Al Davis Press Conference
I had gotten wind of a rumor Thursday night that Davis, whose profile has been so low this week you couldn’t limbo under it, was planning to talk for the first time all week Friday.
Short of a Bobby Knight tantrum or an American League pitcher trying to hit a curveball, an Al Davis press conference might be the most entertaining event in sports.
I spent most of my day Friday trying to be in the right place at the right time should the Raiders always-interesting team owner suddenly appear and start filling up our notebooks with his usual blend of insightful comments, colorful quotes and bizarre ramblings.
This is the best advice Davis ever will get.
Kiffin reiterated that he was not worried about whether or not he was fired, that he would only worry about the things he could not control.
If you knew what you were doing and you don’t you would call a press conference and straighten everything out, explain about the coach and resolve that situation one way or another and you’d publicly reprimand the employee for going after the reporter.
After the 41-14 blowout on Monday night at the hands of the Denver Broncos, the sports world has been abuzz with rumors concerning the fate of Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin.
Any notions that Tuesday’s session at Raiders headquarters would be blander than usual were immediately dispelled by Davis.
You’ll fire Lane Kiffin next Monday or Tuesday and announce it in a press release and then you’ll call a press conference.
In Lane Kiffin’s press conference he stated that he had not talked to Al Davis, and was still coach of the Oakland Raiders.
The word was that Davis was plotting to conduct a press conference somewhere at 11:30 a.m., in direct head-to-head competition with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s nationally televised annual state of the league address.
Comment: The tragicomic aspect of Lane-in-charge includes a ridiculously bunching Kiffin with guys like Tomlin, Mangini, Payton who’ve actually paid dues acquiring NFL experience as NFL assistants; b Davis pathetically chasing COLLEGE cribkids because of the “youth buzz” overrunning NFL circles when the “buzz” is ALL about young, *NFL* ASSISTANTS who’ve demonstrated NFL aptitude against NFL COMPETITION; c choosing the most IMMATURE USC assistant LEAST LIKED by Trojan players ALREADY under fire for his playcalling likewise notorious for frequent temper tantrums under Davis’ disastrously senile belief Kiffin’s youth will earn cred with rookies, younger or disaffected NFL players; d the exposure of Monte Kiffin’s long-overhyped “reputation” at TB now that Marinelli, Tomlin, etc.
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Raiders will fire head coach Lane Kiffin as early as this week and name defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in his place.
As much blather as we’ve all had to endure this week from us media types, the players, coaches, league suits and fringe celebrities the one guy I really wanted to give a listen to ain’t even talking.
His only public appearance all week came Tuesday, at the Qualcomm Stadium ceremony to unveil a statue of late San Diego Union Tribune sports editor Jack Murphy, for whom the stadium was once named.
Did you read what Warren Sapp said about the players: Al has players for a 3-4 defense not a 4-3.
I am a Raider fan, and yes Al has lost touch, but you need to face the truth that you have as well.
To share this media with a friend, you must have AIM installed.Click the “download AIM” button to install AIM.
Oakland, CA Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis finally pulled the trigger Tuesday and fired embattled second-year head coach Lane Kiffin.
Primary target of his digs was USC assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian, who distanced himself from the Raiders last week after it had appeared he was the leading contender for the job that eventually went to his co-coach, Kiffin.
When Oakland was on the clock in this April’s 2008 NFL Draft, many Raiders fans and fans of other teams were quick to judge Al Davis when he selected running back Darren McFadden fourth overall.
Wizened, award-winning Press Democrat Sports Columnist Lowell Cohn and his wise-guy, college-age son Iggy write and argue about the sports topics of the day.
Friday morning, during the final moments of Oakland head coach Bill Callahan’s news conference, I sidled over to a Raiders official I know and whispered a question in the form of a statement: “I heard a rumor that Al may finally talk today, opposite Tagliabue’s address.
No owner can let this madness persist, one of your employees sabotaging a professional news conference and then almost assaulting a reporter.
After all, siphoning away reporters and TV cameras from Tagliabue in his big moment on the Super Bowl week stage would be something that Davis would dream up.
Raiders owner Al Davis held a news conference at Raider training camp in Napa a day after the team signed quarterback Daunte Culpepper to a one-year contract.
Over the course of more than an hour a press conference that lasted nearly 50 minutes and 20-plus minutes of informal give-and-take afterward Davis sparred with individual reporters, spun his recent coaching search like a Harlem Globetrotter with a basketball and took subtle jabs at several football notables.
I’m not sure if Al needs to sell the team but he certainly needs to allow someone else manage the day-to-day football activities ie.
Comment: Lowell your article is right ON!
And, strangest of all, Becky Petrino: “His agent sent a letter that he will accept the job for these numbers, and Mike wanted to give it to him.
