Same ol' Raiders?

What's that old saying?  As much as things change they remain the same.  Are we doomed to supporting, living, breathing, and dieing with a Raiders organization that simply . . . can't change?  We have a new owner, new general manager, new coach, new staff, nearly an entire new starting line up and yet . . . our first game of the pre-season looked like so many others we have seen in the past.

De ja vu.

All over again.

I still have my season tickets.  Four seats in fact.  So don't bother giving me any crap about what kind of Raider fan I am, blah blah blah.  If that's your reaction, get the heck out of here.  I've put my money where my mouth is since 1979, and you can shove it.

I'm a Raider fan.

But I'm not stupid.

I'm eternally hopeful.

This season is no different.  Like every other fan and student of the game, I get that the team needs to jell.  My problem is that I am having a hard time seeing how the team will come together under a coach like Dennis Allen.  I hope to see him become a coach that players love to play for.  The kind of guy they relate to, and he relates to them.  Motivates them.  A guy they just cant help but like.  A guy they give their ALL for!

• John Madden
• Jon Grudden
• Tom Cable

Tom Cable?  You might ask.  Hey!  That guy had the players with him.  Al screwed that up.  Tom wasn't as good without Jackson, but Jackson?  He's with Cincinnati.  A "Thank you!" for taking Carlson Palmer off their hands for an exorbitant fee.  Cable?  Oh yea.  He is with Super Bowl winner Seattle.

Seattle?

Uh.  Yea.

Sheesh.

Times have changed.

Will the Raiders?

Oh man.  I sure hope so.  I'm traveling to the home games from Southern California this year.

I can't help myself.  I love the Raiders.

Come on Raiders!  Just win baby!!

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