Just Whine Baby!

Contributed by Auggie

Sometimes karma takes its sweet old time, but when it comes it’s like a cool stream on bruised and weary feet. Depending of course on which end you sit.

The NFL network has a mini-documentary series call “The Timeline” where they chronicle significant events in NFL history. This weekend I happened to catch the episode called “The Tuck Rule” which first aired in 2017. If you are a football fan you probably know what it’s about. On a snowy January night in 2002 in Foxboro, MA, Tom Brady apparently fumbled away the Patriots’ chances to continue its Cinderella season. When the Raiders recovered the ball, victory was imminent barring a miracle. The miracle came in the form of the little-know “Tuck” rule. After reviewing the play, the officials ruled the play an incomplete pass and the Patriots maintained possession. (Even Patriots fans can admit it was a stupid rule; but it was absolutely the correct call of that stupid rule). The Patriots eventually scored on that possession and went on to win that game in overtime. The rest as they say, is history.

The Raiders have a rich history and proud tradition symbolized by the motto “Just Win Baby”, a doctrine attributed to long-time owner Al Davis. They might as well have titled the show “Just Whine Baby” as suggested by the title of this blog, because a significant portion of the program was devoted to just that. Raiders team officials, former players and fans all got in on the act. They went so far as to suggest Tom Brady would never have become the Tom Brady we know, and the Patriots dynasty would not have happened without that egregious call. Ha! I must say, I couldn’t have enjoyed the episode more. For an old-time Patriots fan like yours truly, another fitting title would have been “The Poetic Justice” game. Allow me to explain.

The year was 1976. The nation had celebrated its bicentennial, Apple Computer and Microsoft were incorporated, Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the Presidential election and one week before Christmas the New England Patriots were robbed in broad daylight.

That year the Patriots had emerged from years of mediocrity to become a sudden, and surprising NFL powerhouse. It was the team’s first winning season after the NFL-AFL merger and came on the strength of some recent spectacular drafts. In fact, one could argue that the ‘76 team had more talent than any of its 6 Super Bowl winning teams. The Raiders meanwhile dominated the regular season with only one loss. The one loss? It was to the New England Patriots who trampled them 48-17. Let that sink in for a moment! In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Patriots once again had the Raiders beaten despite many controversial calls and non-calls all the favor of the Raiders. When Ken Stabler threw an incomplete pass on 3 and 18 with about 90 seconds left, the game appeared over. But wait! The official decided to call roughing the passer on Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton. An entire blog could be written on the ridiculousness of that call, but I leave it to the imaginary readers to do the research if interested. Many an objective witness would call it one of the worst calls ever! In any case, they tacked on an unsportsmanlike penalty on Hamilton for protesting the scandalous call and voila, the Raiders had a first down near the goal line. Shortly after, Stabler ran one in with less than 10 seconds in the game and that was the end.

 
That game always bothered me, right up until the Tuck Rule game that is. (And yes, I’m cognizant of the fact that my personal whining lasted 8 years longer than the Raider nation’s current streak). This is where it gets interesting. In the 1976-77 season, to fully benefit from their undeserved fortunes the Raiders still had to beat the Pittsburg Steelers on the road the following week and then go on to win the Super Bowl, which they did. In the 2001-02 season, after the tuck-rule game the Patriots still had to beat the Pittsburg Steelers on the road the following week, and then go on to win the Super Bowl, which they did. Justice? Check. Poetic? Check!