On the Bright Side Of the Road

It’s finally here! I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Is it my anniversary? No. Is it my birthday? No. Is it the anniversary of my first divorce? Close, but no. Tomorrow is the N.F.L. draft. This is like Christmas in April every year for me, and other deranged draft-niks.

Believe it or not I have been preparing for tomorrow since late December. After the NFL Super Bowl ended, I have been concentrating even more on the draft.

Why do I do this? I don't know. But my wife learned very early in our relationship not to bother me on draft weekend. She has conveniently scheduled herself to work this week end. Good girl!

I can't help it. You see there has been NO football since the Super bowl, and I need a fix on football so bad it would make Amy Winehouse blush.

I have bought three or four of the top draft publications, and I have been watching “Path to the Draft” on the NFL Network every night (sometimes twice!) to prepare for the draft. This last week I have doubled my draft watching, as I prepare for this draft weekend..

At this point you might be asking yourself “Is he a football personnel guy?” No. “Is he a team General Manager?” No.

I simply need to get myself ready to help my team (The Oakland Raiders) put together a good draft. It’s not like they are going to call me and consult me on which player they should take; but I wish they would, because I would have the answer for them. Instead I am just going to sit in front of my TV for three days, drink beer, and wear my Raider’s hat proudly as I watch my team pick the guys who are going to take us to the Super Bowl this year. (Right!) This year I’m walking the path to the draft, and the Raider’s are on the bright side of that road.

I do know that I am a geek, and that most of you folks think I am a few bricks short of a full load. You are right. I just want to tell you that I am not alone. NFL Draft day is the highest rated day of the year for ESPN, and every year it gets bigger.

If it keeps getting bigger each year, it won’t be long before we will have NFL games fifty two weeks of the year.

My wife will NOT be happy.

The Lifetime Movie Network

Well, its finally here! Football season is upon us. It has been a very long lonely time since the NFL draft. You see, I am addicted to football. I don't even play fantasy football, (that would make me a geek) but I am NFL ready 24-7.

I know there are many people out there sighing to themselves (all women). "His poor wife, how can he neglect her so!?" F#&k them I say!  Truth be told, she has her own monkey on her back; she is addicted to the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN).

I know there are many people out there (all men) saying "My God! No one should have to put up with that kind of torture!" It's true. Give me water-boarding! Put bamboo shoots up my fingernails! Anything but more LMN!

I have personally seen every movie on that channel at least three times (I have to put up with LMN to get any nookie). Imagine how many times she has seen them? Yet she watches religiously every day. Believe it or not.

I'm thinking of shooting an e-mail to the FCC to check on the possible use of subliminal programming on LMN. She watches that channel as if she were in a trance.

The worst part of this whole story, is that our bedroom TV is her TV (mine is on the back patio) so I have to listen to this crap all night long!

I don't want to even consider the damage being done, to my subconscious.

Football anyone?

Leave Al Davis Alone

I wrote this a couple of years ago in defense of my football idol, Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders.  Al passed away 10/8/11. I republish this in his honor.  Rip Al.


One thing that bothers me is how much flak Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders, has been taking the last few years. While its true that the Raiders have been anything but committed to excellence the last seven or eight years, it certainly is not all of Al's fault. It is safe to say that Al HAS forgot more football than most of us will ever know. Even so he still knows more than any of us ever will about the game of football. This is the man that forced the NFL to merge with the AFL to make the league the way we all know it today. His thanks for these efforts have been to be picked on by referees, and commissioners, ever since Pete Rozelle failed to forgive, or make up with him.

Many people believe that Al no longer recognizes football talent, and that he should give the reins over to a General Manager. Al has always been a height/weight/speed guy, and sometimes it has cost the Raiders. The Hall of Fame is filled with people who were not the fastest, or the tallest, but had the largest heart, and loved to play the game of football. The size of a player's heart is one stat that Al has never looked at. This has led to some major disappointments like JaMarcus Russell, and Darren McFadden (so far). However, that being said, the Raiders are loaded with talented players, that have all been found by Al such as Chaz Shillens, Thomas Howard, Nnamdi Asomough, and many others. If the Raiders can find a winner at the QB position, the world will see just how talented the Raiders are because of Al.

Aye, there's the rub.

Bad Intentions

I love American football. I also love Australian rules football, but that's another subject. Today I want to tell you why I love football (American style).

I played when I was younger,and there is no adrenaline rush quite like football. Running around, causing mayhem on defense, giving out punishing blows when on offense, and otherwise throwing your body around for the sake of the team.

My dad taught me young,"play with bad intentions, football is no place for nice guys". And that is what's so cool about football, there are two teams, each with eleven guys, who are trying to knock the snot out of each other.

Sure there are rules that prohibit some actions, but believe me, you can really do some punishing within the rules. Since everyone is trying to lambaste someone else, sooner or later you will end up the lambastee. Not as much fun as being the lambaster. But that's football and that's why its so great; each guy knows he will either be the punisher, or get punished, each snap of the ball.

This is not for sissies, or soccer players. It takes wackos to play football. No truly sane individuals will do this to themselves. But, if you are just wacky enough, there is nothing like it.

Now a days, I am an old fart who coaches pro and college games from an easy chair on the porch. Well, I act like I'm coaching; yelling out instructions to my team on every snap. I am so intense that I have to keep a six pack in my frig. just so I don't lose my voice. I have to learn to lighten up.

This weekend, both the Miami Hurricanes, and the Oakland Raiders lost.

Right now I have some very bad intentions for my TV.

Getting Antsy

I’m starting to feel better. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and I do think I am getting better. Sad to say I have been in a deep depression the last few months. It has been a long time since the NFL draft last April, and I have found it hard to go on. But I endured, bucked up, and muddled through the dark days because I knew at the end of July; NFL training camps will be opening for the fall season.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!

Heavens knows I am. I’ve got a new spring in my step, and grin on my face. “Its NFL time” I sing to myself in the car, in the john, and at work.

Excuse me for my giddiness, but it has been a LONG dull three months since the draft. Yeah, sure you have the NBA, the NHL, and baseball to try and tie you over until football, but they are not (ok, sometimes hockey is ...You go Blackhawks!) as hard hitting and exciting as football.

Now that the camps are opening up every one will be talking or writing about the NFL. After not hearing a peep the last month or so, my mouth is watering for some juicy football news.

Sorry this is so short, but I have to put Sports Center on now.

On The Bright Side Of the Road

It’s finally here! I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Is it my anniversary? No. Is it my birthday? No. Is it the anniversary of my first divorce? Close, but no. Tomorrow is the N.F.L. draft. This is like Christmas in April every year for me, and other deranged draftniks.

Believe it or not I have been preparing for tomorrow since late December. After the NFL Super Bowl ended, I have been concentrating even more on the draft.

Why do I do this? I don’t know. But my wife learned very early in our relationship not to bother me on draft weekend. She has conveniently scheduled herself to work this week end. Good girl!

I can’t help it. You see there has been NO football since the Super bowl, and I need a fix on football so bad it would make Amy Winehouse blush.

I have bought three or four of the top draft publications, and I have been watching “Path to the Draft” on the NFL Network every night (sometimes twice!) to prepare for the draft. This last week I have doubled my draft watching, as I prepare for this weekend.

At this point you might be asking yourself “Is he a football personnel guy?” No. “Is he a team General Manager?” No. I simply need to get myself ready to help my team (The Oakland Raiders) put together a good draft. It’s not like they are going to call me and consult me on which player they should take; but I wish they would, because I would have the answer for them. Instead I am just going to sit in front of my TV for two days, drink beer, and wear my Raider’s hat proudly as I watch my team pick the guys who are going to take us to the Super Bowl this year. (Right!) This year I’m walking the path to the draft, and the Raider’s are on the bright side of that road.

I do know that I am a geek, and that most of you folks think I am a few bricks short of a full load. You are right. I just want to tell you that I am not alone. NFL Draft day is the highest rated day of the year for ESPN, and every year it gets bigger. If it keeps getting bigger each year, it won’t be long before we will have NFL games fifty two weeks of the year.

My wife will NOT be happy.