Strictly Opinion Pt.3

The raiders have been quite the anomaly to see this 2014-2015 season... , nearly riding a complete losing season however securing 2 wins, not that it really makes a difference in the long run. The Oakland Raiders are having a fantastically terrible season, the Oakland Raiders sitting on a losing record of 2-11, so what is the problem with this team.


Evidently it all may begin with coaching, primarily in the head coaching spot. Tony Sparano has yet to lead or direct the raiders to a season where they make the play-offs, however he has only recently started coaching the Raiders, its apparently clear that his coaching tactics aren't working. While hes also head coach, he is the positional coach for the offensive lineman, ironically enough the Raiders offensive line (consisting of LT- Donald Penn LG- Gabe Jackson C- Setefen Wisniewski RG- Austin Howard RT- Khalif Barnes) isn't exactly the dream team, allowing 20 sacks this season, ultimately not being a terrible statistic but not outstanding. The offensive line evidently cannot seem to push through good blocks as the Raiders average only about 3.6 yards per play, and their passing game lacks consistency with quarterback Derek Carr. The Raiders have put up 2,862 yards through the air this season, along with 15 interceptions.


But obviously we cant blame all the loss on the offence that just poorly produces trips to the red-zone with an outcome more than a field goal, that saying they even make it to the red-zone before giving up a turnover. However the defense definitely has some serious flaws and kinks within it. Charles Woodson, Sio Moore, and Miles Burris sit on top of the tackle chart with some pretty lopsided statistics, while the rest of the defense falls behind. While they've had their fair share of good play on defense and held some teams to only a couple touchdowns, they are failing to provide enough resilience to make sure that there offence outscores the opponents.


There are also several other factors that may add to the atrocious 2014-2015 season of the raiders such as injuries, inter-personal problems between players and so on. Of course we can also factor in that the Raiders don't exactly have an all star roster on their hands, their playing with a rookie Quarterback, and receivers who don't have much to really show for. Sure they got a couple studs on defense like Charles Woodson but it takes 11 guys on the field to make things happen, not 1.


Clearly the raiders aren't winning many more games, so they should be looking forward to having a first round pick if they finish behind Jacksonville which is pretty likely. So the question that rises is what do they really need? What's going to make that offence flare, receiver? Running Back? a Guard!?










                              

Bernier's Nelson Mandela Fiasco

On Friday December 5th the Toronto Raptors honored and commemorated Nelson Mandela through an event called "The Giant of Africa". The event memorialized the first anniversary of Nelson Mandela's death. The Raptors aimed to monument Mandela through their game against the Cavaliers, beginning with wearing special warm up gear, and memorable videos.


Most definitely the highlight of the night came from Toronto Maple Leafs goalie, Jonathan Bernier. Bernier was interviewed regarding Nelson Mandela, a superior athlete who he allegedly grew up watching. The interview went rather poorly as Bernier appeared to have absolutely no idea what Nelson Mandela was truly being remembered and celebrated for.

Reporter1 (Sports Net mic): Alright Jonathan, how important is, uh, the legacy of Nelson Mandela to you?

JB: Well obviously he’s been, uh, a tremendous, uh, athlete and you know obviously what, uh, he means to all the sports you know when you know the worl- the world can uh be changed by the sports it’s pretty amazing. And I think he’s definitely uh got a lot of respect in every sports and uh he’s definitely one of the athletes I watched growing up as well.

Reporter1’s mic disappears from frame

Reporter2: Why is it important for you to come show support tonight?

JB: Well I think any good cause is, uh, sorry (he’s apologizing to someone to the left of the screen, not sure who/why), it’s always, uh, you know I love supporting, uh, any kind of cause obviously it’s for the Afri-, in Africa it’s obviously it’s, uh, a great cause, and enjoying, I guess, the basketball game.

Reporter2: Thanks.

Posted By Greg Wyshynski (https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/jonathan-bernier-clueless-about-nelson-mandela-at-nelson-mandela-event-215605061.html)

Painfully clear in the interview, Bernier comes across as completely clueless towards the legacy of Nelson Mandela, only stating that he was a great world renowned athlete that he grew up watching, which would also be false as Bernier was born when Mandela was at the age of 70, and I don't think Mandela was exactly a senior athlete.

Now obviously the media likes to inflate situations like this that aren't exactly extremely important, and frankly I don't find it a big deal that he's going to be ridiculed for not knowing one of the worlds great men. Its probable that there was plenty more people watching that basketball game, and supporting that event, that had no idea what Mandela really did for the world. Simply put a lot of people just don't know the history of humanity, and is it really that big of a deal for one person to either have a brain fart on camera or just not know. Generally, no, to me it isn't.

Media has done well at inflating the situation and systematically make Bernier look like a heartless jerk. Truthfully, just because Bernier made a single mistake regarding a heroic figure, doesn't really make him any less of a person. Its just pretty crystal clear he's not a history major

Ray Rice Back in the NFL?

WHAT!? Was precisely my exact reaction to the fact that Ray Rice has been allowed to resume play in the NFL, after assaulting his wife within an Atlanta Casino elevator, Ray Rice was suspended from the NFL until further exemption from the Commissioner, which has been given!


A few questions arise form this situation, and new conflicts arise between the more critical thinkers of sports. Realistically the problem of improper consequence has been brought forward. As I've stated in an earlier blog about the punishment of Major League Athletes, many people are suffering greater consequence for something much more minor than the domestic abuse case of Ray Rice.


Who is generally taking interest in picking up Ray Rice now that he's free and up for the taking. Its been stated in the media that 4 teams seem to be interested in taking Ray Rice onto their roster, two of them being the Indianapolis Colts, who doesn't have an extremely strong running game but rather a strong passing game, and the New Orleans Saints. Clearly he's got the experience and the skill to play in the NFL, so its possible that his addition to the right team can be quite a dramatic change for their running game.


Is he prone to do something like this again? The likelihood of the situation is that he probably wont do it again, or something relatedly punishable. The close call in losing his spot in the NFL while only being in his 20's, call for some fear in the athlete. Their source of fame, income and respect is eliminated ultimately simulating a nightmare for any experienced NFL player like Ray Rice.


The cherry on top of all of this is that Ray Rice is going to allegedly sue the NFL for a butt-load of money and the likelihood of it is that he's probably going to win. Now with the amount of money hell earn form that, he wont really have to worry about playing in the NFL anymore, but will his love of the game overcome his desire to sue the NFL?