Raider Nation Moans Loss Of Commander-In-Chief

Davis was hard-nosed, but he knew what it
took to be a winner.

Saturday marked a truly sad day for the National Football League along with Raider Nation with the unexpected passing of their legendary owner, Al Davis.

Davis, 82, died peacefully in his Oakland home, the team said. But the cause of death has yet to be determined and released to the public.

With the passing of one of the most important figures in sports history, we now have time to reflect on what a remarkable life it really was.

Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, Davis began his coaching career working for several different colleges, highlighted by his time as the offensive line coach for the University of Southern California. He worked his way up the ranks and finally had his talent and hard work noticed by an AFL team, the Los Angeles Chargers, who would eventually become what we know now today as the San Diego Chargers.

In 1960, he was hired as the Chargers assistant coach and held that position until the end of the 1962 season.

He would be wooed by the Oakland Raiders and quickly be named their head coach and general manager in 1963, brining his newly learned vertical and West Coast offense up North. That is when he become the leader of the silver and black, a position he would never relinquish. It was then he would assume an image that would define him for nearly a half century.

His first year on the job he would be named the AFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 10-4 record.

Three years deep into his coaching career, Davis decided it was time for a new project and was named the AFL's Commissioner in 1966, making the league immensely more popular and essentially got it on the map. Despite knowing the merger between the NFL and AFL was inevitable, he resigned as commissioner and instead bought owner's stake in the Raiders.

While Davis may have been against the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, he was an instrumental part to making that possible with the way he boosted the AFL.

The Raiders won the 1967 AFL Championship, giving them a chance to play in only the second Super Bowl in history. Oakland was outplayed by Vince Lombardi's defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, losing 33-14. Oakland would lose back-to-back AFL Championships the following two seasons, having to wait almost a decade to get back to the big game.

Prior to the merger, Davis named his homegrown linebackers coach, John Madden, as the team's sixth head coach. Following his employment in 1969, Madden would rapidly make a name for himself after bringing home six division titles over a ten year coaching span.

In 1972, Davis would assume principal ownership of the team and remain their general manager. A position he held all the way up until his death.

It would be in 1976 that Davis and Co. would capture their first AFC Championship and return to the Super Bowl. The Raiders trounced the Minnesota Vikings at the Rose Bowl in Super Bowl XI, 32-14 for their first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Madden. left and Davis both brought home
Oakland first Super Bowl title.

That would be the only Super Bowl title in Madden's career as he opted for retirement following the 1978 season, but that was just the beginning for Davis.

After hiring the first Latino head coach in NFL history, Tom Flores, Davis, who is also responsible for hiring the first African American head coach of the modern era, Art Shell in 1989, got his team back to the Super Bowl in 1980. There they dismantled the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10.

Then in 1982, Davis abruptly moved the team down south to Los Angeles.

In only the team's second year in Los Angeles, the Raiders were in another Super Bowl. This time they would face the Washington Redskins, but it yielded the same results. Los Angeles bulled through Washington which at the time the biggest point differential in Super Bowl history, 38-9.

Davis decided to move the team back to Oakland in 1995, where they still reside today.

Just like every man's success there is bound to be his share of failures and there was plenty of that during the iconic owner's tenure. In 1980, Davis angered his own fan base when he traded away Super Bowl winning quarterback Ken Stabler to the Houston Oilers. He is the one also responsible for Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen playing the final five years of his career for the division rival Kansas City Chiefs.

Prior to the 1998 season, Davis in what was a questionable move at the time hired a 34-year-old head coach by the name of Jon Gruden.  But he silenced his critics as it turned out to be a brilliant move with Gruden developing into one of the games premiere head coaches. It didn't last long, at least in Oakland.

In what could be the worse move under his tenure, Davis promptly decided to trade Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2001-02 season. In the deal the Raiders received Tampa Bay's 2002 and 2003 first-round draft picks along with their 2002 and 2004 second-round draft picks and $8 million cash.

This would be a move that would forever haunt Davis and his franchise.

Oakland met their former head coach and Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, the last Super Bowl appearance of Davis' career. There they would stomped by a Hall of Fame type defense and lose 48-21, giving Gruden the revenge he always deserved.

Following that Super Bowl loss, the Raiders would reel off eight straight losing seasons and never allowing Davis see his team back atop the NFL.

Three of those seasons where due to the poor and inconsistent play of former NFL quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was drafted by Davis with the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Many believe it was the worst pick in the draft's seventy-five year history.

During Davis' tenure with the Raiders, they accumulated 411-312-11 record during the regular season. Those 411 wins are second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys since 1963. His postseason record consisted of a 25-18 mark with three Super Bowl rings to show for it. Oakland also was able to capture 16 division titles and four AFC Championships under his watch.

Davis was often seen wearing
 his trademark white jumpsuit.

Davis will always been one of the most controversial and misunderstood sports figures of his generation. His thick Brooklyn accent, slicked backed hair, dark rectangular rimmed glasses with the chain woven around his neck, and his all white jumpsuit will the images many remember him by, but his legacy is far more different.

The man was a winner and an opportunist. He turned a sub par franchise into one of the most recognizable in the world, whether they are beloved are not is a different story.

He was an innovator and visionary of the game. His sometimes unconventional ways will always go undervalued and misconstrued.

When nobody else was willing to take a chance on you, he would.

He leaves behind an unfillable legacy and shoes with a lifetime of achievements. The NFL might quite never be the same.

The 1992 Hall of Fame inductee achieved every level of success in the game and his understanding and passion for football go unmatched. His "Just Win Baby" attitude will forever live in Raider lore without there being any question who really bled silver and black.

Davis was truly committed to excellence.

ALCS Preview: Detroit Roars Into Texas

After one of the most exciting first rounds in recent memory with three decisive Game 5's, it's on to the League Championship Series with some of baseball's most historic franchise's.


Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers:
The last time these two teams were in the ALCS, they both advanced to the World Series, but came up short in five games. In 2006, the Tigers launched to the Fall Classic thanks to the bat of Magglio Ordonez, but it was the inability of their pitchers to make plays off the mound that saw the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate their tenth World Series title. As the Rangers, they are the defending American League champions and trying to have avenge last seasons World Series loss to the pitching packed San Francisco Giants.

Detroit battled through a tough five game series with the New York Yankees, who had the AL's best record in 2011, much like they did in '06. Manager Jim Leyland chose not to pitch his ace Justin Verlander in a decisive game, which would have quite a stir if the Tigers would have lost in the Bronx. Instead, Leyland's decision looks genius as this flame throwing right-hander is set to pitch Game 1 of the ALCS.

Leyland clearly out managed Joe Girardi in
the ALDS and could do the same to Ron
Washington.

It will need to be the pitching that carries this Tigers team through the postseason's second round if they want to slow down the Rangers' high octane offense. Detroit had yet to lose a game this season when leading after eight innings. That can be contributed to arguably the best closer in baseball this season, Jose Valverde. "Paper Grande" as they call him was a perfect 49 for 49 in save opportunities during the regular year and has saved both games asked of him this postseason.

The Rangers will need to score early and often if they want different results at the end of games.

Don't forget about the Tigers offense which was one of the best in the majors in 2011. After yet another MVP caliber year by Miguel Cabrera and a late September surge that won him his second career batting title, he will be the main focus of the heavily left-handed pitching staff in Arlington. Victor Martinez was among the best in the majors with runners in scoring position and the rejuvenated bat of Jhonny Peralta could loom large in this best-of-seven showdown.

Despite all their recent offensive success, it's the bat of late season acquisition Delmon Young, who hit a franchise record three home runs in the ALDS, that will be sorely missed. Young was left off Detroit's roster after suffering an oblique injury late in Game 5 against the Yankees.

Texas is coming off their thrilling series with the Tampa Bay Rays in which they beat them for the second straight year in the ALDS. With their offense struggling most of the series, offseason acquisitions Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli caught fire. In the series-clinching Game 4, Beltre hammered three home runs while Napoli became the first catcher in postseason history to hit a home run, steal a base and throw a runner out in the same game, that coming in Game 3.


The Rangers survived the first round after a relatively quiet series from three of their main sluggers, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz. Maybe with a trip back to World Series in their sights will ignite their unusually subtle bats.

Ogando is one of the few pitchers that had

success against the Tigers in 2011.

Ron Washington's bullpen is even stronger than last season with the addition of Alexi Ogando. The hard throwing righty, who was responsible for all three of Texas's wins this season against Detroit, started most of the season for the Rangers, but has translated well back to the bullpen and could be a difference maker with Neftali Feliz still slamming the door shut in the ninth.

Poised with three young talented left-handed starters, the Rangers rotation will need to be on their game to hold down a heavy right-hander hitting offense in the Motor City.

Detroit won the season series with Texas six games to three, taking two out of three in all three series they played in 2011. But the postseason is a whole new season where anything can happen.

DET X-Factor: Jim Leyland


TEX X-Factor: Alexi Ogando


Detroit in Six

Carving Up Bats Like a Carpenter

A Fist To The Face

Fister was the steal of this years July 31st
trade dealine.

Heading into hallow yet treacherous territory, the Detroit Tigers entered Yankee Stadium with an abundance of confidence not only in themselves, but in their lanky right-hander Doug Fister.

After having a forgettable what was technically a relief outing in Game 1 of the series, Fister was absolutely brilliant in the biggest game of his career, throwing five high stress but gritty innings against the heavily powered New York Yankee lineup.

Back-to-back home runs off the bats of Don Kelly and Delmon Young in the first gave Detroit the early momentum, something they never relinquished.

Both of those home runs came off New York's rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, a 16-game winner during the regular season. Nova would only make it through the first two innings, leaving the game what was said to be forearm tightness, causing manager Joe Girardi to dip into his bullpen soon than he would have liked.

Phil Hughes and the often used Boone Logan got the Yankees through the third and fourth with two scoreless innings combined, giving the Bronx Bombers a chance to inch closer in the home half of the fourth.

New York loaded the bases and with only one out and catcher Russell Martin stepping to the plate. Girardi's squad had plenty of success this season with the bases full. Not only did the his team lead the majors with 222 home runs during the regular, but 10 of those were good enough for grand slams, also leading the majors. Three came in an 22-9 rout of the Oakland Athletics in a game back in August, setting a major league record.

Fister got Martin to pop to the infield, putting the infield fly rule in affect immediately and then after falling behind 3-1 in the count to the speedster Brett Gardner, the 6-foot-8 Fister got Gardner to pop up to Kelly at third in foul territory, ending the threat and preserving his 2-0 lead.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland stated before the game that his ace and this year's front-runner for the AL Cy Young Justin Verlander was unavailable out of the bullpen. That was not the case for New York as their ace C.C. Sabathia came to the mound in the fifth.

After allowing a leadoff double to Austin Jackson, Sabathia struck out back-to-back batters for the innings first two outs. Faced with the tough decision to pitch to 2011 batting champion Miguel Cabrera with a base open, Girardi opted to walk Cabrera and face Victor Martinez, who led the majors with a .394 average with RISP.

Martinez made them pay with an RBI single right back up the box, tacking on an insurance run that would prove to be costly.

Cano quickly responded with his second home run of the series, cutting the lead back to two, 3-1.

Fister lasted only the five innings, but is the obvious steal of this years July 31st trading deadline not only because of his 8-1 record since the trade to Detroit, but after pitching the most important game of his career and delivering on baseball's biggest stage.

General Manager Dave Dombroski deserves a lot credit for some of his deadline acquisitions and success of this Tiger club.

Leyland turned the game over to his bullpen and rather than Verlander it would be another starter emerging from the pen. Max Scherzer, who pitched a masterful Game 2 in the Bronx, was ready for more. And after a relatively clean first inning of relief, Scherzer gave way to set-up man Joaquin Benoit in the seventh.

Benoit was greeted by a little bit of gamesmanship after being asked by the Yankees to remove an over sized bandage on the left side of his face because of the distraction it might cause to the hitters. There is no question it rattled the Santiago native and Detroit found the bases loaded once again with only one out, giving the Yankees their final shot at a comeback.

The right-hander got Alex Rodriguez on strucks and after forcing in a run with a walk to Mark Teixeria, Benoit deposed of Nick Swisher on a fastball that appeared to be out of the strike zone, somehow maneuvering his way out of trouble with a 3-2 lead.

New York had one last glimpse of hope in the bottom of the eighth. With Gardner at first and two outs, Derek Jeter launched a deep drive to right field only to see in settle into the glove of Kelly just shy of the wall.

I bet Jeter and Yankee fans were asking, where's Jeffrey Maier when you need him?

Rodriguez batted .111 this postseason,
without an extra-base hit.

In the ninth, Detroit called upon closer Jose Valverde, who said the series would not even come back to New York days earlier, pitched a perfect inning, getting Rodriguez to struck out. It was the second straight year Rodriguez had struck out to end the Yankees' season.

When that final out was recorded, longtime Yankee icon Jorge Posada, who batted .429 in the series and got on base eleven times, watched from the top step of the dugout in disbelief. It has been said with his contract expiring and youngsters ready to take the next step, that could have very well been the finally game for Posada in that trademark pinstripe information.

If in fact that becomes the case, the final memory Yankee fans will have of Posada is not the weak ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta he hit in his final at-bat as a Yankee, but the true professionalism and class he showed for seventeen years.

Now the Tigers are right where the want to be, their ace on the mound for Game 1 of the ALCS Saturday night in Rangers Ballpark in Arilington, while New Yorkers experience another failed season.

Maybe Girardi should ask Benoit for a band-aid to help heal the wounds.

Fishing For A Quarterback

Welcome Back, Robin

Forever Young

The "Tat Man" came up huge with the teams
second grand slam in as many nights.

A night after salvaging their season and denying the Milwaukee Brewers a NLDS sweep, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made baseball fans everywhere believers in their 10-6 Game 4 victory Wednesday, forcing a decisive Game 5 Friday night in Miller Park.

It was the gutsy managing of the gritty first-year skipper Kirk Gibson and big lumber of his offense that have kept Arizona's season alive.

Milwaukee got out of the gate quickly with a first inning run off starter Joe Saunders, but the lefty was able to induce an inning-ending double play off the bat of the slugging Rickie Weeks to limit the damage. Carrying the momentum into the bottom of the inning, Arizona promptly loaded the bases against veteran south paw Randy Wolf with only one out.

Rookie Paul Goldschmidt, who became only the third rookie in postseason history to hit a grand slam Wednesday, struck out on four pitches, sucking the air out of the Phoenix crowd. But it was the big thump from one of the littlest guys on the field that sent out the biggest roar of the night.

Ryan Roberts or the "Tat Man" as they call him hit a no-doubt grand slam into the Diamondbacks' bullpen, picking up his rookie teammate by turning a one run deficit into a three run advantage.

Arizona is now only the second team in postseason history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games, joining the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers, who did it that year in the NLCS against the Fightin' Philadelphia Phillies.

The D-backs were among the majors best with three ducks on the pond in 2011. They led the league with a .387 average and ranked third in grand slams with six behind only the New York Yankees (10) and the Florida Marlins (7).

Center fielder Chris Young followed with a home run of his own, capping a five-run first inning.

While Roberts and Young are responsible for hitting the home runs, it was the decision making of their manager that put them in that position. Prior to the game Gibson made a change to his starting lineup, flip-flopping Roberts and Young, thinking it might ignite a spark and boy did it ever.

But it might have been Gibson's ingenious move in the bottom of third that may have changed their fate this postseason.

With the Brewers slowly chipping away, getting a run in each of the first three innings off Saunders, Gibson elected to pinch-hit for his starter with two on and two out. With only 92 career major league at-bats, rookie Collin Cowgill was called upon in possibly the games biggest moment.

Cowgill delivered a two-run single to left that drew even a grin from his usual stoic manager.

Second baseman Aaron Hill added a home run in the sixth while Young hit his second home run of the game, this time a two-run shot in the seventh, having Arizona total four home runs in the game. Young is the first player in D-backs history to have a multi-home run game in the postseason.

Young claps his hands after hitting becoming
the first D-back in history to hit two home
runs in a postseason game.

Brewer center fielder Carlos Gomez hit a two-run shot in the eighth pulling Milwaukee into within four, but it was too little too late as Gibson used five different relievers over the games final seven innings to get through Game 4 and knot the series at two games apiece.

While Arizona flexed their power at home, Milwaukee continues their swoon on the road. Arizona will look to become one of the rare teams to overcome an 0-2 series deficit in a best-of-five series. Game 5 will once again be a battle of the aces.

Milwaukee is now 1-4 all- time in potential series-clinching games, but are headed home where they had the majors best record during the regular year at 57-24 with one last shot to close out these pesky snakes.

For the Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy it's a chance at redemption while it's a chance of a lifetime for Yovani Gallardo.