Monday Kickstart: A Kinda New Day

The archaic laws of this country are slowly changing to adapt to modern day science and education. The key word there being "slowly."



One of the many reasons I'd like to hit the PowerBall: To have enough money that I wouldn't have to worry about getting caught up by pointless laws like those that criminalize marijuana use. Maybe one day we'll just admit that even the most powerful people in America, the people whose dollars operate the strings on the politicians who make the laws, like to toke up. And we'll all just move on. Maybe.

Time for this week's inspiration. There are many things I look for in the lady who I choose as the week's Kickstart model. Poise. Sophistication. Elegance. A bangin' body and a face that could launch a thousand ships to war. This week's choice, Ms. Terann Hilow, certainly has ample amounts of all of that. But what put her over the top is posing in an Oakland Raiders bikini:

As a lifelong Raiders fan, I can say without hesitation that this is the best that shield has looked for over a decade. Let's go.

It's Friday

Time to shine...

Respect My Gangsta: Raider Nation

It's almost December, and once again we Raider fans are running out of reasons to smile. Here's one (my boy Iso with the assist):

Chief Smack-a-ho

It was a rough one for my boys in Silver & Black yesterday. With all of the hype—which is new for most of these players, especially those that've endured the last several seasons—that has been come their way in recent weeks, and the lull of last week's bye, I was afraid they weren't going to be ready for a road game like this. And, sure enough, they weren't.

But, if nothing else, the game had one redeeming moment. Mr. Seymour, the nation thanks you for doing what the rest of us have been wanting to do for years.

Young Baller

This is a great piece from ESPN and ABC. Jailen Cooper, I'm proud to be a fellow member of Raider Nation with you.



[Side note: McFadden didn't take a dive in this piece -- it's just that easy to tackle him. Anyone who's watched an Oakland game over the last couple of years will attest.]

Mike Mitchell's 'bout to Get His Grown Man On

Most of you probably have no idea who Mitchell is. And of those of you who do, many of you have already written him off. But that's okay. Because Mitchell, taken in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL Draft by my beloved Oakland Raiders, likes the hate. He feeds off it, like any focused man does. And he's determined to earn your attention and respect.

And ultimately, your love.

Here's a good article from ESPN.com by Jeffri Chadiha:

But here's what we all have to remember about Mitchell: He now has more reasons than ever before to prove himself in the NFL. He has the same hopes and desires and -- if you talk to him long enough -- as much heart as any other player in this class. It doesn't matter that few people outside the Mid-American Conference knew his name before Saturday or that he went much higher than expected in the draft. It only matters what he does with the chance Davis has given him.

That's why Mitchell can't wait to start his pro career.

The full article can be read here. And, as a special bonus, below is Mitchell's highlight film. I can't wait to see him start laying out opposing team's receivers and backs the way he does it here.

Javon Walker: Doomed by Fate?

In recent years, Javon Walker has shown a consistent problem with being in the wrong place at the wrong time: beginning with the shooting which took the life of friend (and then teammate) Darrent Williams, carrying through his beating and robbery in Las Vegas yesterday, and eventually into his 2008 roster spot in Oakland.

Walker is coming to the Raiders at a less-than-beneficial time for both parties. His career, which has looked very promising at times, is currently in limbo, thanks to recent a knee injury which sidelined him for most of the 2007 season. This was his second major knee injury in the last 3 seasons, and has raised concerns over his durability. To best recover from a major injury and overcome the criticisms that it will naturally provoke, a receiver needs to be on a team whose offense is dependable without him, and potentially undeniable with him. Oakland is most certainly not that team: their offensive production last year, while a vast improvement over 2006’s abysmal showing, was wildly hit-or-miss. An improved running game provided the most firepower, but even this aspect frequently struggled against mediocre defenses (Green Bay, for instance, ranked only 14th at season’s end, allowing opponents an average of 102 yards per game; however, in a 12/9 meeting at Lambeau, they bottled up the Raider rushers, holding them to only 85 yards on 28 carries). The passing attack, already unreliable, lost a valuable target in Jerry Porter, who signed with Jacksonville in February. Now add into this stew the fact that 2008 is to be the first full season under center for super-soph JaMarcus Russell, and you’ve got a team that will be looking to Walker to make a large contribution to their overall success.

Not to mention, he’ll be making $27 million over the first three years of his contract, $16 million of which is guaranteed. You could say that there is a lot of weight on his shoulders; but, everyone knows that heavy lifting is done with the knees.