Oakland Raiders Twists, Turns, Tests: Help Is On The Way

Folks used to say, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” Nowadays, the SPCA would condemn someone for saying that, especially if he is a professional athlete.

Animal cruelty, they would chant while they carry their homemade banners with red paint sprayed on them, saying, “Down with the cat-skinners!”

The meaning of the old saying is intended to tell us that the road to success can take on many different paths. Success can be preceded by losing a few battles. It does not mean, however, that the war will be lost.

I take time to read B/R articles on my breaks. The commentary on the Oakland Raiders is flavored up with “sugar and spice and everything nice.” I look for the sugar, spice, and the nice things.

Conversely, some articles are spiced with Chinese, frutenscens and Tabasco Peppers. These articles are so spicy they bring the toughest Raider Nation fans to tears, with noses running, and sniffles.

I continue to have faith. After all, it is still the preseason. Things can change. There are no perfect indicators or predictors. A confidence interval is usually always identified in a good statistical study.

So, let’s employ the use of a “confidence interval” in characterizing or predicting the 2009 season.

I will be honest with you. There are some senior players who are pulling for the Oakland Raiders. They are in the range of 65-years-old and older.

The lives of these players have had “twists and turns.” It’s amazing that they are still around.

When you visit them, they are likely to perk up remembering their days with the Raiders.

One reader mentioned that “soul” was somehow see-able in my articles. If you want to have your soul touched, then, if chance permits, go talk to a senior Raider, and watch the joy in his eyes when he talks about those last minute victories during earlier eras.

In a creative way, the relationship between some of the senior Oakland Raiders and the present Oakland Raiders is “symbiotic.”

Some of the seniors have had light and darkness in their lives, and twists and turns in their journey.

Some of them have also had their hopes and visions clouded by naysayers, those who lost faith in them, and do not believe they can be redeemed, restored, and set on an upward path.

One of the seniors that I know would not answer me last year when I asked him how he felt the Oakland Raiders performed in 2008. My perceptions may have been off, but I thought I saw pain in his eyes. But, although I saw pain, I saw power and strength when he stared at me, straight into my eyes.

He did not speak. The communication was nonverbal. Then he mumbled, for he is always soft-spoken now that he is in his senior years. He almost whispered, the Oakland Raiders are going to be just fine.

His statement was one of faith, of hope, of expectations, of last minute, or last second victories like those miraculous ones in the earlier era of Oakland Raider history.

My visits to see the senior player to gather research data, and to encourage him took place from February 2007 to December 12, 2008. The senior Oakland Raider and his peers are a part of the inspiration for my new venture, sports writing.

Why do I continue to pull for the Oakland Raiders?

I am pulling for an outstanding 2009 season because I know, in my heart, that it will encourage some of the senior Oakland Raiders who believe in the young men.

Their belief in their team may be helping to keep them alive. Furthermore, something is keeping me on the road of research and sports writing, filled with twists and turns, but somehow I see the light at the end of the road that is in a tunnel.

So, let’s cheer the current Oakland Raiders to victory because in some strange way we are, symbiotically, cheering the senior Oakland Raiders to hang in there, don’t give up, hold on ’cause help (hope) is on the way.

The desire of our heart and soul is victory, Oakland Raiders!

 

Pattern Recognition, Pt. 3: Number of HOF Recipients by NFL Franchise

Too many times impressions are given, and sometimes subjectivity flavors the commentary in NFL news and other publications. My opinion is that if an attribute admits to some type of measure theory, then the researcher should attempt to measure it.

Pattern recognition, at an elementary level, is a powerful way to study an issue, situation or phenomenon. The discipline to tally the sports data, define categories for the sports data, and to aggregate the sports (NFL) data are some of the fundamental steps to this type of study.

This article is Pt. 3 and it is related to Pattern Recognition, Pt. 2: Number of HOF Recipients by NFL Franchise.

In this article the data was separated to indicate the persons who played five years of more with a team (bold), and those who played less than five years. This statement is an assumption until the HOF is contacted and clarifications are made. Refinement of this research is ongoing.

Some persons have multiplicity and show up more than once in a franchise category.

Here is the list:

George Halas is counted three times (one bold, two non-bold) with the Bears;

George Blanda is counted twice (bold and non-bold) with the Bears;

John (Paddy) Driscoll is counted twice (bold and non-bold) with the Bears;

Al Davis is counted twice (both bold and non-bold) with the Raiders;

Earl (Dutch) Clark (bold and non-bold) with the Lions;

Art Donovan (bold and non-bold) with the Colts;

and with the Redskins

Cliff Battles is counted three times (one bold, two non-bold);

Albert Glen (Turk) Edwards is counted three times (one bold, two non-bold);

George Preston Marshall is counted three times (one bold, two non-bold).

The data was gathered from an HOF web page, and no obvious legend is present to explain what the bold markings mean.

A comment by a B/R senior writer was used to define the bold markings. Obviously, this research is ongoing in order to gain clarity and a definition of the criteria by which the data is categorized.

This article is an introductory work which will become a section of a more comprehensive study. The chart in the article photo depicts a partial listing of the data. By separating the data into subcategories, an improved description is posted.

Your comments are invited.

Thanks to James Williamson for his input.

Pattern Recognition, Pt. 3: Number of HOF Recipients by NFL Franchise

Franchise		number of HOF Recipients
		total	bold	nonbold
Arizona C		16	11	5
Atlanta F.		2	0	2
Baltimore R.		1	0	1
Buffalo B.		9	8	1
Carolina Panthers		1	0	1
Chicago Bears		35	26	9
Cincinnati Bengals		2	1	1
Cleveland Browns		21	16	5
Dallas Cowboys		17	11	6
Denver Broncos		4	2	2
Detroit Lions		18	13	5
Green Bay Packers		26	21	5
Houston Texans		0	0	0
Indianapolis Colts		13	10	3
Jacksonville Jaguars		0	0	0
Kansas City Chiefs		14	9	5
Miami Dolphins		10	9	1
Minnesota Vikings		14	9	5
New England Patriots		4	4	0
New Orleans Saints		5	1	4
New York Giants		27	17	10
New York Jets		6	4	2
Oakland Raiders		20	13	7
Philadephia Eagles		17	9	8
Pittsburgh Steelers		24	18	6
San Diego Chargers		11	7	4
San Francisco 49ers		16	12	4
Seattle Seahawks		4	1	3
St. Louis Rams		23	13	10
Tampa Bay		3	1	2
Tennessee Titans		11	7	4
Washington Redskins		29	17	12

 

Some of the Reasons I Write for Bleacher Report

As a young child born near the time of World War II, I was told that “knowledge is power.”

Years later, I learned that to have a “voice” or a chance to freely express yourself, is also a “power.”

In a country which was founded on the premises of life, liberty and justice for all, I observed that there were structural barriers in sports, education, religious organizations, politics, and more.

During my earlier years, my peers believed that NFL football and NBA basketball careers gave them easier access to fame and fortune. Many of my peers had outstanding professional athletic careers. Life after those careers sometimes took a twist and turn toward health, emotional or other problems.

Secondly, during the 1960s I heard people like Mr. Pluria Marshall, Dr. John B. Coleman, and Mr. Mack H. Hannah talk about the fact that we need to have more ownership in the media.

It might help to add that Dr. John B. Coleman was the first African American to serve on the Board of Regents of Texas A & M University System; and Mr. Mack H. Hannah was the first African American (Texas) millionaire of record, and first African American to serve on the Board of Regents in the University of Houston System.

Dr. Coleman helped fund a program for former NFL athletes like John White, Ernie Ladd and others. Mr. Hannah quietly and discreetly gave financial advice and assistance to some of the retired professional athletes.

Mr. Pluria Marshall was wise in negotiating the purchase of radio stations (and television stations). He quietly helped a few men and women invest in purchases of media outlets.

Dr. Coleman was a mentor and friend. Mr. Mack Hannah was my employer and mentor in the late 1970s. Hannah also was the mentor of U. S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who made a powerful presentation during Watergate. Jordan was my lawyer when I was a young college student with aspirations in business and community service.

During those early years, I joined a group called the Black Communicators of America. Although I was an English major, I was accepted by the group of young, aspiring journalists. In those days, I wrote viewpoints and editorials.

Then, I witnessed what happened to athletes who attended historically black colleges and univerisities, for example, like Texas Southern University, Prairie View University, and other colleges.

I observed the patterns.

In some cases, the present stories and life situations are not that good. I continue to see patterns. I see problems.

I see propagated errors. There are errors which are built on earlier errors. A divergence occurs and instead of approaching a limit of life, liberty and justice, some situations have spiraled into confusion, calamity and chaos.

I do not have the energy to walk the streets and carry a banner to protest those things that are not in alignment with freedom and justice for all. Instead, I write. I question. I conjecture.

I focus on sports because it is an industry that has the potential of touching millions of young people. If, by some stroke of chance, an idea is “read” and someone learns a new way to deal with a recurrent historical problem, then I am pleased.

I write to untangle myself from a “Houdini situation,” deep underwater, in time enough to get my breath, and carry on.

I write because there are those in early American history who were punished and deterred from reading, writing and learning arithmetic.

I write because I have met women like the 99-year-old lady (shown above) from Mississippi who had a natural gift of mathematical understanding, but was hindered from getting a fine education because of her gender or race.

I write and research to uncover the covert and overt forms of prejudice that continue to wound the hearts and minds of young and old, rich and poor, strong and weak.

I write because I have faith that what I write will awaken a “kinder and gentler” character in the hearts and minds of the readers.

My hope is that the next generation will optimize the positive attributes of mankind, rather than do the dual of optimizing the negative and destructive attributes.

I write to demonstrate the clarity of mind I have because I have been protected, uplifted and encouraged by the senior citizens in my sociometric. They challenge me to write, go forward, achieve, think, deliberate, negotiate, and continue to be free and have liberty in sports, education, and in society, in general.

Now back to the Bleacher Report.

Someone emailed me at my yahoo address and invited me to write about senior players in the sports (NFL) arena. I responded. That is why I am here.

My question to you is: Why do you write?

I invite you to explore the question and to post your response.

I have got to go now…..and WRITE.

Afterthought:

An article I did on the 99-year-old lady only got 45 reads in the Bleacher Report. In September 2009, an adaptation of the article will be published by a newsletter sponsored by the United States Military Academy (West Point).

Dr. Don Small is the editor who revised and selected it.

I am appreciative of the editorial support and space given to me in the Bleacher Report. Great things will surely happen as we continue to write.

The keen eye and mind of Mr. Leroy Watson humbled me. I am grateful to B/R and to him.

Pattern Recognition Of Pro Football HOF Recipients By Year, Part One

There are so many ways to look at NFL or Hall of Fame data. Here is a simple analysis to see if there are patterns in selected data, aggregated by year.

Frequency Distribution of Data on Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees

Year          Number of HOF Recipients

1963         17         xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      

1964         7          xxxxxxx                   

1965         7          xxxxxxx                     

1966         8          xxxxxxxx                 

1967         8          xxxxxxxx                   

1968         7          xxxxxxx                   

1969         5          xxxxx

1970         4          xxxx

1971         7          xxxxxxx

1972         4          xxxx

1973         3          xxx

1974         4          xxxx

1975         4          xxxx

1976         3          xxx

1977         5          xxxxx

1978         5          xxxxx

1979         4          xxxx

1980         4          xxxx

1981         4          xxxx

1982         4          xxxx

1983         5          xxxxx

1984         4          xxxx

1985         5          xxxxx

1986         5          xxxxx

1987         7          xxxxxxx

1988         4          xxxx

1989         4          xxxx

1990         7          xxxxxxx

1991         5          xxxxx

1992         4          xxxx

1993         5          xxxxx

1994         6          xxxxxx

1995         5          xxxxx

1996         5          xxxxx

1997         4          xxxx

1998         5          xxxxx

1999         5          xxxxx

2000         5          xxxxx

2001         7          xxxxxxx

2002         5          xxxxx

2003         5          xxxxx

2004         4          xxxx

2005         4          xxxx

2006         6          xxxxxx

2007         6          xxxxxx

2008         6          xxxxxx

2009         6          xxxxxx

There are many observations that can be made. Several simple ones are:

1. There was a decline in the number of NFL players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, from 1963 to 1964.

2. There was a minimum of three inductees in 1973 and in 1976.

3. The mode in the distribution of inductees is 4, occurring 15 times in the data set.

    The mode is also 5, occurring 15 times in the data set.  It is a bi-modal distribution.

4. The maximum number of inductees occurred during the first year of the induction process, with 17 players enshrined in 1973.

5. For four consecutive years, there are six inductees for each year, starting in 2006 to 2009.

6. For two consecutive years in 1966 and 1967, there were eight inductees for each year.

In order to get a better picture of the inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, sociocultural factors, colleges and universities, and names of the last team the inductee played for (or the team that dominated the career of a player) will be aggregated to learn more about the patterns of the awards.

You are invited to make comments and more observations to stimulate a discussion of the data. 

A similar study of the Heisman Trophy winners showed a trend. Those observations may be discussed in a future B/R article. See link: Trend of Heisman Awards

 

 

 

Oakland Raiders: Of The Same Mind

Harmony is a beautiful concept. In music, it can take different forms. In professional football there are concepts and forms.

In a jazz ensemble, every man improvises and plays his instrument with a unique expression, stream of musical notes and rhythm. In professional football, each player has a unique nonverbal expression, stream of movements, and rhythm.

The other jazz musicians improvise in their unique way. Overall, you get a wonderful experience. There is diversity and there is harmony, all interfacing to make a rich sound in the ears and mind of the listener.

Athletics, too, has a harmony. Each man playing in his position, in his own style, and in his own way. As we take a global view, there is also harmony and some type of synchronization to make it all happen.

The Oakland Raiders are working on that harmony. The players are getting to know each other. The nonverbal can enhance the experience on the playing field. Few words are spoken, but many moves are made.

The grand idea is that the quarterback ought to have the same mind as the wide receiver, almost predicting the receiver’s position so that the ball falls near enough to his gifted hands.

Conversely, the receiver needs to have the same mind as the quarterback, making his way to the right place, at the right time to grab that football and gallop like a gazelle to the end zone.

If necessary, that gazelle-like runner may demonstrate a “pronking” or vertical jump over defensive players who are in his way. He will be so determined and in control that he will land on his feet, after a type of “pronking,” and race toward the end zone.

One goal is in the mind of each player. Victory. Winning. Success.

I have read that in the old days, there was a language that did not need vowels. The people were so familiar with each other. The context of a situation was so well understood, that simply using the consonants was enough to communicate an idea, a concept, or a thought.

It means to me that there was a time when we really did come closer to having “the same mind.” Communication was enhanced in those days. Camaraderie was possible and capable of approaching perfection.

The Raider Nation expects the harmony and synchronization in the Oakland Raiders in the 2009 season. We expect the Oakland Raiders to develop the level of closeness that is the precursor to victory.

Another analogy:

Isaac Redman: Polite and Impressive Steeler Who’s Stealing Attention

Vicki’s Predictions are Solid

After reading Vicki Farries’ article, I had to support her intuition about Isaac Redman.

On the day I visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame, several Steeler rookies were walking toward the main entrance.

One of them stood out. It was his demeanor. His strength of character shined brightly among the others.

I watched him give autographs to young people. So impressed with his mannerism, I started taking pictures. In fact, one of them is a close up.

I eased over to him and asked for an autograph. He was so pleasant and confident.

I fumbled through my bag, looking for a suitable piece of paper. This gentleman watched me, and waited patiently.

Once I found the paper, I had no pen. He walked over to a colleague and borrowed his pen to sign a small picture I had of a senior NFL player.

I was going to mail that autographed photo to the senior NFL player. Then, I thought about it. I said to myself, “Let’s wait and see how Isaac performs on the playing field.”

Well, Vicki answered the question. He is looking real good.

So after a few more games, I might consider sending the autographed photo to the old-timer.

On second thought, I just may keep it. Who knows? This guy may not only be a rookie who visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he may just end up there, if the cards fall right.

Thanks for an excellent article, Vicki.

“Cloud Nine” Talk with Former Oakland Raider Jermaine Williams

Sometimes it seems that as you focus on your goal, all the forces in the universe push you forward to accelerate your movement.

A former student, Pastor Tina Wilson, called me on Saturday night, at 9:30 p.m. CDT, with excitement in her voice.

“Professor,” she said breathlessly, “I am at the home of a friend and a man who played pro football with the Oakland Raiders is here!”

I asked, “What’s his name?”

She said, “I am so excited, I forgot to ask…hold on.”

She came back to the phone: “His name is Jermaine Williams.”

“Pastor Tina,” I said, “I have had another remarkable day.”

I told my former student about the good time I had at a luncheon. The keynote speaker was an athlete who shared wisdom with a crowd of about 200 people.

I then asked, “Can he come to the phone for a short interview? I write articles for the Bleacher Report and this would be such a wonderful opportunity for me to do research.”

A few minutes passed. A man’s voice said, “Hello.”

I introduced myself and the interview began. I asked, “Jermaine when did you play football with the Oakland Raiders?”

He answered, “Off and on from 1998 to 2001.” I asked, “What do you mean?”

He added, “I played from 1998 to 1999. I was traded. Then later I returned in 2001.”

He played 25 games during those first two seasons. The data shows one game in 2001.

I asked, “How is your life after football?”

He answered, “Fine. I am a businessman and a realtor.”

Eager to get in touch with other former NFL players in the area, I asked, “Where do the older guys hang out. What do they do?”

He added, “Not much. Many of them hang out at a center on Hwy 288.”

I researched the program. It is called the Turning Point.

What do they do? He answered, “Play dominoes and sit around all day. Some ride their bicycles.”

Jermaine Williams had very good insight on why the adjustment to an ordinary lifestyle is so difficult for some of the former NFL players.

To summarize his comments, I learned that many of the men have a meager pension, no preparation for a career after football, and a life without attention and glory.

He added that after you have been encouraged to play football from a young age, nurtured in that direction and pampered, once that is over (and it can end so abruptly), it is difficult to adjust.

If someone is out there for you to help you get a job and adjust, it would be so much better. However, once your career is ended, many of the so-called friends and supporters fade away.

A lady in the background said she needed to use the phone. Williams had to go.

Those few minutes were priceless. They gave me inspiration to write several more detailed stories.

By the way, my son and I looked up a senior NFL player and took him to the movies to see The Game Plan. Out of those experiences came the inspiration for the game plan envisioned and sprouting with a little help from the forces in the universe.

Stay tuned and expect an adventure in writing by the B/R writer who seems to get help from the forces in the universe!

After the interview with Jermaine Williams, I assure you, B/R community, I am on “Cloud Nine.”

Highlights on Why the Oakland Raiders Will Optimize

You gasp when mathematical references are made in the articles, but take a look at the abstract below. A government grant was used to produce a study and recommendation to realign the NFL.

Without a doubt, mathematics is in every aspect of your sport. All is required is an ability to see the mathematics and logic.

Review the abstract below:

Realignment in the National Football League: Did they do it right?

John E. Mitchell

Mathematical Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180

Funded by:
 NSF; Grant Number: CCR-9901822

Keywords

realignment • graph equipartition • branch-and-cut

Abstract

The National Football League (NFL) in the United States expanded to 32 teams in 2002 with the addition of a team in Houston. At that point, the league was realigned into eight divisions, each containing four teams. We describe a branch-and-cut algorithm for minimizing the sum of intradivisional travel distances. We consider first the case where any team can be assigned to any division. We also consider imposing restrictions, such as aligning the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference) separately or maintaining traditional rivalries. We show that the alignment chosen by the NFL does not minimize the sum of intradivisional travel distances, but that it is close

Clearly, mathematics was used to realign the NFL, and this change helped to minimize some factors and to maximize others.

Furthermore, a National Science Foundation grant funded the research to realign the NFL.

As I said in another article, there is more to your sport than meets the eye.

It might be a good idea for you to explore all that it takes for you to enjoy your favorite sport.

While talking to a math colleague, he pointed out that the Oakland Raiders have made use on linear programming to make decisions in their organizations. This fact indicates, to me, that the Oakland Raiders are forward thinking.

It may take a few iterations for the Oakland Raiders to optimize all aspects of their organization, but its clear to me, that they are on their way to a zenith, in more than one way.

Why? The answer: The Raider Nation is forward thinking!

“~Hip Hip Hurrah”..Dig Deep and Find NFL “Dooda Bugs”

It’s so close to the time to cheer the Oakland Raiders to victory. What will you say? Is it Hip Hip Hurrah?

Trust me, you should do your research before you start chanting those words. Why? Let me give you a framework and a reason to be cautious.

I would tell my young children that if you are in doubt about something, simply avoid it, nullify it, and move away from it.

We are so culturally diverse in America and in the world of sports that we need to develop sensitivities to how others may perceive our words and actions.

Wikipedia and Yahoo cite etymological definitions of the phrase and indicate that according to Rabbi Ken Spiro:

“It was an acronym for the Latin of Jerusalem Has Fallen. With time it became Hip, Hip, Hooray!…a cheer that Jews never use.”

As a math person, when in doubt, I leave it OUT!

I learned that the Washington Redskins have a T-shirt with the phrase on it. I googled and saw it with an NFL symbol on the page. My suggestion (if anybody listens to me): Tear them up, shred them and bleach the color out of them!

I am not the only one who is discerning the coded messages of negatives in the media. I know, you are surprised we are able to see through the juju, voodoo, and hoodoo.

You are certainly surprised that I discern these matters. Remember, I studied mathematics and I was fascinated by a course called Coding Theory, taught by the brilliant mathematician, Sue Geller at Texas A & M University, in College Station.

Don’t even try to tell me you cannot cancel the three-word message that may be coded in the so-called cheer.

Let me tell you how easy it is to change things:

1.      Someone had us change from analog to digital television.

2.      Folks are trying to establish laws to keep us from using our cellphone while driving.

3.      People probably use e-mail more than snail mail.

The list goes on and on. So now that we have overturned a rock with little “dooda bugs” crawling underneath it, let’s re-define our cheer.

After all, Coach Tom Cable and the Oakland Raiders recently changed the team’s motto, so it just makes sense to change the content of our “cheers.”

And by the way, whatever you change it to, please be certain you know the meaning and hidden message it may relay to the Oakland Raiders.

Cheers! (Oooops, I think I should research this word, too!). Yes, the sign in the title means “not” so I am symbolizing “No Hip, Hip, Hurrah,” now that we know it has a dubious meaning.

Oakland Raiders Got to Clean Up What They Messed Up

The rhythm was syncopated. The words were simple: “I got to clean up, what I messed up…starting all over again.”

I started rocking and rolling in my car, turned the radio up like one of those hip-hop kids who stops at a stop sign and blasts his radio. The radio was so loud, you could feel the vibrations of the bass in the sound system.

An idea came to me—this is exactly the concept we need to share in order to reverse the NFL record of the Oakland Raiders. I felt something special going on.

The topic I was to teach, today, in a college algebra class is connected to the “clean up what I messed up” concept. Let me set up a framework for this discussion.

During the 22 year period the Oakland Raiders were perceived as a dynasty, there certainly was a “formula” to their success. Each component of that formula has to be identified and separated so that the component can be analyzed.

Next, after the variables have been, “separated,” there needs to be an assessment of the contribution of each variable or component. Then, as is done in “linear programming,” a weight (a type of emphasis) needs to be attached to each variable. In a simple way, a formula is set up and set in place.

Here is my point. For each component, say, “a” in this formula, there should be defined a “not a.” The “not a” component is the reversal of “a.” Now let’s think about the Oakland Raiders training program.

If during those golden years, “speed” was a component, and if in the last few years, “not speed” was in the playing strategies, then reverse from “not speed” to “speed.”

If during the golden days, the quarterback made the difference, say, Daryl Lamonica, then find another “Lamonica-type” and put him in place, quickly.

Did you say you need graceful and fast wide receivers, and during the past few years, no one has been able to perform in an outstanding manner. Then reverse that component and find the new “Cliff Branch” and reverse the results.

Step by step, component by component, whatever Oakland had during its golden years, make certain these components are in place for the 2009 season.

Now the dual of the problem. Whatever the formula has been in the past 22 years of struggle, again, identify the variables or components, and select, refine, design and make operational the blend of abilities that reverse the situation.

Clearly, we are asking the coaches and team to clean up, what they messed up. Isn’t it interesting that there were 22 years of glory, followed by 22 years of “non-glory”?

Isn’t it interesting that 80 means “new beginning” and the song of inspiration that I heard, this morning, while driving, hurriedly, to school to teach inverse functions, contains the phrase, “starting all over again.”

It is clear to me that there is a destiny we will miss, if we do not listen carefully, to those inner voices.

I know what you are thinking. I plead the inverse—this is not too deep. It is simple.

The Oakland Raiders need to learn how to construct the inverse formula to regain the Oakland Raiders glory. The entire Oakland Raiders machinery, including the fans, need to sing a new song.

In summary, the Oakland Raiders can and will, “Clean up what they messed up, and start all over, again.”

A final example: Have you been criticizing and “bad mouthing” Al Davis and Oakland? Well, do the inverse function, speak victory and success from this time forward.

Have you doubted the ability of Oakland to regain its former glory? Stop. Reverse. Now, begin to proclaim that Oakland has an excellent chance to begin, again, in the 2009 season.

It’s simple. Clean up each and everything that has been messed up, and shift your Gestalt from black to the glistening silver, shift from losing to winning, and start all over again, being the Raider dynasty that this B/R writer believes the Oakland Raiders can be.

Afterthought: Now let me swerve, wiggle, and dance my way “outta here.” My radio is turned up loud and I am listening and doing my jiggle to the Canton Inspirational song:

 

I GOTTA CLEAN UP WHAT I MESSED UP

I’M STARTING MY LIFE  OVER AGAIN

I GOTTA CLEAN UP WHAT I MESSED UP

I’M STARTING MY LIFE  OVER AGAIN

 

 

 

 

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