It may be an urban legend, but years ago many people would migrate from Louisiana, to Texas, and then to California.
California was considered a place where a person could work their way up in their social and economic standing. The Oakland Raiders symbolized that spirit of opportunity and fairness.
During the Sixties, especially, more people from southern states went "West" to improve their lifestyle. Also, some of them migrated "East."
During those years this writer began to pay attention to the Oakland Raiders and Al Davis. It was clear to me then, and even now, that Al Davis gave women and minorities opportunities ...
In a lot of ways, the Oakland Athletics have already had a very successful 2010.
The campaign isn't over by any means—with more than 50 games yet to be played, anything and everything can still happen.
However, the A's sit nine and a half games off the American League West pace set by the division-leading Texas Rangers. With the Texas in town for the weekend, they have a chance to shave some of that margin and they'd better.
Because they're even further behind in the AL Wild Card race.
Granted, with the juggernauts out in the AL East, the playoff side door was probably ...
When Al Davis makes a draft pick, he usually looks at this one quality: potential.
Al Davis' problems have stemmed from not finding a consistent quarterback, making horrible free agent signings, and changing coaches with too much frequency.
Davis is often insulted for his "poor drafting."
I don't get it.
With exception to 2007's pick of JaMarcus Russell, Al Davis has been spot on with his first round selections. What people tend to neglect is that it takes years to evaluate a draft class. Al Davis tends not to draft NFL ready players with his first rounders.
The Raiders longtime owner can do this because ...
The perfect game is long gone for Dallas Braden. He finally got his first win since he pitched that masterpiece, but after tonight it looks like he's going back to his losing ways.
Tonight was an absolutely disgraceful performance by Braden against the Texas Rangers. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal if Braden had been roughed up by certain hitters in the Rangers lineup such as Michael Young, Vladimir Guerrero, Nelson Cruz, Jorge Cantu, or even David Murphy, but that didn't happen.
It was the ninth place hitter in the Rangers lineup; a hitter so bad that he ...
Jason Campbell is one of those fantasy football players that is labeled everything from complete bust to team savior. Campbell has many risks attached to him when discussing his fantasy football potential so as a result that leaves many questions inside a fantasy team owner's mind about Jason. Luckily, here is Jason Campbell's 2010-2011 fantasy outlook.
As stated earlier, Campbell has multiple risks associated with him, one key risk being a downgrade in his receiving cores.
Campbell, traded to the Oakland Raiders during the off-season by the Washington Redskins, leaves behind one of the most underrated 1-2 receiving punches in the ...
Both the tight end and fullback positions are interesting to watch in camp.
The tight end postition looks to be locked down with pecking order and all. The interest there is how well they are all playing.
The fullback position does not appear to be so settled. The big interest there is all about which one of these men will emerge as the starter.
Turn the page to check the progress of these two positions. Begin Slideshow
As the 2010 season approaches, expectations are higher than normal in Oakland. JaMarcus Russell has left the building, Rolando McClain was their first pick in the 2010 draft, and JaMarcus is gone...(did I already say that?).
However, preseason optimism is not new to Oakland. The Raiders as well as most analyst feel good this time of year, EVERY year. Last year it was the addition of Seymour, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Darren McFadden's "breakout season." It was the year that Russell was going to put it together and finally had some weapons and a strong running game to support him.... right ???
We ...
The carcass is the dry remains of a once mighty nation that Ezekiel described as dry bones in the valley, who once had sinews, who once had flesh, who once had purpose, possibility, and potential. But most importantly, the Raider Nation once had defense. And for the past few years the nation had been disconnected from its tough, gritty, kick-butt tradition—until now.
In 2009, the Raiders pass defense ranked seventh—thanks to Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the best shutdown corner in the NFL. But there is another primary reason the pass defense was ranked so high: The run defense was so poor, ranked 29th, that opposing teams just ran over the ...
What does "peek a boo" mean? Here is a definition:
peekaboo: a game played with young children; you hide your face and suddenly reveal it as you say boo!
In 2010 the Oakland Raiders are going to show their talent and strength, their true face, against the Chicago Bears, and scare them with a "boo."
The pattern that emerges between the Raiders and the Bears is so close in some time periods that you can be certain there will be tension in 2010 when they encounter each other.
For the past seven years the Oakland Raiders, so to speak, have been hiding their face ...
For the Raiders, the future has never been so dependent on this class of rookies that arrived for camp this year.
From first round pick Rolando McClain, to the hopes that Bruce Campbell and Jared Veldheer can help the club in a hurry, Tom Cable will be working to develop these players properly, finding and bringing their strengths out, while working to remove any issues that can affect their play for the Raiders.
Enjoy a slideshow of coming attractions from the Silver and Black!Begin Slideshow