Friends don’t do this to other friends… Raiders lose 23-22

So, we here at Too Old are in a state of shock after watching a game that the Raiders had in hand for most of the contest, but still found a way to lose. I am dismayed at watching a team that had a big win last week give all the hard work back with this loss. I blame Rob Ryan and Lane Kiffin for this loss. We are thinking that Kiffin’s time here in Oakland is coming to an end.

Rob Ryan gets some blame, because his defense schemes in the 2^nd half played too conservative and soft. In particular, DeAngelo Hall played off his man by at least 8 yards and Trent Edwards went all Alonzo Harris on the defense. “You know I’m surgical with this bitch!” He ate us up in the last two minutes and moved them into field goal range.

Kiffin gets the blame both for the play call on the last Raiders drive (He threw on third down, when he should have run to make the Bills use their last time out) and he didn’t use either of the two last time outs for the raiders, which could have saved at least 45 seconds for the Raiders offense to get into the Sea Bass into range to kick our game winning field goal. (Plus, he had a great game today and was 3/3 with a good tackle to stop a kickoff being run back)

After the game, we were sitting here in a state of disbelief, and someone (who will remain nameless, because I know raider fans who COULD stomp them out) texts one of the members here during the game and says that 1) it is going to come down to a field goal, and 2) after the winning kick texted a jeering message about the Raiders.

That was bad form and felt like this dude in the red. Now, let’s just refresh some information that seems like common sense, but too many people seem to violate.

1. During the game, don’t text anyone with ANY information about the score. I was at St Vincent, rooting for the Mustangs and I decide to leave to go and watch the UCLA/BYU game. The game was a blowout, but I didn’t know it at the time. One of the teachers there, Dave Schick greets me and I tell him that I am going home to watch the game that I Tivoed. He decides to tell me that it is getting out of hand. Why tell me that? I JUST TOLD YOU that I AM GOING HOME TO WATCH THE GAME!!!
2. IF you know that we root for a particular team, UNLESS WE ARE PLAYING YOUR TEAM, keep quiet about the outcome. Making fun can get you hurt. I am just warning you. Don’t sleep, or at least be a light sleeper. I have a female friend that violates this rule a lot, since she is a Boston fan. She loves to talk about how great they are, and compares the A’s to them.

Raiders lose, and we are just going to drink to ease the pain…

The No Fun League or the NFL psuedo-NAZIs strike again on T.O.

Even if you don’t like football, you have to be amused at the stunts of Terrell Owens and other performers during the course of the football game.

Most people who start off playing or watching football do because as young men or women, something spoke to them about the game. Maybe it was the ability to run on the green grass, or the love of competition was the key to you pressuring your parents for your first piece of equipment. Whatever the reason, we worship at the mecca of football every Saturday, Sunday, some Thursdays and Fridays to watch the players of our favorite teams strap it up and play football.

The reason that I am ticked off is that there is a clear double standard in football, and I have not really seen anyone address the differences. I was at home watching football with the entire Too Old crew, rooting for the Raiders. (See our live blog thoughts on the game) Before the Raider game, Green Bay was playing Minnesota. Since I have Aaron Rodgers on my fantasy team ( BTW, I put the beatdown on a buddy and won all the awards this week in the fantasy realm on ESPN) I watched the game with some interest. (That and he led a mini golden era in CAL football with the upset of USC and the almost upset the following year)

Aaron Rodgers scores his first rushing touchdown in the second half of a very close game. The game is made emotional by the fact that Rodgers has to replace a legend in Brett Favre, and they are playing his first game at home against the hated Minnesota Vikings. So, after his scores, he is clearly jacked up. This is the time that he will be able to turn the crowd that was so pro Brett Favre into fans of number 12, Aaron Rodgers. So, he does what is a time honored tradition, which is to hop into the stands afters scoring, called the Lambeau Leap.

Now, here is where I have my problem. Look at the picture closely. You see to refs standing right there watching the entire spectacle. They are always sort of amused when it happens. Some make it up, others do not have the strength to get up there after a long play. How is this not showing up the other team, or causing a non football spectacle on the field? Honestly, I think that all should be able to admit that it is. This is a slight delay to the game. But, for showmanship value, I think that it is worth it. It is not Peter Griffin over the top in his performance from the Music Man.

In the episode “Patriot Games” of Family Guy, Peter Griffin sings the song complete with choreography, leading the crowd into chorus, as a victory dance after scoring a touchdown and after guest Tom Brady tells him “no showboating”.

That is a little over the top, but pretending and paying tribute to Usain Bolt and his stunning victory in the Olympics is not distracting or insulting to the other team. He got into a track stand and pretended to go off on the sound of an imaginary gun. Stunts like this where Hines Ward dances to MIMIC Chad Johnson

And the original trickster in all his glory and different moves

Chad Johnson

( start at 1:15)

Or Chad doing the riverdance.

There is a story behind his celebrations and the Riverdance has a funny story behind it. Apparently the dance is also a diss at Brian Urlacher as well. The story behind the story is that Urlachers baby mama was suing Lord of the Dance, Micheal Flatley. Since the Bengals were playing the Bears, it seemed like the perfect in your face answer to a defense that talked a lot of trash about how they were going to be able to stop Ocho Cinco.

But, back to my man, T.O. The football as a camera and other funny celebrations go to show his creativity. I hated him as a 49er coming and celebrating at the star.

But, I respected that and I think that he respected George Teague coming and lying his ass out for his celebration on the scared star.

Now, as a Cowboy, I appreciate the celebrations even more. The league will need to slow down and let players show some of their more personal side. Unlike all the other sports where you can see the player/athlete, football has helmets which obscure the player. As a player, I would imagine that is nice, since it gives you some anonymity that you might otherwise not get. But, for the true showman, you have to let a player play.

So, in conclusion, STOP HATING NFL! You make me like you less. Notice I didn’t say that I was going to stop watching football, because I wont. But, you will make me angry and I will continue to vent in my blog….lol But, seriously. QUIT HATING on entertainment.