• College Football

    Know Your New Tennessee Football Coaches

    Lane Kiffin moves all of his crap into the head football coach's office at Tennessee today, only the third time someone has done that in the past 31 years. Phil Fulmer said goodbye on Saturday and Kiffin will be announced as his successor today, most likely what he's had in mind since the last Sunday in Sept., when he called for that 76-yard field goal against the Chargers. Attempt comically doomed field goal; get self fired by elderly, cantankerous owner; field college coaching offers; profit. One thing he probably didn't think through, however: More »

    12:30 PM on Mon Dec 1 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    5,148 views, 19 comments

    Most discussed Donk In A Box: As a fan of both Vanderbilt and Alabama, I endorse this move and see no possible way that it can more »

  • NFL

    Who Can Reassemble The Smoldering Rubble That Is The Oakland Raiders?

    As bad as things are going for the San Francisco 49ers this season, they aren't even close to being the most dysfunctional football team in the Bay Area. Just how bad are things in Raiderland, on a scale of 1 to Armageddon? Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (pictured) and safety Gibril Wilson are now talking mutiny, and they never say anything. More »

    4:30 PM on Thu Nov 6 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    7,471 views, 42 comments

    Most discussed WayneFontesFanatic: In recognition of the giant WWF (screw the World Wildlife Fund) banner that is dominating Deadspin's homepage, I nominate Vince more »

  • NFL

    Hey, That's Hate Speech

    I've heard of slinging mud, but this is just going too far. Seen high over Denver's Invesco Field during the Dolphins-Broncos game on Sunday, this banner linking John McCain to the NFL franchise which lost 24-0 to the Falcons earlier in the day. Oakland gained 78 yards total offense in the process, meaning that McCain would have to lose every state except Hawaii in order for this to be an accurate correlation. Here's the video, in case you're a fan of low-flying aircraft and random chortles. More »

    12:00 PM on Tue Nov 4 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    3,532 views, 28 comments

    Most discussed HockeyMountain: To rally the conservatives today, McCain has hired a plane to fly around the south with a banner that reads: "Obama more »

  • NFL

    Al Davis To Be Wheeled Into Court Yet Again

    And so it begins ... Lane Kiffin vs. Al Davis in court, as you always knew it would end up. Bright and early this morning, Kiffin filed a grievance with the league alleging that the Raiders owe him the $2.6 million balance on his contract after he was fired in Sept., to which I respond, what took you so long? This one's going to be fun, because Davis lives for such legal drama, and Kiffin seems to have a good case. At any rate, the Raiders team itself surely won't be distracted by any of this! More »

    1:00 PM on Fri Oct 31 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    3,419 views, 40 comments

    Most discussed HebrewHammer: Al Davis at first wanted to hire Clarence Darrow to be his lawyer. more »

  • NFL

    Warren Sapp Weighs In On Al Davis

    Warren Sapp isn't quite the Charles Barkley of NFL broadcasting, but he may get there yet, as long as the Al Davis stories hold out. Sapp, a regular on Showtime's Inside the NFL, played for the Raiders for four seasons, and with his insights on Davis and the way things were run, he can finally put his big yap to good use. Sapp said that Lane Kiffin — whom Davis fired last week — was never given a chance to turn the team around. And that's because Davis is out of touch. More »

    11:30 AM on Fri Oct 3 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    7,188 views, 28 comments

    Most discussed Bill Pearly Gates: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER HOW I MET YOUR MOTHERHOW I MET YOUR MOTHERHOW I MET YOUR MOTHERHOW I MET more »

  • NFL

    Al Davis Releases The Hounds

    As the dust settles from Tuesday's Oakland Raiders press conference, shellshocked witnesses are only now coming to grips with what occurred. I wasn't there, but I listened on the radio, and came away with this impression: Al Davis needs to be tranquilized and relocated further back into the woods. Whenever he emerges into civilization — which is rare these days — only heartache and chaos can result; on Tuesday the target was Lane Kiffin, but next time it could be you or me. Several amusing accounts have emerged this morning, one of the best being from Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury: More »

    10:00 AM on Wed Oct 1 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    12,251 views, 70 comments

    Most discussed sagehenbait: So, somewhat serious question for the LLC: Wouldn't this press conference be admissible in court as evidence against Davis, undermining more »

  • DUAN!

    Al Davis Wants To Get A Few Things Off His Chest

    Wow. For those who just witnessed Al Davis' bizarre press conference accusing former head coach Lane Kiffin of "lying" and "propaganda" among other things, I can't tell if I have more respect for Al Davis or am just dumbfounded by the brazenness of it all. Davis has revealed a letter (which he's put on overhead projector for the press corps) that he wrote to Kiffin prior to the Kansas City game outlining the former coach's faults and his bumbling personnel moves. He essentially calls Kiffin a baby for blaming the team's losing record on ownership and for throwing defensive coordinator Rob Ryan under the bus. He also keeps railing about "Mortensen" for breaking the story and accuses Kiffin of leaking the letter to the ESPN reporter because "that's the way he wanted to handle it." (Great question to the local reporters assembled: "Why didn't any of you guys have it?") More »

    6:00 PM on Tue Sep 30 2008
    By DAULERIO
    20,928 views, 83 comments

    Most discussed Yostal: Say what you will about Al Davis being the worst owner in the league, but at least he, unlike William more »

  • NFL

    The Lane Kiffin Death Watch Resumes

    For the record, the Oakland Raiders attempted a 76-yard field goal on Sunday, and if that ain't a What-The-Fuck-Do-I-Have-To-Lose-I'm-Toast-Anyway moment for their head coach, I don't know what is. Seventy-six yards. To paraphrase some politician, that's the longest Hail Mary in the history of football or Marys. In other words, expect Lane Kiffin to be stuffing Raider towels and assorted small toiletries into his suitcase as you read this; he's probably already fired. But you know what? It doesn't matter. More »

    10:45 AM on Mon Sep 29 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    6,464 views, 31 comments

    Most discussed Matt Sussman: Oh, I absolutely need moving picture evidence of a 76-yard field goal try. more »

  • media

    'It's Just Al In The Darkness Now.' Tim Kawakami Discusses His Run-In At Raiders Headquarters

    In The Princess Bride, Westley only had to make it through the Fire Swamp once. But San Jose Mercury reporter Tim Kawakami has to brave the danger that is the Oakland Raiders' Alameda headquarters on a regular basis, and that's much, much worse. It's not an easy job, but it's never boring. By now you've probably seen the video of Kawakami's run-in on Monday with Raiders senior executive John Herrera, which has become a viral superstar in the few short hours it's been up today. Herrera offering to punch Kawakami, and the reporter replying that he'd "love to own a piece of the franchise" has become the quote of the month so far.

    But what was it actually like to be in the eye of the NFL's most dysfunctional hurricane? When will Lane Kiffin actually be fired? And most importantly, just when does Al Davis arrive for work each day? I talked with Kawakami about all of this — turns out he lives just down the feeway from me — and more. Let's talk silver and black and blue, after the jump. More »

    5:00 PM on Tue Sep 23 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    22,510 views, 52 comments

    Most discussed DC Flyer: I am sure someone here will know this--how did Al Davis get his money? more »

  • NFL

    Raiders Press Conferences Are Fun, Even When No One Gets Fired

    They all gathered at Raiders headquarters on Monday to watch Lane Kiffin get fired, but no such thing occurred. Kiffin is, apparently, still the head coach, at least for the next few hours. So instead of an execution, the scheduled entertainment involved Raiders senior executive John Herrera interrupting the proceedings by yelling at San Jose Mercury reporter Tim Kawakami. Finger jabbing and threats of lawsuits ensued. Al Davis, nowhere to be seen. Ladies and gentlemen, your Oakland Raiders! More »

    10:15 AM on Tue Sep 23 2008
    By Rick Chandler
    9,543 views, 61 comments

    Most discussed Weed Against Speed: You know, when you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing right back at you. Unless you are more »