Culturally Diverse Raider Tailgate Cyber-Party, Oct. 25, 2009

We are a diverse nation: the Raider Nation. So, this week our menu is diverse.

We don’t know if any birds are going to play football with us this week. However, we appreciate the historical visitation on last week. Our photo for the article commemorates that unusual and fascinating experience.

Enjoy!

We usually have a Tailgate Party before each game. Here is our “starter” menu.

Shrimp Fried Rice (other meats can be included)  click link.

Barbeque Ribs and Chicken

Tossed Salad (Lettuce, tomatoes, walnuts, raisins) Your choice of dressing

Veggie kabobs (veggies of your choice)

Paella with chicken, mussels, shrimp, peas, etc.

You are always invited to add recipes in the comment section.

Don’t forget our theme this week: BUCKLE UP YOUR CHINSTRAPS, RAIDER NATION!!!

 

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Culturally Diverse Raider Tailgate Cyber-Party, Oct. 25, 2009

Note: One slide show has the sound of fireworks.

We are a diverse nation: the Raider Nation. So, this week our menu is diverse.

We don’t know if any birds are going to play football with us this week. However, we appreciate the historical visitation on last week. Our photo for the article commemorates that unusual and fascinating experience.

Enjoy!

We usually have a Tailgate Party before each game. Here is our “starter” menu.

Shrimp Fried Rice (other meats can be included)  click link.

Brent’s “Buckle Your Chinstrap Recipe” — Frittata

Barbeque Ribs and Chicken

Tossed Salad (Lettuce, tomatoes, walnuts, raisins) Your choice of dressing

Veggie kabobs (veggies of your choice)

Paella with chicken, mussels, shrimp, peas, etc.

You are always invited to add recipes in the comment section.

Don’t forget our theme this week: BUCKLE UP YOUR CHINSTRAPS, RAIDER NATION!!!

 

 

Music – Having a Party

More Music – The Osmonds – Having a Party

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Oakland Raiders Need Faith, Family, Football, Forgive, Forge Forward

Richard Seymour said it first: Faith, Family, Football. That’s a good list.

This morning I thought, “Let’s use alliteration and add to the list: Faith, Family, Football, Forgive, Forge Forward.”

Energy needs to be released. What type? All types.

At his first press conference with the Oakland Raiders, Seymour was wise enough to make his beliefs and priorities made public. That’s a good thing.

Others should try doing the same, because it looks like Seymour is emerging as a leader in his squad.

In order to release the positive energy we need from henceforth, we need to go through the most secret places in our memory bank and closets, pull out the skeletons who once had flesh on their bones, and ask for forgiveness.

It certainly won’t hurt to try something new.

Just in case you don’t trust the process, then come up with your own method, but get the purging done, right now.

We don’t want anyone on our Raider Nation ship to cause a hindrance or storm. So, if you don’t belong with us, jump ship, or let some of our captains or pirates, dump you off so we can reach our destination, and you can reach yours which may be different.

Our destination is victory. Our conversation is to pump up the team. Our priorities are made public, just as Seymour made his public: Faith, Family, Football.

We have learned that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.”

We know that much has been accomplished through the exercise of faith.

We know that family is first. We will embrace our loved ones with positive affirmations, and we will continue to love and adore them. We will forgive and exhort them. We will ask for forgiveness if we have unknowingly hurt them.

Then, there is the game of NFL football which is a microcosm of the game of life. We will forge forward (for we are now free to do so since we have purged and disciplined ourselves), and we will grab, hold on and squeeze victory.

And as one of our Bleacher writers proclaim: Let it be written, Let it be done.

Finally, I exercised a show of faith on yesterday when I drove 180 miles round trip to leave a message and three Bleacher Report articles on the Oakland Raiders. And, after I returned home safely, my loved ones in Cleveland, Ohio, said they saw two beautiful rainbows, one bright and strong, and the other more faint.

What did it mean to me? A covenant. A promise fulfilled.

Why do I think so? It is because of our faith: it is our hope, our evidence.

Have a wonderful and powerful day, Raider Nation.

BUCKLE UP YOUR CHINSTRAPS, RAIDER NATION.

Again, BUCKLE UP YOUR CHINSTRAPS.

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Oakland Raiders: Whatever It Takes, Just Do It

“I don’t need to call his name, but one thing we know, he could play the game.” DBY

 

When we were in college, I noticed his hands. There was a mole on one of his hands. They seemed special, and I did not know why. I just could see the gift.

Perhaps I saw the gift because I play the piano and people always said I had the hands for it.

Well, now I love to research and write about NFL football. The Oakland Raiders and the Raider Nation have experienced some jabbing, taunting, stretching, shrinking and shearing of the truth, and we are tired of it.

So, I got up at 6 AM this morning, Oct. 23, 2009, and drove 90 miles to the hometown where my college mate, who was one of the greatest wide receivers for the Oakland Raiders, lives as a retiree.

I wanted to be like that pigeon and just leave a message for him. I had to drive and hope that I would be able to make contact with him.

Since my son and I knew the hangout for the retirees, I hoped I could just find one retiree who would pass a message on to the great wide receiver.

Who is he? Names don’t matter. It’s his gift and spirit that we want to call forth for help on Sunday, while we play the New York Jets.

Exactly 40 years ago, Oakland was in fierce competition with the New York Jets and in the last quarter it looked like Oakland was going to be defeated. But, it didn’t happen.

You go dig through the history books and tapes and see for yourself who did it, and how the victory was ours. (I like a little mystery, it makes life interesting.)

My point in this article. We want victory, and whatever it takes, we are willing to just do it, and grap hold to victory.

Now as you would imagine, when you’re all hyped up about a matter, things try to hinder you, insult you, and just get in the way.

I was near my destination, and what slowed me down: a “choo-choo” train, of all things.

I waited, impatiently. I thought, “Maybe I am not suppose to leave this message, like a carrier-pigeon.”

Well, I finally was able to reach the familiar locations where I knew these retirees love to tarry. I now see the good in the “choo-choo” train. It slowed me down and the timing was perfect.

I actually saw two guys in a park. One of them looked like the former Oakland Raider. I got out of the car, and walked near them, under a pavilion. As I got close to them, I realized that they were men who I did not know.

I asked about the former Raider. They said, “He is doing well and he was here yesterday.” I said, “Would you please give him a message?”

One man said, “Yeah, sure, ’cause he was my roommate in college.” I said, “Wow, something helped me find you. I want to leave three Bleacher Report articles and a message. Will you pass it on to him?” He said, “Yes, of course.”

They pointed to a recreation center. They said, “He usually sits over there.”

I said, “I really don’t want to see him, today, I just want to leave a message.”

I then asked the man who said he was the Raider’s roommate when they were in college, “Can I please take a picture of you?”

I did. I had to take the picture because my probabilities are getting fantastic for getting my writing assignments done, during this time in my life.

Thanks, Roland for helping us pass the message to the retired Oakland Raider wide receiver.

I requested that he ask the NFL retiree to pray for our young wide receivers. I asked that we pray for their hands, and that their gift be increased, from this day forth.

Here is a list of our current wide receivers:

Wide receivers: Seven

Starters

12 Darrius Heyward-Bey (FL) (n/a, R-Maryland, D1-09, 22/6-2/210)
Controversial first-round draft pick has speed and desire, but does he have the hands to shine?

18 Louis Murphy (SE) (n/a, R-Florida, D4a-09, 22/6-2/205)
Well-regarded rookie was hidden by better players at Florida—and a higher draft pick with the Raiders.

Reserves

81 Chaz Schilens (SE/TE) (16/6, 2-S.D. St., D7-08, 23/6-4/225; r1-(-2), c15-15.1-2) (i/foot)
Seventh-round pick showed plenty of potential despite battling nagging injuries.

15 J. L. Higgins (SL/KR) (16/3, 3-UTEP, D3c-07, 25/5-11/185; c22-16.6-4, kr36-23.4, pr34-13-3)
Blossomed as a big-play threat returning punts (3 TDs!) and wound up leading WRs in catches.

19 Todd Watkins (WR) (8/0, 2-BYU, W(StL)-08/D7(Ariz)-06, 26/6-2/190)
Training camp star made first roster, but couldn’t translate results to regular season.

84 Javon Walker (SE ) (8/7, 8-FS, FA-08/D1(G)-02, 30/6-3/215; c15-13.1-1)
Major free-agent signing on offense turned out to be overpriced disaster, on field and off.

89 Nick Miller (SL/KR) (n/a, R-Southern Utah, OFA-09, na/5-9/180) (i/shin)
Fleet undrafted rookie made 53-man roster on strength of kick-return ability.

 

Source

We ask these things, in the name of Big JC, as Brent would call him.

Here he is, the man who helped us. Let’s call him, Roland X, the man who helped us pass a message on to the NFL retiree.

 

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Oakland Raiders: Forgive Us Our Debts, Eldridge Dickey

I entered a computer center on Oct. 21, 2009. The clock was ticking. The computer was slow.

I noticed a man next to me. His work was going smoothly. There was an “hour-glass” turning, round and round on his screen. His computer was fine.

The man and I started talking. He is a historian. He is the cousin of Eldridge Dickey, a man drafted as quarterback with the Oakland Raiders.

“Eldridge Dickey,” I asked the man, “Isn’t he the first African American quarterback in the NFL?” The cousin answered, Yes.

Immediately, I requested an interview with the man. After all, his account of the life of Eldridge Dickey should certainly have validity and veracity.

He agreed. That interview is forthcoming.

Now, in preparation for the interview, I did what I always do: research.

I admit that I knew about Eldridge Dickey because one of my associates who is a former NFL player said that he was a roommate to Dickey, for awhile when they both played for the Oakland Raiders.

The story has both good and bad episodes. Let’s focus on the good.

According to my research, Eldridge Dickey was unique:

“Oakland Raiders made Eldridge Dickey the 25th player selected in the draft and the first black quarterback chosen in the first round…” 

In my interview with the cousin of Eldridge Dickey, I want to discover the truth about his life and his career with the Oakland Raiders. I have heard through the years, that he was disappointed, and maybe angered or hurt about some decisions.

One thing is clear: He never played quarterback for the Oakland Raiders.

A powerful inspiration overcame me after meeting Dickey’s cousin in a computer center. Perhaps we should reflect on some past decisions in the Oakland Raiders franchise.

Could it be that we should say, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.?”

Let me share a story with you that was shared by a great minister, years ago.

The minister said that there was a man with a sick child who was expected to die. The man realized that his trespasses somehow affected the situation of the child. The man, knelt down by the hospital bed, and he asked for forgiveness for his transgressions.

This man stayed on his knees for hours until sunrise the next day. When he rose up off his knees and looked over at his child, he noticed the child was better.

So, maybe we should ask for forgiveness if we have transgressed against Oakland Raiders or other NFL players during the history of the NFL.

Is it possible that by expressing our humility, our forgiveness, in both directions: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, that we will be free to move toward a greater destiny.

Many say that Dickey and others were hurt by the decisions in the past. We can not re-write the history, but we can FORGIVE.

Why? No doubt that our forgiveness will open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain, and bless us in 2009 and beyond.

Yes, we can…forgive and forge forward toward victory in the memory of Eldridge Dickey, and others.

Maybe the message of our “carrier-pigeon” was SEEK FORGIVENESS, FORGIVE AND FORGE FORWARD.

Video: Eldridge Dickey’s Story

The Power of Prayer – Football Highlights

Selected Data from the career of Eldridge Dickey

Position: WR
Height: 6-2    Weight: 198 lbs.
Born: December 24 , 1945 in Houston, TX
College: Tennessee State

 

							Receiving							Rushing
Year	Age	Tm	Pos	No.	G	GS	Rec	Yds	Y/R	TD	Lng	R/G	Y/G	Att	Yds	TD	Lng	Y/A	Y/G	A/G	YScm	RRTD	Fmb
1968	23	OAK		10	11	0	1	34	34.0	0	34	0.1	3.1								34	0	0
1971	26	OAK		10	7	2	4	78	19.5	1	31	0.6	11.1								78	1	0
Career					18	2	5	112	22.4	1	34	0.3	6.2								112	1	0

Source of Data

Source

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Global Comparison of The Jets and Oakland Raiders

If fans make faulty assumptions, it can be disheartening. It is best to study a situation.

The simple data analysis presented in this short article is a part of dealing with the reality of the upcoming situation.

Yes, Oakland has some strong points when you look at the data globally and historically.

Overall, the Raiders have more wins than the Jets. See the above chart.

Historically, the coach with the most wins in the history of the Jets franchise had a total of 71 wins, while Oakland’s “winningest coach” had 103.

The win-loss percentage for the Jets is .453 (overall) and the percentage for Oakland is .554 (overall). Oakland’s ratio is about 10 percent above the Jets.

There is a tie in the number of championships. However, Oakland has won three Super Bowls, while the Jets have won one. That makes Oakland’s performance 300 percent of the Jets performance in this category.

The data in the Conference column shows Oakland with five and the Jets with one.

This article is a little “eye-opener.”

See chart below and draw your own valid conclusions.

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We Thought We Could

We did it. Are you surprised?

Victory can be so sweet when it is a surprise to those who had doubts.

Enjoy this moment. But don’t tarry in it too long. There is more hard work to be done.

Sustaining and maintaining throughout the remaining portion of the season is a must.

So, enjoy this victory, but get back to work, please.

In fact, I have already started my research and writing for the next episode in our saga to regain respect from the media, and to add more luster to our history.

Thanks, Oakland Raiders. I am certain those senior Raiders enjoyed this day.

Begin Slideshow

Oakland Raiders: I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can

It is the day before the sixth game of the Oakland Raiders. It is near a critical point in the season.

Some folks are writing articles, with repetitive “boos.” Here is one with a repetitive phrase we all learned in kindergarten.

Let’s get back to the fundamentals, Oakland Raiders. Let’s try something we learned when we were children.

“I think I can” should be repeated, over and over, again, by each and every one of us, in the Raider Nation. It should be repeated by the Oakland Raiders team.

All day long, think: I think I can.

Here are some examples of situations requiring a “can do” attitude:

There are theorems in mathematics that earlier generations could not solve, but younger mathematicians have worked hard, thought hard, and finally found solutions to some of those “so-called” unsolved problems.

There was a time in American history that many people thought that the White House would never be diverse in the top position. Yet, it is.

There are those who did not believe that the same man who made history and won the election to become the President of the United States, also is going to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He had a “Yes, We Can” attitude. And, yes, it was done.

There are those naysayers who do not believe this thing can be turned around.

So, Raider Nation and Oakland Raiders, say loudly,

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. 

Then continue to hope and say, later on Sunday,

I thought we could. I thought we could. I thought we could.

There was a time when the “wave” was popular and almost every fan in the football stadium would move at the right time, to give the impression of a wave, moving from left to right.

So tomorrow, there should be a group of people who start the chant, “Yes, We Can.”

Let it ring loudly, in the ears of the players. Then, match the phrase with a James Brown phrase, altered a bit: “Say it loud, I’m a Raider, and I am proud.”

Yes

Listen to the music

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Global Comparison Of Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles

What are we going to experience next weekend?

The above chart shows the win-loss tally for the history of the Oakland Raider franchise.

The first set of blue and red bars shows Oakland’s wins and losses. The second set shows Philadelphia’s wins and losses. See labels.

It also shows the number of Playoffs and the number of wins and appearances in the Super Bowl.

The win-loss ratio (overall) for Oakland is 1.24. Philadelphia’s win-loss ratio (overall) is .92.

The playoff record for Oakland is 25-18 with the last appearance in 2002. The playoff record for Philadelphia is 19-18 with the last appearance in 2008.

Finally, Oakland has appeared five times in the Super Bowl and won three times. The Philadelphia Eagles have won zero Super Bowls and they have appeared two times.

I hope this helps give you a global view of our opponent and of our past performances, overall.

This article is short so as not to be overwhelming. I hope you enjoy it.

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Oakland Raiders: Marvin Gaye Would Ask, “What’s Going On?”

Hear the song

What’s going on, my brothers? What’s happening, Oakland Raiders?

Don’t worry, I still believe in you, but I am concerned. I repeat, I still believe in you.

Where is that drive or force we had?

When I was teaching in Harlem, New York between 1967 to 1971, our team was strong and fierce on the football field.

Is it that this generation of well-bred, well-fed athletes have lost that drive, fierceness, and force to wedge through to victory?

Well, guess what? It is recoverable. It is attainable. You can do it.

I was the young woman who is now a grandmother, who dressed in my fox coat, boots, mini-dress. I caught the train to Shea Stadium and personally witnessed the Oakland Raiders win a game in the last eight seconds. It was December 1970.

Of course, one of the players was reportedly feared and, and he and the team turned it around. He had a look in his eye. He feared no NFL player, rather they feared him. His quarterback was Daryl Lamonica. Do you remember those days and those videos?

So, these hard playing, fast running, football grabbing brothers are senior citizens now, and they are looking at you.

Come on now, restore our heritage. And tell us the truth, “What’s happening, brothers?”

Tell us now, before our next game!

I am outta here.

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