Raiders last home game in Oakland beckons -- will you remain a fan?

“End of an era” is a phrase that gets thrown around loosely

but Sunday in Oakland, CA will mark the last game the

Oakland Raiders will play at the Oakland-Alameda County

Coliseum before moving to Las Vegas. 

The Raiders, who are 6-7, are still in the AFC playoff hunt

but are a longshot to reach the postseason as they host the

4-9 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Raiders finish the season with

road games at the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos. 

The reasons behind the move to Las Vegas and fans view it

were discussed in this space two years ago: 

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2017/03/move-to-sin-

city-understandable-but.html

https://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2017/04/raider-fans-feel-

gamut-of-emotions-with.html

To add context, I am a lifelong San Francisco 49ers fan but

spent 18 years as a sports reporter in the newspaper industry,

mostly for Napa Valley Publishing, based out of Napa, CA,

where the Raiders make their training camp home. In addition

to NVP, I also had the opportunity to become a contributing

freelance writer for a Raider fan magazine, Silver & Black

Illustrated. I took many slings and arrows from friends and family

who are 49er fans but being a professional, how could I resist

that opportunity? 

As an 8-year old child, I vaguely remember rooting for the

Raiders in Super Bowl XV against the Philadelphia Eagles. I

even remember wearing a Raiders hat, as in the trucker mesh

variety. Then, the 49ers greatness began and the Raiders

decided to move to Los Angeles, where they called home from

1982-1994. Boo, hiss. In Northern California, we were taught at

an early age to despise Southern California teams. So, my

passion turned toward the 49ers and I loathed the Raiders in

their Los Angeles years. However, if the team moved back to

Oakland, I would not give up my 49er fan roots but I could get

behind supporting the Raiders in the interest of Bay Area

solidarity. 

From 1999-2004, I put that hatred aside and became a

professional. It was easy from 1999-2002 because the Raiders

were a fun team to cover. Four straight playoff appearances,

two AFC Title game appearances and one Super Bowl

appearance. Then, 2003-2004 happened, the team became

an old and decaying one. I resigned in training camp 2005

because American Sports Media, which owned SB&I, was

forgetting one small thing -- paying me on time. However, I am

eternally grateful for senior writer Michael Wagaman for reaching

out to give me the opportunity that was great for five years.

The Coliseum has a very Candlestick-ian feel -- as in Candlestick

Park, which was both the home of the 49ers and Major League

Baseball’s San Francisco Giants. The Coliseum remains the

last multi-purpose stadium and will be the home of MLB’s

Oakland Athletics for the foreseeable future. Like Candlestick,

the Coliseum is a dump in an era of modern facilities. To

Raiders fans, however, it was their dump just like Candlestick

was their dump to 49er fans. 

The common narrative is that the shiny new facility in Las

Vegas will not bring the home field advantage that Oakland

had. While it is true that winning will bring fans, there is no

way Las Vegas will love the team like Oakland did. The

team is also rebuilding, which is just as likely to become empty

promises as it is a bill of goods. The Black Hole can relocate

there but it will not be the same. Las Vegas is also just as likely

to be a place where fans from cold weather climates buy up

tickets to support the opposing team. 

Before I make my next point, I want to make one thing entirely

clear, I think fans should do what feels right for them. If you are

a Raider fan over age 45, I ask you one question. You are old

enough to have seen your team leave twice. If you are steadfast

in remaining a Raiders fan, I ask -- why? I just find it strange

how the Golden State Warriors, who played in Oakland for 48

years before moving to the Chase Center in San Francisco

scorn the move but still see the Raiders leaving Northern

California as no big deal. Keep in mind, many Raider fans

support the Warriors. Then, the same fans sardonically refer

to the 49ers as the Santa Clara 49ers. Granted, these are

segmented examples but my point is, at least the 49ers and

Warriors did not leave Northern California. 

When I see the Raiders moving to Las Vegas, I hearken back

to 1992 as a San Francisco Giants fan. The Giants had one

foot out the door on their way to Tampa Bay. I was only 20

years old in 1992 and had only been a Giants fan for ten

years. I thought little of it then, “I’ll cross that bridge when I

come to it.” Thankfully, that reality never came to fruition

thanks to Peter McGowan and Barry Bonds. 

Oddly enough, in light of the Raiders moving to Las Vegas,

I think of my plight as a Giants fan more often. Would I have

remained a Giants fan? At the time, my thought was “I’ll cross

that bridge later.” Right now, I say no. I probably would have

adopted another National League team.

While people besmirch bandwagon fans, my argument is that

it’s harder to stay loyal when teams and even coaches and

players do not have loyalties.

If you are a Raider fan, enjoy the last chapter at the Coliseum

but if being done with the team feels right for you, do it with no

guilt. If continuing to root for them feels right, I don’t understand

it but do it no guilt anyhow.  

Examining sports axioms that we assume make sense

Sometimes, you have to have some free floating feelings that are a

mixture of laughter and hostility. 

As sports fans, we hear statements whether it is from fans, traditional

media, social media or message boards that make you think anything

from “Thank you, Captain Obvious,” to “No S---!” It’s a four-letter

word that starts with S and ends in Shinolah. 

These statements have an element of cliche but they make you roll your

eyes when hearing them. In a nutshell, they are statements that people

are programmed to think are true but when examining deeper, it makes

you realize something much different. I asked for suggestions on social

media recently. 

Without further adieu, here are among the better ones: 

“(INSERT RANDOM QUARTERBACK) does not do well/is less

effective under pressure.”

-- I’m not referring to leading your team down the field with 1:30 left in

the game and 80 yards to go for a touchdown. I’m referring to getting

pressured by the pass rush. I don’t care if you are the best quarterback

ever to play (Tom Brady) or the biggest bust in NFL history (JaMarcus

Russell), you’re effectiveness will be compromised if under duress. The

only variable is some will perform better than others. 

“Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.”

--In a football context, I beg to differ. Offense still sells tickets, defense

wins games but line play wins championships. I’ve seen elite offenses and

defenses not win championships but I have yet to see a team with subpar

line play win one.

“You play to win the game!”

--I can think of examples where teams try to lose for higher draft picks.

They call it tanking. 

“We all need to do better.” 

--This is very common after a blowout loss. I prefer the phrase, “system

wide failure” or “in a loss like this, no one gets a pass.”

“He came to play today” or “we came to play.”

--Why just one player? As for the we part, what did you come to play?

Checkers? Blackjack? 

Anything that starts with “at the end of the day.”

--The end of all days are when the clock reads 11:59 p.m. and 59

seconds. 

“We just need to execute” or “we didn’t execute” or “our plan was

solid, we just didn’t execute.”

--I prefer, “either you execute or get executed.”

“We need to eliminate turnovers.”

--I prefer the phrase “self-inflicted wounds.”

 “They’re going to need to score more points if they are going to

win.” 

--Now that’s the epitome of a Captain Obvious statement.

“My bad”

--No kidding, everyone in the stands knows it was your bad.

“Wait until next year!”

--I prefer “one season doesn’t transfer to the next.”

“You can’t win them all.”

--Though it is very rare, you actually can win them all. 

The ever popular. “It’s the refs fault.”

--There are bad calls in every minute of every game, yet the only ones

mentioned are in the final moments of the game. 

“He's just a system quarterback or game manager.”

--These two phrases make me vomit in my mouth. The first one is a

convenient way to denigrate someone’s achievements. The second is

like a left-handed compliment. 

About a hitter: “He likes to get his arms extended.”

--As opposed to keeping the bat on the shoulders. 

“Touchdown saving tackle.

--All touchdowns that get stopped short of the goal-line save

touchdowns. What about that sack for minus seven yards? That one really

saved the touchdown. 

“Next man up.”

--Get enough injuries and at some point there is no next man. 

Ryan's comments were not racist -- just careless

Carelessness can be costly. 

San Francisco 49ers radio color commentator Tim Ryan became a

national talking point for comments he made on Monday during

an interview on KNBR’s “Murph & Mac Show.” KNBR is a San

Francisco radio station that is the flagship for the 49ers and Major

League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants. 

The 49ers suspended Ryan for Sunday’s pivotal NFC showdown

against the New Orleans Saints, both teams are 10-2. 

The reason for the suspension were comments Ryan made about

Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson on the heels of

Baltimore’s 20-17 win over San Francisco. Ryan said that Jackson,

who is black, has an advantage in faking handoffs because of his

"dark skin color with a dark football."

“He’s really good at that fake, Lamar Jackson, but when you consider

his dark skin color with a dark football with a dark uniform, you could

not see that thing,” Ryan said on San Francisco radio station KNBR’s

“Murph & Mac Show" on Monday.

“I mean, you literally could not see when he was in and out of the mesh

point and if you’re a half step slow on him in terms of your vision, forget

about it, he’s out of the gate.” 

In that contest, Jackson rushed for 101 yards in the game and has tallied

977 yards for the season, 62 yards shy of Michael Vick’s record by a

quarterback, set in 2006. Ryan has apologized for his comments and

49ers defensive players Richard Sherman and Dee Ford have come to

Ryan’s defense. Reactions to Ryan’s comments have ranged from

labeling him a racist to the comment was poorly conveyed to no big

deal. 

For full details read link below: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/49ers-announcer-tim-ryan-s

uspended-over-dark-skin-comment-about-n1096376

After listening to a day of sports talk radio and reading various comments

on social media, I unpack a few things from this issue: 

Understanding history

Though Denver’s Marlin Briscoe was the NFL’s first starting black

quarterback in 1968 for the Denver Broncos, the position has been

predominantly white. I’m not saying that is good or bad, it’s just reality.

In the Super Bowl era, including the aforementioned Briscoe, there were

nine black starting quarterbacks from 1968-1983. From 1984 to present,

spanning 35 years, there have been 24 black starting quarterbacks. 

The common perception about black quarterbacks has included but not

limited to: a) They are athletic runners but not accurate passers and b)

They are not best suited to be team leaders. From my vantage point,

these assessments are accurate in some circles but inaccurate in others. 

Relative to Jackson, he was a Heisman Trophy winner in 2016 and the

Ravens drafted him in the first round as the 32nd overall pick. Many

pundits suggested Jackson should change positions to wide receiver.

Jackson, however, remained adamant about staying at quarterback and

in his second season is putting up an MVP season. By all means,

Jackson’s success should be celebrated. 

The “I’m offended” era

Former KNBR sports talk show host Ralph Barbieri frequently uttered

the phrase “two things can be equally true.” In this case, those two

things are a) People have always been offended and b) Those emotions

are disseminated much faster. 

In the pre-internet era, if you were offended and/or outraged by something

that anyone said, chances are, you were fuming but you either had to call

that person on the phone or write them a snail mail letter. If you did the

former, you might not reach that person immediately. If you did the latter,

you wrote the letter but probably calmed down later. In the social media

era, bam, you write something incendiary and hit send. It’s there for the

whole world to see. It’s like the difference between attacking with an

assault rifle as opposed to a musket. 

Ryan’s platform was the worst place to articulate his message

Ryan’s comments gave off the vibe of trying to be funny, cute and present

some levity. Instead, his comments were carelessly articulated. Being

an NFL broadcaster where the pressbox is multiple levels above the field,

I can understand where it’s hard to follow the ball, especially in the rainy

conditions. 

Ryan’s point may technically be valid but I don’t consider his

aforementioned comments to be an advantage. Faking handoffs and using

deception is a skill that many quarterbacks of multiple races have possessed

for eons.  

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Most of us have friends and/or acquaintances

from various races. I would be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts or

potatoes to turnips, that you have said things in a joking fashion about the

other person’s race. The difference is that we are saying these things among

friends that you know will not take offense to what is said, for the most part
anyhow. 

Ryan, on the other hand, should know better because he talks for a living

and when talking to a radio audience, you will encounter some that will

think nothing of what you said and others that will get a bug up their rear

end.  

I have no reason whatsoever to think Ryan is a racist but his message was

articulated poorly.