Denizens of The Black Hole of Raiders fandom
For the last eight years, the Oakland Raiders have lived in the basement of their division. After last season and the moves made this off-season, that may change. One thing that has remained the same: the fans are still loyal to their team — something that’s rare in professional sports.
The team rid itself of Jamarcus Russell, and acquired Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins. This is a move that could be the key to Raiders success this year, after watching their preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys and their game against the Chicago Bears.
Their defense will be one that causes problems for a lot of run first teams. With the return of veteran Defensive End Richard Seymour and the signing of John Henderson who came over from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Along with the drafting of rookies Ronlando McClain and Kamerion Wimbley, the Raiders could have a top-ten defense in the NFL.
This is a perfect time to be a Raiders fan. The future looks bright for a team that’s been a part of professional football history since the beginning. “The Black Hole” and all its inhabitants are regarded as some of professional sports’ most die-hard fans.
When I asked one Raiders fan what he thought of the team in the upcoming season, his response was, “They doing a lot better than people expected. If they keep this pace up, it’s over for the competition!”
And to any Raiders’ fan, there’s no game bigger than the “Battle Of The Bay” against the San Francisco 49ers. The first game of this iconic rivalry was played in 1967. Both teams will meet again on October 17th in San Francisco. The Raiders hold a 6-5 advantage overall in regular season meetings against their cross-bay rivals.
Stephen Allen
Stephen Allen is an Oakland native, college student and aspiring journalist with a lot on his mind. As a poet and activist in high school. He used both his ability to write and great public speaking skills to empower his peers. Stephen one day hopes to own a magazine with a focus on international issues such as global poverty and culture in other countries. 
This is the perfect time to be a Raiders fan AND support an Oakland School- McClymonds High School– one of those high performing high schools that does not get enough praise for their rates (among the highest in OUSD!) of graduating seniors who then go off the college. These West Oakland Warriors are truly busting any stereotype you might have of an urban school! And not only do they have hard working scholars but MACK is BACK with knock out athletics, they were State basketball champs 2 years ago.
The PTSA of McClymonds is hosting a $40 -$45 a ticket fundraiser with the Raiders. For more information, please call Marilyn Earle at ( 510)501-3805 or call Dan Stein with the Oakland Raiders (510)780-3228.
ORDER BY MAIL
McClymondsHigh School PTSA
c/o Marilyn Earle
2607 Myrtle St.
Oakland, CA 94607
ORDER BY E-MAIL
marilynjearle@yahoo.com
I normally do not go out of my way to offer constructive feedback on these blogs, but you are an aspiring journalist and someone is doing you a disservice. Hopefully, you will find some benefit in my advice.
Constructively, you do not need a comma following Russell in the 2nd paragraph. The 2nd sentence in that paragraph does not make sense. In your third paragraph, I recommend you add more meat to support your argument that the defense will cause problems for run-first teams. What makes the 4 named players crucial to stopping the stopping the run? More meat. Give me the meat. Finally, you do not need to state “Both teams will meet…” The teams will meet on…or The rivalry will continue on…