Dysfunction in families and football

The kids are back at college after a fun and eventful Thanksgiving week of family dinners and seemingly endless activities with friends. It's now time to assess the damage, recharge our batteries and prepare for the next go around: Christmas. How crazy was it? Here's a small taste without naming names. There was the hot blooded uncle screaming about the size of a refrigerator in the parent's remodel. The niece who was late because she missed the bus and then had to leave early to meet up with her boyfriend. Then there was the poor grandma who can't hear but won't wear hearing aids and screams, "what?" all night long. Or how about the teens attached to their phones, snap chatting away as they plan their own exit. Sound familiar? It's what we lovingly refer to as our dysfunctional families,  not unlike our local football teams. With just four games left in the regular season all eyes are on the gridiron.  For Oakland Raiders fans the outlook is beyond dismal. Sunday's 52-0 loss in St. Louis is the second worst in team history dating back to John F. Kennedy's Administration.

While we may long for the simpler days of 1961,  when cell phones were nonexistent, nobody wants to see the silver and black in this state of self-destruction. At 1-11, embarrassing doesn't come close to describing the team that was once the pride of Oakland. Heads will continue to roll, but maybe the person to blame is the man most associated with the spirit and success of the Raiders, Al Davis. His Napoleon like leadership style did not prepare his son or anyone else to take over after his death. He didn't let them in by sharing his knowledge, and the result is much like what happens in a family when the leader is missing and the ship runs aground. The story in San Francisco is not quite as grim, but for the 49er faithful who last year were a completed TD pass away from the Super Bowl, it's heartbreaking to witness their playoff dreams fading away. It isn't over yet, but the Thanksgiving massacre at the hands of the Seahawks at home still hurts. And then there's the behind the scenes drama starring Coach Jim Harbaugh, CEO Jed York and even the GM's daughter adding to the stress of recording their fifth loss for the first time since Coach Harbaugh moved in. This family is also in need of therapy. Winning of course is the best remedy, and facing their cross bridge rival Raiders Sunday can provide comfort for at least one side of the family. After all, it's impossible to please everyone in the modern blended family.