Oakland Raiders 2011: They Will Grasp, Clasp and Reach Higher Goals, Fast

Some folks say things are in the stars. Some say there is a destiny that is within grasp if we just believe.

For some reason I started charting a map to see what connections, both strong and weak, that I may have to NFL players. The findings are interesting.

As I sat in a classroom and started writing this article, I looked over at one student who knows Mean Joe Greene, who frequently visits the University of North Texas. She saw Mean Joe Greene in the fall semester of 2009.

Then, during another class session on Tuesday night, Aug. 3, I discovered that one student from Robstown, Texas actually knew Gene Upshaw. The college student's father coached Upshaw when he was in middle school in the small Texas town.

The student actually asked me if Gene Upshaw was mean. I told him that he was on the playing field, but he wasn't during my conversations with him.

Next, I realized that I work with the son of Ernie Holmes, who was a Pittsburgh Steeler. Holmes is a young, historical mathematician who knows a lot about football. He grew up studying and watching football.

One semester I taught a former NFL player named Jermaine Fazande. He actually supported my project to do research on the careers of wide receivers such as, for example, Warren Wells.

Now I started sportswriting when I published an article comparing two senior Oakland Raiders, Jerry Rice and Warren Wells. The article focused on intensity and integrity. It made use of a mathematical model to compare certain factors.

The article was edited by a West Point (USMA) professor, Prof. Don Small,  and it was published in a newsletter, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the United States Military Academy.

Next, I did more research and published an article titled, "A Gleam of Dawn," under the editorial wisdom of Bob Carroll, now deceased, of the Profes...

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