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| Let's talk about Sports |
| Some of you know what an avid sports fan I am. I love to watch them, play them, read about them. My favorites are either Basketball or Football, depends on the time of the season, followed boxing then Soccer. I'm a casual fan of Baseball, (watch only the important games), don't watch much hockey nor any other sport after baseball on my list; however, I play 'em all. If I've never played it, it's only because I haven't been introduced to it, but I'm game to play anytime. Well, here's the two teams I follow the closest and my favorite things about them. |
| THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS |
| THE OAKLAND RAIDERS |
| Well, what can one say about the Lakers, a top notch organization commited to winning from ownership down to waterboy. They are approaching the status of greatest organization in pro sports. Although they do have quite a ways to go to catch up to the Yankees, they're in prime position to catch the Celtics with their current roster. They balance profitability with winning, whichis great for the league and owners like Paul Allen should take heed rather than make his organization a money losing venture because you know he's not going to run them for the rest of his life. Anyway, I got into the Lakers from the Showtime days, Earvin "Magic" Johnson is my favorite basketball player ever, but some of other greats (imprinted in my memory) to have donned Lakers gear are: Big George Mikan Jerry West Elgin Baylor Wilt "the stilt" Chamberlain Kareem Abdul Jabbar James Worthy Shaquille O'neal Kobe Bryant I won't even list the other greats who were just a notch below stars since I'd insult too many players, especially from those 80's teams and the early 70's teams, 60's teams and the 50's teams, hell even the 90's teams had some very good players still contributing at good levels for other teams now. Considering where the Lakers drafted while I've been a fan, they've only once been part of the lottery and yet have managed to draft some pretty impressive players for their position in the draft. Jerry West was the catalyst of this current Lakers team and he is by far, in my mind the best GM any team has ever had, I'm praying he doesn't go to another team, even though others are making offers. Can you imagine him making moves for the Boston Celtics? No way. "Logo", was, is, and always will be a Laker. For those that don't know, he's the Logo for the NBA. |
| The Raidahs, Silver and Black. The only NFL team to have a rivalry with each of its division oponents and many teams outside of the division as well. The team people love to hate. A storied franchise with 3Superbowl Championships, but unfortunately none in the recent future. I first became aware of football in '82 , but didn't pay attention, the superbowl between Miami and Washington was the first recolection I have, so I followed it somewhat the following year....guess what happened that year. The "Los Angeles" Raiders beat Washington in the Superbowl, so naturally me being from L.A. the hype surrounding the win, it just made sense that the Raiders would become my team. And Marcus Allen became my favorite football player ever, (191 yards in the superbowl, a record back then, plus a 74 yard jaunt from the line of scrimmage to the end zone, in which he had to reverse his field, (that record still holds today). When Al Davis betrayed the team motto by forcing coaches to play other RB's ahead of Marcus, I had had it w/ Al. He betrayed the team, Marcus eventually left for Kansas City to play and the Raiders fell from grace, the fall actually started as Al became too stubborn to follow the phrase he coined: "Just Win, Baby" and also "Commitment to Excellence", Al showed no commitment and brought RB after Rb to attempt to replace Marcus. Eric Dickerson, Roger Craig, Greg Bell, but none could fill his spot, and the Raiders continued to lose. Anyway, my heart stayed loyal to Marcus. He's a Raider through and through, and I still hoped the Raiders would beat everybody, but the the Chiefs because I wanted Al to remember and seethe with anger for his mistake, I wanted it to haunt him so he'll never think of himself bigger than the team again. Well, the Raiders never did beat the Chiefs during Marcus' tenure in KC and I was happy about it, but now that Marcus has retired, my cheering is back on the Raiders side; however, with a weary attitude on Al Davis, hoping he'll retire from his position soon. He was once great, but now like all old men with once great power, he has turned into another Monty Burns, an eccentric dillusional old man, and he kind of looks like the old version of the vampire in Bram Stokers Dracula. Anyway, some of my favorite players (or legends, other than Marcus Allen) that have donned the Silver and Black are: George Blanda Jim Plunkett John Matuzak Lyle Alzado Fred Belitnikoff Howie Long Tim Brown Lester Hayes Gene Uphsaw Art Shell Ken "the Snake" Stabler The Stork |
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