The phish reunion band show reunion

Jam-rock pioneer Phish is back, but not as you might expect. Four
years after the band called it quits and after months of reunion
rumors, Vermont’s finest finally shared the stage this weekend at
former road manager Brad Sands’ wedding in New York. The quartet
played a brief three-song set of “Suzy Greenberg,” “Julius” and
“Waste.” Somewhere, someone is selling grilled cheese at a wedding.

In other jam band reunion news, the four surviving members of The
Grateful Dead will play their first show since 2004 under the Dead
moniker at Penn State on Oct. 13. The show is to support Barack Obama
– Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart previously played a “Deadheads
for Obama” show in San Francisco in February. Guitarist Warren Haynes
will join the band, as will the Allman Brothers Band, in which Haynes
also plays.

Today’s biggest non-reunion news comes in the form of Jimmy Page and
Led Zeppelin. At the Toronto International Film Festival, a reporter
asked Page point-blank if Zeppelin was recording and reuniting. “We’re
not actually recording,” Page said, adding, “if you’re going to do a
reunion, you need four members.” Seems singer Robert Plant is still
the holdout.

The al davis oakland raiders raiders 49ers offense

It’s time to launch another NFL season, or as we like to call it in
Northern California, “Thumped By Thanksgiving.”

Let’s store into the closet the eight dusty Lombardi trophies, the
combined collection of the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland
Raiders. Right now, they are as relevant as yesterday’s weather
report.

Let’s also file all those hoary slogans about commitment to whatever
and the endless spin about improve-

ment. Until these franchises rise out of their funk and show something
more than punts and field goals, they will be known as thus:

Howl at the moon, throw darts at the messenger or just sink deeper
into your easy chair. The 49ers and the Raiders are what they are —
two football companies wandering in the NFL wilderness.

Expectations and predictions have been reduced to one huge moot point.
After all, what’s the worth of improvement from 2-14 to 4-12, the
Raiders’ result in 2007? If you downsize from 7-9 to 5-11, like the
49ers did last season, what is your direction when you’ve taken your
most important player — quarterback Alex Smith — and basically
ruined him?

All we can project this season is more exciting offense, a fairly safe
observation. After that, you’re on your own. We’ve been conditioned
for failure, so anything above an unforced fumble is a plus.

The 49ers begin today against Arizona, followed by the Raiders hosting
Denver on Monday night, and from here on, it’s a “show me” world.

Because what they’ve shown lately is big-league lame. The numbers
since the 2002 season leave no argument.

The Raiders, after losing to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl, are 19-61,
the NFL’s worst record. The 49ers, during the same time span, are
25-55, next-to-worst. Both teams have deserved their fate — unstable
or sub-average coaching, bad drafts, misdirected ownership, etc.

The Raiders have positioned themselves for an upgrade via running back
Darren McFadden and quarterback JaMarcus Russell. The quick
development of McFadden, contrasting with Russell’s holdout absence
last year, will help the Raiders.

Across the bay, new offensive coordinator Mike Martz — the 49ers’
sixth OC in as many seasons — might rescue an offense that last year
bordered on unwatchable. The surprise was quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan,
a 29-year-old journeyman, beating out both Smith and Shaun Hill.

O’Sullivan starts today only because he worked with Martz in Detroit
last year and is more comfortable with his offense. The ex-UC Davis
Aggie, unlike Smith, will be bolstered by the 49ers’ first serious
talent at receiver in years.

Better offense aside, both teams are saddled with the same major
problem — uncertainty at head coach. Put bluntly, the seats occupied
by the Raiders’ Lane Kiffin and the 49ers’ Mike Nolan are hotter than
Modesto asphalt at 4 p.m. Both franchises will languish until these
issues are addressed.

Owner Al Davis overruled Kiffin’s dismissal of defensive coordinator
Rob Ryan last winter. Kiffin then refused to sign a letter of
resignation from Davis. The coach basically said, “Fire me and pay me
$4 million, because I’m going nowhere.” Davis blinked, but now he’s
stuck with a coach he likes slightly less than a root canal.

Kiffin’s presence on the Raiders’ sideline, given the toxic
environment, continues the soap opera. Will McFadden’s breakaway speed
and a few wins wash away this mess? Stay tuned. One encouraging, if
costly, sign is the Raiders’ forking over $224 million for McFadden
and three other starters. Regardless how you think about the Raiders,
they’re always trying to win NOW.

Nolan has exhausted all patience due to three factors: 1. His team’s
16-32 record; 2. his careless handling of Smith both on and off the
field; and, 3. his grammar-school game management. Worse for him, his
potential replacement — Martz — calls the plays on offense.

The 49ers believe a defense keyed by linebacker Patrick Willis, merged
with a more productive offense, will correct their course. Again,
we’re waiting.

Fundamentally poor judgment has plunged both Bay Area commodities to
the bottom — the Raiders’ chasing away Jon Gruden after the 2001
season, and the 49ers’ firing of Steve Mariucci a year later after an
NFC West title and a playoff win. Not surprisingly, they’re still
groping for traction.

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