Whew…that was fun wasn’t it?
Two days after the Raiders introduced their 17th head coach in the franchise’s history, the buzz amongst the Bay Area and national media alike is not of Hue Jackson, the new head coach of the Raiders, but instead of Tom Cable, the John Goodman look-a-like, graduate from the Tiger Woods Infidelity Academy former coach. For good reason, Al Davis chewed out Tom Cable in the second half of the press conference, which felt more like an episode of Maury than an introduction of a new head coach. That’s part of the show though, with the Raiders, you just never know.
When I first turned to the press conference on Monday, I thought I was watching an episode of The Walking Dead for a second. No one can question the football mind of Al Davis, and anyone that did quickly shut up once Al Davis began speaking. Many consider him to be one of the brightest minds, if not the brightest mind in the history of the game. Al Davis single handily shaped the NFL to what it is today. His Raiders teams of the past were some of the most vicious teams in history of the league, and Davis was proud of that. His brash, controlling, dominant style of his teams are legendary. For these reasons, no one, and I mean NO one, could take their eyes off of that press conference Monday.
Davis, not speaking since the infamous projector conference two years ago after the firing of Lane “The Weasel” Kiffin, commanded that room Monday. No matter how crazy, old or zombie looking he may be, Al Davis is still a legend, and it is clear his football mind is still at the top of its game. Now, this doesn’t mean he hasn’t made mistakes; to say he hasn’t would be idiotic. The “trading” of Jon Gruden after the Super Bowl loss, the hiring of Art Shell, the hiring of Lane Kiffin and the drafting of JaMarcus Russell are just a few mind boggling decisions Davis has made recently. Wow…maybe I should take back some of my comments I made earlier…ehh…never mind I’m already halfway into the piece…
More recently, the franchise has been known more for the off field incidents than its on field success, which has supplanted the Raiders, a once proud franchise into a unanimous joke around the league (With the things I pointed out above, it makes perfect sense). Take Monday as an example, when I wanted a simple Q & A session with my new head coach, one of the easiest and harmless things that a sports franchise can do, I instead got a two part press conference with an Al Davis f-bomb, a band aid on my 81 year old owner, information about my former head coach bringing in his mistresses on road games, and three lawsuits two top it off. "Sir, would you like fries with that?" After awhile I forgot what the real purpose of the press conference was.
This is why I chose the Raiders as my first topic for my very first official blog ever: because really, they’re impossible NOT to talk about.
Sure, I can blog about how I think Hue Jackson is the perfect coach for the Raiders, or how Ochocinco would be a perfect fit for our team (which I think I will do eventually), but it’s the off field insanity that takes control once again.
But, in a bizarre, perplexing and almost troubling way…I actually embrace the craziness. While some fans might protest outside the stadium, call into local radio stations complaining, or even not show up to games (no one would even notice in the Coliseum), I actually welcome it with open arms. Why? Most people might argue that I should be doing those types of things, as a fan I have my say too. Why supplant my sporting life into a franchise that has become anonymous with absurdity? Well, because that’s all I can do really. Acceptance is the first step in forgiveness, and I have accepted and embraced my team because of it (Pretty cheesy there, but hey, trying to impress here).
This is why the Raiders are must see TV, both on the field and off it. What other franchise can go 6-0 in the division and NOT make the playoffs? What other franchise can sign a player to a 7 year extension worth$70 million and cut him later in the season? What other franchise can kick out head coaches like Charlie Sheen kicking out his porn stars? What other franchise can have a head coach punch his assistant in the face, breaking his jaw…and STILL keep his job? What other franchise can trade for one of the top receivers in the history of the NFL, and trade him a mere three seasons later for a 4th round pick? What other franchise can draft a WR in the 1st round that didn’t even earn his conference’s (ACC) first team honors? What other franchise can sign its star CB to a record three-year extension, and then have his contract voided at the end of it? What other franchise can hold an introductory press conference for a head coach, it’s legendary zombie-looking owner dropping an f-bomb, and then subsequently reading legal documents to explain the three lawsuits it has or hasn’t settled?
Only the Oakland Raiders.
POSTED BY: J-RAM
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