker on that side of the ball? Nnamdi? He's an artist. You need a thug. Who's your thug?
We don't have a thug on our roster. Which explains the problem with Al. He's used to having thugs on his roster so the X's and O's weren't a big deal. No thugs. We need some attention to detail. Or some thugs. A blend might bring us back to respectability.
Al, I know you used to be a football genius. Re-read the phase "used to be." I just told you what's missing. Hire my ass. I need a job anyway. In the interim, the linebackers need to grab their nuts and let's go!!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Happy Indigenous People Day
I don't know if I like that title. I tried to think of a better one. I didn't want to say "Fuck Columbus Day" because ... well just because. So maybe Un-Happy Columbus Day? Point not driven home enough. I wanted to flip the whole Columbus Day thing to give the Indigenous Peoples (a.k.a Indians, American Indians, Native Americans, etc.) some due for all they've been through since Columbus washed up on the shores of the Bahamas. I didn't want it to sound so much like a celebration because it's probably more a day of mourning for them. But I figured some upliftment could do little harm. Hence, the title.
As a child, you go through school and take the history lessons they give you. My father turned the whole thing upside down when I was in the first grade. I came home talking about Abraham Lincoln. He immediately retorted, "Abraham Lincoln was a fake!" That fucked me up because I swore they talked about how great he was earlier. But I took what he was saying as true. A little while later, I flipped through this book he had lying around called The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The original hard-back version (which has been stolen from me by Anasa King - yeah I called you out, give me my book back!) with the photos in the middle.
That distrust carried over to Christopher Columbus, especially after I heard the Dick Gregory joke about his discovering America. Nevertheless, I was fascinated, as a young child, by those tales of the explorers coming over here in search of all this gold.
Flash forward to my law school experience in Los Angeles. I worked at this fascinating bookstore, Eso Won Books. During my time there, I became a Derrick Bell freak. I had them order me a copy of Race, Racism, and the American Law. One of the two owners, James Fugate and Thomas Hamilton, not sure which one, suggested that if I liked that book, I should check Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. So I did.
That first chapter blew me away. It spoke about Columbus in a deep way. Such as he couldn't wait to enslave the Arawaka tribe that resided there. That his first impulse was to capture and control the people there. That he felt that he could get them to tell him where the illusory gold treasures were. How the concept of enslaving nonwhite peoples may have been born during this time.
And capture and torture he did. Then he went back to Spain. Lied and exaggerated about how he found a land plentiful of gold. Brought back sixteen thousand troops with him and they commenced to invading the Caribbean Islands in search of gold treasures they would not find. Meanwhile, rape, torture, and pillage they did - on large scale (sound familar?) A pattern was born.
As Zinn points out, "What Columbus did to the Arawaks of the Bahamas, Cortes did to the Aztecs of Mexico, Pizarro to the Incas of Peru, and the English settlers of Virginia and Massachusetts to the Powhatans and Pequots." All of these explorers' tales that fascinated me as a child were turned upside down. I didn't appreciate that those stories were told from the conquerors' perspective. The flip-side was a different perspective to the stories.
The conquerors' perspective filters down today with a national holiday named after a maniac and liar. As a result, we label different tribes of people "Indians." There are over 400 nations of people who we refer to as Indians. We don't call white people Europeans. We refer to them by their nationality - English, French, German, Italian, Greek, etc. How do we disrespect a people so badly but demand the same respect by something as simple yet significant as calling them by their proper name?
It filters down today with the mythology of the Old West and how it was "won." In many and most movies that are Westerns, we are seeing played out the stories from the conquerors' perspective. The Indians are the bad guys when it was their land the U.S. settlers were taking?
Think about the terminology - settlers. Notice how settlers don't want to share but just demand that what they've taken is rightfully theirs? (Sound familiar?) And if you disagree with giving it to them, they will kill you.
Another word emblematic to the so-called holiday - "discovery." Like Dick Gregory joked, how do you discover what's already there? Sure from your perspective, it's a "discovery" because it's new to you. But in the context of Columbus, it's as if he found a land that suddenly appeared out of the blue, which has been equated to a great deed. As it pertains to the concept of a flat earth (think about how limited you must be in your thinking to seriously believe the world was flat), he might deserve some recognition. But for "discovering America?" No. Hell no.
It filters down today when Leonard Peltier is still sitting in a federal prison for a crime credible evidence suggests he didn't commit. But because he found it necessary to fight physical and mental genocide of his people via membership in the American Indian Movement, he remains in a federal prison.
It filters down today when Professor Ward Churchill loses his job for exercising Freedom of Speech about 9/11. The issue became so convoluted with twists about true "Indian" heritage to plagiarism to tenureship at a State university that you knew it was a fuckery.
Back to Columbus, don't take my word for it. Pick up a copy of Zinn's book and read the first chapter. If you cannot afford one (not unusual in this economy), the library is still free. All you need is a library card.
But Columbus Day, or Happy Indigenous People Day, is just a paid day off. It's not a reason to celebrate.
As a child, you go through school and take the history lessons they give you. My father turned the whole thing upside down when I was in the first grade. I came home talking about Abraham Lincoln. He immediately retorted, "Abraham Lincoln was a fake!" That fucked me up because I swore they talked about how great he was earlier. But I took what he was saying as true. A little while later, I flipped through this book he had lying around called The Autobiography of Malcolm X. The original hard-back version (which has been stolen from me by Anasa King - yeah I called you out, give me my book back!) with the photos in the middle.
That distrust carried over to Christopher Columbus, especially after I heard the Dick Gregory joke about his discovering America. Nevertheless, I was fascinated, as a young child, by those tales of the explorers coming over here in search of all this gold.
Flash forward to my law school experience in Los Angeles. I worked at this fascinating bookstore, Eso Won Books. During my time there, I became a Derrick Bell freak. I had them order me a copy of Race, Racism, and the American Law. One of the two owners, James Fugate and Thomas Hamilton, not sure which one, suggested that if I liked that book, I should check Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. So I did.
That first chapter blew me away. It spoke about Columbus in a deep way. Such as he couldn't wait to enslave the Arawaka tribe that resided there. That his first impulse was to capture and control the people there. That he felt that he could get them to tell him where the illusory gold treasures were. How the concept of enslaving nonwhite peoples may have been born during this time.
And capture and torture he did. Then he went back to Spain. Lied and exaggerated about how he found a land plentiful of gold. Brought back sixteen thousand troops with him and they commenced to invading the Caribbean Islands in search of gold treasures they would not find. Meanwhile, rape, torture, and pillage they did - on large scale (sound familar?) A pattern was born.
As Zinn points out, "What Columbus did to the Arawaks of the Bahamas, Cortes did to the Aztecs of Mexico, Pizarro to the Incas of Peru, and the English settlers of Virginia and Massachusetts to the Powhatans and Pequots." All of these explorers' tales that fascinated me as a child were turned upside down. I didn't appreciate that those stories were told from the conquerors' perspective. The flip-side was a different perspective to the stories.
The conquerors' perspective filters down today with a national holiday named after a maniac and liar. As a result, we label different tribes of people "Indians." There are over 400 nations of people who we refer to as Indians. We don't call white people Europeans. We refer to them by their nationality - English, French, German, Italian, Greek, etc. How do we disrespect a people so badly but demand the same respect by something as simple yet significant as calling them by their proper name?
It filters down today with the mythology of the Old West and how it was "won." In many and most movies that are Westerns, we are seeing played out the stories from the conquerors' perspective. The Indians are the bad guys when it was their land the U.S. settlers were taking?
Think about the terminology - settlers. Notice how settlers don't want to share but just demand that what they've taken is rightfully theirs? (Sound familiar?) And if you disagree with giving it to them, they will kill you.
Another word emblematic to the so-called holiday - "discovery." Like Dick Gregory joked, how do you discover what's already there? Sure from your perspective, it's a "discovery" because it's new to you. But in the context of Columbus, it's as if he found a land that suddenly appeared out of the blue, which has been equated to a great deed. As it pertains to the concept of a flat earth (think about how limited you must be in your thinking to seriously believe the world was flat), he might deserve some recognition. But for "discovering America?" No. Hell no.
It filters down today when Leonard Peltier is still sitting in a federal prison for a crime credible evidence suggests he didn't commit. But because he found it necessary to fight physical and mental genocide of his people via membership in the American Indian Movement, he remains in a federal prison.
It filters down today when Professor Ward Churchill loses his job for exercising Freedom of Speech about 9/11. The issue became so convoluted with twists about true "Indian" heritage to plagiarism to tenureship at a State university that you knew it was a fuckery.
Back to Columbus, don't take my word for it. Pick up a copy of Zinn's book and read the first chapter. If you cannot afford one (not unusual in this economy), the library is still free. All you need is a library card.
But Columbus Day, or Happy Indigenous People Day, is just a paid day off. It's not a reason to celebrate.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Doghouse, Pt. 2
Ladies, want to train your partner? Try some silent treatment and a cross-your legs strike. That will make a muthafucka think about the fucked-upness of his tone and actions.
Be nice to everyone else. Get on the phone and laugh with your peoples, especially your girlfriend. Sports will be on, brew will be cracked, and food will be tasting good. But the whole time the steam will rise. "What the hell is so fucking funny?"
Then the inevitable question arises, "What's up?" But the silent treatment and cross-your-legs strike makes you ponder.
So what happens next? You clean up the crib the way she wants you to. Then you cook some real hip meal. Candles you pass in the store, you buy and not just buy but light up. You wash and fold the laundry. You shave.
So you ponder your next move because the mouth doesn't open to you and the legs remain closed.
You shampoo the carpet. Take the car to the car wash in the middle of the night. Buy the favorite wine. Buy a flower bouquet that's not too old.
Not a word, and the legs remain clamped.
You buy a card. Write an apology. She remains as upbeat as ever with the world. But you? Uhhh ....
So now you start 'fessing up to shit you didn't know you did wrong. Not a word, but a raised eyebrow.
No more beer in the fridge, sports is off, and she doesn't like the tv to be on while she sleeps. Oh, and she's wearing four pairs of sweats, by now.
So you put on headphones and play some Antonio Carlos Jobim and EWF to lighten your mood. Somehow that doesn't work.
Like a bad hangover - time and water.
Be nice to everyone else. Get on the phone and laugh with your peoples, especially your girlfriend. Sports will be on, brew will be cracked, and food will be tasting good. But the whole time the steam will rise. "What the hell is so fucking funny?"
Then the inevitable question arises, "What's up?" But the silent treatment and cross-your-legs strike makes you ponder.
So what happens next? You clean up the crib the way she wants you to. Then you cook some real hip meal. Candles you pass in the store, you buy and not just buy but light up. You wash and fold the laundry. You shave.
So you ponder your next move because the mouth doesn't open to you and the legs remain closed.
You shampoo the carpet. Take the car to the car wash in the middle of the night. Buy the favorite wine. Buy a flower bouquet that's not too old.
Not a word, and the legs remain clamped.
You buy a card. Write an apology. She remains as upbeat as ever with the world. But you? Uhhh ....
So now you start 'fessing up to shit you didn't know you did wrong. Not a word, but a raised eyebrow.
No more beer in the fridge, sports is off, and she doesn't like the tv to be on while she sleeps. Oh, and she's wearing four pairs of sweats, by now.
So you put on headphones and play some Antonio Carlos Jobim and EWF to lighten your mood. Somehow that doesn't work.
Like a bad hangover - time and water.
Doghouse
Sometimes you get placed in there Sometimes you retire to it voluntarily. I have my blanket and pillow. We all have issues. Sometimes love and understanding can't come quickly enough. Sometimes time and space help with resolution. I'm not mad.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Apologies
We love the thought of controlling our Universe. It just doesn't work out like that. A phone call can change your world.
I really was very excited about this week's radio show. But I had to kill it. It was that phone call. We won't disclose the call and we should respect privacy. Part of it had to do with my sloppiness in not keeping up with notes. For that, I apologize from the bottom of my heart because we don't usually get that loose with information.
But some other stuff surfaced and we didn't have the energy to go off the top of our head. Again, sorry because if you know me that off the top of the head stuff is my thing.
We will be back soon - maybe as soon as later tonight. But the energy wasn't there for the show. Sorry.
DeAng will be back in a BIG m-fing way. Stay tuned.
I really was very excited about this week's radio show. But I had to kill it. It was that phone call. We won't disclose the call and we should respect privacy. Part of it had to do with my sloppiness in not keeping up with notes. For that, I apologize from the bottom of my heart because we don't usually get that loose with information.
But some other stuff surfaced and we didn't have the energy to go off the top of our head. Again, sorry because if you know me that off the top of the head stuff is my thing.
We will be back soon - maybe as soon as later tonight. But the energy wasn't there for the show. Sorry.
DeAng will be back in a BIG m-fing way. Stay tuned.
Raider Nation Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way, Pt. 4
According to Boomer Esiason, Jamarcus has been fined heavily for being heavy and not showing up to meetings.
See what I'm trying to say? But they cut Jeff Garcia. I don't care if Garcia asked for his release. He would not be released if Jamarcus was cutting up like that. I'd be more inclined to cut Jamarcus' not willing to work fat ass.
The Raiders just aren't very exciting right now.
Bench his fat lazy ass right now. Let him see what's happening in the game from the fucking bench. If that ain't motivation enough, then he ain't your quarterback. But the team deserves better than this.
I don't get this. Not at all. I want to reject my Sunday Ticket package.
See what I'm trying to say? But they cut Jeff Garcia. I don't care if Garcia asked for his release. He would not be released if Jamarcus was cutting up like that. I'd be more inclined to cut Jamarcus' not willing to work fat ass.
The Raiders just aren't very exciting right now.
Bench his fat lazy ass right now. Let him see what's happening in the game from the fucking bench. If that ain't motivation enough, then he ain't your quarterback. But the team deserves better than this.
I don't get this. Not at all. I want to reject my Sunday Ticket package.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Raider Nation Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way, Pt. 3
The Texans whupped that ass?! Really? The Raiders really are playing like pussies these days. Not good pussy either. Dried up not moving in rhythm pussy. This is shit! Real shit. And it's now coming down to coaching.
I don't understand the Raiders program. At all. Jamarcus looked like he was trying to to play better. But that's the problem. He looked like he tried. Fuck "try." How about "accomplish." "Try" is what training camp is about. "Try" is practice.
I like Cable but he is quickly exposing himself as an assistant coach. Unfortunately, he's the Raiders head coach. I thought 2006 was awful, and it was. But this is very frustrating to watch. I'm unemployed with the NFL Sunday Ticket. Specifically to watch the Raiders. I need a refund at this point.
The Raiders should be 4 - 0 heading into the teeth of their schedule. Instead, they are 1 - 3. And looking as if they are not committed to playing any level of ball. I mean, they look real lackadaisical. Is there any team playing with any leisurely? They don't hit anybody. They catch the contact rather than initiating it. Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott would never settle for the way these guys play defense.
Offense is offensive. They don't block. They can't catch. They can't throw. They can't call plays. Is this a pro team? I'd rather watch college ball than the Raiders right now.
Let's not mince words right now. The Raiders suck. They are not close. Until some passion is injected into the team, they will continue to suck. The scheme is outdated. The youth movement hurts the eyes. They obviously aren't practicing well because what you do in practice is what you do in the game. And the games are sloppy. They are very unexciting to watch. This is shit football. Not the shit but horrid shit.
Oh, and by the way, the Broncos are 4 - 0.
I don't understand the Raiders program. At all. Jamarcus looked like he was trying to to play better. But that's the problem. He looked like he tried. Fuck "try." How about "accomplish." "Try" is what training camp is about. "Try" is practice.
I like Cable but he is quickly exposing himself as an assistant coach. Unfortunately, he's the Raiders head coach. I thought 2006 was awful, and it was. But this is very frustrating to watch. I'm unemployed with the NFL Sunday Ticket. Specifically to watch the Raiders. I need a refund at this point.
The Raiders should be 4 - 0 heading into the teeth of their schedule. Instead, they are 1 - 3. And looking as if they are not committed to playing any level of ball. I mean, they look real lackadaisical. Is there any team playing with any leisurely? They don't hit anybody. They catch the contact rather than initiating it. Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott would never settle for the way these guys play defense.
Offense is offensive. They don't block. They can't catch. They can't throw. They can't call plays. Is this a pro team? I'd rather watch college ball than the Raiders right now.
Let's not mince words right now. The Raiders suck. They are not close. Until some passion is injected into the team, they will continue to suck. The scheme is outdated. The youth movement hurts the eyes. They obviously aren't practicing well because what you do in practice is what you do in the game. And the games are sloppy. They are very unexciting to watch. This is shit football. Not the shit but horrid shit.
Oh, and by the way, the Broncos are 4 - 0.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Raider Nation Service - It Sucks and Not in the Way You Think
So Jeff Garcia ain't coming back. Boy, I such high hopes for him coming back. Jamarcus ain't getting it done. Maybe he will.
Having DirectTv, I have the NFL Sunday Ticket specifically to catch all the Raider games. Beats going to a sports bar. With TiVo, I can really study what's going on with the Raiders. Like Bill Romanowski says, these guys just don't excite you when they play ball. They don't beat the shit outta people, which to me is the essence of football. Jack Tatum? Was handing your lunch to you every game. I know he made people hate playing eh Raiders. Nowadays? M-fs can't wait to play the Raiders so they can pad their stats. We need a Troy Polomalu, a Ray Lewis, another Ronnie Lott, someone back there to intimidate the team's offensive personnel.
Most of all, we need a quarterback. As nostalgic as we get about Jim Plunkett, he sucked most of the time. Rich Gannon was the shit though. And we need another Rich Gannon. Someone who might be an asshole but who worked hard and made sure everyone else worked hard. Jamarcus ain't getting it right now. Not saying he can't be that guy or get there. But time's a wasting. And Al is 80 years old and counting.
Which brings me to Al and Rich Gannon. That was some real cheap shots Al took at Rich when Rich made, what I think, are valid criticisms of Jamarcus. "A journeyman who fucked up the Super Bowl?" Al, Rich was a diamond in the rough everywhere he went . He didn't get the chance to be what he could be until you gave him a chance under your famous last chance umbrella. I'm sure he's thankful, but you can't give a guy a chance and then spit on him because you gave him that chance. You look bitter when you do that.
I know you'd rather be right than consistent. But that shit with Gannon is a gash on your soul. And because you tie everything up in the team, that means the fans' collective karma has to overcome your bullshit.
So Jeff Garcia comes in here hoping to restore the luster on the Silver and Black, but you shut off that opportunity because you want Jamarcus to shine. Jamarcus ain't working hard enough to get it done. Why haven't you shown him similar harshness? Get that fat m-f to ball up and make our investments outta our pennies worth it.
We're really getting sick of your experiment. You haven't been right in a while, Al. We love you, but you have to develop a new game plan, okay? Apologize to Jeff and Rich, and let's get this thing going back in the direction we love.
Having DirectTv, I have the NFL Sunday Ticket specifically to catch all the Raider games. Beats going to a sports bar. With TiVo, I can really study what's going on with the Raiders. Like Bill Romanowski says, these guys just don't excite you when they play ball. They don't beat the shit outta people, which to me is the essence of football. Jack Tatum? Was handing your lunch to you every game. I know he made people hate playing eh Raiders. Nowadays? M-fs can't wait to play the Raiders so they can pad their stats. We need a Troy Polomalu, a Ray Lewis, another Ronnie Lott, someone back there to intimidate the team's offensive personnel.
Most of all, we need a quarterback. As nostalgic as we get about Jim Plunkett, he sucked most of the time. Rich Gannon was the shit though. And we need another Rich Gannon. Someone who might be an asshole but who worked hard and made sure everyone else worked hard. Jamarcus ain't getting it right now. Not saying he can't be that guy or get there. But time's a wasting. And Al is 80 years old and counting.
Which brings me to Al and Rich Gannon. That was some real cheap shots Al took at Rich when Rich made, what I think, are valid criticisms of Jamarcus. "A journeyman who fucked up the Super Bowl?" Al, Rich was a diamond in the rough everywhere he went . He didn't get the chance to be what he could be until you gave him a chance under your famous last chance umbrella. I'm sure he's thankful, but you can't give a guy a chance and then spit on him because you gave him that chance. You look bitter when you do that.
I know you'd rather be right than consistent. But that shit with Gannon is a gash on your soul. And because you tie everything up in the team, that means the fans' collective karma has to overcome your bullshit.
So Jeff Garcia comes in here hoping to restore the luster on the Silver and Black, but you shut off that opportunity because you want Jamarcus to shine. Jamarcus ain't working hard enough to get it done. Why haven't you shown him similar harshness? Get that fat m-f to ball up and make our investments outta our pennies worth it.
We're really getting sick of your experiment. You haven't been right in a while, Al. We love you, but you have to develop a new game plan, okay? Apologize to Jeff and Rich, and let's get this thing going back in the direction we love.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Don't Ask Me To Go To Church
"Religion fucked a lotta people up." - Richard Pryor
I really don't get folks who ask me to go to church with them and then get hurt and/or offended when I say no. Now, at the risk of offending some of my church-going friends - some of whom are church officials, I don't plan on going to church unless it's a wedding.
My mother, who faithfully goes every Sunday, stopped asking me. My father-in-law tried to twist my arm to go this Sunday because it's his birthday. We can have a cake and cook some food over here. But I'm not going to church. Sorry, and I would appreciate if you wouldn't put me in an awkward position like that again.
Half the time when parents want you to go, it's because people in their congregation ask them, "Where's your family?" So they feel this compulsion to produce evidence that they do, indeed, have a son or daughter or grandchildren. The other half seems to be so they can show you off to their church friends. Maybe those two are related. And then there's the belief that they must help you avoid Hell, and they wouldn't be good parent if they didn't do that. And if there's another category that doesn't fit the cynicism, I apologize for missing it.
What bothers me is how bothered I feel about saying no. I don't feel like debating how my Soul needs Church to get into Heaven. I don't necessarily believe in Heaven in the Sky or Hell Down Below After Death. Heaven and Hell are right here right now, depending on what you're doing. Unemployed like me for close to a year? Hell. An explosive orgasm? Pure Heaven.
Also, I don't believe I need to go to church to find salvation. I don't even need the Bible to find Salvation. I believe if you are true to yourself and others, and you treat others as you wish to be treated, you're a long way towards God. Maybe that's simplistic for some folks. But I believe the lessons you learn in church are variations on those themes, albeit with more detail in various directions and branches from those directions.
Don't get me wrong. There may be some utility in church for some people. I'm just not one of them. I used to go to church when I was a young man. I got what I feel I need out of it. Unless I want a musical show and to watch the original form of rapping, I'd rather stay home and watch football.
Part of my problem with church is demarcation. The Saved versus the Need-to-Be Saved. It's almost a moral elitism based on church attendance but then fraught with hypocrisy by the actions outside of the church.
In some instances, it's the intolerance for other moral or religious philosophies. I don't believe there is only one way to the Creator. And anyone who says with complete conviction that there is only one way and that's through church, let the Sun stop shining on that person because that's ludicrous. We may all feel we have found the answer for ourselves, but we have not found what works for others. Rather than preach, it might be better if we teach based on our experiences, and what we learned from them.
But this vibe that one feels it's his/her duty to ask you to come to church is officious. I don't ask you to come to a bar for a drink, do I? Why? Because you might tell me you don't drink. I'm not going to come down on you for that because that's where you are in your life. Please don't come down on me for not attending church.
Now, if the contents of this post have offended anyone, please pray on it or for me. In the meanwhile, enjoy yourself at church while I watch the Raiders. In fact, while you're at it, pray for Jamarcus. I might have to.
I really don't get folks who ask me to go to church with them and then get hurt and/or offended when I say no. Now, at the risk of offending some of my church-going friends - some of whom are church officials, I don't plan on going to church unless it's a wedding.
My mother, who faithfully goes every Sunday, stopped asking me. My father-in-law tried to twist my arm to go this Sunday because it's his birthday. We can have a cake and cook some food over here. But I'm not going to church. Sorry, and I would appreciate if you wouldn't put me in an awkward position like that again.
Half the time when parents want you to go, it's because people in their congregation ask them, "Where's your family?" So they feel this compulsion to produce evidence that they do, indeed, have a son or daughter or grandchildren. The other half seems to be so they can show you off to their church friends. Maybe those two are related. And then there's the belief that they must help you avoid Hell, and they wouldn't be good parent if they didn't do that. And if there's another category that doesn't fit the cynicism, I apologize for missing it.
What bothers me is how bothered I feel about saying no. I don't feel like debating how my Soul needs Church to get into Heaven. I don't necessarily believe in Heaven in the Sky or Hell Down Below After Death. Heaven and Hell are right here right now, depending on what you're doing. Unemployed like me for close to a year? Hell. An explosive orgasm? Pure Heaven.
Also, I don't believe I need to go to church to find salvation. I don't even need the Bible to find Salvation. I believe if you are true to yourself and others, and you treat others as you wish to be treated, you're a long way towards God. Maybe that's simplistic for some folks. But I believe the lessons you learn in church are variations on those themes, albeit with more detail in various directions and branches from those directions.
Don't get me wrong. There may be some utility in church for some people. I'm just not one of them. I used to go to church when I was a young man. I got what I feel I need out of it. Unless I want a musical show and to watch the original form of rapping, I'd rather stay home and watch football.
Part of my problem with church is demarcation. The Saved versus the Need-to-Be Saved. It's almost a moral elitism based on church attendance but then fraught with hypocrisy by the actions outside of the church.
In some instances, it's the intolerance for other moral or religious philosophies. I don't believe there is only one way to the Creator. And anyone who says with complete conviction that there is only one way and that's through church, let the Sun stop shining on that person because that's ludicrous. We may all feel we have found the answer for ourselves, but we have not found what works for others. Rather than preach, it might be better if we teach based on our experiences, and what we learned from them.
But this vibe that one feels it's his/her duty to ask you to come to church is officious. I don't ask you to come to a bar for a drink, do I? Why? Because you might tell me you don't drink. I'm not going to come down on you for that because that's where you are in your life. Please don't come down on me for not attending church.
Now, if the contents of this post have offended anyone, please pray on it or for me. In the meanwhile, enjoy yourself at church while I watch the Raiders. In fact, while you're at it, pray for Jamarcus. I might have to.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Raider Nation Is Getting Served - And Not In A Good Way
Al Davis is fond of saying he'd rather be right than consistent. Well, he's been consistently wrong for the past six seasons with his heavy handed handling of personnel and the media. In fact, but for a couple of instances at the beginning of the 90s and the 00s, his teams have been mediocre to horrible since its last Super Bowl championship in 1984. It really boils down to Al achieving success early with some fairly innovative techniques. Problem is, he's remained stubborn to those ideals while being fairly close-minded to the way the game has evolved.
I don't say these things lightly. I've been a Raider fan since I was ten (1974). During that time, it was Muhammed Ali, Richard Pryor, Marvel comics, and the Raiders were it for me. Al shaped those Raiders, and I was, and have been, an Al Davis fan. I've held out on calling for his retirement or relinquishment of the reins, in large part because I know he won't do it. And while I hear that he remains as sharp as a tack, he can't keep operating like this and expect different results. I seem to recall the definition of insanity is doing something the same while expecting different results. I don't know if that's insanity, but it might define idiocy.
In the early days of my Raider fandom (the mid-70s), the Raiders were a hardcore thing of beauty to behold. John Madden was the coach and his antics on the sidelines were almost as entertaining (sometimes more so) as the game itself. The Snake was a left-handed rebel who was as a cool as a cucumber. Of course, he was helped by the O-line, particularly Gene Upshaw and Art Shell, who allowed him to just stand in the pocket as still as a statue before firing a pass to Mr. Stick-Um, Fred Biletnekoff. Cliff Branch used to beat fools on a deep fade before snatching a bomb. Dave Casper was one of those smart quirky rebels the Raiders seemed to have. Ted "The Mad Stork" Hendricks was another one but on the other side of the ball. Otis Sistrunk made the shaved head goatee look hip before it was hip. Then there were George Atkinson and especially Jack Tatum patrolling the middle of the field like a couple of Darryl Gates cops in South Central LA.
After Madden retired (according to some reports with Al glad to be rid of an independent thinker as his coach), the Tom Flores era began. The 1980 team was my favorite because it was full of grit and determination. A few holdovers from the 70 glory years, such as Upshaw, Hendricks, Branch, and Shell, remained. However, there were some new heads who brought that Raider flavor to the table - in particular, Jim Plunkett, Lester Hayes, Rod Martin, Matt Millen, Kenny King, and Bob Chandler.
The 1983 champion team was even better. By then they had added my all-time favorite Raider Marcus Allen along with Lyle Alzado and Mike Haynes with Todd Christensen and Howie Long becoming more significant players. I hated the Washington football team as much as the Broncos in those days, and the Raiders smashed the Washington.
But the downfall was in full effect at that time. Al drafted Marc Wilson to be the QB. Now, he may have been a perfectly nice guy, but he was not an effective quarterback. It has been Al's chasing of a quarterback that has led to the Raiders mediocre ways. Particularly after Al decided to banish Marcus Allen to the doghouse.
Al likes to pat himself on the back for hiring Art Shell the first time around. But Art benefited from a decline in the AFC at that time. Soon KC got strong again and Belichick coached circles around him for a mediocre Cleveland team. Art's teams were never particularly sharp. The qb's got killed routinely. Plus he benefitted from the Bo Jackson experiment.
Another in the qb fuckery was the Jay Schroeder for Jim Lachey trade. At the time, Al had Willie Gault, Mervyn Fernandez, and James Lofton on the squad. He believed all he needed was a strong-armed qb to get them the ball deep. Well, he didn't have the line to hold the blocks, he wasn't giving Marcus Allen the ball to offset the passing game with a running attack, and Schroeder wasn't particularly accurate. (Does this sound familiar?)
Jeff Hostetler got into a famous argument with Art Shell over play-calling because Art's o-coordinator, Tom Walsh, kept calling Al-type deep ball throws. He was getting killed because the line couldn't block and weak-ass receivers James Jett and Rocket Ismail couldn't get open. (Sound familiar?)
Al kept signing big name players hoping that he would see the same impact on his roster he saw doing similar things he had done in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It didn't work. In fact, the 49ers and Packers were better at the game than he was by then (former Al protegees Bill Walsh and Ron Wolf being responsible, respectively).
Finally, he hired young Jon Gruden to turn the team around. Gruden convinced Al to change the scheme and sign a back-up qb who had always been effective when given a chance in Minnesota, DC, and KC - Rich Gannon. Gannon blossomed. The Raiders returned to the top after Al made savvy signings in Jerry Rice, Rod Woodson, Eric Allen, Lincoln Kennedy, William Thomas, Zack Crockett, and Charlie Garner. I thought maybe Al hasn't lost it after all.
Then Gannon got hurt into retirement. Kerry Collins took over and couldn't hit the side of a barn. Al signed Aaron Brooks (huh?) And then drafted Jamarcus along with Darrius Heyward-bey to revitalize a passing attack that hadn't seen a consistently thrown deep ball since Plunkett to Branch in the 80s. Gannon has been banned from the facilities because he offered friendly analysis as to why Al's offense is not working.
It's this last act along with Al's meddling in the personnel that has me at wit's end with my favorite football franchise. I know Al cares more about his thought process and what he believes will get this team turned around than what other folks think. But you have to be willing to go outside yourself and objectify your actions. Al has great ideas, but they need tempering. Cuz the product on the field sucks right now.
I don't say these things lightly. I've been a Raider fan since I was ten (1974). During that time, it was Muhammed Ali, Richard Pryor, Marvel comics, and the Raiders were it for me. Al shaped those Raiders, and I was, and have been, an Al Davis fan. I've held out on calling for his retirement or relinquishment of the reins, in large part because I know he won't do it. And while I hear that he remains as sharp as a tack, he can't keep operating like this and expect different results. I seem to recall the definition of insanity is doing something the same while expecting different results. I don't know if that's insanity, but it might define idiocy.
In the early days of my Raider fandom (the mid-70s), the Raiders were a hardcore thing of beauty to behold. John Madden was the coach and his antics on the sidelines were almost as entertaining (sometimes more so) as the game itself. The Snake was a left-handed rebel who was as a cool as a cucumber. Of course, he was helped by the O-line, particularly Gene Upshaw and Art Shell, who allowed him to just stand in the pocket as still as a statue before firing a pass to Mr. Stick-Um, Fred Biletnekoff. Cliff Branch used to beat fools on a deep fade before snatching a bomb. Dave Casper was one of those smart quirky rebels the Raiders seemed to have. Ted "The Mad Stork" Hendricks was another one but on the other side of the ball. Otis Sistrunk made the shaved head goatee look hip before it was hip. Then there were George Atkinson and especially Jack Tatum patrolling the middle of the field like a couple of Darryl Gates cops in South Central LA.
After Madden retired (according to some reports with Al glad to be rid of an independent thinker as his coach), the Tom Flores era began. The 1980 team was my favorite because it was full of grit and determination. A few holdovers from the 70 glory years, such as Upshaw, Hendricks, Branch, and Shell, remained. However, there were some new heads who brought that Raider flavor to the table - in particular, Jim Plunkett, Lester Hayes, Rod Martin, Matt Millen, Kenny King, and Bob Chandler.
The 1983 champion team was even better. By then they had added my all-time favorite Raider Marcus Allen along with Lyle Alzado and Mike Haynes with Todd Christensen and Howie Long becoming more significant players. I hated the Washington football team as much as the Broncos in those days, and the Raiders smashed the Washington.
But the downfall was in full effect at that time. Al drafted Marc Wilson to be the QB. Now, he may have been a perfectly nice guy, but he was not an effective quarterback. It has been Al's chasing of a quarterback that has led to the Raiders mediocre ways. Particularly after Al decided to banish Marcus Allen to the doghouse.
Al likes to pat himself on the back for hiring Art Shell the first time around. But Art benefited from a decline in the AFC at that time. Soon KC got strong again and Belichick coached circles around him for a mediocre Cleveland team. Art's teams were never particularly sharp. The qb's got killed routinely. Plus he benefitted from the Bo Jackson experiment.
Another in the qb fuckery was the Jay Schroeder for Jim Lachey trade. At the time, Al had Willie Gault, Mervyn Fernandez, and James Lofton on the squad. He believed all he needed was a strong-armed qb to get them the ball deep. Well, he didn't have the line to hold the blocks, he wasn't giving Marcus Allen the ball to offset the passing game with a running attack, and Schroeder wasn't particularly accurate. (Does this sound familiar?)
Jeff Hostetler got into a famous argument with Art Shell over play-calling because Art's o-coordinator, Tom Walsh, kept calling Al-type deep ball throws. He was getting killed because the line couldn't block and weak-ass receivers James Jett and Rocket Ismail couldn't get open. (Sound familiar?)
Al kept signing big name players hoping that he would see the same impact on his roster he saw doing similar things he had done in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It didn't work. In fact, the 49ers and Packers were better at the game than he was by then (former Al protegees Bill Walsh and Ron Wolf being responsible, respectively).
Finally, he hired young Jon Gruden to turn the team around. Gruden convinced Al to change the scheme and sign a back-up qb who had always been effective when given a chance in Minnesota, DC, and KC - Rich Gannon. Gannon blossomed. The Raiders returned to the top after Al made savvy signings in Jerry Rice, Rod Woodson, Eric Allen, Lincoln Kennedy, William Thomas, Zack Crockett, and Charlie Garner. I thought maybe Al hasn't lost it after all.
Then Gannon got hurt into retirement. Kerry Collins took over and couldn't hit the side of a barn. Al signed Aaron Brooks (huh?) And then drafted Jamarcus along with Darrius Heyward-bey to revitalize a passing attack that hadn't seen a consistently thrown deep ball since Plunkett to Branch in the 80s. Gannon has been banned from the facilities because he offered friendly analysis as to why Al's offense is not working.
It's this last act along with Al's meddling in the personnel that has me at wit's end with my favorite football franchise. I know Al cares more about his thought process and what he believes will get this team turned around than what other folks think. But you have to be willing to go outside yourself and objectify your actions. Al has great ideas, but they need tempering. Cuz the product on the field sucks right now.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Vampirism
I cannot sleep eight straight hours. Many times I cannot sleep before six in the morning. For a while, it was reading a book I couldn't put down. Then I got hooked on Turner Classic Movies, especially when they have their themes - like Oscar Month or focus on stars month. Then I can't get enough of certain series on cable. Or I would re-watch a rare Raiders win or NFL Films depiction of the Raiders' glory days. And I have TiVo which has elevated the television watching experience.
I'm not sure when this affliction began. My theory is that I fucked myself up during my college days. You know - up all night cramming. Sanka coffee or NoDozes. A couple funny smelling cigarettes for inspiration. And the fear of failure if you don't do an excellent job on the project that keeps you up all night cramming.
This affliction got worse during my law school days. You'd have three or four classes a day where the assignment for each class was to read forty pages a night. And you had to know that shit because the law professors didn't believe in asking straight-forward questions about the subject. And God forbid, someone asked you about a footnote. But that lesson made me realize the importance of Big Picture and Details plus Effort.
Then I worked for law firms where neither me nor my supervisors had a full grasp of the cases we hustled. But I had to do the grunt work. I sharpened my research skills during this time because again I spent the night in the office with a little better quality of coffee but no benefit of a funny smelling cigarette.
So then a habit was born. Sometimes I felt like I had to drink some liquor to crash out. Music, as a lullaby, was very helpful. But then my wife likes stone silence to sleep.
So sometimes I would lie awake in the bed. Tried deep breathing - helpful. But in the law game, or any high pressured occupation/profession, you think about the next moves constantly. Your mind has several tracks of thought - all of which demand attention. All of which demand resolution. Many of which won't bring a happy ending or one you're comfortable communicating to the relevant person. So that keeps your mind up. And eyes red.
I began to embrace the dark. Loved and preferred it actually. My only problem was the required 8:30 a.m. reporting times. I could barely fall into a healthy REM sleep by six. But then I had to be awake by 7:30 at the latest, which I discovered was the time I preferred to be asleep. I was very uncomfortable.
The adage "Be Careful of What You Wish For" is very accurate. I lost my job almost a year ago. Double-edged sword because, on one hand, I can sleep when I want to sleep. On the other hand, my mind is even busier.
Busier trying to figure out how to replace my lost income. Busier with negative thoughts about slights - perceived or real. Busier fearing problems rather than creating solutions. Busier wondering what was it in my karma that led me to this stage. Busier comparing myself to my friends whose lives seem to be getting better while mine seemed to be getting worse.
In all of this I discovered the following: it's better to be your best friend than your worst enemy. More often than not, we swim against the ocean rather than surf that wave to the beach. I think I'm beginning to learn how to surf. Bring on the Moonshine.
I'm not sure when this affliction began. My theory is that I fucked myself up during my college days. You know - up all night cramming. Sanka coffee or NoDozes. A couple funny smelling cigarettes for inspiration. And the fear of failure if you don't do an excellent job on the project that keeps you up all night cramming.
This affliction got worse during my law school days. You'd have three or four classes a day where the assignment for each class was to read forty pages a night. And you had to know that shit because the law professors didn't believe in asking straight-forward questions about the subject. And God forbid, someone asked you about a footnote. But that lesson made me realize the importance of Big Picture and Details plus Effort.
Then I worked for law firms where neither me nor my supervisors had a full grasp of the cases we hustled. But I had to do the grunt work. I sharpened my research skills during this time because again I spent the night in the office with a little better quality of coffee but no benefit of a funny smelling cigarette.
So then a habit was born. Sometimes I felt like I had to drink some liquor to crash out. Music, as a lullaby, was very helpful. But then my wife likes stone silence to sleep.
So sometimes I would lie awake in the bed. Tried deep breathing - helpful. But in the law game, or any high pressured occupation/profession, you think about the next moves constantly. Your mind has several tracks of thought - all of which demand attention. All of which demand resolution. Many of which won't bring a happy ending or one you're comfortable communicating to the relevant person. So that keeps your mind up. And eyes red.
I began to embrace the dark. Loved and preferred it actually. My only problem was the required 8:30 a.m. reporting times. I could barely fall into a healthy REM sleep by six. But then I had to be awake by 7:30 at the latest, which I discovered was the time I preferred to be asleep. I was very uncomfortable.
The adage "Be Careful of What You Wish For" is very accurate. I lost my job almost a year ago. Double-edged sword because, on one hand, I can sleep when I want to sleep. On the other hand, my mind is even busier.
Busier trying to figure out how to replace my lost income. Busier with negative thoughts about slights - perceived or real. Busier fearing problems rather than creating solutions. Busier wondering what was it in my karma that led me to this stage. Busier comparing myself to my friends whose lives seem to be getting better while mine seemed to be getting worse.
In all of this I discovered the following: it's better to be your best friend than your worst enemy. More often than not, we swim against the ocean rather than surf that wave to the beach. I think I'm beginning to learn how to surf. Bring on the Moonshine.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Welcome to the Rant
To all folks who have read the Rant on the pages of Westworld and the Washington Informer, ebonyjet.com, BisonRoundUp, the radio show "Race", my Facebook page, the UndercoverBlackMan blog, my Fantasy Football leagues, and personal distribution via emails, I've finally followed some of your advice to set up a blog. To new readers, welcome the Rant.
I wasn't sure I wanted to do a blog. I've read some awfully clever and creative ones. Wasn't sure I had the energy to keep up with that level of unique output. But I need to sharpen my writing skills plus there's no shortage of people, things, and events to rant on, so why not? Besides, I've wasted enough time watching television the past few months when I couldn't sleep.
You may notice the color scheme. That's for my boys the Raiders and in some small part, my alma mater, Howard University.
Since I've stopped putting music on my voicemail, we'll try to make up for it on this site. Currently and on this maiden launch, we have one of my favorite groups since I was in 7th grade, Weather Report. This version of WR was its most popular featuring founders keyboardist Joe Zawinul, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and dynamic fretless electric bass genius Jaco Pastorius with drummer Peter Erskine. Zawinul, Shorter, and Pastorius, besides being master musicians are also master composers and arrangers. Enjoy by all means.
The tone will vary. I like being provocative but not provocative without facts. We like to reflect on the inner world known as the Mind. We might be humorous sometimes. We like sports, music, television, books, and movies. We'll try to be interesting and as we learn the technology up the stakes.
From time to time, I will have a guest bloggist who is a budding writer, my son, Barron Underwood. I might turn over the reins to some of my other favorite folks, if they so desire.
While I like provocation and intense discussion, I will not tolerate racist or genderist comments. I will delete those kinds of comments. Insults are cool with insults backed by facts even cooler. Cursing is allowed and encouraged. Use of nineteen letter words that make sense in a sentence, even better.
While I come from a religious family and have some spiritual values, attempts to impose religious views, be they Christian, Jewish, or Islamic, will be met with a severe case of ridicule. Key word is "imposition." Sharing your values will be tolerated.
Talking shit about your favorite sports teams is highly encouraged. However, if you have thin skin about your team, don't bother. Your feelings will get hurt.
Discussing sex is strongly encouraged as long as we don't have to hear about how good your latest escapade was. Oh, and share your adventures and partners at your own risk.
There is no word length for responses. There is no limit on number of responses to a particular topic.
Finally, I'm gonna have fun with it. I hope you do, too. Let's get it on!
I wasn't sure I wanted to do a blog. I've read some awfully clever and creative ones. Wasn't sure I had the energy to keep up with that level of unique output. But I need to sharpen my writing skills plus there's no shortage of people, things, and events to rant on, so why not? Besides, I've wasted enough time watching television the past few months when I couldn't sleep.
You may notice the color scheme. That's for my boys the Raiders and in some small part, my alma mater, Howard University.
Since I've stopped putting music on my voicemail, we'll try to make up for it on this site. Currently and on this maiden launch, we have one of my favorite groups since I was in 7th grade, Weather Report. This version of WR was its most popular featuring founders keyboardist Joe Zawinul, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and dynamic fretless electric bass genius Jaco Pastorius with drummer Peter Erskine. Zawinul, Shorter, and Pastorius, besides being master musicians are also master composers and arrangers. Enjoy by all means.
The tone will vary. I like being provocative but not provocative without facts. We like to reflect on the inner world known as the Mind. We might be humorous sometimes. We like sports, music, television, books, and movies. We'll try to be interesting and as we learn the technology up the stakes.
From time to time, I will have a guest bloggist who is a budding writer, my son, Barron Underwood. I might turn over the reins to some of my other favorite folks, if they so desire.
While I like provocation and intense discussion, I will not tolerate racist or genderist comments. I will delete those kinds of comments. Insults are cool with insults backed by facts even cooler. Cursing is allowed and encouraged. Use of nineteen letter words that make sense in a sentence, even better.
While I come from a religious family and have some spiritual values, attempts to impose religious views, be they Christian, Jewish, or Islamic, will be met with a severe case of ridicule. Key word is "imposition." Sharing your values will be tolerated.
Talking shit about your favorite sports teams is highly encouraged. However, if you have thin skin about your team, don't bother. Your feelings will get hurt.
Discussing sex is strongly encouraged as long as we don't have to hear about how good your latest escapade was. Oh, and share your adventures and partners at your own risk.
There is no word length for responses. There is no limit on number of responses to a particular topic.
Finally, I'm gonna have fun with it. I hope you do, too. Let's get it on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
