Joe Enoch Makes History Again in the Bundesliga

It was nearly two years ago today (March 28th, 2009) that history was made in the German Bundesliga, when Joe Enoch became the first American soccer player to be honored in Europe for his career contribution to the game. In his honor, Osnabrück VFL, a Bundesliga 2 team, staged an Abschiedsspiel for Joe. It is a farewell game. Some call it a "Testimonial Match.” It is reserved for the very few honoring a player's contribution to his team.

On Monday March 21, 2011, history was again made when Enoch was hired on as the head coach for Osnabrück. He is the first American head coach ever hired in the Bundesliga, and may be the first American head coach in Europe (if you know of someone else, let us know where and when!).

Enoch is going to have his work cut out for him. He takes over the 2nd Division club sitting in the 16th position of the table with 25 points from a 7-6-16 record. That puts them into the relegation zone, though they would be in a playoff round with clubs from the 3 Liga.

Having just returned to the Bundesliga 2nd Division in 2010, club President Dr. Dirk Rasch is not keen on seeing his club fall back down, much less after just one season. Former coach, Karsten Baumann, was sacked after suffering a 1-3 loss at home to Alemannia Aachen. That loss combined with three previous losses in a row, was taken as a call to action.

Enoch has seven games left in the season to inspire the team to play their way up the table, and out of relegation danger. The good news is that the schedule is set for success, as they will play Bielefeld who are currently in the 18th spot with only 14 points, and Karlsruhe (15th/27pts), Ingolstadt (14th/27pts), Paderborn (13th/31pts), and Frankfurt (11th/34pts).

Not easy. Not impossible.

Enoch has led the Osnabrück U23 team to first place in the Oberliga Niedersachsen (5th Division of play) this year.

When asked why they did not go outside the club for a new manager, Sports Director Lothar Gans replied "We are in the decisive phase of the season and we need someone who knows the team, doesn't need a lot of time to learn, and can react quickly to our situation. Joe is the right man."

"I have a lot of respect for this position, and I know I carry a huge responsibility," said Enoch, who ran his first training session with the team on Monday. "But I'm willing to give everything for the task ahead of me, and I am firmly convinced that we'll win in the end."

Enoch played with Osnabrück from 1996/97 season through the 2008/09 season, and retired after the final match. During that time he established the club record for appearances with 376, and was a fan favorite playing in the defense.

In 1987, Enoch joined the San Francisco Seals youth team, then called San Francisco United Soccer Club (aka “SFUSC”), and led them a most memorable match against the Barcelona youth club in the Gothia Cup (Gothenberg, Sweden), and to wins over Nacional, the U18 Brazilian National Champions in 1989 in Brazil, the USA Cup Championship in 1990, the State, Regional and National Championship USYSA matches in 1990.

We wish Joe every success in this latest, and perhaps greatest, challenge. If his career is any indication, he has the ability to persevere and be successful. And perhaps, just perhaps, his success will help to open even more doors to Americans overseas.

Earthquakes Motivational Speaker Charlie Sheen

The Earthquakes get Charlie Sheen to talk with the team . . .

A Letter from Roger Goodell

I received the following earlier today (around 6:00pm Pacific).  Of course, it's always the other guys fault, right?  This is no different. 

Dear NFL Fan, When I wrote to you last on behalf of the NFL, we promised you that we would work tirelessly to find a collectively bargained solution to our differences with the players' union. Subsequent to that letter to you, we agreed that the fastest way to a fair agreement was for everyone to work together through a mediation process. For the last three weeks I have personally attended every session of mediation, which is a process our clubs sincerely believe in. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that earlier today the players' union walked away from mediation and collective bargaining and has initiated litigation against the clubs. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, our clubs offered a deal today that was, among other things, designed to have no adverse financial impact on veteran players in the early years, and would have met the players’ financial demands in the latter years of the agreement. The proposal we made included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee a reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years). It was a deal that offered compromise, and would have ensured the well-being of our players and guaranteed the long-term future for the fans of the great game we all love so much. It was a deal where everyone would prosper. We remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached, and call on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table. While we are disappointed with the union's actions, we remain steadfastly committed to reaching an agreement that serves the best interest of NFL players, clubs and fans, and thank you for your continued support of our League. First and foremost it is your passion for the game that drives us all, and we will not lose sight of this as we continue to work for a deal that works for everyone.   Yours, Roger Goodell

Overall the Raiders Changes Look Pretty Good

 I was pretty upset with the firing of head coach Tom Cable, and thought long and hard about renewing my four season tickets.  I've lost faith in Al Davis to really do the right thing.  Do I keep them all, dump two, or just drop them all together and buy single game seats when I really want to go?

Ah, hell.  I'm too much a Raider fan.

Renew 'em all.

I've watched the changes being made this off-season with more that just some interest.  For the most part, Hue Jackson appears to be in charge.

Player changes:

• Keeping Rock Cartwright - good
• Franchise tag on Kamerion Wimbley - sound good
• Resigned Stanford Routt - 3 years, $31 million . . . this is what I'm talking about Al.  I'd throw at him all day long.  Sheesh.  Maybe he'll really impress me this year.  He certainly doesn't lack confidence, and he did have a lot of balls to defend . . . whatever.  It's not my money - directly.  Dump him and do everything to keep Nnamdi.  Who would replace his leadership back there?  
• Adios Robert Gallery - "The only thing that was mutually agreed upon is his numbers were way out of line with ours," said Raiders senior executive John Herrera.  Gallery wanted $8 million per year.  Hmm . . . less than Routt.  Big thing here will be who they replace him with.  I wouldn't say he is at the top of league linemen, but I thought his game has improved the past few years.  An upgrade of the line is needed, especially with pass defense.
• Keeping Richard Seymour - Very good.  Worth the $30 million?  Probably.  He is a leader and a force to be reckoned with.
• Keeping John Henderson - Good.  That puts the D-line in good shape.
• Contracts offers to Zach Miller and Michael Bush - Very good.  They want to be able to match any offer made by another club.  Loosing either of these two guys would be a hit for the Raiders.

Coaching changes:
I'm not going to focus on who has left, other than John Marshall, but more on who has joined the Raiders.

• Staying: Hue Jackson - It really looks like he is in charge of the Raiders.  I know he had a very positive impact on our offensive play last year, and am very hopeful he will have the same level of commitment from his players that we saw them give Cable.  Good.
• Gone: John Marshall - I liked what he did with the defense this year.  There were games that we just looked incredible (San Diego, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle), but then there were games where I just couldn't understand what was going on with the defense (Colts, Jaguars, Miami, 49ers).  Will the Raiders take the progress and improve, or will we look like the past seven years?  Only the play will tell.
• Staying: John Fassel - At times special teams looked outstanding, and at times, horrible.  It is hard to understand why you can't get more consistency out of special teams play - other teams get it.  Is it the smarts of the players?  He has two years as the head guy on special teams.  This time better be the charm . . . Disappointed.
• Staying: Greg Biekert - I thought he might be gone, but he was specifically announced as staying, and since the improvement in LB play was visible, and he joined in 2010, I'm thinking this is good.
• Joined: Chuck Bresnahan - He did a good job for us under Jon Gruden, and I'm hopeful he will be a solid replacement for Marshall.  Good.
• Staying: Sanjay Lal - I saw some improvements in routes that were run by the young receiver core of the Raiders, but still not where it should be.  Disappointed.
• Staying: Brad Roll - As strengthening and conditioning coach, I wonder . . . it seems the Raiders have had a lot of hamstring problems last couple of years . . . I'd look around.
• Staying: Kevin Ross - There were a lot of young guys in the backfield this year, and for the most part they performed rather well.  Good.
• Joined: Al Saunders - He's got a pretty darn good resume, and has worked with Hue Jackson in the past - that's a definite positive for the team.  Very good.
• Staying: Kelly Skipper - Two young running backs who can start, and both performing really well this year.  The past two years he's been the running backs coach.  Very good.
• Staying: Mike Waffle - The defensive line has made great stride in both talent and play. Very good.
• Joined: Steve Wisniewski - Can he still play?  Just kidding.  Honestly, who knows about this.  They brought him in as an assistant so that's good.  Good players can't always coach, but boy, I'd love to see him succeed!  Very good.
• Joined: Rod Woodson - I LOVED this guy on the field.  I also have felt his commentary on TV was good - he certainly sees the game.  Like Wisniewski, I'd love to see him succeed.  He is an assistant.  Very good.
• Joined: Bob Wylie - I'm not really that impressed with his recent resume - sharing OL duties with the Broncos, CFL (three years & two teams) assistant with the Cardinals & Bucs.  A critical area needing improvement, and I don't feel he is the guy, but maybe he is all we could get . . .  Disappointed.

The draft this year will be interesting for the Raiders.  Let's all hope to see a class like 2010!

What do you think?  Let me know!

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Photo Credits:
All photos from the Raiders website

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Cable Gone Instead of Al!

I'm in shock!  Al has engineered 7 loosing seasons in a row, finally gets a guy who turns it around, and look what he does?  Al did it with Gruden as well, you may remember.  Who's the looser here?  I've got some pretty telling stats that the Raiders have performed poorly over a nearly 20 year period.  For example, the Raiders rank 24th out of 28 in wins among teams who have played every season from 1990 thru 2009 (144 wins for a 7.2 average wins per season).  In case you didn't notice - that's a long term loosing team.  Painful.

The point is that it is NOT the head coach that's the problem . . .


I thought Cable was growing into the job really well, and he obviously had most of the players and fans behind him.  WE all saw the quality he brought.  He was animated, excitable on the sideline, and certainly I thought he very much looked in charge during the game.  I was beginning to feel like he would be our next John Madden!  A REAL Raider coach.  I thought it appeared that he had found a way to coach the team, and work with Davis.

Apparently not.

Hugh Jackson was both a positive and a negative - responsible for giving the offensive game plans - some really great ones! BUT - why did he not run McFadden or Bush against Miami (9 times),  Indianapolis (14 times), key games where he didn't exploit weak running defenses?  Instead he put the ball and the game into Jason Campbell's hands.

Remember how Cable pulled Campbell early in the season, and then Jackson came out later and said HE was the guy that pulled Campbell . . . maybe Hugh was bucking for the job all along . . . maybe - dare I say it - he was undermining Cable?  I can see a couple of losses being setup by Jackson - maybe he even found a way to blame Cable based on something Cable said to him; "Hey Tom, I just did what you said to do!"  I can see Jackson telling Davis; "I want to be a head coach, and I would be willing to stay here if I'm made head coach.  Otherwise I'll definitely be gone because that's what I want to do."

I am VERY disappointed with this decision.

Yes, Jackson doubled the output of the offense.  But last year the Raiders had to rely on JaMarcus Russell!  Al's guy!  How hard was that even with a mediocre QB?  We got the answer - not very hard!

Did Al not see how the defense improved as well?  Again, the important losses against Miami and Indianapolis, (and Jacksonville for that matter) saw the defense having to stay out there, and they did not get the pressure on the quarterback throughout the game.  Maybe it was just man-on-man play and we weren't good enough, but I didn't see the kind of defensive attack against those guys like we did against KC.

Was that Cable's responsibility?

On most teams, probably so, but on the Raiders those guys really report to Al Davis.  He makes the decisions about the head and assistant coaches.  They know the head coach can't fire them.  So, they work together, but when push comes to shove, they don't HAVE to go with the head coach.

It's dysfunctional.  Where else does someone keep their job after such long term poor performance?

And to think I stood by Al's decisions through thick and thin for so many years . . .

I'll stop now.  I have to get over my disappointment with this decision.

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Photo Credits:
All photos from the Raiders website