Los Angeles, California
January 8, 2024
(Today’s Date)
December 29, 2020
(Original Date)
*Denotes a change, either addition or deletion, in the original publication of the blog.
**UPDATE (Denotes NEW information or material added after publishing of the original blog)
This blog is submitted and contributed as part of the War on Racial Discrimination (WRD) in California (and the United States)
This will be a short blog because I simply want to get the idea out that came to my mind as the professional football weekend ended this past week.
*The blog began as a short blogpost, but it certainly has grown since.
During the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Jared Goff hurt or dislocated his right thumb , and is questionable for playing the Rams next game against the Arizona Cardinals. If Goff doesn’t play, he will be replaced by one John Wolford, who has never started a game or played in a game for the Rams thus far. But, I believe I heard during the broadcast of the game that coach Sean McVay might be looking for someone to backup Wolford. If that’s the case, why not Colin Kaepernick ? He certainly has the skill, and it is only a backup position. But, if coach McVay really is looking for a backup, and the NFL really is not blackballing Kaepernick , it would be a perfect fit. Especially since Kaepernick, I believe, lives here on the West Coast.
It would be an opportunity for the Rams and coach McVay to show that they are moving in the direction of racial justice and , therefore, are in support of the 2020 Racial Justice Movement.
It’s just a thought (and Kaepernick, from the latest reports, is still keeping himself ready, in terms of conditioning).
UPDATE—December. 31, 2020 HAPPY NEW YEAR !
NO KAEPERNICK FOR THE RAMS
Well, apparently the Rams didn’t think hiring Kaepernick was such a good idea. Instead, the Rams retained a one Blake Bortles, whose prior immediate quarterback experience is a member of the Denver Broncos practice squad.
I know one coach who would hire Kaepernick were he still among the living. But, unfortunately for Kaepernick, he has passed.
READERS : Let me see if you know who I am referring to. Drop a name of the person you think it is. I will wait a couple of days and publish the name of the person I am referring to.
Until next time. I’m out!
UPDATE—January 5, 2021
The answer is : Al Davis, late owner of the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. I believe Al Davis would *give Kaepernick a chance to play in the NFL again if he, Davis, was living, *and he thought that Kaepernick could and would benefit the team. I think Davis would act upon his own notion of fairness, as opposed to the other owners’ positions or feelings. *Therefore, I believe that if Al Davis was in the position of Rams’ ownership , and Kaepernick approached him, he would give Kaepernick a shot (as opposed to hiring a member of a practice squad). And, he might give Kaepernick a shot on his own, without Kaepernick approaching him, if he was aware of the circumstances involving Kaepernick. Incidentally, I am a Raiders fan. The Raiders is my #1 NFL team, always has been and always will be, regardless of where they are located.
THE FIRING OF COACH ANTHONY LYNN : IT WAS WRONG!
Coach Anthony Lynn was fired by the Chargers yesterday. I think the firing was wrong.
Here’s why it was wrong in my view : Coach Lynn’s first two years with the Chargers were winning seasons. That should have counted for something. I don’t think it did. Next, even though his last two seasons have been losing seasons, he showed an improvement over last season with this season’s play, even if it was at the end of the season. Therefore, he was showing growth *or improvement. And, the team began showing a turn-around.
Much of the growth and improvement was based on the excellent quarterback play of the rookie Justin Herbert. And, while it was unforeseen circumstances that caused the appearance of Herbert, he nonetheless appeared and has performed well. But, *I’ll get back to this later.
Another important point is the close losses, which, in itself, is another reason that favors coach Lynn. Most of the losses were within a touchdown or so. The Chargers just had some bad luck! It, with the exception of a few purely coaching decisions, had nothing to do with the coaching expertise of coach Lynn. For instance, at least 2 games were lost based on defensive penalties at the end of the game, i.e., pass interference. Lynn’s coaching had absolutely nothing to do with that defensive back play (and to coach Lynn’s credit, he never placed blame on the defensive backs—and he could have—not necessarily naming the defensive backs, but simply saying “we need to shore up our defense in certain situations”). Those penalties would have happened with whomever was coaching. I think the Chargers should have considered this, and I don’t believe that they did.
Finally, getting back to young Herbert. So, now, when Herbert began to reach his potential and promise, and the team began to reach theirs, the Chargers now fire the coach and not allow him to reap the benefits of a promising young quarterback. Instead, they are going to bring some other coach in, and if the team continues to improve and continues to win, they are going to give the credit to the new coach. “Oh, this is a good coach, we are winning now.” Well, you would have won with coach Lynn too. The team, by chance and circumstance, has uncovered a good quarterback, who has the potential for creating winning ways for the team. And, it is ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR to coach Lynn to have another coach, likely a white coach *(the GREAT WHITE HOPE), I don’t care who he is , to come in and take credit for what has occurred on coach Lynn’s watch or under coach Lynn’s leadership. And then declare that it is because of that new coach’s skill is why the team is winning.
Coach Lynn, at least , deserve, out of respect and general principles, an opportunity to see how the team performs next season with young Herbert at the helm. And, if the team continues to lose, and I don’t think that they will, then, perhaps, the team might have a good reason to conclude that it’s the coaching. *Again, I think the Chargers has just had some BAD LUCK in losing the close games, but it appears , at the end of the season, that the Chargers’ luck changed. So much so that the Chargers ended the season with a BETTER RECORD than the previous season. That’s improvement ! So, in essence, the Chargers are firing an otherwise winning or improved coach. That is, Lynn is being PUNISHED for improvement. When he should be REWARDED for improvement. And the reward should at least be the Chargers HONORING ITS CONTRACT with Lynn. Lynn deserves no less. IT’S NOT TOO LATE.
I think the Chargers’ management is being influenced by *misguided outsiders, such as the L.A. Times and it’s reporters, *e.g., Dylan Hernandez, who give no thought to the concept of fairness, rather, they only concentrate on the losing record the last two seasons, regardless of the reasons therefor, and place the blame on the coach *(and there may be a mix of racism involved. *Lynn is Black).
THE BOTTOMLINE : THE CHARGERS HAVE LOST SOME CLOSE GAMES DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE SEASON, BUT, TOWARDS THE END OF THE SEASON, THEY BEGAN TO IMPROVE. COACH LYNN IS UNDER CONTRACT. HE SHOULD AT LEAST BE GIVEN THE RESPECT TO FINISH OUT HIS CONTRACT, AND IF THE TEAM DOES NOT CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, THEN DON’T RENEW HIS CONTRACT. COACH LYNN WAS OPERATING UNDER THE NOTION THAT THE TEAM WOULD RESPECT ITS AGREEMENT, I.E., “I KNOW I’M UNDER CONTRACT”, AND HE BELIEVED THAT BY THE TIME HIS CONTRACT WAS UP, HE WOULD HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS THE RIGHT COACH FOR THE TEAM.
SO CHARGERS, SHOW SOME RESPECT. *SHOW SOME INTEGRITY. SHOW SOME DIGNITY. RESPECT YOUR CONTRACTURAL AGREEMENT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT SEASON.
ALTHOUGH COACH LYNN HAS BEEN FIRED, IT’S NOT TOO LATE. THE CHARGERS CAN CHANGE THEIR MINDS. AND ANNOUNCE THAT OUT OF RESPECT TO COACH LYNN AND THEIR CONTRACTURAL AGREEMENT, THEY WILL ALLOW LYNN TO COACH UNTIL THE END OF NEXT SEASON, AND, IF THE TEAM (MANAGEMENT) IS NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS COACHING AT THAT TIME, IT WILL NOT RENEW HIS CONTRACT.
*It wouldn’t be extraordinary for the Chargers to reconsider and honor their contract with Lynn. Take, for example , a case involving the Indianapolis Colts, and a one Matt Eberflus. It is reported that “Eberflus was originally picked to be Indianapolis’ defensive coordinator in 2018 under Josh McDaniels before McDaniels famously backed out as the team’s head coach to return to New England. When (Indianapolis head coach Frank) Reich was hired instead , the Colts decided to HONOR EBERFLUS’ CONTRACT (where ordinarily he likely would have been fired) and he remained on as defensive coordinator (emphasis added).”
Finally, as I stated above, I am a Raider fan, but I have supported the Chargers as my L.A. team, over the Rams (although I support the Rams as to other non-LA teams, with a few exceptions, e.g., the New Orleans Saints—I was born in New Orleans) in part because of coach Lynn *(and his opening statement or goals for the team, upon retention). Not only do I think he is a good coach, but, perhaps more importantly, I think he is a fair and fair-minded coach. He at least offered Kaepernick a workout with the team, in the event that the team might need a quarterback. * Clearly, Sean McVay *isn’t or wasn’t that open-minded; he or management chose to hire a quarterback from another team’s practice squad rather than give a veteran , *experienced, and good quarterback, *i.e., Kaepernick, a chance *or opportunity.
*NOTE : A defensive coordinator with the Chargers (Gus Bradley), hired by coach Lynn, was quickly swept up by MY Las Vegas Raiders as a defensive coordinator for Jon Gruden. That shows Lynn had skills at picking a good defensive coordinator.
So, if the Chargers don’t at least honor their contract with Lynn, and show Lynn some earned respect and an opportunity to demonstrate that he can again achieve a winning record , they will lose at least one fan or supporter, i.e., yours truly. *And, if there are other *Chargers fans or supporters who think or believe as I do, the Chargers likely will lose them as well.
UPDATE—January 16, 2021
See “ * “ immediately above (1/5/21).
UPDATE—January 18, 2021 *Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day !
The Chargers has hired a new coach. He is Brandon Staley, a defensive coordinator with the Rams, a white coach, the “GREAT WHITE HOPE”, as I suggested. While I applaud and give credit to the Chargers for initially hiring coach Lynn, I still believe it was wrong to fire Lynn at this time, with the maturation of Justin Herbert. Now, L.A. has two Rams teams. Rams #1 and Rams #2. But, Rams #2 has lost at least one supporter. Too-shay !
UPDATE—September 15, 2021
L.A. RAMS V. CHICAGO BEARS : KUDOS FOR THE CHICAGO BEAR WITH THE “END RACISM” ON THE BACK OF HIS HELMET: THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE “MOVEMENT”
While viewing the Rams-Bears football game, I noticed on the back of the helmet of one of the Bears’ players, the words “End Racism” in place of the “BEARS” name which was on the helmets of most , if not all, of the rest of the players. I think the player deserves a thank you. A shout-out to the cameraman also who focused in on the helmet so that one could see the phrase. A combination of both actions gave life and purpose to the 2020 Racial Justice Movement (and to the life and death of George Floyd).
The reason that I didn’t get the number of the player was because when I saw the words on the helmet, I immediately looked to see if this was a team thing, which it wasn’t, or an individual thing. After noticing that most of the helmets of the other Bears players had BEARS on them, when I tried to find the “end racism” helmet again, I was unable to do so. From what I could ascertain, the “end racism” helmet that I saw was the only one on the players on the field, Bears or Rams. But, admittedly, I did not survey all of the helmets on the Bears entire team, so I don’t know if there were others with the words. But, if there were only one or a few, that makes the individuals with the phrase on their helmets even more impressive and deserving of recognition or praise. For that would be in the spirit of Colin Kaepernick.
Because of the Racial Justice Movement , various sports teams approve of or allow players to protest or make civil rights statements of some types. Apparently, the “end racism” player decided to take advantage of that liberty. He deserves thanks, especially from the Black community.
From this Black writer, I thank you , my brother.
NOTE : I will try and contact the Bears organization and find out who the player or players (if there are others) are. When I find out, I will insert the names in this blog.
UPDATE—May 26, 2022
THE CHARGERS WITH NEW COACH BRANDON STALEY : STILL NO PLAYOFFS
The new L.A. Chargers with new coach Brandon Staley, and with the blossoming Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert, the Chargers still didn’t make the playoffs. Two more wins, but no playoffs. Would coach Anthony Lynn, with the growth of Herbert , have made the playoffs ? We’ll never know. But, Lynn should have been given the chance.
*And who stopped the Chargers from making the playoffs ? My Las Vegas Raiders !
UPDATE—February 20, 2023
THE TIMES’ GRANDERSON ARTICLE : NONSENSE, TO SAY THE LEAST.
The L.A. Times sportswriter L.Z. Granderson , a few days ago, wrote an article on the Super Bowl matchup between two starting Black quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, and argued, as stated in the title of the article, “Super Bowl’s star matchup isn’t a sign of Black progress”. And, his reasoning : “(T)he Mahomes-Hurts matchup, as special as the players are, did not come about just because Black men were finally good enough.” And, “Barack Obama was not the first Black man qualified to be president. Jackie Robinson was not the first Black man talented enough to play pro baseball”. So, this is why the Mahomes-Hurts matchup in the Super Bowl is not Black progress ? Nonsense.
Finally, Granderson , to support his notion of no Black progress, quotes Chris Rock, “So to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first Black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not Black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been Black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years.” This is nonsense, to say the least. The reason the Mahomes-Hurts matchup, the Obama presidency, and the Jackie Robinson firsts, like all other Black “firsts” in this country (usually), are Black progress is NOT because the Black people were not qualified before the “first”, most in the country likely knew they were qualified, it is because we, as Black people, have brought down another BARRIER in our ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST WHITE RACISM in this country. And, sometimes, other non-Black racism.
And, so, the Mahomes-Hurts matchup in the Super Bowl IS Black progress because we have fought, and we are continually fighting, against those racist white people, and other non-Black people who DID NOT want Mahomes and Hurts to play in the Super Bowl because they are BLACK (as in earlier years), and they PLAYED nevertheless. So, WE WON that fight. And, that is Black progress in the continuous fight against racism in this country, *towards the goal of eliminating that racism.
**UPDATE—December 14, 2023.
THE RAIDERS AND CHARGERS COULD USE A GOOD BACKUP QUARTERBACK: WHY NOT KAEPERNICK ?
Presently, the Raiders and Chargers can use a backup, with their starting quarterbacks out. So, why not give Colin Kaepernick a chance. Justin Herbert of the Chargers is out for the season with a finger injury, and Derek Carr of the Raiders is gone, as he should be. So, this presents an opportunity for one of the teams to give Kaepernick a chance. And, especially the Chargers, who is now getting whipped by my Raiders, now 63-21, 4th quarter. Someone has to show that the retaliation against Kaepernick, for fighting (and demonstrating) for his rights and the rights of others, is behind us.
THE CHARGERS ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW COACH : WHY NOT ANTHONY LYNN ?
The Chargers has now fired the Great White Hope, Brandon Staley, so why not give coach Anthony Lynn another chance, with the fully blossomed Justin Herbert. The Chargers could sign Lynn to a 2-year contract and see how he does. If he doesn’t perform in the 2 years, they could then initiate an all-out search, but, at least the Chargers would have acted in good faith and honored the spirit of their original contract with Lynn, and , at the same time provided Lynn with an opportunity to demonstrate whether he can produce a winning record with Herbert. I think Lynn deserves that much, especially at this time, under these circumstances, e.g. with the Chargers team demonstrating a flat-out dissatisfaction with Staley that they never demonstrated with Lynn, and with the issue of the NFL discriminating against Black males for coaching positions or offering Black coaches a fair shot. At least Lynn left with a winning record, 33-31. The Chargers gave Lynn a shot before, why not one more time, under different circumstances, e.g., with the blossoming of Herbert. In that way, no one could question the Chargers contribution and effort to achieving fairness in the selection of minority coaches or in giving Black coaches a fair shot.
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