Jon Adair Chochon

-- Rhinestone Raider

 

I'm a Raider "fan"atic; one of the Raider Nation's most decorated fans.

 

Growing up in California, I was exposed to many sports but my true love was football.   As a young girl I listened to my mother as she watched football, screaming at her   favorite players: Stabler, Otto, Vella and Hendricks.  Sometimes I'd even heard her yelling at Tom Flores. Who knew he'd become one of my favorites?

 

Twelve years ago, living just outside of Oakland, I focused all of my attention on the Oakland Raiders. Getting ready to attend a home game, a friend encouraged   me to dress up for the Raiders. It just took one great game/day of football in costume, cheering on the   Raiders, and that was it!

 

Favoring boots and hats, my instincts kicked in to create a costume that would proudly promote my Raiders. I began to develop my own unique look. As I began decorating my costume in sparkling rhinestones, my game day attire quickly earned me the fan name of Rhinestone Raider. (Many now simply call me Rhinestone.)

 

A job relocation required me to leave the Bay Area. However, my passion and commitment to the Raiders has never faltered.  I have traveled to many stadiums and had the pleasure of meeting with many different Raider clubs. In addition, I've been lucky to attend booster parties, autograph signings and charitable events across the country. I've met with so many wonderful, fun people dedicated to cheering on the team and promoting a united, strong Raider Nation.  The excitement generated at these gatherings is contagious and rejuvenating!

When I'm not able to travel, my Silver and Black basement becomes my Raider support system. My husband, son, daughters and I Get Our Raider On and root, yell, and *#^%!*# at the television, as if we were in the stands. Although nothing is quite like being there, I appreciate that they love me enough to allow me my Raider fix. Our basement is decked out with Raider memorabilia that has been collected over the years. The basement wouldn't be complete without a Raider guest room, with a full Raider locker room or closet, containing nothing but Silver and Black.

 

When I travel to a game, I'm so excited to be reunited with my Raider family and friends. Being able to joyfully embrace new raider fans and  share my Raider passion is what I always look forward to! It's also exciting to meet new fans.

 

I'm always amazed and flattered when they ask if I can pose with them for pictures or they tell me I was seen on TV or comment that I'm on their Facebook! What a compliment it is to be part of the action that represents Raider Nation. I also enjoy meeting fans of the opposing teams. It is inspiring to reach across the boundaries of teams, into the lives of strangers with shared passions.

 

My loyalty to the Raiders is not limited to game days. Throughout the year I participate and support many charitable causes such as children with  cancer, homeless shelters, youth groups, gifts for foster children and some of the Legends fundraisers. I encourage each of you to get involved and help support those in need in our communities.

 

I believe Raider Nation has the most loyal fans in the NFL. I'm so proud to be a part of the Raider Family.

 

--Rhinestone Raider

 

Jon Adair Chochon is among a number of Oakland Raiders Super Fans who add excitement and delight to attending Raiders games. Photo by Ed Jay. 

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Finally, October has arrived in the East Bay. And by the time you read this, the Oakland Athletics 2015 season will be in the books. No, not the history books, for this was truly a forgettable campaign, one fraught with broken promises and failed expectations, the requisite long list of injuries, predictable deadline trades and, ultimately, great disappointment.

Spring was full of hope -- after all, that is the definition of spring. Finishing first in the Grapefruit League, as we all know, means absolutely nothing, yet Melvin, Beane and even some scribes (who should know better) bought into the false illusion that this team was better than it is.

April brought the promise of a talented young rotation, with a fine mix of heady veterans (Kazmir, Chavez) stars-in-waiting (Hahn, Graveman, Pomeranz), and the indomitable wunderkind Sonny Gray. The bullpen, on paper, looked good. Doolittle, Clippard, Otero, Abad, O'Flaherty and Scribner had all seemingly proved that they could get outs late in games.

It was the offense, everyone said, that was a huge question mark. How would they score runs with Yoenis, Josh, Brandon and Derek gone? Where would the power come from? Well, over the course of a 162-game season, funny things happen. If you had told me that the A's would have six guys with more than 14 homers, lead the league in triples, and hit a not-too-awful .250, I would have given you 10-1 odds -- and I would have lost. They were a pleasant surprise.

So what was it exactly that did the A's in? Well, for starters, they booted the ball all over the yard, leading the league in errors. As atrocious as their defense was, however, they were only seven percentage points behind league leader Baltimore. Marcus Semien -- who was on pace before the All-Star game for the all-time error record for shortstops -- pulled it together nicely the last two months, with the help of Ron Washington. The poor fielding may have cost the A's five games, tops. Don't forget, we won a few games because of poor fielding by the opponents, too.

Secondly, the bullpen flat-out stunk. The comfortable feeling of 2012 -- Cook to Doolittle to Balfour -- became a nightmare for the 2015 A's. Ryan Cook, whose mental toughness and control has been an issue since day one, came into the season as a question mark and mercifully departed for Nashville early on. Dan Otero, a trusted arm out of the pen the last two years, for some reason could not get anyone out and was soon dispatched to Music City as well. Eric O'Flaherty was totally ineffective, and Fernando Abad, who had been so solid in 2014, completely lost his command. Evan Scribner became a dispenser of tape-measure gopher balls. Tyler Clippard was forced into a closer role due to Doolittle's injury, and although Sean is back now, he is far from dominant. How can you be a frontline closer when ALL you throw is fastballs? And they are not of the 100-mph Aroldis Chapman variety. 92 to 94, without movement, in today's game, is hittable.

Thirdly, and somewhat troubling, was the team's awful record in one-run games. The inability to hold a late lead was hard to watch. Of course, when your bullpen is as bad as this one was, that will happen. But don't fool yourself, Josh Reddick. If the A's had won half of those one-run decisions, as you lamented, they would not have been competing for the division-they would still have finished last in the AL west.

No, it was something much deeper, something more insidious, that did the A's in this year. I submit to you that it was the residual effect of what happened last August and September, when the Oakland Athletics engineered the most epic collapse in modern baseball history. The A's were at 72-44 on August 11, leading the majors in hitting, pitching, run differential and won-lost record, destroying teams. Then, inexplicably, they went 16-30, limping to the finish line.

Does anyone remember how they could not score the last seven weeks of the season, how they came apart at the seams, the final indignity was blowing that lead in Kansas City one year ago today, with mighty Jon Lester on the hill, as the clock struck midnight and the calendar turned over to October? When Kansas City ran on Derek Norris to the tune of seven stolen bases that night, the Royals were sending a message: we are stealing this season from you, and there is nothing you can do about it.It's so easy to throw the blame on Billy Beane and the illusion of the small market underdog A's. The team fell apart for a myriad of reasons, and of course team chemistry was a big one. A disclaimer: stuff happens-its baseball. And it's tough to rebound from what happened in 2014.

How can anyone possibly believe that disaster did not have a profound effect on the 2015 version of the Green and Gold? To his credit, Bob Melvin, the ultimate stand-up guy, never passed the buck, never blamed anyone for this year's failure. I can think of several managers who collapsed (or might still yet -- see Mattingly, Don) under pressure of great expectations -- poor Matt Williams comes to mind. (Matt, how can you put hotheaded Jonathan Papelbon back in the game after he goes for the throat of your best player, the MVP, for chrissake?!) So I am very glad Melvin is still here. Don't throw him under the bus. Blame history, the baseball gods, karma; hell, blame the Yankees, dammit...they still deserve our perennial wrath.

But the ending of this story has not been written. When March comes around you will be looking at a strong, young lineup that has power, speed and can play defense and is one year older and, hopefully, one year better. Of course it's all about pitching, you say, like it's been forever around these parts. With the sentimental departure of the Big Three, A's fans are reminded of how far we are removed from the good old days. And with the exception of Gray and Doolittle, nobody is a lock for the 2016 12-man opening day staff, incredulously. Hopefully one or two of the young arms will emerge as a number two, and with a little help, the pen solidifies. Let's see what develops. I, for one, am as optimistic as I was pessimistic a year ago. Hey, when Charles Woodson, at the age of 39, is still putting on the Silver and Black cape and saving games, why, anything is possible. Right?

Peter Elman

Rockridge

Oct. 1, 2015

Pete Elman worked as a sportswriter for the Contra Costa Times and

Oakland Tribune from 2000 to 2011. In 1991 he came up with the iconic moniker 

RUN TMC for the Golden State Warriors of the early 1990s. He is currently publishing a children's picture book with music, titled  Seasons, Rhymes in Time .

(chillincrowbooks.com).

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The San Francisco 49ers will win three games. Dino Maragos, Pier 29 bartender, Alameda

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They will win ten games. And add Khalil Mack (in addition to Derek Carr and Amari Cooper) to the list of standouts who will make this possible. Dino Keres, Francesco's Restaurant, bartender, Oakland

 

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San Francisco

Abbey Tavern, 4100 Geary Street

The Blue Light, 1979 Union Street

Bus Stop, 1901 Union Street

The Chieftain, 198 5th Street

Danny Coyle's, 668 Haight Street

Dave's, 29 Third Street @ Kearny

Final Final, 2990 Baker @ Lombard

The Holding Company, #2 Embarcadro Center

Il Pirata, 2007 16th Street

Jake's Steaks, 3301 Buchanan Street

Jullian's, 101 4th Street

The Kezar Pub, 770 Stanyan Street

Mad Dog in the Fog, 530 Haight Street

Mucky Duck, 1315 9th Avenue

Nickie's Bar, 466 Haight Street

Players Sports Grill, Pier 39, Buildings L & M

Polo Grounds, 747 3rd Street

 

East Bay

Brennan's Restaurant, 4th & University, Berkeley

Churchward Pub, 1515 Park Street, Alameda

City Beach, 4020 Technology Place, Fremont

Crogan's Montclair, 6101 La Salle Avenue, Oakland

Cue & Brew, 1029 Arnold Drive, #6, Martinez

Dan's Irish Sports Bar, 1524 Civic Street, Walnut Creek

Diamonds Sports Bar & Grill, 77 Hegenberger, Oakland

Ed's Mudville Grill, 6200 Center Street, Clayton

The Englander, 101 Parrott Street, San Leandro  

Evie's, 7138 Village Parkway, Dublin

Francesco's Restaurant, 8520 Pardee Drive, Oakland

Frank's Saloon, 2014 Marina Blvd., San Leandro

Funky Monkey, 22554 Main Street, Hayward

George & Walt's, 5445 College Avenue, Oakland

Grand Oaks Restaurant, 3701 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Go Sports Bar, 736 Washington Street, Oakland

Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

Kingfish, 5227 Claremont, Oakland

Linguini's Pizza & Brew, 1508 Park Street, Alameda

Livermore Casino Sports Bar, 3571 First Street, Livermore

McCovey's Restaurant, 1444 N. California, Walnut Creek

Mr. Lucky's Bar & Grill, 1527 Locust Street. Walnut Creek

Oakland Moose Club, 690 Hegenberger Road

Oaks Corner, 4099 San Pablo, Emeryville

Otaez Mexican Restaurant, 1619 Webster Street, Alameda

Pacific Coast Brewing Co., 906 Washington Street, Oakland

Pasta Pelican, 2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda

Pete's Place, 610A San Pablo Avenue, Pinole

Rancho Sports Bar, 3912 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante

Ricky's Sports Grill, 15028 Hesperian Blvd., San Leandro

Sports Edition Bar, Hilton Oakland Airport, Oakland

Stadium Pub, 1420 Lincoln Avenue, Walnut Creek

Tierney's Sports Bar, 540 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

WPLJ's Dance Club, 2112 North Main Street, Walnut Creek

 

Brisbane

7 Mile House, 2800 Bayshore Blvd.

 

Burlingame 

The American Bull Bar & Grill, 1819 El Camino Real

Knuckles Historical Sports Bar, Hyatt Regency, Burlingame

 

Campbell 

Capers Eat & Drink, 1710 West Campbell   

 

Fair Oaks

Players Sports Pub, 4060 Sunrise Blvd.

 

Half Moon Bay 

Cameron's Restaurant Pub & Inn, 1410 South Cabrillo Hwy

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., 390 Capistrano Road

 

Foster City 

The Club House Bistro, 1221 Chess Drive  

 

Palo Alto 

Sundance The Steakhouse, 1921 El Camino Real

 

Point Richmond

Up & Under, 2 West Richmond Avenue   

 

San Jose 

Bay 101 Casino, 1801 Bering Drive

Britannia Arms, 5027 Almaden Expressway

Britannia Arms, 173 West Santa Clara

Britannia Arms, 1087 De Anza Blvd.    

 

San Rafael 

Pete's 881, 721 Lincoln Avenue

 

Santa Clara

City Beach, 2911 Mead Avenue

 

Santa Cruz 

One Double Oh Seven Club, 1007 Soquel Avenue    

 

Vacaville 

Stars Recreation Center, 155 Browns Valley Parkway