Oakland Raiders: Foreshadowing Emerging Greatness in the NFL

A Framework

Donald P. Moss defines "foreshadow" in the following passage:

"Foreshadows are remarkable narrative mechanics God included in the Bible to reveal the future. Foreshadows serve as hidden manna in the same way as parables are hidden messages of God revealed by the Holy Spirit to Spirit filled believers.

"Foreshadows and parables are messages that are spiritually discerned and cannot be understood by non-believers. However, understanding hidden messages of foreshadows will deepen your faith in God's Word as the only source of the truth and reveal a higher level of the spiritual narrative style of scriptures."

The Pattern Recognition

As a so-called "math" person, I often look at probabilities and patterns. Clearly, the article I did which mentioned Rod Woodson, signaled a surprise ending to the game between the Oakland Raiders and the Bengals.

It was intriguing, but since the article was dated and published before the surprise ending to that game, I thought, this is very interesting.

Again, some intriguing events occurred on Sunday.  Here is the testimony:

I decided to hit the publish button at the moment the Raiders-Steelers game began. A rebuttal to a pronouncement by Tomlin is what inspired the article. Also, the laughing and what I perceived as belittling commentary on ESPN got me fired up. 

I know that this is a sports blog, but if Tomlin can use the word "hell" in the media, then others can negate that use by firing back with the use and power of the word "heaven."

Next, I watched the game and I tracked the data on Dec. 6, 2009. In the fourth quarter, I had this strong inclination to get my Bible and read Matt 18:18.  I picked up the Bible and it fell open on Matthew, Chapter 18. All I had to do was move my eyes to the right, and I saw the verse which I wanted.

Now, I have heard of that type of phenomenon of the Bible falling open in just the right spot. I tend to ignore it, and I usually dig out the scriptures I want to study. But, it happened.

The Connections  

As much as I love football, I have only attended one professional football game in my life. I view the games on television, listen on the radio, or now view them on the computer.

Years ago, I was invited to a game at Shea Stadium. Hindsight is what let me know how important the game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders was on December 6, 1970.

I expected something unusual to happen on the day we played the Jets in 2009. So clearly I was puzzled when the Raiders lost. That strong inclination that I had prompted me to recognize that it was 39 years ago when I witnessed the Raiders defeat the Jets.  A victory which came in the last eight seconds of the game. Again, I was puzzled that my intuition had seemingly failed me.

I expected a challenging game with the Steelers because of the unusual and unique experience of working with the son of one of the historical players with the Steelers. As you can see, I think deeply about most events in my life.

My fascination with history inspired me to write an article about Ernie Holmes, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White, and "Mean" Joe Green. That's my documentation that I am not embellishing my record of experiences in sports.

So I sat down, and logged on my laptop, and stared at my computer on Sunday, Dec 6. As I said, during the fourth quarter I got a little worried, and I actually began to pray for the Oakland Raiders to muster up the type of "get-up and go" that was demonstrated years ago.

I asked for one of those eight second "turnaround" miracles in the outcome of the game. I actually asked for the type of wide receiver responses and precision that Oakland had when I lived in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

Then, I started reading Matt 18:18 aloud, focusing on Gradkowski and his family, saying that if only two or three of us believe in miracles, please give us one this day.

Well, something wonderful happened.

Here is the pattern recognition:

On December 6, 1970, a wide receiver No. 81 caught the ball in the last eight seconds. George Blanda kicked the extra point and Oakland won, 14-13.

On December 6, 2009, a wide receiver No. 18 caught the ball in the last nine seconds. The extra point was good and Oakland won the game.

Later, I got so excited because I realized that the outstanding finish that I expected in the New York Jets game with Oakland actually occurred with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win on Dec. 6 was even a more powerful statement because of the reputation and record of the Steelers.

Some Speculations

Here is what can be speculated:

1. The connection between the 1970 experience and the 2009 experience is definitely documented.

2. Moments like those experienced years ago are somewhat of a foreshadow to the greatness that Oakland will enjoy in the future.

3. There is a reversal in the digits of the number of the wide receiver, indicating to me that this time we will reverse the pattern and rise to a higher level than we had in the past.

4. And now to have a little fun with the numbers. Since I read a scripture with a double of 18, specifically Matt 18:18, I conjecture that the Oakland Raiders, too, will double the number of Super Bowl wins, and will someday have six Super Bowl wins.

How do I know? Well, I may have stretched it a bit, but why not? I conjecture that the numbers tell me so, and the intriguing events are setting up for a grand future.

Go Raiders!

No matter what you believed before Dec. 6, you must now change your point of view. The Oakland Raiders have a new pattern of growth!