It's just business

I think that's what Hyman Roth explained to Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part II......It's just business.

If you're wondering where I'm going with that whackadoo analogy, hang on tight.

It is just business. All NFL franchises are just that......businesses. For those of you that are employed (and if you're not, I'm sorry, that's not a smack in your face given how the globalists/elitists are taking us all for a ride and how they've made the economy for us all), you are aware how businesses and companies run and how to best run them. Especially, when there's millions upon billions of dollars at stake.

Seeing how the NFL and the 32 franchises that comprise the NFL rake in millions upon billions of dollars a year, they are just that, big businesses. Procter & Gamble, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Colgate-Palmolive, GE, the NFL......you name the company. They operate the same way; to make as much money, as quickly as possible. No matter what.

Consequently, the leadership of said companies (either the above multi-national companies or your favorite NFL franchise) are at the mercy of the product(s) that they place out in public for consumption and the public's perception of those products.

That's right Raiders fans, we're consumers. And right now, the business is putting us in a position where we have to consume a junk (either perceived or not) product. How much are you buying into what we're being forced to consume?

The fact that I open this post with an allusion to the most notorious Mafia family in the history of Mafia pseudo-fiction may not be lost on you. If that's the case, I say good. Why? Because the Raiders are nothing more than a glorified crew (as Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. so eloquently put it in The Sopranos). They are run via intimidation, fear, egoism and a delusional personality (I know, that statement gets me banned from the Raiders facilities). All induced by a man sitting in his proverbial "ivory tower" (or glass windowed suite at The Oakland Coliseum). The unfortunate thing is that you see the results in the public-facing group, team, product, etc.

The leadership from the top down, whether in Fortune 500 companies or gangs of organized crime, truly is an indicator of the product that the public can expect. If Al Davis is going to run his organization like Tony Soprano or Michael Corleone, he better be prepared to reap what he has sown or what he continues to sow. If you run any organiztion or business based on favoritisim, ego, selfishness, greed, fear, cost cutting, carelessness and what has been done in the past, you will eventually see the demise of your organization.

We Raiders fans are in the process of watching the lowest of the low, when it comes to the Raiders. Sure, the economy is down. Sure big businesses all over the globe in all kinds of industries are taking a monetary hit, but the NFL is/was (or usually has been) recession proof. It's been a rallying point and source of solidaritary in America for decades. In some cities the NFL still is or may be that rallying point. But those are the cities that have real leadership at the top of their organizations, structure and cohesiveness throughout the organization and a propensity for success, year in and year out. Those organizations that think they're recession-proof or infallable are those that end up failing miserably and can struggle for a long time to make up for the failure or just become irrelevant, altogether (as Mafia, organized crime or Raider related business has become).

The Raiders are not only failing miserably, they're now becoming irrelevant. This starts with Al Davis and it seeps down to whatever positions Amy Trask and John Herrera hold and on down to the coaching staff and players. The organization and team, as a whole, are a reflection of leadership. A leadership that fails to operate in the way that is anywhere near similar to that of its successful competitors is doomed run amok, to fail, and possibly become irrelevant.

See the demise of Michael Corleone and the Corleone Family in The Godfather: Part III. See the last episode of the Sopranos. See the American auto industry. See the American banking/financial/mortgage industry. See the Oakland Raiders.

All of the above = glutonous, greedy, antiquated and supported by nothing but those around them that say, "Yes," and fail to question what whether or not what they're doing is innovative or good for the long-term welfare of the organization.

We, as fans, are having to sit back and choke down the disorganization and disharmony that is the Raiders for the sixth straight year. This is the long-term effect of "chasing it." This is not about the fans, the long-term welfare of the organization or championships. What's going on now in Oakland is the based on the whim, ego and greed of one man alone. And, the entire organization is suffering because of the short-term thinking of one man and his desire for total control.

The Raiders, as an organization, regardless of past prestige and success, will continue to fail. The greed and ego of the leader will continue to drive this organization into the ground and we fans will continue to suffer.

For today's game:

- QB was 12/33 for 128 yards = 36.4% complete = 3.9 yards/attempt = Passer Rating of 48.5
- No one handed the ball (i.e. a RB) gained more than 24 yards on the ground
- No receiver had more than three receptions for more than 34 yards
- Offense gave up a safety (on a horrendous rushing play)
- Special teams gave up a return TD on the free kick following the safety
- Bush and Russell both fumbled and lost it
- The team collectively only rushed for 45 yards (net)
- The team collectively only passed for 120 yards (net)

If these statistics are the statistics of a solid, stable, professional organization and team......color me fooled.

Oh, by the way, all of the above took place against the NFL's worst defense (statistically).

Maybe, possibly......one comfort that we can all take away from today's game is that it's just business. It's just business.

(Editors note: This entry was written in lieu of the author updating his resume in preparation for possible layoffs at the company which he works.)