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Thoughts from the Dark Side
Once again, another player proves the Raiders are no longer the ‘Bad Boys’ of the NFL
Matt Jones practicing for his extra curricular activities?
Lane Kiffin is asked to resign, Rob Ryan was supposedly fired, countless ex-Raiders have had negative comments reported about their time in the Oakland organization, and one of the newest and highest paid Raiders is found beaten and unconscious on a street in Las Vegas after having a controversial night on the town. If you’re a pessimist, all of this could really get you down. It could, unless you were to look up from all of the Raider news and all of the Raiders pages to pay attention to the rest of the NFL news.
Matt Jones is the latest in a long list of NFL players to find themselves in hot water this offseason. For all of you that thought the sky was falling when any of the above incidents were being reported, myself included, it’s time to check ourselves. It strikes me as strange that an NFL player, a first round pick no less, would be doing the high school like act of lining himself up in a car. Money can’t buy you happiness, but it could at least buy you a room to do that stuff in couldn’t it?
What is it about athletes getting in trouble that gets to us the most? Is it the broken promises to our teams? Is it the fact that these guys are living a dream that most any fanatic has had or currently has now? Is it the failed responsibility that these athletes hold as an example to our youth? I can’t speak for you guys, but for me it’s the idiocy of the acts that they do.
Let’s start with the Pac Man incident at the NBA All Star weekend. Who told this idiot that he could ‘rain’ $50,000 in cash in a strip club no less, and then expect that nobody is going to try and take it? Sorry Pac Man, that’s not how you keep your cash. Oh and the phrase, “Throwing your cash around,” does not literally mean to throw it around.
What about Chris Henry? Here’s a walking example of what and who not to be. The guy, who’s been a scumbag pretty much ever since he was newsworthy, is now out of football and broke. After being suspended for the first eight games of last season, he came back to have a semi-successful end of the season with the Bengals.
I guess being a regular person wasn’t as easy for this guy, because three months after the end of the season he’s getting arrested for assault on an 18 year old and later being banned indefinitely from the league. This is a guy that signed a 5 year $6 million contract which gave him a million dollar signing bonus and a $500,000 a year salary. He even got paid while he was suspended! Now he’s broke and his lawyer is asking the public to donate to his defense fund. I can’t even put what I think in this article…too many curse words, but it basically ryhmes with ‘foo’ him.
I feel for Odell Thurman and the loss that he recently has been burdened with. What I don’t get is why he would not have the will power to not fall back into the troubles that caused him to be suspended for a year. Out of all of the athletes that bother me, I admit I do have a soft spot for this fool. He was doing so well, had not been caught for abusing alcohol or drugs, gotten reinstated and then the final living family member he had passed away.
Let’s be realistic though. Being a pro football player shows that he has the ability to have willpower. Anyone that’s ever played the game in high school or college knows that the dedication necessary just to be on the team requires the willpower not to quit on those hot summer days when two practices are required. I guess he followed the adage of, “Nobody likes a quitter,” when getting popped for substance abuse again.
I’ll admit I’m angry with the way that Javon Walker became a victim also. I’ve gotten a lot of grief for what I’ve written about it in the past, but I don’t back away from what I’ve posted. I have serious questions for this guy. Questions like, “After what happened with Darrent Williams, why would you still be taking the chance of another incident like that by spraying champagne on people?”
People want to defend his right to be like anyone else, but the fact is he’s not. Everyone else isn’t going to become a national story when getting beaten down in Las Vegas. Everyone else didn’t get paid $55 million to catch a football this offseason. Everyone else don’t have people writing about how good or how bad they did every time they’ve finished a day of work.
I challenge any of you to leave your keys in your running car while you take a three hour stroll through the mall. Better yet, why don’t you take a vacation for the weekend, leave all of your windows and doors unlocked and put a sign in your front yard saying, “Doors unlocked and no security.” See what that gets you. Walking around Las Vegas with $100,000 worth of bling, getting into cars of people you don’t know, and not having any protection for your safety is the same thing.
Walker is the victim, you have to feel bad for him. That doesn’t mitigate the stupidity that he exhibited in becoming that victim. I think I’m mad at him most for leaving his ‘girl’ friend out in front of the hotel when you know that she wasn’t just a friend. I think that boggles my mind more than anything.
Oh well, I guess it could’ve been worse. That blond ‘friend’ could’ve been Madonna. You can bet that would be a great big story if it had been.
Just ranting and raving here at TFDS
This entry was posted
on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 1:24 am and is filed under Javon Walker, 2008, Raiders News, Raider News, 2008 Raiders Offseason, NFL News, Oakland Raiders Current Player Analysis, Oakland Raiders Analysis.
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22 Responses to “Once again, another player proves the Raiders are no longer the ‘Bad Boys’ of the NFL”
July 11th, 2008 at 3:34 am
It looks like the entire NFL is infested with “bad boys” these days.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:23 am
First time post but I am a long time reader. I couldn’t agree more about your analysis of these players and particularly your thoughts about Walker. Yes, he’s a victim and what happened to him is illegal/wrong. But at some point, he needs to own up to all the stupid antics that lead to the beating. Random acts of violence are senseless and hard to prevent. Showing off your wealth, flaunting it in peoples faces and jumping in to cars with strangers does not help your cause. What is startling is given past tragic events that he would still put himself in this position. Understood that this does not condone the beating but someday you have to use common sense. We cannot eliminate bad things from happening completely, but we can sure take steps to minimize the chances of bad things like this happening. It is called good judgment and common sense. It cannot protect you 100% of the time but it usually keeps you out of the way of gunfire and nightclub beatings. If he let’s us down this year, let’s hope there is someone on the roster that will seize this opportunity. Because as this article points out, too many players fail to realize what a great opportunity they have been given, even when they are given second and third chances.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Thanks Raider Scott and great first post. I think the Raiders have some very good prospects at the WR position, so hopefully there will be plenty of competition at that spot.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I dont feel bad for Javon I feel bad for the Raiders who have to deal with this drama from a 29 year old innocent kid hah Hesa man and got his a$$ kicked like a biotch cut him now please Al or hold him like lamont and trade him.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Hey just read an article by Steve Cockran(and yes I can spell his last name but he doesn’t deserve it) has the Raiders finishing at 3-13 this season. Now with all the upgrades we made how can he think we will regress from last season? Raider Nation Let Me Hear You! Cuz I just don’t understand.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I bet Al signs him if he clears waivers and is not suspended by the NFL.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:23 am
^^^ “…Hesa man and got his a$$ kicked like a biotch…”
I bet you would’ve grabbed the gun from those guys and proceeded to pistol whip both of them repeatedly, right? Cuz you’re so tough and bad?
Give me a break, being robbed at gunpoint by 2 men and then pistol-whipped doesn’t make anyone a “biotch.”
July 11th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Jamaal - That’s why Steve Cockran is not highly rated by TFDS. To predict a 3-13 finish for the Raiders is definitely letting your inner hater show. If he had predicted 5-11 or 6-10, then I’d be able to respectfully disagree with him and wouldn’t think less of him for it. I’ve seen some in Raider Nation make that call, but to suggest the Raiders will do worse this year than last is plenty asinine.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I’m getting really, really tired of all these “experts” bsgging on us. The knock on the Raiders since the SB loss was “they don’t have any talent”. That pissed me off, but I did have to admit we needed some players to compete. Now we are drafting high profile athletes and they say they will be “busts”. We are signing high profile free agents and they say we are “overspending”. Screw that! They say we need to get better then they bag on everything we do to get better. I can’t wait for us to get back on top. It’s gonna be the sweetest era in Raider history when we start to dominate again!!!
One thing Rob. I don’t know for sure how the Raiders will do next year. THe Cockran prediction pisses me off and irritates the hell out of me, but I can’t call it asinine. If anyone would have predicted Art Shell (who was gonna bring back respectability) would have gone 2-14. I would have thought that asinine. My prediction is 9-7, but the Raiders have shown that anything is possible, good or bad.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Great Article Rob. Many of us has had that dream to become professional athletes, like you said, and were not lucky enough to make it. I am the same, it just pisses me off how the stupidity of this athletes gets them in trouble. WTF how do athletes go broke after earning millions I dont feel sorry for them at all.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Javon should be more street smart than going solo first of all and secondly attracting all that attention to himself. But as far arrests in general are concerned I have a soft spot understanding the backgrounds of a lot of these individuals and then to be given all this money and power a lot of these dudes aren’t ready to handle it all. I beleive in second chances and so do the Raiders. Hopefully the crackdown of such activity in the NFL is a great wake up call.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
azraider37 - NO!! Don’t say that!!
LOL!! Good point. I guess you’re right that anything could happen, but I’m thinking that even the most astute football person must admit that the Raiders are better and not worse this season.
Thanks Adrian!
inonewordraider - I also believe in second chances so we agree there, but none of the guys I mentioned have done good on their second chances…well Matt Jones still has one coming to him. I can see your point about their backgrounds, but I would think that would aid them in not getting busted rather than hurt them. You know, learning by other people’s mistakes?
Anyway, thanks to all of you guys for stopping by.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
5-11 is wqhat you will do or 7-9 at best,
July 11th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Scott welcome to the conversations. Chime in any time.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
8-8 I think is reality……. I like to say 10-6, because that is possible. I don’t think they will go under 6-10. That would be a disappointment. raider scott said it all. I would like to paste his comments and use them as mine. I think the raiders have upgraded a lot this year, and can’t wait for the home opener. Go raiders 10-6
July 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Rob,
Good job!
Whenever I would sport my Raider Apparel or tell people the Raiders are my favourite team, a few buffons will always take the liberty to say any of the two things.
Firstly, these haters will almost always take the pleasure to remind me how sadly my team has performed these last few years. They will do it in a very extensive fashion, mind you!
Secondly, they will go on and on about how Al Davis is a convict who takes pride in hiring thugs and criminals. For all you people who dont know anything about football, the pirate symbol doesnt symbolize some illicit gang presence Okay!
Yeah Rob, money will make a man do the craziest stuff especially if you happen to be in the company of some other high status money holders. As far as I know, in Vegas one can never impress and boast too much!
Oh by the way, thanks for refering to high school football. Yeah in my freshman year, I remember throwing up like shit every day for two months!
Without a doubt, football requires strong commitment and determination. It is a tough journey to make with a rocky mountian to ascend. But those who reach the summit will find their place in a faternity of champions!
Keep up the good work!
July 12th, 2008 at 1:50 am
When will Raider fans along with Redskin fans get it. You can not buy a championship team. They will regress because ever high priced FA thinks they are elite. DeAngelo Hall makes plays but gets burnt more often than the stats tell. Gibril was a solid player for the giants but being paid like a top 5 safety when he has coverage issues is not smart money. And then Al burns his last two 1 rounders on guys that seethe arrogance and scream bust based on attitude. Russell is a fat, greedy and dumbass. He screwed Raider fans out of this past season by crying for more and more money. McFadden will probably avg 4.2 yrd per carry, like the rest of the league, but at least he can feed all of the kids he has sired.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Here’s an unassociated thought:
After reading up on the dwindling options of the San Diego SuperChargers I feel moved to write a quick blurb about what a travesty it would be were they to move. As a Raiders fan I love our rivalries. I love hating the Broncs, Chiefs, and Chargers. I said good riddance to the Seahawks when they moved. They weren’t really a part of what’s special in the AFC West. If the Chargers are to move, however, part of our rivalry dies with that move. I hope the city of San Diego gets it together so that we can continue…well…hating each other properly.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Ummm…congratulations? I guess?
There was a wide receiver busted for drugs, and he wasn’t a member of the Raiders - pop the champagne!
(No, not you, Javon. Let someone else do it.)
In all seriousness - good article, Rob. And even I would be hard-pressed to predict 3-13 for Oakland (barring injuries, of course). Anywhere between 7-9 to 9-7 is likely - unless you sign Matt Jones. Then the world would collapse on itself like a dying star…and honestly, I can’t wait until it happens.
Go Chiefs!
RB
July 12th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
First I would like to make sure that everybody knows I am a Raider fan. The article on Sporting News is pretty much the same it is for the season preview on the NFL, which Corkran writes, but he states clearly that the best the Raiders fans should expect is an 8-8 season. The magazine and their other writers namely Dennis Dillon, Clifton Brown, Vinnie Iyer are the ones predicting the 3-13 record. Finally to our Chief fans that read the articles o this Raider site, congratulations on having a superb individual in Tony Gonzalez, whom reportedly helped a choking victim in California, but don’t try to compare to players of other teams in their division would have done in the same situation. People don’t react the same on emergency situations and you can’t blame them.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Umer -
Great line! I think I’m going to steal it from you someday soon too.
Joe - I’d like to comment on your post, but for all the inaccuracies related to it, I don’t think I have enough time. I would like to point out though that the ‘fans’ have nothing to do with their teams signing high profile free agents and so it’s not for them to ‘get’ when it comes to winning. Thanks for stopping by though.
Tyler - I think you bring up a really good point. I can’t think of any team moving that would make me happy…Ok, maybe if the Patriots moved I might be a little happy about it. I definitely wouldn’t want to have to dislike the L.A. Chargers though.
Ryan - I like your comment. Thanks for stopping by. You admitting that the Raiders would probably do better than next year proves that you are still objective while still being a fan. I’m going to second what xobn1050 says,
That story proves that there is still hope for NFL athletes, Americans, and the rest of the world. Great, great story and Gonzalez deserves much props for what he did.
July 12th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Ryan-careful, you are letting your innerRaider show. Its ok, you can admit you are a Raider fan.
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