News You Can't Use
Well, I’ve had my say about last Sunday's game, and now it’s time to circle the wagons and discuss this recent piece in the San Jose Mercury News. It begins:
Those shootings in the Raiders
Admit it. You
We aim to play on that fear. We want you not to buy a ticket. The Raiders no doubt disagree, but they shouldn
The article goes on to make five more jokes about the shootings, which I bet aren’t funny at all to the victims’ loved ones. On Saturday night, four men were shot because they were mistaken for gang rivals. Hah, hah, hah?
I understand that it’s meant to be humorous, but it’s just not. What’s more funny to me is that the “mainstream” media increasingly perpetuate what they claim to hate about the “new” citizen media such as blogs—personalized, sarcastic and disrespectful journalism.
Honestly, what’s the difference between this Mercury piece and this piece I’m writing, except that mine is more respectful (and, if I may say so myself, better written)?
Making light of shootings, openly rooting for fans to stay away from a local football team…I don’t know, it just seems in really poor taste, doesn’t it? Is this really the role of regional sports journalism these days, a sort of Letterman-Hater hybrid?
Sure, the Patriots v. Colts is a compelling matchup, one that many will want to see. But in an age when nearly every corner bar has NFL Sunday Ticket, allowing you to watch any game in the nation, the whole blackout “issue” is irrelevant. How about encouraging Raiders fans to support their team, and encouraging others to support their local taverns and restaurants that have NFL Sunday Ticket?
I don’t mean to sound too pious about this. Go ahead and mock the team’s performance if you must, but do we really need local media to irresponsibly hype the alleged danger of attending a Raiders game? I saw babies, toddlers and senior citizens at the last game, all of whom were wounded only by the performance of our offense.
And that, Raiders fans, is news you can't use.
Labels: News You Can't Use
posted by Raider Take at 8:11 AM
56 Comments:
Bama7:
Interesting that you bring up Parcells. You're right, he wasn't talking about the Raiders. Fact is that Parcells and Al Davis are very close friends, which is one of the reasons that Parcells didn't want to coach for the Raiders. Making contracts with close friends isn't a good decision for business or friends is the general rule. Fact is, Davis never offered him a job for the same reason, but they are known to seek each other out for advice.
Interesting they way the media is reporting on the 20% share of the Raiders which Al just sold. This is actually good news for Raider fans. And it's not because Al just gave up 20% of his power, because just the opposite is true.
When McGah died, Davis acquired 31% additional interest in the team. Selling off 20% now, he still has more power and a larger share than he had before McGah died. The good news is that this brings to the team about 162 million in cash that will pay off the litigation debts and the settlement with McGah's decendents. It should also translate to a little bit of bonus money to keep good players and acquire new players.
The money issue has had its teeth in the Raiders backside for several years now, which is one of the reasons we're in the current predicament. It's been one of the reasons that players like Whitted, Jett, and, okay, Brayton have managed to hang on. No money to replace them.
Take,
As I've told you before, you not only provide subject matter for interesting discussion, you also understand the written word.
Most media "journalist" today are hacks. They disguise their opinions and call it objectivity. There are no longer any Red Smiths among the media. He would write of the beauty of sport and it's characters. Today all they want to do is break the next scandal. When there is good news, no one hears it. Whether it be sports media or main stream media.
As for the Colts/Patsies, I could care less. I don't like "Dome" teams and like the Patsies even less after the way they treated Plunkett. Having said that, I hope the Colts win ty 21.
I pay for Sunday Ticket for only one reason. Were I not travling this weekend I would drive up from Atlanta to Nashville.
As it is I will have to record the game and will watch it upon my return Sunday, without having heard a single score.
And they wonder why their circulation and revenues keep going down every year.
H
Blandarocked,
I read that article yesterday and had pretty much the same reaction. A positive cash infusion.
H
Tennessee (aka: Flaming Thumbtacks)
#6 Defense overall.
#24 against the pass.
#1 against the rush.
But it looks like the numbers might be a bit misleading. Seems nobody likes to even bother to try and run against the Thumbs (averaging a little over 17 rushing plays per game). That makes both the passing numbers and the rushing numbers bogus, in that the #24 in passing just means thats how teams have tried to get their yards against the 4-2 team.
The two games they've lost, they lost by a combined total of 5 points. They lost by two to the Colts, and by 3 to the Bucks.
While this game looked very winnable in the preseason, it looks like a very tough on to me.
Bama7
Pro Football talk is reporting that we're thinking about dumping Rhodes
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
Dump fargas first, then Rhodes after the season. Maybe Bush is about to suit up?
Hey H, you live in Atlanta? My Bulldogs suck. Any talk of Georgia bringing in a good defensive coordinator next year?
I responded to this dickhead like these on 10-23-2007.
"You have got to be the most idiotic human being in the face of the earth!
What makes you think that us Raider's fans want to watch anything else other than a Raider's game, the Colts and the patsies can go fu ck themselves as so should you!!!
Go to hell dickhead!"
He responded like this latter on that day.
"I would seriously doubt based on this e-mail that I am the most idiotic human being ... bottom two maybe. But if you're more interested in watching Raiders-Texans than one of the greatest games of the decade between two teams that are redefining football, I think you're in the minority there among Bay Area fans".
So I replied:
"Of course I am 1,000,000% more interested in watching my beloved Raider's than those stupid morons of the east coast, why don't you do us all a favor and move to the east coast".
Stupid morond like this don't deserve to be reporting in any newspaper, specially not on a bay area newspaper.
raiderdecoachella
Nice catch, Bama. If they are considering releasing Rhodes, that would indicate that they are looking for a way to get Bush off the PUP list.
Fargas has played well as a back up to Jordan, and Rhodes just never seemed quite ready when he came off of suspension. That's not a slam on Rhodes, he was, after all, gone for a month. The Raiders wouldn't keep two back up HBs with very little playing time after the first six games.
But earlier, at the time Bush was elligable to come off the PUP, Kiffin had high praise, saying that Bush had done everything they'd asked of him and they were looking forward to getting him on the field.
Yeah good for Bush. I can't wait to see him play, even if it means letting Rhodes go. Business is business.
Psycho
That's why I love this place. It is so often like looking in the mirror.
RT with his well grounded contempt of the mediots.
H watching the taped game without knowning the score.
Raiderdecoachella with..."the Colts and the patsies can go fu ck themselves", my sentiments exactly.
And my wife thinks I'm the only one that "gets crazy" over the Raiders!
Interesting thing on the Rhodes deal. I would try and work a trade with Tampa. They need Running backs, we could use some defensive help or draft picks.
Bama,
I don't hear anything locally about your Dawgs gettin a new DC. I'm actually a Tide guy. Can't help it. Raised up during the Bear's reign.
Actually I was a Raider fan before they drafted Snake. Used to watch old AFL games on a 17 inch black and white TV complete with rabbit ears antenna equipped with aluminum foil reception boosters. It was state of the art.
Something just happened. I listen to Stabler's talk show over the internet. He is co host. They just played Bill King's radio call of the Holy Roller.
Ah, memories.
H
Ah, H, I'm there with ya. I think the end of King's call went something like... "John Madden's on the field, he wants to know if it's real. It is! 'Get your big butt out here,' they tell him. He does!"
In college I use to watch the games on a 12 inch B&W (and the Raider uniforms were obviously great for that format), also with the tin-foil on the rabbit ears. Very "state-of-the-art."
Can't trade Rhodes. I think the trading deadline has passed. The reason they didn't trade Walter before the deadline was because they didn't feel Russell was ready to move up to #2 while McCown was injured.
Added Bill King...
I remember reading an article on the late great Bill King many years ago. After only a year or two of doing Raider broadcasts, the networks were very interested in him. NBC (I think it was) offered him a huge contract at the end of the season and he accepted. And in celebration, he took an extended vacation in Hawaii. He was there so long he grew a beard.
He had intended to shave it off, reported to his contract signing with the beard still on. "Ah, you'll have to lose the beard," they told him. He refused to sign any contract that would prevent him from having whatever facial hair he deemed appropriate. He went back to the Raiders and kept the beard for the rest of his life.
I remember when I was a kid, I used to watch the Raiders on a 36" color TV with 100 channels of cable and 5.1 surround sound. Ahhh the good old days.
Psycho - Just messing with you guys
Junior Seau's house burned down over here in Charger country. Bad Karma man, bad juju.
Psycho
RAIDER TAKETION
now that the dust has settled a little bit....i'd like to just tell everyone how much fun i had at the Raiders game last sunday....of course it was my first time there flying all the way from upstate NY.....the tailgateing was unreal...just a sea of tents with smoke coming up every where....inside we had great seats....we all know what happened on the field and believe me i was/am pissed....i wouldn't talk to my family till i got back to the hotel....but once i cooled down and reflected i definetly had an amazing time....my little brother lives in SF and we're gonna hopefully do it all again next year with Jamarcus lighting it up like no other.....also in light of the news you can't use and the implied reputation of Raiders games being dangerous with alot of gangs and a thug mantality i really didn't see it....honestly being from the east i had no idea what to expect just hoping my Raiders gear would protect me but for real, at not one moment was i intimidated or weary....just the expected F-U's and stuff at any jerk in red but what ever....i guess the craziest thing i saw was right after that last maddening interception and the crowd all turned around to leave (i was 23 rows from the field) up in the glass rooms someone threw something through the window..not sure in or out i just saw the glass drop and everyone looked up and there was a scumbag in a red jersey in the window...everyone looked up but no one made a big deal cuz we were all still really pissed.....finally i'd just like to say that that will not be the last game i ever see there
raiderhip
Obviously, the author of that classless piece doesn't know anybody who's been a victim of a violent crime.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing, JOHN RYAN, imitation human being.
I go to a bar every week to see my favorite team on satellite TV. So, get over it, moron!
That's an awesome recap, RaiderHip, thank you. Is it safe to say you weren't shot? I'm glad that you enjoyed the magic of the gameday experience, you remind us of why it's always a great day in the Nation, no matter what transpires on the field. And when we start winning again, it's going to be off the hook like never before.
Well said, NY Raider!
Blandarocked,
That's pretty much the way it ended. After the clip Kenny said the press was asking if he fumbled on purpose. He said he told them it was a play they had been working on for weeks.
Casper was once asked if he thought Kenny fumbled on purpose, he said he didn't know and never asked.
I don't know who said it about the play, but someone said, if they change a rule it must have been a pretty damn good play.
H
Bama7
Speaking of Snake.. H, you ever been in the Florabama?
Bama,
Yep. Grew up about an hour and a half drive from there.
H
Bama7
H, you're alright man.
Here's the holy roller... note hendricks coming in to conrgatulate caspar... think he'd put up with losing all the afc west games we've lost lately?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9oQOFX7la8
RT: Nicely done as usual.
The line between "mainstream journalism" and blogs is becoming increasingly more blurred. What really is the differnce between Joe Blow writing for the Daily News and John Doe who has a blog on his favorite team? Also, when you really boil down the content, both the beat writer & blogger offer up their "informed" opinion.
Whose opinion about the Raiders do you think I respect more ... Nancy Gay or Raider Take? Please. Do you honestly think Nancy Gay has any clue whatsoever about judging football strategy? peronnel? analyzing what took place on the field? understanding the Raider Nation culture?
I'll tell you one of the big differences. Joe Blow writes because he has to. John Doe writes passionately because he wants to.
As a consumer of information about the Raiders, I access a wide variety of sources & pick and choose what is worth reading. The funny thing to me is that I often times find the good blogs to be more insigtful & interesting to read than the mainstream media. The good blogs (like Raider Take) offer a unique perspective because the blogger has his finger on the pulse of his favorite team 24/7/365 and is not beholden to any artificial deadline.
Back at 'ya, Calico Jack. Silver & Black Forever sets a damn good example.
It's funny, the mainstream media's chief complaint about blogs is that blogs traffic in rumor, bias and poor grammar. They need to start installing mirrors in their offices.
Remember Nancy's "report" about Kiffin feeling threatened by the age of veteran players, suggesting that he would cut players on that basis alone, and that Sapp had better "watch out?" That's just one of many examples.
Why don't more sportswriters follow Jerry McDonald's lead? He proves it can still be done with class and professionalism.
I guess hiring veteran Greg Knapp to a position which regularly leads to a head coaching job was not as threatening to Kiffin as it was to have Sapp on his team when he walked through the door.
Blogs are the way to go man. Between you two guys and Jerry McD I get everything I need.
Psycho
New England Patriots 7-0 and on their way to a fourth Lombardi and possibly an undefeated season.............Boston Red Sox up 2-0 in the World Series, and on their way to their 2nd World Series in 4 seasons and a probable sweep of the Colorado Rockies............Boston College, undefeated at 8-0 and #2 ranked in the BCS standings after a great come from behind win last night over Virginia Tech. Its a great time to be a New Englander!!!!
Eighty degrees, healthy food, endless beaches, the movie and wine industries, the best gameday experience in the NFL bar none, an owner who doesn't give his Super Bowl ring to the Russians, the spectre of cheating nowhere to be found, and the common sense not to roam other unrelated boards with infantile boasts...It's a great time to be a Californian.
About the comment that the Tuna made about all 3 parts of an organization working together as a group, he is right but wasn't he the same guy that couldn't stand the owner of his previous team?
raiderdecoachella
Here ya go, Bama7. This one's for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVyv1_lGluM
decoachella, Parcells has a long history of not getting along with both the owner and the starting QB.
Well, let's see. New England v California.
California
Raiders - 5 Super Bowls
49ers - 5 Super Bowls
Los Angeles Rams - 1 Super Bowl
San Diego Chargers - 2 Super Bowls
Total = 13 Super Bowls
New England
New England Patsies - 4 Super Bowls
Now... Do you want me to go into the World Series by the Giants, Dodgers, Angels and A's? How about NCAA conference and national championships? No? I thought not.
Add California:
Folks around the rest of the country wonder why we live out here with earthquakes. Fact is, Califonia, on it's own and without the rest of the nation, is the 5th largest world power. We're tired of carrying your dead weight and eagerly await the next great earthquake which will cause the rest of the country to break off and fall into the Atlantic.
Calico Jack,
Nail on the head, especially the writing with passion.
I’ll be signing off until Sunday evening. I’ll be touring the north Georgia Mountains this week end with a beautiful young lady I met about 34 years ago. She was a keeper and she understands my football fanaticism. Early anniversary trip.
Bama,
You’re ok yourself. We’re like family here. We argue amongst ourselves, but in the end we all want the same thing. RAIDER VICTORIES.
Where are you currently hanging your hat? I’ve always been a little curious about the Bama handle.
Blandarocked,
We SEC guys will willingly compare our championships with any northeastern weenie programs. If BC played in the SEC or PAC-10 they would have at least three losses by now. I’d like to see how they would do in a five week stretch of LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Alabama. Or, USC, UCLA, Cal, Washington and Oregon.
H
Actually Blandarocked if you are just counting Super Bowl appearances then my Patriots have appeared in 5 Super Bowls, winning 3 of them. Come February 6th we will be talking about 6 Super Bowl appearances for the Pats and our fourth Lombardi sitting in the trophy case.
My point of the original post was to celebrate just what a special and memorable decade this is for New England Sports fans. Boston finally winning the World Series in 04 and probably winning another one this season. Boston College at 8-0 and ranked #2 in the BCS, although I don't think they could compete with the upper echelon SEC teams out there. And of course, the Patriots sitting pretty at 7-0, with a fourth Lombardi on the horizon and if we get by the Colts, a very real possibility of an undefeated season looming. These are special, magical times around these parts and this is a time period I am going to remember for the rest of my days. I know that glory in sports is fleeting just like a shooting star, but this life long fan is just gonna enjoy the ride!
I left out the Super Bowl between the Patsies and the Bears. I was never quite sure if the Patsies actually showed up to that game.
I'm disappointed in all of you who bragged about how great California is. You left out all of the super hot chicks! We definately have some of the best looking women in the country. I nearly crash on the freeway every day from looking.
Psycho
Nobody's forgotten, Psycho.
Uh, could one of you girls run up to the beach bar and get me another Bloody Mary? And don't forget to put your tops back on. You know how much commotion that caused last time.
I left out the Super Bowl between the Patsies and the Bears. I was never quite sure if the Patsies actually showed up to that game
hahaha kind of like the same way the Raiders showed up to play the Bucs, right?
Actually, nothing like that. The Raiders actually made an attempt to come back in the game against the Bucks. Even had one TD that was taken away by a bad call. The Patsies never showed up.
Blanda - Don't you just love Fridays in LA, where the girls flash cars who leave their headlights on? Gotta' write myself a note to remember, for the drive home.
And earthquakes are great because if you're in a public place you can pretend to fall onto the nearest hot chick. Which isn't difficult because they're everywhere. And casinos on every corner thanks to our Indian friends.
Psycho
Psycho! Thanks for the info. I always wondered why the three girls in my car pool kept doing that.
Blanda - I think it has something to do with a radio show, Tom Lycus or something. All I know is Friday is headlight day and it's a lot better than being is freezing ass cold Boston. -Pyscho
But I'm still wondering how they see headlights from my car shaped pool.
Came back for a quick look before heading home.
California Girls and Southern Girls. It doesn't get any better.
As for the Holy Roller, this one has the Bill King audio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEpUPCf2oWU
Talk to you sometime Sunday evening.
H
I wonder the same thing every day, Blanda. H, have a good one. -Psycho
From patsyboy!
ANOTHER REASON TO HATE CALIFORNIA!
REAL SMART AND INTELIGENT RAIDER'S FANS!
raiderdecoachella
Bama7
Blanda- the youtube link was nice, would love to see a return of the dominance.
H- I live on the outskirts of Birmingham. Saw several of Alabama's games during their last championship run... had Antonio Langham running right at me with the INT that won the SEC crown against Florida in'92.
It's great to interact with so many Raider fans throughout the country (world!) but if we don't start winning again, fans outside of Oakland will soon be rare. I'm over 40.
I think the two main points Parcells was trying to make was that the owner shouldn't try to coach and the players shouldn't go over the coaches head, directly to mgt. It's dysfunctional. In our case we have read way too many times that players have had meetings with Al about coaching or game plans. And I can still remember reading a few years ago that Al was on the practice field showing lineman blocking technique. That's really wrong. Al never even played COLLEGE football and he is teaching blocking technique?
Bama7, I don't know if you've forgotten, but Al Davis was a very highly regarded football coach before he became an owner. I don't imagine the fundamentals of blocking technique has changed too much over the years.
Also, while it's true that there have occasionally been reports of players going to see Al, that's not the end of the story. It usually turns out that Al tells them, "I'm not your coach, go see him." Davis tells them to talk to each other. He tells the coaches, when they come to see him, complaining about a player, "go tell the player."
Bama,
Al was a good enough coach to catapult the worst team in the US into dominance in his first year as the Raiders coach. The guy knows a thing or two.
I understand the point though and I agree to an extent. Sometimes it goes too far, like when Timmy would have his annual Al meetings and probably contribute to numerous changes made.
But I'd still rather have Al trying to kick a little football knowlege than some businessman who only invested in a team to turn a profit. He helps more than he hurts.
Earlier this year I read a small note on Higgins, who got advice from our WR coach on route running after a particularly bad play. Al happened to be there during practice and later told Higgins the exact same thing just in normal conversation. It wasn't disruptive at all, and Higgins said something like "The guy knows football". I'm sure there have been countless little things that Al has done to help our players without taking it too far. He probably knows more about football than all of our coaches combined.
Psycho
Shit, blanda beat me once again...Psycho
This one's for H and Bama7. Hell, it's for all of the Raider Nation. Kind of a family scrapbook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEa7bqUD2ns
Where is everyone ???
this blog is fast becoming just an on going conversation between blandarocked, & H.
no disrespect intended to either one of you guys, but doesn't blanda have his own raider blog site ?
why can't this discussion about the "old days", happen over there.
how are these stories about bill king, and john madden, and al davis at usc, suppose to help us today ??
i mean, there great stories, but i know them all already, and i really don't find it very healthy as a raiders fan to live in the past so much.
the raiders have a great, & glorious history, no doubt. but last i checked, the 2007 raiders are taking the field every sunday to play football.
i wish we could talk about that a little more, and less about what happened 30, 40, or 50 yrs ago.
it's just getting a little boring to read again, and again.
Raider 00:
I share your sentiment about not living in the past. I am proud of the Raiders history but I would find it much more interesting and relevant to focus on the 2007 Raiders and the future of the Raiders.
When Kiffin became our new head coach and we drafted Russell it seemed like the perfect time to enjoy this brand new chapter in Raiders history. It is a fresh page that hasn't been written yet. Enjoy this maiden voyage that will be filled with new exciting adventures & fun filled suspense.
GRADY COME HOME!!!
DAMN I could use me some Grady Jackson!! (He was just cut by patrino).
HOLD THE GRADY!!!
I take it back.
He was probable last Week with a back issue.
That means he barely practices then plays some. Which means the two young guys the have get partial practice then get stuck playing. Patrino cut him because of that and SALARY.
Even if we could sign him at reasonable cost, it would be another big questionmark on the line.
Now if Sapp can get him on the Sap-O-potomous diet and get him down to about 330, he could do some serious damage.
Do we have a policy against tackling with arms instead of shoulders?
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