Raider Nation Update

The Oakland Raiders selected Qb.Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State, in Round 3 of the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft. Last season for the Buckeyes, he threw for for 2,772 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 135 times for 754 including four TDs. In 2009, Pryor completed 167 of 295 pass attempts for 2,094 yards with 18 TDs and led Ohio State in rushing with 779 yards. As a true freshman in 2008, Pryor was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year  after completing 100 of 165 pass attempts for 1,311 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he ran for 631 yards and six TDs.

The fallout continues from the shooting of two fans and the brutal beating of another at Candlestick during and after the preseason meeting between the 49'ers and Raiders. The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that the 49ers and Raiders game will not appear on next year's exhibition schedule. 

Meanwhile Jed York, Niners' President stated that there were increased security precautions taken at the game. He blamed the incidents on  "a handful of people who ruin the experience for everyone else."  York got together with Raiders CEO Amy Trask to answer questions about security issues at Bay Area NFL games. Trask pointed out that strict security measures are already in place for all Raider home games. Thus passing the hot potato back to needle dick York. 

When questioned about inadequate lighting in the parking lots of Candlestick, York sputtered "But you're going to have a lot of security out there. You're going to have a lot of SFPD." Which was an attempt to reassure fans that there won't be a replay of violence at the upcoming game with the Houston Texans. Of course not! who gets stoked for a game with the Texans? 

Apparently security has been an issue at Candlestick for some time. A fact that Jed York ignored as he fished around for a scapegoat "I think when you have a preseason game, when you don't have your regular-season ticket holders coming to the game, I think that plays a big factor into it" York would seem to be referring to the large number of Raider fans attending the game.  

Radio host Jim Rome, has long made references to "Raider Fan" singular. Insinuating that there is an arch-typical fan out there, who's behavior and appearance typifies all Raider fans. Tell anyone that you're a Raider fan and their most likely response will be "I Fucking Hate the Raiders" As a lifelong Raider fan I'm fully aware of how much abuse and ridicule gets tossed our way. Few other sport fans in this country get treated in this manner (Duke fans, maybe) 

Walking through a Walmart in Albuquerque while wearing my Raider pullover, I had a 10yr. old kid walk up to me and yell "The Raiders Suck." He then went back to Papa who gave him a high five while Momma beamed proudly at her little boy. Dad's smile turned to fear as I approached him, Mom pulled Junior close to her, but I just shook my head and walked past them.  You come to expect those things, Raider fans make the haters nervous, in one way or another we are everything that they fear.