Good Riddance Jamarcus Hustle!

Many of you that just saw the headline are probably wondering, "How can he call him Jamarcus Hustle?" There isn't an ounce of hustle in him." That is true. This is a man known for coming in late and leaving early to the most demanding job in team sports. He is even known to fall asleep in meetings. However, that's all the reason I need to use the word "Hustle" in his name.

If you look at the situation for what it is, he hustled all of Raider Nation; especially Al Davis. He sprung to the advantage of a 332 yard 2 TD performance against traditionally overhyped Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to punch his ticket to the NFL. Russell had to come out early knowing that Al Davis was going to be the first one to pick. Any football fan knows Davis' affinity for big QBs with big arms. That led Russell to start telling everyone how he could throw a football 65 yards on his knees. There's nothing wrong with selling yourself for your dream job but what transpired after is very wrong.

After a lengthy hold out, Russell got his 39 million guarantee and was satisfied. Usually when a player holds out it's because they want to get compensated for all the hard work and production the franchise would get in return. Such was not the case with Russell as he was seen at all the parties and other events complete with platinum chains and earrings as well as furs to let the world know that he had arrived. The man knew that he hadn't completely leared his craft and was seen doing everything but trying to catch up.

His first season was obviously incomplete. At the end of the his second season, there looked to be some light at the end of the tunnel as he showed some improvement. His third year was a disaster I almost thought Raider Nation would never recover from this. One thing about Oakland is it's a blue-collar town but it's full of hustlers. Hustlers know other hustlers and it doesn't take long for Bay Area people to know they've been hustled. This led to the most loyal fans of any team sport to boycott. They even put messages on billboards. It seemed like every  home game was blacked out. It was as if they said, "Al can keep paying his salary but I won't."

The fans got better once Bruce Gradkowski was inserted into the starting line up. The players did too. They played much harder. The defense was better and things were looking up. They fans would hear of how much extra time Gradkowski was putting in and how that was the reason why the offense improved. Meanwhile, Russell was his same old indifferent self. That's why the fans booed when Gradkowski and third stringer Charlie Frye,  both of whom replaced him at points in the season were injured and Russell entered the game. The home blackouts would continue. They might have ceased if Gradkowski weren't injured.

Raider fans got confirmation of Jamarcus Hustle during a televised interview. When asked if he were willing to take a pay cut to remain a Raider he said, "That's already done." My interpetation of it was, "I've already made my hustle. I got what I came here for and I'll be cool with the 6 more million I'm owed no matter what." We have further conformation of that being the case because he is unwilling to go to Canada, the Arena League, or UFL to work on his craft.

If he were to read this he would look at me as a hater and mad that I never got the chance. To a degree he is right. All of us including the women in Raider Nation would kill to make just one play for the silver and black but Russell treated it as if it meant nothing. Yet we've paid hundreds to thousands of dollars to see a man go to a job that we'd all kill for or die for unprepared.

To Jamarcus Hustle: You have badly disgraced Raider Nation when we all looked to you to save it. I am ashamed of you both as a Raider fan and a black man. While you made your hustle, you forgot to think about a few things. Perhaps you just never bothered to learn of them.You weren't thinking of Kenny Washington, the NFL's first black player. You weren't thinking of Marion Motley, who was spat on among other things being the NFL's first black superstar. You didn't think of how difficult it must have been for Willie Thrower being the first black quarterback in the NFL.

For years it was thought that blacks weren't ceribral enough to play quarterback. "They don't study the game. They just use their natural ability" and you proved them right! I appologize for skipping the many that I have come along in between but look what Warren Moon went through. After showing he was truly prepared to come to the NFL he had to go to Canada to prove himself. You have the nerve to just turn your nose up at the CFL. You should have listened to his speech. He said, "I had to do it for my people." Players such as he, Doug Williams, and many that I didn't mention performed under tremendous pressure so you could get your shot. You repay them by proving stereotypists right. You've slapped them, Al Davis, and all of Raider Nation in the face. Good riddance; your fate awaits you. You'll be broke in 7 years because you squandered the opportunity of a lifetime. You pulled off one heck of a hustle though.