Football

On One Hand or Another

mikemjensen Football, Sports, Useless Observations Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

The news came out today that my football team, the Oakland Raiders, have received permission to move from the home cradle of Oakland, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. I have mixed feelings.

One one hand, Oakland is the Raiders and the Raiders are from Oakland. It just fits.

On the other hand, I moved. It’s not like I live in Oakland, attend Oakland games, or even contribute to Oakland economics. They have moved before too. I stayed a fan through it all.

On one hand, it’s a crappy thing to do to a loyal fan base.raiders

On the other hand, it’s Raider Nation. Not every team can claim such status. We’re not contained to a local area.

On one hand, the name “Oakland Raiders” has a ring to it. Maybe the Oakland Raiders of Las Vegas?

On the other hand, so does just plain “The Raiders.”

On one hand, it won’t make any difference to the players and coaches and play of the game. The actually team will still have to win games and the “where” you play has nothing to do with that.

On the other hand, it also doesn’t matter to me either. I still have to get up each morning and go to work. And even if they should win it all again one year, I will still need to go to work the next morning.

So whatever. Oakland, I feel for you; I feel betrayed as well. But Las Vegas is actually closer and easier to get to for me and with any luck, I might actually be able to go to a game one day.

Or not.

 

Post 3-086

Making it Known

mikemjensen Fishing, Football, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Internet, Life's Truths, Motorcycles, Sports, Useless Observations Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

It’s political times. 5508Everybody has an opinion and not always based on information, reason, or understanding. Here are some of my political beliefs:

For: American League, American Conference, and Western Conference.

Against: Fan voted All Stars.

For: Motorcycles. They don’t have to be Harleys either.

Against: Gold Wings. Just kidding, I’m for Gold Wings too.

For: Cheap gas and fast cars. Real ones. Classics.

Against: Smart Cars. Not kidding.

For: Buy low and sell high. I don’t do this much in practice, but I’m for it.

Against: Places that don’t have a Value Menu.

For: Lake Powell

Against: Anyone against Lake Powell

For: Fishing. Fly, bait, or lure. If there’s fish to catch, I’m in.

Against: People catching bigger or more fish than me.

For: Free speech.

Against: Long lists of “for and against”.

 

(Please note, I don’t always agree with everything that I say.)

 

Post 3-037

A Lighting Bolt by Any Other Name

mikemjensen Football Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I’ve had my differences with the Chargers through the years.

They seem to beat us when we need to win and we seem to beat them when we have no right reason to do so. It’s a rivalry. It’s a hate thing.

But it’s also a not so hate thing.bolt

The San Diego Chargers have been a thorn in the side of Raiders for my entire life. When we brawl, it’s like fighting a sibling. You want to win, but always with the hope to fight again.

The San Diego Chargers, however, are no more. They have moved on.

I’m sure on a professional level, the LA Chargers will be the same as they were further south.

Right now, the San Diego fans won’t be able to see it and it’s them for whom I feel sorry.

When you’re a fan of a team, you don’t care about salaries, stadiums, box seats, ticket sales, or the like. You watch your colors against their colors and you watch the scoreboard and hope your total totals more than theirs.

I feel for my San Diego brothers. They took your team, they’re changing you logo, and they just expect you to follow.

I’ve been through it. My team has moved. Twice. And look to move again.

I can tell you though. When the game starts, it won’t matter. You’ll find it within yourself to root for your team again.

Besides who else can you call your team? The Broncos??

 

Post 3-012

Showtime

mikemjensen Football, Useless Observations Tags: , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

I’m taking some time to watch a little football while working on a few projects.

The speed of the game, the complexity of the strategy, and the refined talent of the players, have all transformed this game to a wonder of the human ability. It’s silly to try to compare the teams of the seventies, eighties, or any year other than the current year to the current year’s version of the game. It all speeds up, changes, and players get physically better each year.showboat

What’s also silly is the posturing.

After near any play, the player who gained the advantage acts out some sort of victory dance of dominance. A blocked pass, a sack, a first down; it doesn’t matter. A show will be on display.

There have always been some sort of in-your-face display, but in the past they seemed more reserved or more reserved for actual important plays.

It might not be fair, like the game, to compare yesteryear to today. Players today are running a personal business and building a brand. TV and ESPN Sports Center time is the thing that can push a career and the earnings that go with it. Perhaps it’s necessary to make sure it’s clear who made that last play and get the 15 seconds of dedicated airplay.

As a consumer, however, I could do with a little bit less. But then again, it wouldn’t be the first time I went Old School.

 

Day 314

Rivalry

mikemjensen Football, Life's Truths, Vanity Tags: , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

One of the great things about sports is the release of emotions.

I dare to say for some, even many, the experience of a sporting event is as much as a lesson in humanities as is a stage performance or display of artwork.

Within the confines of the rules and conditions of a structured game, the human spirit, intellect, and abilities are put to the test against the outside elements, others, and/or oneself.

Challenges are faced and overcome or they remain insurmountable. Challengers are either conquered or surrendered to. Battles are won or lost. The collective battles are added up for a final tally and a winner declared.

And then repeated.

The importance of these arenas rests in the values of each individual. Those sporting events where the results induce a greater emotional outcome, easily become or favorites. These are he challenges that present the most likelihood of failing, and thus the greater joy in the victory.

In sports, when we face our rival, the thought of failure is unacceptable. It burns our soul. To lose, is to admit your failure in the stocks of declaring your purpose and failing. You invested and lost. The wound will never heal, even with future victories. Your wound is mocked and derided and preserved for any to recall and recount. A wound enjoyed by anyone desiring, without any chance to expunge.

This is a rivalry.raiders win

Tonight, I’ll go to bed, happy that for this night, a rival has been vanquished. An enemy that has tortured my soul for the eight previous battles will feel the same pain.

What is the humanity lesson? It’s better to win. Although the wounds of the past remain painful when thought upon, they need not be thought upon while in the sight of fresh wounds of my enemy.

I never said that humanity lessons are always nice.

 

Day 293

Speed Kills

mikemjensen Football, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Vanity, Writing Tags: , , , Leave a comment
Speed Kills

#21 Cliff Branch

Hey Kids,

Speed Kills.

So stated a banner that I remember hanging in the Oakland Coliseum as I watch football games with my dad back in the 70’s and early 80’s. I knew what it meant. Everyone knew what it meant. Number 21, Cliff Branch, was on the field and if you blinked, he’d be catching the ball behind you.

Cliff Branch was quieter than many of the other players on the team. But at any time, he could be heard. With lighting speed, he could go from in front of the defense to the back of the end zone. Let your guard down for a second and he’d be gone, with the ball, scoring 6 on you. He was always that deep threat; on any down, at any point of the game, and at any yard marker.

Speed Kills. That slogan and banner will forever be stuck in my mind. Possibly the plague of every Raider fan.

Today I listened to a presentation given to studying entrepreneurs. At the end of the talk, the professor of the class asked the people in the room to repeat the one biggest thing they took from their guest speaker, Gary Vaynerchuk (Jets fan). Before anyone said a word, the words “Speed Kills” echoed in my head.

One of “Gary V’s” points during his chat with these student included that moving forward, moving quickly, is what gives him the advantage. Businesses become slow as they grow, they become careful, cautious, and methodical. Exploit it and be the sleek, speedy predator that you can be (my words). That concept resonated with me. I alone control my pace. I’m in charge of my rate of work. It can be my advantage, should I decide to take advantage of it.

I understand that speed is not everything by itself; you do have to catch the ball. Likewise skill and quality also count. But anyone can attain those attributes if they’re slow and careful enough.

But Speed Kills.

It is time to pick it up.

 

 

Day 16