Newest Allegations Could Cost Cable His Job
Raiders looking into alleged violence toward women
By JOE KUKURA
Updated 10:47 AM PST, Tue, Nov 3, 2009
The Oakland Raiders released a statement Monday late afternoon discrediting ESPN's reports alleging that coach Tom Cable has a history of violence toward women.
And then they released another statement saying that they are investigating these allegations themselves.
"Over the last few days, we learned of the allegations made against Coach Cable," the Raiders said in a press release available on the Oakland Tribune. "In conjunction with the League office, we will undertake a serious evaluation of this matter."
The office also stressed their disapproval of the alleged actions.
"There have been occasions on which we have dismissed Raider employees for having engaged in inappropriate conduct," the Raiders press release states. "We endured public opprobrium for the dismissals, all the while knowing our basis for them was appropriate."
Then a separate Raiders press release unloaded on ESPN. "ESPN’s role in this matter must be carefully examined. ESPN routinely disseminates falsehoods about the Raiders."
Al Davis so writes these things himself.
There's no way it can be good for Cable when his employer issues a press release to say "We've fired people for this before." And it's the Raiders' bye week, traditionally the most practical time within the season to can your coach.
Cable remains undaunted. "I released a statement yesterday and I'm going to stand by that statement," Cable told the San Francisco Chronicle Monday. Those are the words of a man who is listening to what his attorney is telling him.
There is now a sense in Raider Nation that Cable is in some Lane Kiffin kind of already-fired, still-technically-employed purgatory. The first "Fire Tom Cable" manifesto in a Bay Area daily newspaper was published Monday in the San Jose Mercury News. "Cable's temper has become another unproductive element demanding attention within an organization already facing more issues than it can solve," writes Monte Poole. "Cable is going where no Raiders coach has gone before. He is bringing shame upon the shield."
Tim Kawakami brings up something I've not heard before. "Al is known to be very protective of women," Kawakami says on his Mercury News blog. "He must be horrified by the association to violence against women. I give him major credit for that."
Well, Davis was the first owner to hire a female CEO in to his team in NFL history. Amy Trask retains that position to this day.
It might be making Tom Cable's workday more awkward to have domestic assault allegations while working under a female CEO.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who hopes to one day be called a "false rumor monger" in an Al Davis press release.
Copyright NBC Local Media
First Published: Nov 2, 2009 11:59 PM PST
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