Serenity Sunday
By Charles Ybarra
Sunday, April 6th, 2008 at 3:09 pm in Oakland Raiders.
There’s nothing like a peaceful Sunday.
No one is mowing the lawn outside..
no one is in the house….
God turns on the mute button…
birds actually fly to the window..
the Warrior game is on..
I’m not thinking about my team losing..
and the Raiders open with Denver on Monday night.
A cool breeze comes from the window..
I tear up bacon, eggs and tots..
I enjoy the hangover healing icy Gatorade..(my all time personal favorite remedy for anything)
i remember Chris Rock jokes from the other night..
and we open the pre-season with hosting the 49ers..
The bed is still warm..
the Sun finally shows..
I get calls from friends..
the cat jumps on the couch..
my headache is gone..
and Lane Kiffin cleared up his status with the Oakland Raiders.
Yeah, I still remember at least a dozen writers and two dozen fans shouting in their own meaningless way of words
“He will NOT coach again for your team in 2008! Trust me!”
My response was always the same..
“..If you don’t have personal chats with Lane or Al??
..just shut the hell up..”
Nation, it feels so damn good to have dreams in April.
I dream about the draft..
I dream about Javon Walker proving to his former team that he’s still worth a damn on Monday night..
I dream about JaMarcus progressing as a leader, not a Rookie..
I dream about several interceptions from Nnamdi and D-Hall..
I dream about sacks from Burgess Burger and Captain Kirk..
I dream about Justin breaking his own personal best rushing record..
and the world just makes sense.
BTW..
Can someone tell me when Vernon Gholston became relevant to the conversation regarding the draft?
I swear I turn off the tube for a wee bit and I miss something..
someone turn on NFL Network for me, damnit!!!!
VERNON GHOLSTON NOTES
Vernon Gholston is a remarkable talent, but he’s only just begun realizing his vast potential.
He never picked up a football until his sophomore year in high school and had just one season of defensive experience as a linebacker before being converted to defensive end when he arrived at Ohio State.
Blessed with incredible speed (clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash), long limbs and superb strength, Gholston is the prototype pass rusher that professional teams look for — big, fast, strong and explosive. An avid performer in the weight room, he boasted the best bench press on the team at 455 pounds. He also put on an impressive performance for teammates, squatting 405 pounds 20 times.
In 2007, Gholston earned All-American recognition and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s top defensive end. He posted 37 tackles (25 solo) and was a terror in the backfield, ranking eighth in the nation with 15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and second nationally with 14 sacks. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown.
In 34 games at Ohio State, Gholston started 25 times. He registered 87 tackles (47 solo) with 22.5 sacks for minus-184 yards and 30.5 stops for losses of 199 yards. He had two pass deflections and an eight-yard interception return, as he also recovered a fumble that he returned 25 yards for a touchdown.
On top of it all, he’s one of the few who got past the beast which is Jake Long..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yot9ClPvZDg
Perhaps I’m not seeing enough with this damn mask on..
ahhh, that’s better.
Have a great week, Nation.
I hope you’re enjoying YOUR Serenity Sunday as well…
-DR
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April 7th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Thank you.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:57 am
well. I hate to say it….BUT…..I FRAKING TOLD YOU SO!!!! I KNEW ALL ALONG KIFFIN WASN’T GOING ANYWHERE!!!!!!(not you Darth).
Yep! it’s all connected. its a Zen thing!!!!
GO RAIDERS!!!
April 7th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Ahhhh…the peace and tranquility that is Darth. Wise words fearless leader — I look to you quite often for the voice of reason and optimism — while the others whine, complain, and speculate. The DREAM lives on in all Nation devotees this off season, and while I will not be able to be there for the first game of the season (I live in South Florida) I will be there once again when the Raiders taken on (and defeat) the Dolphins! I’m in baby…always have been, always will be!
April 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
THANK YOU CHARLES!!!
i WISH SOME PEOPLE WOULD SHUT THE YOU KNOW WHAT UP!!!
April 8th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I want us to trade down, but I think it will be very difficult since nobody want to trade up.
If not, I see us picking Vernon Gholston. I think will be like this:
1. Chris Long (Miami)
2. Glenn Dorsey (St. Louis)
3. Matt Ryan (Atlanta)
4. Vernon Gholston (Oakland)
5. Jake Long (KC)
6. Darren McFadden (NYJ)
Hopefully we can trade down, possibly with the Pats if they want McFadden or Gholston, so we can get more picks and select a LT (Clady, Chris Williams) and a WR in the second (Devin Thomas)
We should trade Fabe for a 3 rounder or a low 2 rounder too, Asomugha, Hall and Routt, with Bowie as back-up will be OK. We could take a DT, Pat Sims or Dre Moore. I like Arkansas St. SS Tyrell Johnson too.
Tyrell Johnson highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-g0WS8yQxE
Go Raiders!
April 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I have heard the following rumor. Feel free to pass it on to check on it’s truth, and to post it at various NFL and sports blogs around the country.
There is a rumor that “reporters” Peter King and Adam Schefter are at risk of losing their jobs. In fact, inside sources have said that there’s a 50/50% chance that both will not be with the NFL Network by draft day because of their reckless and negligent reporting relating to the Oakland Raiders/Al Davis/Lane Kiffin relationship at the close of the 2007 Season. Both reporters sensationalized flimsy rumors and reported Lane Kiffin was in peril of losing his job. Threats of litigation against the Network and the reporters have forced the Network to determine that neither reporter had reasonably reliable sources for their stories, which defamed the professional reputations of Davis and Kiffin.
Furthermore, inside sources have suggested fellow reporters who wish to not be named and who are not big fans of either King or Schefter are secretly pleased that the two are finally be reprimanded for their irresponsible abuse of their privilege as reporters. Apparently, sources report, the Raiders “story” is only the latest in a long line of sensationalized “head line” grabbing attempts by King and Schefter to bring attention to themselves and their own “sources” without the least shred of credible and verifiable evidence.
Feel free to pass this rumor on to other sites around the NFL.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Well folk’s it’s like this,running back’s are set,wide reciever’s are almost set(maybe 1 more trade for a third rounder),and I know it will be hard not picking d-mac if he’s still there,but it will be a defensive lineman or jake long if there,we do not trade down even if it’s the smart thing to do, but I can’t remember ever doing it in the past,I think it will take alot to convince Mr. Davis that we need to stop team’s killing us with the run. please Mr. davis-defence not offense. Thank’s folk’s!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Soccer is cruel,… I hate Oliver Khan, I hate Bayern Munich.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:52 am
There is also a place known as AIT were our days are pretty close to being perfect. The reason i say this is because they have a gaming center and a fitness. So while i’m sitting there stuffing my face playing video i can also drop that body fat that i gained back into a perfect bod. As a matter of fact just go check it out yourself!!!
April 12th, 2008 at 2:30 am
we need defense ! check the stats ! running backs have short careers too!! draft DL po OL !!PLEASE AL
April 15th, 2008 at 6:53 am
If we do not draft D-Mac we are making a big mistake, I am telling you. If someone would have came to the Raiders in 2006 and said, “Al we are going to give you to big name backs Darren McFadden, Miichael Bush,and we are also going to throw in Jamarcus Russell to help you guys get your offense going and to build around this young talent for years to come we would have jumped all over it. Now we are staying with a group of unknown backs with no upside (excluding Bush) for a defensive end. We need to put up points.