Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable denied reports that he punched assistant Randy Hanson in the jaw, which caused injuries that required a visit to the hospital.
According to other web sites, Cable hit Hanson on August 5 for unknown reasons. Then, a report filed with the Napa Police Department stated that a 41-year old coach was treated at the Queen of the Valley Hospital for an injury that was given to him by a member of the Oakland coaching staff.
Cable stated last night. “It’s an internal issue that we are dealing with, and that’s all I’m going to say. He continued, “I’m not going to comment on that.”
On Monday, at the beginning of the practice session, a few players began to hymn “Cable, bumaye, Cable, bumaye”, referencing the crowd chants in the 1974 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
“I don’t even know what they were saying,” star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha stated. “I think there’s still some guys who don’t even know. I found out as I was coming out on the field. Guys were finding out here and there. It wasn’t like a big announcement, so the reaction wasn’t like a collective reaction. People were like, ‘What’s going on?’ — trying to find out, but no one really knew.”
In just a year, Hanson has made a name for himself with the Raiders. Last season, then head coach Lane Kiffin suspended Hanson for what amounted to five days, including their game in Kansas City.
“Randy had some personal issues going on,” Kiffin said Sept. 17 of last year when questioned if the defensive coach had been suspended. “Randy still did some work for us, but he spent some time at home to get some things straight in his personal life.”
Hanson appears to be a very boisterous coach. Critiquing the team’s effort after their loss to Denver in 2008 and now, reportedly, speaking unfavorably about a current Raider staffer, which may have facilitated the incident that led to his injury.
It will be interesting to see if the NFL takes action on Cable if there is any wrongdoing on his part. If so, the head coach is subject to the league’s Personal Conduct Policy and could face some sanctions.
As crazy as this story may sound, in my opinion, it’s a non-issue and just another chapter in the bizarre world of the Oakland Raiders.
No one is condoning an assault on another person.
But those that are ranting for Cable’s head and that are appalled by the happenings in Oakland should realize that this is an organization that built a reputation of being outlaws, renegades and their players made night’s their playground for debauchery and any thing that could be considered immoral by many.
If you are a Raider fan now, that was not around to see the teams of the 1970s and 1980s, and cannot accept the fact that ‘strange’ things happen within this organization, then get over yourself.
Many players then, that this organization built their legacy on would have never sat around eating crackers and drinking tea with you and your friends during your sewing circles. And none will now.
Granted they were winning titles and dominating football then. And a coach taking such a heinous act on another staffer was never ‘the Raider way’, nor it shall be accepted.
But it is what it is and when coaches are under a microscope and news is disseminated at a furious pace, situations like this occur.
I’m sure many coaches argue with other players and staffers. And behind closed doors, we may never hear about the confrontations that may be legendary within inner circles.
This cat was out of the bag…
And now the team that has built much of their history on renegade acts and ghoulish behavior on and off the field has another story to tell.
I for one don’t think this will influence one way or another where this 2009 version of the Raiders is headed.
But it really makes for some interesting banter. And NO; this is not the end of the world for a team that has far more important matters on the field to deal with.
Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
