Maybe, It's Just Me / The Real Reason For The Raider's Struggles

So maybe it is just me, but I do believe that when fans become ungrateful, then that is why their team will perpetually struggle (ex, Cleveland Browns).

When the fans see everything negatively, then that voice will resonate through the organization.

When that does happen, executives do make rash decisions in attempt to appease fans, so that they keep buying tickets, merchandise, etc.

Players will then start to doubt themselves more than rely on their instincts and confidence.

Then the journalists will pile-on with their hack humor and "analysis" that they base on regurgitated groupthink that they call objectivity, which is really just a guise for their biases.  They try to hide their bias behind groupthink and an incomplete view of the facts. 

Then hope that, if everyone is wrong then the truth does not matter.  Thus, they turn into broken records that repeat the same "analysis" ad nauseum until it sticks, and if and only if it does, they tout is as truth.

Instead of reporting what they know to be true, they vainly pursue the "truth" in hopes that it will support their bias.

The truth is not out there.  It is right under your nose.

Confidence is a Revolutionary Act

When struggles do occur—every one has to look inward as to what they can do, and not shift any blame or attempt to coach others on what to do.

Just determine what they can do.

That is the real job of a journalist: To force those in positions of authority to look inward as to what they can do to end perpetual struggle, rather than allow them to blame shift or attempt to advise others. 

They will not do that willingly, and some are powerful enough to silence their critics through money, retaliation, censorship, or threats.

Just ask Bob Nardelli.  He failed as CEO of two major corporations, yet he still gets a job as a consultant.

When the fans give-up on Al Davis, so do the players, staff and others involved in the organization.

Thus, it is difficult to know whether the Raider's struggles have been the result of deficient talent, or just a lack of confidence in the organization.

Face it: We are stuck with Al Davis.  

With Oakland though, confidence is a revolutionary act.  All we as Raider fans can do is create a positive atmosphere for the players and other personnel.

The fact is that many Raiders have left the team and produced elsewhere (Randy Moss, Charles Woodson, Tyler Brayton, Phillip Buchanon, etc).

On one hand, that sucks for us Raider fans; however, it does prove that those players had talent: So why did they struggle in Oakland?

I think that the reason is a negative atmosphere that we as Raider fans can do our part to change, and that it can resonate throughout the organization.

I think that many would like to think that talent has no psychological boundaries, but I do believe that even great players will struggle while in a negative atmosphere, because even the best players can doubt themselves. 

When that happens, they do not trust their decisions.

No One Here Gets Out Unbiased

I truly do believe there is no such thing as an unbiased sports journalist, yet bias, however, is not the force that which will obfuscate the truth. 

That force is the unwillingness to defend your bias, while the common belief seems to be that there exists an unbiased neutral truth.

Unfortunately, everyone will interpret facts the way they choose to interpret them, or the, "surly bonds of bias." 

Thus, the greatest truth is the willingness to be honest about your bias, yet be willing to defend it, and willingly state things against your bias.