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Thoughts from the Dark Side
Oakland Raiders News: You may be better off reading a blog
It’s a new age in media. With the web, high speed access, and mobile technology, you can stay connected to millions at all times. Yet in this new age of technology, the OLD standbys of media news have been slow to adapt. Along with their inability to usher in this new age, is the constant bombardment on you, the reader/customer, with stories about how blogging is done by a bunch of geeks and hacks who happily come on line and spread rumors and innuendo.
Some of the so-called journalists are so violently opposed to bloggers that they make fools of themselves like this guy. This isn’t an article detailing the wonders of blogging. In fact, there are many out there that fit the stereotype for bloggers by spewing nothing of substance and are not worthy of respect.
Here at TFDS, we are considered a blog by many, even by the sites who support us. It’s true that we are awaiting our press credentials so that we will have the same access that Ray Ratto or Nancy Gay so often take for granted and misuse, but rest assured that a credential won’t change the detail and painstaking research that we do here.
While we strive for facts and pure analysis from ourselves and our contributing writers for our readers, the sad fact remains that when you search ‘Oakland Raiders‘ in Google you’re likely to see us in the same place you may have found us in the first place, ‘Blogs.’ We’re thankful to RaiderNews, CNNSI, and others for linking to our site and enabling us to have the type of site traffic that we have, even if these links are still in the ‘Blog’ section of these sources for now.
Even though we strive to be an independent news source and give very detailed analysis, we still make mistakes. The difference between us and sites like CNNSI, are our mistakes are honest ones. How else could you explain the likes of Dr. Z, Don Banks, Nancy Gay, Lowell Cohn, etc… for creating and then jumping all over the JaMarcus Russell weight story?
Today, you can’t run past a publication reporting about the Raiders without reporting how fit Russell is looking. The story, originally fabricated on CNNSI and then repeated across the net, TV, and radio, was nothing more than an out and out fabrication…a lie if you will. Nobody had seen Russell, nor had they any idea of his weight at the time, yet they, the journalists, ALL reported that he was 300 pounds or more as if it were a well known fact. Funny enough, after the story broke, it was sites like TFDS that called it for what it was…a lie.
Some news people wrote articles for today describing Russell’s non-weight issue and then chose to fall back on the ‘Lane Kiffin job watch.’ How biased can you be? The fact that we here at TFDS are calling this out is what makes us a ‘blog’ and not a news source.
We’re not the only ones out there either, with some blog sites that are manned by journalists that care enough about their jobs to be REAL journalists. Here at TFDS, we have two favorite journalist/bloggers. Although we want you to come back here for your Oakland Raiders news and analysis, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Jerry McDonald (Contra Costa Times) and Jason Jones (Sacramento Bee) are two reporters that REPORT real facts and call into question questionable ‘news.’ This is what makes them two of the very best sources of Raiders news and analysis and they come highly recommended by TFDS.
While Raider Nation has plenty of reason to complain about the coverage given to their team, sources like TFDS can bring to light these slights on a daily basis. Commenting on these perceived slights is an editorial coverage of the Raiders, but since we are not part of the old media, it’s further proof of us being a blog.
Yesterday, I posted a mini clip of the video on NFL Network of reporters asking Russell questions about his weight. As the interview went on and it segued to Kiffin in front of reporters, they began showing highlights of ALL four of Russell’s thrown interceptions and one of the two touchdowns that he threw last year. Watch interviews of other players on other teams to see how many bad plays of the player being interviewed are shown so you can decide if our call for that video being slighted is justified.
You’ve read all the rumors regarding Davis and Kiffin this offseason, and even though there was some truth to them, we all know that there was much more that had no basis at all. These rumors were reported by news agencies, and not blogs. At ESPN, CNNSI, CBS Sportsline, and Fox Sports they all blatantly report the rumors of all of the teams in any sport. We here at TFDS have no problem when they list them as such, we only have a problem with the guys stating the rumors as fact and then making disdainful remarks, all according to them. THAT’S NOT THIER JOB! It’s ours, and we don’t even do that…unless it’s about the Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, or 49ers…but as a blog, it is OUR job.
We at TFDS would like to thank you for again making us the #1 site on MVN.com for the month of April. We are humbled and thankful for your support.
This entry was posted
on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 7:26 pm and is filed under Anti Raider Articles.
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38 Responses to “Oakland Raiders News: You may be better off reading a blog”
May 16th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
All I can add is, A-MEN!
That is our mission statement!
May 16th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I used to try and find news and nuggetts all the time and hated having to sort through it myself because it would piss me off. Thank you for helping filter out all the crap that the news spews out.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Nice job! Now go show this article to your co-worker over at the Chefs blog or writeup or whatever that is also stating thoughtless things like this..
“And until Russell does something on the field besides be “not slim”, then he’s behind Cutler.”
May 17th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Good work. There were those of us (Raider Fans) that called BS on all of this throughout the time it was being “reported” as well. Pretty much every single writer you mentioned are pure Raider haters that don’t have the integrity to remove their opinion from the facts. That amateurish approach to reporting is exactly what keeps pushing blogs to the forefront of sporting news. These mediots have created and perpetuated their own problem by not reporting responsibly. It will be a wonderful day if/when they are removed from the equation all together in favor of factual reporting without bias. If that can only come in the form of a blog, then so be it. Thanks for pointing out what we “the customer” have been so vehemently screaming for so long in a well thought out and lucid blog.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Huh. I’ve been getting all my Raider news from Mark Schlereth. He works at ESPN, right? That means he’s an unbiased, responsible football voice, right? Man, I hate Mark Schlereth.
I’m in!
May 17th, 2008 at 7:51 am
It’s no surprise that those who are opposed to the free exchange of ideas are the ones spewing the most propaganda.
In a free society, it is up to the individual to sort through it all and decide what has merit and what is crap.
TFDS strikes a nice balance between information and opinion.
Hope those press credentials arrive soon.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Thank you all for your support. We don’t, and won’t, take it for granted.
Mahlhavoc - The first thing I did after writing this was send it to all of MVN, so he got it, but I can’t be sure he bothered to read it.
Thanks again for reading!
May 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Right now, this blog is the best Raider Blog I can find. Others exist but I can’t find one that is as active in inviting to give me my much needed “Raiders fix.” Thanks for the effort and well written articles!
May 17th, 2008 at 8:49 am
One of the best articles you have written to date. The real value in any blog or newspaper column is the freedom of speech. Most of the blogs run by news outlets have moderators that run their blogs not for the joy of the free exchange of sport ideas but for their own agenda. This is true with Jerry McDonald’s blog. He has repeatedly banned sports fans who disagree with him from his blog. So why would you want the press credentials? Then you will have to conform to the same old Raider hater mentality! What you need is access to the Raiders so lets move to change their requirements not your credentials.
May 17th, 2008 at 9:02 am
There are so many levels of blogging from excellent to crappy to everything in between. The problem is that the poorly written, spewing blogs are what is associated with blogging and gives all bloggers a bad name. We’ve moved beyond that.
As a fellow MVN blogger with press credentials for the Anaheim Ducks, it is an opportunity to help traditional media change their viewpoints about bloggers. It won’t change overnight, but persistent, consistent quality writing will eventually rise to the top and be recognized.
Keep up the good work Rob!
May 17th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Mad Road Dog,
The press credentials will allow Rob and Pat to hang out at Raiderette rehearsals.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Exactly Twocents…and we all know how much Patrick would find that difficult.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
This story is right on. I do not care where my info about the Raiders (blog, sports page article, etc. comes from. I just want it correct.. So many of these self-vaunted sports reporters in mainstream media have proven themselves more than just useless. Some of these humps are filling up their plate in a buffet line and hoping to catch a tidbit fall of the lips of another hump. The juicier the story the more likely it is for us to hear it. The more scandalous or negative a bit about the Raiders, the more likely the Raider Haters will put in their columns.
I do not just need pro-Raiders stories, I want factual stories about the Raiders. Facts are an undefined concept to too many “sportwriters.”
May 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Unfortunately for the Raiders, and you who would write about them, you are reduced to doing what most others do regarding the team, and events surrounding the team..you speculate.
Al has this “I’m above mingling with you peons, therefore you are worthy of a comment from me” that lets the assumptions fly.
Many if not most Raider fans want to know exactly what’s going on with their team, it’s coaching staff, it’s future..yet you too are not worthy of an explanation as to what went on with Ryan, with Lofton, with Kiffin etc, etc, etc.
It’s all smirks, innuendos, backhanded insinuations, leading to the above mentioned assumptions..you know…the “ass” part of assuming, both for those professing to be “in the know” or those who “figured it out”.
For everyone one of you who mutter “That’s Al’s prerogative” or “Al does everything his way” there are 500 of you Raider fans who are sick and tired of being the scapegoat and butt of jokes, while waiting and wondering who’s going, and who’s staying, who’s in charge of what, who’s in on decisions or not, and wishing once and for all the pundits that run all their different angles and “assumptions” would cease and desist..
Like it or not, season ticket holders are a kind of stock holder, who actually are entitled to the truth. As in any public company, when stock holders feel they are being deceived, or feel they aren’t “in the know” they reserve the right to sell their stock.
Raider fans have been selling their stock for a long, long time.
Raiders and Yahoo are similar in many ways.
Both had success in the beginning, but both believed they way they were doing things were fine and dandy, and resisted change, even though everything around them was evolving. Both CEO’s stubbornly refused to listen to advice that change was necessary to keep up with the competition.
Now both organizations “stock holders” have many grumbling for a change at the top.
My Microsoft stock is hoping Yang is ousted, and Yahoo is acquired. Fortunately for Yahoo stock holders, the above is a distinct possibility.
My Niner loyalties is hoping Al stays right where he is. Unforturnately for Raider “stock holders” few that you be, the above is not just a distinct possibility, but a stark reality.
In the 70’s the Raiders were considered a “buy” commodity.
In the 80’s and early 90’s a “hold”.
Last 10 years plus…”sell”
BTW Bobbo (aka Eggo)..funny take of yours: “we only have a problem with the guys stating the rumors as fact and then making disdainful remarks, all according to them. THAT’S NOT THIER JOB! It’s ours, and we don’t even do that…unless it’s about the Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, or 49ers…but as a blog, it is OUR job.”
YOU can do it, lol…but when others try to figure out what the hell is going on with the Raiders, especially when Davis refuses to clear things up, it’s NOT THEIR JOB???
That’s true…actually it’s mine.
Still funny you take offense
May 17th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Mike49er - good to see you. It’s unfortunate that you would take an excerpt, one meant to be funny, and change the meaning of the story to suit a derogatory remark that you HAD to make.
The point of the story is this. If you ARE a NEWS publication, you are supposed to be reporting facts or analysis of what can be proven. My example of the JaMarcus Russell weight story is evidence of this. We here at TFDS would never just wake up one day and CREATIVELY make up some story and try to sell it as fact.
When we have an opinion, it’s stated as such, but normally backed up with sources and/or links. As I said before, if a sports writer wants to give opinion, then they have every right to, but if they wake up one day and decide to write something like, “It’s a well known fact in NFL circles that Alex Smith’s arm is broken and he won’t be playing this year…,” without any basis we here would be just as upset about that.
Lastly, if SpyGate hasn’t taught you anything, it should’ve at least shown you that all of these years of secrecy weren’t necessarily paranoid delusions of Mr. Davis. TFDS doesn’t expect anyone in the Raiders organization to tell us what happened with Kiffin, or Lofton, etc… I highly doubt that if you had a dispute with your boss, you’d want him/her to share the story with everyone in the company. In fact, I think that most would not want to know about it at all, because the leak itself is worse than the actual conflict. Of course everyone is going to be curious after it’s out and speculation would run rampant, but that doesn’t give a REPORTER the right to make statements that are untrue from UNKNOWN SOURCES. There’s a big difference between saying, “I think…,” and ,”I KNOW…”
May 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
9erMike Wow! Need any Vaseline with that pounding? Oh! Of course not your from the silly side of the Bay.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Rob,
Another excellent article. You’re right the old media ways are changing and the old guard is reluctant to make the switch. It is inevitable. Huge fan of the site keep up the good work.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Mike49er,
I always enjoy your posts. Let me respond.
Sure, we speculate and opine for what it’s worth. What else can a football fan do in the off season.
Yes, Al Davis does not give a damn about the fans and that’s okay with me. The Raiders are not a public corporation and don’t have to disclose squat.
Al Davis is not some “suit” trying to sell me some B.S.
He’s not Robert Kraft, sucking up to the Commissioner for some future favors.
We can complain about Al’s decisions and paranoia, but we know he doesn’t care about money or image, only about winning, only about the Raiders.
And further more, I know we’re on the way up because Al dresses like Elvis and Russel sounds just like him.
May 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
All that being said, I would rather have an owner that only cares about winning and doesn’t care for the media than an owner that mugs for the cameras his entire career and then gets kicked out of the league for bribery.
Eddie D. = FELON
May 17th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Bobbo…quit being so sensitive.
In actuality, I was quite civil.
Maybe that’s what threw ya….anyway, reporting the news has always been the same.
Good lord..how many times do we hear ‘My sources tell me” or “Someone close to the team” which prefaces a story, sometimes on the mark, sometimes misses by a mile.
And PLEASE do not even try and run that “Here at TFDS we would never”….ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Almost everything posted on most boards are opinions, or repeats from reports, or assumptions.
Unless the author talked personally to each person mentioned, how can it not be opinion.
Are you new at this reading the sports page thing?
You’re actually surprised that ANY newspaper runs a story, proven or not? How long you been in this country?
You never heard of Glenn Dickey or Ira Miller or Skip Bayless? All are not only known for stirring the pot, or running rediculous stories, but are encouraged to do so.
Look at the feedback section on any newspaper..the ones the editor posts the most are PO’ed readers who can’t believe they post what they do, all the while promising to never read again..Yes, it’s ALL BY DESIGN.
Hell, if John Clayton gets even one out of five reports close, it’s a good month for him.
You’re confusing sports with reality.
Stating someone gained weight isn’t against the law.
Saying someone gained weight, then had lipo, while dating her doctor on the side without her husband knowing it….is…well, actually that’s not even against the law, but it is a sue-able offense.
Saying Russell looks like a hippo isn’t.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Twocents: Sure, we speculate and opine for what it’s worth. What else can a football fan do in the off season.
Yes, Al Davis does not give a damn about the fans and that’s okay with me. The Raiders are not a public corporation and don’t have to disclose squat.
Al Davis is not some “suit” trying to sell me some B.S.
He’s not Robert Kraft, sucking up to the Commissioner for some future favors.
We can complain about Al’s decisions and paranoia, but we know he doesn’t care about money or image, only about winning, only about the Raiders.
And further more, I know we’re on the way up because Al dresses like Elvis and Russel sounds just like him.
==================================
Sure, Al’s not required to inform anyone of anything.
Only problem with that is he’s relying on 63,500 people to basically dish out money 10 times a year, while being held in basic limbo.
It’s entertainment value, and obviously Al missed that day in class when this was discussed.
It’s the whole package that fans buy. In lieu of said package, they’ll settle for eccentric baffoon/Super Bowl ring.
Sans ring? The baffoon act wears thin.
And because we’re on a thread who’s point is “facts are fun” a cold harsh fact is a hell of a lot of fans are sick and tired of being treated like they truly don’t mean a thing to the owner.
Al wasn’t always like that..he used to love the spotlight..about dangling some info that may or may not be true, then showing up to clarify.
Now he’s a recluse..almost a hermit…surrounded by yes men, and lawyers.
Al’s biggest problem is he blames everyone on the planet for his woes and lack of sellouts. Sued the county of Alameda because they “promised” him sellouts, even though he was putting a bad product on the field, and continued with silly coach hires, or suspect player signings, wondering why fans were bailing.
You’re right, he doesn’t actually OWE the fans anything. Except he forgot that the fans also don’t owe him anything as well.
Al’s the one trying to sell a product, and he’s the absolute worst, at this stage of his life, in doing so.
Hey…he does look good in those Elvis ’60’s jumpsuits though, lol…
May 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Mike49er,
Okay, Raider fans are saddled with Al Davis and 49er fans are stuck with ” limp-dick.” (I can’t remember his name.)
Only time will tell who’s better off.
But you have to admit that Al Davis is better entertainment per dollar invested. ( Called the BEPDI by brokers.)
I think you would agree that we follow football because of the players, not the owners. At great risk, I will admit to rooting for the Niners because of Montana, Rice et al.
The Nation, at the present moment, is infatuated with McFadden and I think he will be great, but in the long run it’s going to be Russell that determines how far the Raiders can go.
There are numerous stories of aged people hitting the lottery late in life. Well, Al may have one last chance at glory.
I know you will be secretly rooting for us as long as we’re not playing the Niners.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Mike49er - Thank you for furthering my point. I guess you only have my word when I say, “Here at TFDS…” I hope that our readers will trust that when we say it’s fact, it’s fact and when we say it’s opinion, we’ll relay that it’s opinion. We will do what we can to earn that trust.
It’s Ok to raise your standards a little Mike. There’s nothing wrong with expecting your news to be at least 90% accurate with FACTS while being 100% forthcoming and honest about opinion.
Thanks for reading
May 18th, 2008 at 12:54 am
I’ve been a Raider fan since 1983, and this was easily the worst offseason of mis-reporting I’ve ever witnessed. Just as writers like Kawakami & Gay ‘get off’ on reporting negative slander about Davis, Kiffin, & Russell, I’ve made it a point to basically disregard their “news” unless a credible source has been named. I completely agree with everything written in this post!! I’m so glad someone has finally stepped up and called these mediots out. ALWAYS consider the source!!!
GO JAMARCUS!!
May 18th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Bobbo/Eggo=POINT IS when something that is considered MAJOR is being discussed, how many organizations BESIDES THE RAIDERS never step up TO ADDRESS WHAT’S BEING SAID???
No, not talking general bantor/claims/trades/cuts/ etc. We’re talking about your head coach, and that which surrounds him.
Again..is there ANY ORGANIZATION IN SPORTS that just lets rumors fly, besides the Raiders, when it’s of this magnitude? It’s the head coach. It’s about him being asked to resign. It’s about him wanting to fire an asst. and getting overruled. It’s about other coaches, such as Lofton coming on…etc…etc…etc.
The fact that Kiffin is a puppet adds to it.
Yeah..he’s a puppet..a spineless worm on a long list of worms. He got screwed regarding Ryan, and didn’t have the huevos to state it. He had “NO COMMENT”. As far as Lofton? First ‘NO COMMENT” then, as instructed “Oh, knew about it all along. Had a chat with him”.
Reporter: So YOU hired him? I mean, you’re the HC, so YOU hired Lofton??
Kiffin: “NO COMMENT”
Reporter: “What happened with Ryan?”
Kiffin: “NO COMMENT”
Reporter: You going to be HC next year? You think Al’s going to just out right fire you?
Kiffin: “NO COMMENT”
Al Davis: “Huh? What? Who are you? do I know you? Uh…Just win….oops…that’s right, Phil, it’s “Just win Baby. What was the question again? Lane Kiffin? I thought it was LANCE Kiffin? Oh, my bad. So…does he work for me or something, this guy Lance??”
Look at your thread, Bobbo…you make an issue out of credibility, when the target of the talk has ZERO credibility.
Read again..the Raiders, and Al brought all of this m ess down around themselved.
Kiffin has about as zero a credibility rating as you’ll likely ever find in a HC. Not actually blaming him, because you all know his hands are tied, as are his lips, but he might just be in the running for Eggo “Waffling” King.
See, Al, in his distorted uninformed clueless manner actually ENJOYS keeping the pundits of the press wondering. Nothing wrong with that…until the organization becomes the butt of all jokes because of what’s going on OR what’s perceived to be going on.
Want proof??? On THIS SITE, and almost every site that discusses the Raiders, there are no shortage of posters who don’t believe Kiffin and Ryan aren’t best of buddies..or that he was ever on the chopping block, or that Al wanted Kiffin to leave…BECAUSE AL DIDN’T SAY SO IN PUBLIC, so these little sheep just go with the status quo flow.
Get the point, Bobbo?????
There is a time to ignore rumors, and definitely a time to squash them.
Al Davis is completely confused on when to do either.
Again, the RAIDERS BROUGHT ALL OF THIS ON THEMSELVES, and unfortunately for many fans, their bear the brunt of it. Al’s in his little gilded castle, oblivious to the real world (Honestly, does he EVER come out into the real world? no one’s ever seen him, except for scheduled football functions, so I assume “Hermit is as Hermit does” applies here.) hasn’t a clue on how the Raiders, the organization, and especially him is being viewed by others, including a long list of disgruntled former fans, and many soon to be former fans.
This has been a Public Service Announcement.
You’re welcome, Bobbo.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:23 am
RaiderRaul:
As far as “I’m so glad someone FINALLy stepped up and called these mediots out”???????
Where the hell have you been all your life?
Finally?????
Huh?????????
Good lord, everyone on the planet KNOWS that ESPN makes up stories just to have something to say..they even ADMIT IT.
John Clayton is known for writing a full, in detail story, almost guaranteeing “joeblow is being released tomorrow. The team is tired of his antics”
Next day: “JoeBlow just signs an extension that makes him the highest paid player on the team. Team is happy he’ll retire as a “_______’
As stated, EVERY major papers has their “S**t disturber” reporters. Their job is to stir the pot, and to rile up readers. VANILLA DOESN’T SELL…PO’ed fans do.
SF Chronicles Glenn Dickey and Ira Miller are experts at it, as is Skip Bayless with SJ Merc…Lowell with Santa Rosa whatever…it’s their job.
It’s that “love to hate” syndrome.
I know of what they speak
May 18th, 2008 at 11:34 am
DosPennies: Mike49er,
Okay, Raider fans are saddled with Al Davis and 49er fans are stuck with ” limp-dick.” (I can’t remember his name.)
Only time will tell who’s better off.
But you have to admit that Al Davis is better entertainment per dollar invested. ( Called the BEPDI by brokers.)
I think you would agree that we follow football because of the players, not the owners. At great risk, I will admit to rooting for the Niners because of Montana, Rice et al.
The Nation, at the present moment, is infatuated with McFadden and I think he will be great, but in the long run it’s going to be Russell that determines how far the Raiders can go.
There are numerous stories of aged people hitting the lottery late in life. Well, Al may have one last chance at glory.
I know you will be secretly rooting for us as long as we’re not playing the Niners.
======================================
LMAO…yeah..sure…that’ll happen…as much chance as it snowing in my bedroom.
Perfect weekend for me is a Niners win, a Ram, Card, and Raider loss.
You are right about one thing…as Russel goes, the Raiders go…NOT McFadden. The only time the run sets up the pass is when you have an O line that can perform for both, and you don’t.
You’re in the same boat as the Cardinals.
Both Leinart and Russell..and essentially the team..are at the mercy of how well the O line protects the qb. (basically apples to the Niners..and all teams, obviously)
You are right about Al..he’s a rating booster every time his Elvis jumpsuit makes an appearance…
Hmmm…that image just brought up visons of Squiggy from Laverne and Shirley……
Is it possible???………..
Naw……
Then again…
May 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Hey mike49winer go back to your fuckin site… your a fucking bum… why do u care so much about the Raiders??? FUCKING BUM… DO U HAVE A LIFE LOOK HOW MUCH U WRITE, DID U RUN OUT OF LOTION OR SOMETHING GET A LIFE…
May 18th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hey Mike49winer u got more chances of it snowing in your bedroom than u getting any pussy…
May 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I think Mike49winer is a Raiders fan in denial, he must be he comes here so much… he writes more about the Raiders than his own crappy squad…
May 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Bloggers are a joke. Bloggers are why real journalist are rushing stories out there without doing any fact checking. They can’t afford to do stories the right way anymore. Even if they think a story might not be true if they don’t report it now, then some blogger will.
Waiting for press credentials? How many bloggers have degree’s in journalism? Do you? What makes you think you or any other Blogger deserves press credentials? Because you post blogs? Get real. There are a very limited number of press credentials to be had. Do you really think they are going to give on to some lame blogger?
Giving you or your lame blogger pals press credentials would be like te NFL granting me the same sideline access enjoyed by PROFESSIONAL photographers simply because I can post pictures on the web.
You may not like what Nancy Gay or Ray Rhatto have to say but they are PROFESSIONAL journalists……you are a wannabe with a pc and access to the web.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
The Oakand Raiders have a long and storied history. They have won 3 championships, including SuperBowl XI, XV, and XVIII. Originally part of the American Football League, the Raiders franchise began in 1960. This fan site is here to provide resources, news, and helpful links about the Oakland Raiders football club.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:27 am
First of all great article. Hey everyone be nice to Mike49er, he’s clearly a very lonely man with a lot of time on his hands. Plus his team is in a downward spiral; The only man on that team is Patrick Willis, theres no one else on that roster who I would want to play on my team. They overpaid for Clements, now the every corner is looking for that kind of money. I don’t think he wowed anyone last year and he certainly didn’t impress me. Instead a lot attention was paid to that outrageous contract. At best Nate would be our nickel. Bitter bitter fruit.
To the nation, it looks to be a great year, an offense with playmakers for a change. All important depth on both sides of the ball. Nothing silences critics like success or a tactical nuclear strike, either way is good.
One Nation….
And Sean Salisbury can suck one for all raider haters.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:12 am
I will have to take a look. I have been reading trash on the raiders from questionable sites. It would be an absolute pleasure to read some fact, not hate filled crap!
May 19th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Bubba,
My background is in writing, thank you for stopping by.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Bubba,
While I appreciate your point of view and the fact that you took the time to read my article and post on it, I must tell you that I completely disagree with the premise that in order to be a good journalist/columnist/analyst you must first have a degree in journalism.
In answer to your question, I have degrees in electronics, nuclear engineering, and currently working on a degree in organizational management. So, no I do not have a degree in journalism.
It may have escaped your awareness that many analysts, columnists, and yes even the journalists don’t have degrees in journalism as well. While most columnists and sports anchors do have those degrees, there are plenty of the media that you hold in such high esteem that are no different than I.
The greatest sports broadcaster is arguably Howard Cosell, who had a degree in English and then furthered his education by getting a law degree. In fact, he would probably be in agreement with you about most bloggers as well, but the fact remains he wouldn’t have fit the mold that you’ve created for a journalist.
The most influential and most successful man of our time built a business and the biggest bankroll in the world selling software that he didn’t have a degree in creating. Not only that, he didn’t have a degree in business. I think that you know that I’m talking about the most famous Harvard dropout - Bill Gates.
I don’t pretend to compare my talents or skills with either of those two examples, but use those examples to relay the fact that greatness is created by a piece of sheepskin hanging from the wall.
I’ll tell you exactly what I already told Mike49er above, RAISE your standards in journalism. Journalists get paid to write stories, not create them. A journalist that hides behind your argument about not having time to fact check has basically thrown their journalism degree out of the window, thus making your argument as to why they print lies null and void. Besides, that kind of reporting is just crap, and we don’t do that here.
As far as my credentials are concerned, I expect to get them because of the number of readers that I write for, not for some soapbox type reasoning. It would be good business for the Raiders and the NFL to allow it since every day I write a story about them, I’m advertising to a certain extent for them. Sports has become the reality/soap opera of our day, and I’m just another viable outlet for them to get their program out to the public. If you were able to go out, take your pictures and get people interested in your work, or better yet sell it, then you’d be able to get those credentials too. You don’t really think all of the photographers out there have degrees in photography do you?
As far as professionalism goes, that’s for you and the other readers to decide I suppose. We don’t portend to be the same as the ‘old’ media. When it comes to journalism, if you are reporting lies or untruths, you are not a journalist regardless of who is paying you. If getting paid makes you a professional journalist, then Patrick and I ARE professional journalists…we just have smaller bank accounts.
Thanks for reading Bubba.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:13 am
# pat. T says:
May 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Hey mike49winer go back to your fuckin site… your a fucking bum… why do u care so much about the Raiders??? FUCKING BUM… DO U HAVE A LIFE LOOK HOW MUCH U WRITE, DID U RUN OUT OF LOTION OR SOMETHING GET A LIFE…
# pat. T says:
May 18th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hey Mike49winer u got more chances of it snowing in your bedroom than u getting any pussy…
# pat. T says:
May 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I think Mike49winer is a Raiders fan in denial, he must be he comes here so much… he writes more about the Raiders than his own crappy squad…
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What’s funny about you, Patty, is that you seem to be the poster child for “Drugs…see what happens to you”
Three idiot posts in a row. All one minute or so apart, which indicates you think very slowly. All three clearing proving you are, in fact, dumber than cotton.
No, I don’t think you’re a friggin idiot because you’re a Raider fan..I think the Raider fan base is dumber for you being on it.
Every group, every board, every forum has it’s Motley Fool.
Congrats on that. At least you’re known for something, besides being a complete dumbass.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
MrMojo4321 says:
May 19th, 2008 at 2:27 am
First of all great article. Hey everyone be nice to Mike49er, he’s clearly a very lonely man with a lot of time on his hands. Plus his team is in a downward spiral; The only man on that team is Patrick Willis, theres no one else on that roster who I would want to play on my team. They overpaid for Clements, now the every corner is looking for that kind of money. I don’t think he wowed anyone last year and he certainly didn’t impress me. Instead a lot attention was paid to that outrageous contract. At best Nate would be our nickel. Bitter bitter fruit.
To the nation, it looks to be a great year, an offense with playmakers for a change. All important depth on both sides of the ball. Nothing silences critics like success or a tactical nuclear strike, either way is good.
One Nation…
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Interesting.
Clements is one of the better dbacks in the league, and his play continues to show it. There were around 10 teams interested in Clements, INCLUDING the Raiders, and his signing was viewed as one of the top FA signings.
Now, look at what FA’s the Raiders went after?? LMAO…yeah…truly laughing my ass off.
You went after gimp after gimp..players that either had major knee surgery that NO OTHER TEAM even interviewed, or players that are major head cases who challenge coaches in their face, or horrible tackles that the Niners discard, ALL OF THEM MASSIVELY OVERPAID.
Yeah…read it again..you wrote the book on “Salaries for Dummies..what NOT to pay FA’s”
Raider fan reply to that??? “Uh….well…gosh…uh…well IF they work out, and IF they play at Probowl level, then….then it was a good signing.”
In other words, your idiot owner again hasn’t a clue.
Don’t speak of spirals. Hell, you’ve been in the abyss so long, both on AND OFF the field, most of you have just accepted the fact you’ve got little to crow about except for the misguided notion that “Misery loves company” and cheer at the sight of a Raider shirt on someone.
An offense with PLAYMAKERS on it???
UH…who would that be? You got RID of your starting qb’s..at this point your reality is you very well could be looking at ANDREW WALTER by week 3. Yes, a stark reality. Who’s your big playmaker as WR again????
Your oline has gotten worse, especially with the addition of Kwame “Turnstile” Harris.
And depth of BOTH sides of the ball?? 3 of 5 NEEDS in the draft you didn’t even address..much less get depth.
You added depth in your first two picks in AREAS YOU WERE ALREADY STRONG AT…that is horrible drafting, anyway you look at it.
Our two first round draft picks started and played the whole year last year. One got Defensive Rookie of the Year..the other did such an outstanding job at RT, that he’s been switched to LT, our qb’s blind side.
Your draft pick not only stunk up the place, and looked absolutely lost, confused, and horrible, but, in the Raiders WISDOM (yes, LMAO) have decided “LET’S GET RID OF ALL OUR STARTING QB’S..AND JUST MAKE RUSSELL OUR STARTER NOW”.
Yeah..lots of reason to be optimistic..isn’t it?
But hey…again..it’s the offseason. Time when posters post the “Nothing silences critics like success or a tactical nuclear strike, either way is good.”
Consider neither has happened in quite some time, nor is likely to anytime soon, you’ll excuse me if us naysayers don’t quiver in our boots at the prospect you just mentioned, won’t you?
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