The saga continues in Oakland

On Monday, the Bay Area press showed up to the press conference expecting the announcement of the firing of Lane Kiffin, and as we all know that didn't happen. But one reporter, Tim Kawakami of San Jose Mercury News, got more then he bargained for. Kawakami was scolded by John Herrera, a member of the Raiders front office, for spreading what Herrera claims are lies. Kawakami reported that Herrera and other officials passed out an ESPN story that was critical of Raider head coach Lane Kiffin. Here's the clip of what happened:



If you can't watch the video or couldn't hear what was said, here is the gist of it:

You’re a liar,” Herrera shouted. “You built a whole column on a lie…” [...]

Kawakami put his hand on Herrera’s arm in a peacekeeping soothing way and said, “Calm down.” Herrera violently shook it off. “Get your hand off me,” he shouted. “Get your (bleeping) hand off me.”

To which Kawakami replied, “Do you want to take a punch at me?”

“Yeah, I’d love to.”

And then I heard Kawakami say, “I’d love to own part of this franchise,” meaning if a Raider official slugged him he could sue.

The Raiders have had a myriad of embarrassing moments in recent history from draft busts, blow-out losses, losing seasons, and player arrests. But none of those moments can compare to the embarrassment that this brings to me. An official should be able to confront the media over their columns, but they should also go about it in a professional manner. It probably won't happen but Herrera deserves to be fired immediately for his lack of judgment and professionalism. However some (not including myself) of the Raider Nation believe Kawakami and the Raider beat reporters need to own up for their part in all of this. Stating that they take liberties with half truths and innuendo due to the fact that the Raiders don’t offer information. So as any reporter would do, they speculate and opine on what they believe to be the future of the organization. Once again, I don't think there is any validity behind this argument. If Kiffin's job was safe, someone would have said so by now.

In summation; Kiffin is still the head coach, Herrera is immature and downright pathetic, and the circus tent in Alameda has officially been built into a stationary structure.

San Jose Mercury: The Raiders’ John Herrera vs. me in front of the cameras today: Well, THAT was fun