From the JoeBurnsBlog

I remember that April morning this past spring when I had other plans and didn't get to partake in my annual ritual of camping in front of the TV to watch the NFL draft.  However, though I wasn't watching I was quickly made aware by friends and later by news media that Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis somehow passed on the incredible Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech and instead drafted potential 2^nd rounder Darrius Heyward-Bey.  "What an Idiot."  "The old man has totally lost it now."  (giggle, giggle from the Raider-haters), "He is single-handedly ruining that organization."  

So where are those snickerers now?  Heyward-Bey isn't Arnez Battle yet, but at least he is on the team and contributing.  Crabtree may be good someday, but I think Al knew he was a head case and a young vulnerable team does not need that challenge.  Good draft call.

These are the same detractors that look for every Al Davis news story to try to discredit the passionate leader of the most loved and hated sports team ever.  Yeah, Al Davis is old, makes old-school decisions, doesn't get along with most people really well and is probably 3 years past his optimum retirement age.  BUT, the guy does not deserve the constant ridicule he receives.

Another Davis move that caused a stir - drafting Sebastian Janikowski in first round.  Unheard of... you never draft a kicker #1.  Stupid?   Seabass regularly leads, or in top 2, the NFL in touchbacks and longest FGs made. His percentage is above average and his overall scoring is pretty good considering the team's lack of offense.  This is the kind of kicker other teams would trade a number one pick, why not just pick him number one?

Hiring and firing Lane Kiffin.  Yep, good move on both parts. Lane is a bright coaching star, with long-term upside - a good hire.  He was clearly too immature for prime time, something he proved the minute he got to Tennessee - a good fire.

Same with Jon Gruden, great hire, but most Raider fans were frustrated with Gruden's timid play calling and he decimated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers AFTER he won the Super Bowl with Tony Dungy's team.

Norv Turner... you can have him, I think he is a great O-coordinator, but terrible head coach and another good hire; good fire. 

Mike Shanahan - good hire, bad fire, big mistake, should have found a way to keep this guy.  Though he didn't do much without Elway, he is a quality football coach.

Al Davis is also known for taking washed up players and getting a little more out of them. .. Jim Plunkett and Todd Christiansen.  He has given more minorities top positions than any other coach...Art Shell, Tom Flores, Amy Trask.

I admit, he is too involved in the daily operation of the team, considering his age, style and the transiency that free agency has created he just can't be the wise ol' owl swooping over practices and pre game exercises.   BUT, that is what you get with a guy who's been a part of the team for nearly 50 yrs, a Hall of Famer, and the guy behind the money behind the team. 

AND, he has done most of this in the single worst sports market in the country. Oakland sucks. It is a terrible place, the leaders are sporting-event illiterates, the police spokesman gets more airtime discussing shootings than the coaching staff does, the local media has always coddled the Giants and Niners, while leaving the A's on ledge and hating the Raiders for their ‘screw you media' attitude, the A's want out bad and the Warriors can't win a pickup game at the YMCA.   I couldn't blame Al when he moved to LA; my family left the East Bay around the same time, it sucks.

At the time of this blog, the Raiders are 1-1 and headed to a probable 6-10, 7-9 season.  Too bad, because the die-hard fans deserve more, but we continue to be Raider fans (even if we have to hide our support) because we DO have Al Davis and his willingness to step out of the box to make HIS team better. 

The Raiders made the right call letting go of DeAngelo Hall on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, it is just a little too late.  Hall is one of those players that is good when things around him are good, but not a natural leader and was not displaying leadership in the field, nor I imagine in the locker room. 

This is the statement Al Davis needs to make with this team, whether through Tom Cable or directly, he needs to restore some pride to that team.  As a fan, I would much rather see rookies and upcomers go 3-13 than a bunch of over paid veterans.  Next up, Javon Walker; don't buy and green bananas Gallery; Morrison, you better get your head back; Huff, I'm still hopeful but that 1st round salary isn't helping you.  Oddly enough the 1st round pick that is performing best for the Raiders is the player that Davis got the most heat over, Seabass.

A note to Al Davis, I'm not one of your bandwagoners dressed up in paint, I'm a Raider fan since birth and lived and died with your shenanigans.  You won't have many more decisions to make as the Raiders owner, let these last few be a message for the future. "If you don't play hard, you don't play."

ps.  Take a look at Sarah Palin for safety.

If you are a college football fan, then you already know that, on Sat. 9/27, the Fresno State Bulldogs beat UCLA, the Georgia Bulldogs lost to Alabama and the Mississippi State Bulldogs lost to LSU.   The REAL BULLDOGS won.

For a long time, when you said 'Bulldogs' people immediately thought of the University of Georgia.  But not anymore; the Fresno State Bulldogs have taken over as the nation's BULLDOG team.  And not because they beat Rutgers, Toledo, UCLA and lost narrowly to Wisconsin. They are the nation's Bulldogs because they actually promote the mascot.  Georgia doesn't have a bulldog on their helmet, their uniforms or even their fifty yard line.  Apparently, they are more impressed with their big G then the pride of being a bulldog.  Same with the Misses (State), no bulldog logo, no mention of bulldog on their unis, just a big M.  How embarrassing.

Now, if you would like to see a real Bulldog, check out the Fresno State logo below.  Fresno State is passionate and proud about their mascot, in fact there is even rumors of some alumni having the logo tattooed on their shoulders.

Fresno State - America's real BULLDOGS.