http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2008/09/the-tighter-you-squeeze-the-less-you-have/
By Adam Treu
Posted September 23, 2008
The Tighter You Squeeze, The Less You Have
Bugel, Gruden, Callahan, Turner, Shell, Rowan, Callahan, Kroemer, Colletto, Eatman, Slater, Tillman, Ganz, Casullo, Avezzano, Daisher. In my ten seasons with the Raiders, this is the list of my Head Coaches (5), O-Line Coaches (6) and Special Teams Coaches (5). If this is some record then I am bummed I own it. With rapid reports of Kiffin’s imminent firing (before KC/after KC/this Monday/next Sunday/bye week) the streak stays alive. While I believe Kiffin is wrong to talk about private, professional turmoil to anyone who is going to print it, I also don’t think firing him is going to help the Raiders in any way. Fire a coach and the air around the facility starts to reek of frustration, apathy and anger.
Of course it’s not ideal–it’s not even sane on some levels–but when you’re the owner, it’s your right to hire and fire as you please. Kiffin forgot this is Mr. Davis’ team. Mr. Davis forgot turbulence rarely translates well. I’ve tried to stay pretty Zen about it, as disappointing as it is. Some of you have not. And before the chest puffing and fist pumping over who loves the Raiders the most commences (because I don’t doubt that you do), ask yourself the following questions: Have I wished the owner dead? Have I threatened to pummel Kiffin into a lifeless, bloody heap? Did I say if given the chance, I’d take a tube sock and a roll of nickels to Rob Ryan’s temple? Do I find myself surprised and/or disappointed by personal fouls and (alleged) DUI’s? Have I screamed at a player/fellow fan/family member/pet so violently I needed a Zoloft, a bourbon and my blankie?
If this sounds like you, it’s time to push back from the keyboard, recycle the newspapers, turn off the NFL Network and find something else to do. It may even be time to find something else to love. Because this much is true: This is the Raider way. Mr. Davis owns the Raiders. Lane Kiffin probably never wanted to coach here. The refs actually don’t have it out for this team. Players with limited self-control will continue to be limited by their self-control. If you’re unhappy with the product, stop wasting your time, money and energy on it. Unless you’ve got $800 million or so, things probably aren’t going to go the way you want. I had to accept I wasn’t going to have the same coaches for more than a couple seasons at a time. I had to accept when things were bad because it taught me to appreciate when things were good. I played with some real dummies and some guys I wished I could be like. I loved football and football loved me back. But I also walked away with the knowledge that The Raiders, though highly entertaining and deeply loved Is Not Life. Once you accept all of the above maybe you can start loving football simply for what it is.
By Adam Treu
Posted September 23, 2008
The Tighter You Squeeze, The Less You Have
Bugel, Gruden, Callahan, Turner, Shell, Rowan, Callahan, Kroemer, Colletto, Eatman, Slater, Tillman, Ganz, Casullo, Avezzano, Daisher. In my ten seasons with the Raiders, this is the list of my Head Coaches (5), O-Line Coaches (6) and Special Teams Coaches (5). If this is some record then I am bummed I own it. With rapid reports of Kiffin’s imminent firing (before KC/after KC/this Monday/next Sunday/bye week) the streak stays alive. While I believe Kiffin is wrong to talk about private, professional turmoil to anyone who is going to print it, I also don’t think firing him is going to help the Raiders in any way. Fire a coach and the air around the facility starts to reek of frustration, apathy and anger.
Of course it’s not ideal–it’s not even sane on some levels–but when you’re the owner, it’s your right to hire and fire as you please. Kiffin forgot this is Mr. Davis’ team. Mr. Davis forgot turbulence rarely translates well. I’ve tried to stay pretty Zen about it, as disappointing as it is. Some of you have not. And before the chest puffing and fist pumping over who loves the Raiders the most commences (because I don’t doubt that you do), ask yourself the following questions: Have I wished the owner dead? Have I threatened to pummel Kiffin into a lifeless, bloody heap? Did I say if given the chance, I’d take a tube sock and a roll of nickels to Rob Ryan’s temple? Do I find myself surprised and/or disappointed by personal fouls and (alleged) DUI’s? Have I screamed at a player/fellow fan/family member/pet so violently I needed a Zoloft, a bourbon and my blankie?
If this sounds like you, it’s time to push back from the keyboard, recycle the newspapers, turn off the NFL Network and find something else to do. It may even be time to find something else to love. Because this much is true: This is the Raider way. Mr. Davis owns the Raiders. Lane Kiffin probably never wanted to coach here. The refs actually don’t have it out for this team. Players with limited self-control will continue to be limited by their self-control. If you’re unhappy with the product, stop wasting your time, money and energy on it. Unless you’ve got $800 million or so, things probably aren’t going to go the way you want. I had to accept I wasn’t going to have the same coaches for more than a couple seasons at a time. I had to accept when things were bad because it taught me to appreciate when things were good. I played with some real dummies and some guys I wished I could be like. I loved football and football loved me back. But I also walked away with the knowledge that The Raiders, though highly entertaining and deeply loved Is Not Life. Once you accept all of the above maybe you can start loving football simply for what it is.