The situation in Oakland would be hilarious if it weren’t so damned tragic. And though we’ve generally laughed at suggestions that the NFL should seize control of the franchise for the good of the league, we’re starting to think that maybe a hostile takeover would be a good idea.
Here’s the latest development. With vultures circling the still-coaching carcass of Lane Kiffin, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News nearly got into a fight with Raiders exec John Herrera, one of the few members of the organization with whom owner Al Davis is now speaking.
By way of background, someone from the Raiders distributed to members of the local media last week a hard copy of an ESPN.com article that was critical of Kiffin. It is widely believed that Herrera is the person who distributed the article, and ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on Sunday that the article was disseminated at the express direction of Al Davis.
The video of Monday’s incident is pasted below. The good stuff comes after Kiffin is finished speaking.
All we can say is wow.
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September 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
And who says the Raiders are dysfunctional?
And WOW. I feel bad for the guys drafted for the Raiders, because they never had the choice.
But nothing for the guys who chose to go there. I can’t believe they are a professional team, because I have not seen anything professional from them for years.
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 10 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Kawakami better watch himself in the parking lot.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
They didn’t almost fight. They were just stuntin’ and frontin’.
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Rating: 4.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
will someone please smack that little bitch kawasaki and get this over with -
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Rating: 1.7 / 5 with 12 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
just words, just speeches
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Awesome.
“I’m not embarassing myself, I’m embarassing that, that, that you don’t know how to write a column without making up a lie.” (or something close to that) Comedy gold.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Imagine if the team had that much intensity…
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Owner Contolled Media? A silenced opposition?
Al Davis would make a great third world dictator.
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Maybe if the Raiders had that much fire on the field, they wouldn’t have to have these type of pressers!
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
The Raiders are my second favorite team. Sucks that they’ll never go anywhere or do anything until Al Davis dies.
As for this dude, shoving your finger in some dude’s face who’s like a foot shorter than you is pretty weakass. Pretty dumb too, if he’s part of the MEDIA.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Come on.. I am not a Raiders fan, but have the NFL take control of the team?
The Raiders have been a bad team for awhile and Davis has done alot of strange things, but Florio they have been to 5 Superbowls and won 3. If you want the league to take control of them, then the League should take over the Lions,Cardinals and the Bengals. When was the last time any of them has done anything? Detroit has been difunctional for decades. The Cardinals got a cheap owner who moved his team out of St.Louis because he could not get a new stadium, and moved to Arizona and has done nothing but steal money from the fans. And what have the Bengals done? They have one of the cheapest owners in football and have more conflict with Law enforcement and players than anyone ever has. Like I said before, I am not a Raiders fan.. But, at least they have a owner who is willing to spend his money and tries to compete. If he wants to change coaches then let it be.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
That guy was valedictorian of the Al Davis School of Debate.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
“Get your hands off me.” What a little bitch Herrera is!
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Rating: 3.3 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Herrera is out of line.
He needs a fine from the league for that conduct.
Obviously Al won’t do it.
Who’s captaining the Raiders ship..?
I like writer Kawakami’s line best:
“Go Ahead.
I would like very much to own a part of this franchise!”
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Car RamRod says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Maybe if the Raiders had that much fire on the field, they wouldn’t have to have these type of pressers!
———–
We are down a tackle. He looks the size. With the fire we can stop LT next week.
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Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
As a Redskins fan, its been a while since I was more embarrassed for another team’s front office.
Thanks Raiders!
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Old men who try and act tough in public are pathetic. Especially when they’re obviously wrong and haven’t learned how to handle embarrassment/frustration any better than a teenager.
At some point ole Al is going to have to cut his losses and ease into a comfortable retirement, sooner the better for everybody…
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
@3amigosalute Every journalist is trained in that most simple of complete flip-out inducing moves: “There, there, Herrera, we all know you’re a lying scumbag that wants to beat the shit out of me –and could– but you’re killing your own organization by interrupting the press conference like a jackass and threatening me now, go ahead touch me, I dare ya.”
Of course, every exec should be trained to not take the bait too. But not in Al Davis’s house.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
How is anyone still shocked by any of this??
It’s the Raiduhs…..Al’s nuts…No Sh!t…
Many stories are true and many are made up and run with..
Raider fans don’t care..
Al needs to get his sh!t together but he also gave us the rings
many teams just get to look at today….
Times are tough, but many teams have easier times and ZERO success…EVER…
Right now the Dolts are winning….But yet they’ve never won anything important…Like many other teams..
Hey Al pull it together, but then again thanks for the rings.
GFY haters.
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Rating: 1.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Kawakami should file a complaint with the League. Herrera must think he’s in some bar scene from his favorite 70s movie … “Hey, Punk - let’s take it outside!”
Can’t believe NFL HQ and NFL Security think too kindly to Herrera making an ASS out of himself and making the League look like it shelters overweight has beens. Oh, wait … isn’t that what ESPN is for? (all apologies to Tom Jackson, who’s the exception)
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Actually, that clip is better than tonight’s game. Zzzzz….
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Maybe Herrera can hire Drew Rosenhaus to be his agent.
Next question …
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
As messed up as the team is, all I can say is that I am glad that Javon Walker plays for the Raiders. He has been a first class asshole his whole career so it looks like he finally found a home.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I do feel Kawakami’s leading him on, although that’s what some journalists do.
However Herrera being a media guy should’ve known better to act out in front of the entire press. What an idiot at the job.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
AUUGGHH!!! They took it down before I got to see it! Quick, someone point me to another link!
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