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Al Davis never shied away from making bold moves as owner of the Oakland Raiders, especially when it came to hiring head coaches.  In 1969, he chose John Madden, who at 32 became the youngest head coach in the NFL at the time.  In 1998, Davis tabbed Jon Gruden, just 35-years-old to lead the Raiders into a new era. 

But Davis is not without his failures, which is certainly illustrated in recent Raiders history.  You can place former Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin in that category, who became the youngest head coach in franchise history, beating Madden by a year at age 31.

Kiffin, now head coach at USC, butted heads with Davis in his short, but memorable-for-the-wrong-reasons tenure with the Raiders.  Who can forget Davis' press conference in which he announced Kiffin's firing?

But despite their differences, Kiffin issued a sympathetic statement on Davis' passing earlier today.  From the Los Angeles Times:

"I was very saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Al Davis," Kiffin said in a statement. "He was an iconic figure in the history of professional football and built a truly legendary franchise with the Raiders.

"I consider myself fortunate to have known him and to have been a part of that Raiders history.  Even though our relationship did not end the way I would have liked, I have nothing but the greatest respect for Mr. Davis and I truly appreciate the opportunity he afforded me and so many young coaches, players and staff.

"My thoughts go out to his family and to the family and fans of the Raiders past and present."

For more on the Raiders, visit Silver and Black Pride. SB Nation Bay Area will continue to have full updates on Al Davis an all things Bay Area sports.

The NFL Network has gone wall-to-wall today with its reporting of Al Davis' passing. They've featured interviews with a number of football luminaries, including Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, and celebrity fans like rapper Ice Cube.

The coverage will continue into the evening with two special presentations on the Oakland Raiders and Davis. At 5:30 PM pst/8:30 PM est, NFL Network will air "Al Davis: #1 For All Time" - a one hour documentary produced by NFL Films on the late-Raiders owner. Then at 6:30 PM PST/9:30 PM EST, they will air highlights from Super Bowl XVIII between the Raiders and Washington Redskins, including this record-setting 74-yard-run by hall-of-fame running back Marcus Allen.

Not only was the victory in Super Bowl XVIII the Raiders third and last Super Bowl win, but it was also their only championship during their 12-year stint in Los Angeles.

NFL Network's Saturday Schedule

1. NFL Total Access: 4 pm PST
2. Al Davis: #1 For All Time: 5:30 PM PST
3. Super Bowl XVIII Raiders vs. Redskins: 6:30 pm PST

For more on the Raiders, visit Silver and Black Pride. SB Nation Bay Area will continue to have full updates on Al Davis an all things Bay Area sports.

Al Davis and the Raiders left an indelible mark not just on football, but on pop culture as well.  Nowhere else was their influence seen more than through west coast rap super-group NWA, who proudly sported the silver and black in music videos and appearances in the late eighties and early nineties.

"The Raiders were a rowdy bunch way before NWA," rapper and former member Ice Cube said this morning in a phone interview with the NFL Network. "You know, what they showed to us was that you can be yourself and you can still win.  You don't have to conform always to the mainstream or to the status quo.  You can come out be yourself, own it and you can win."

Cube, born O'Shea Jackson, was also asked what Davis thought of NWA's wearing of Raiders' merchandise in their prime.  He said he thinks Davis "loved it."

"I'm pretty sure his bank account loved it," Cube said with a laugh.  "We were great fans and we wore the logo well and the Raiders were winning on the field, and (it was) a beautiful thing.  I think to this day we all benefitted a lot off of each other when it comes to that Raiders' image."

Cube produced a documentary for ESPN's 30-for-30 series released last year titled "Straight Outta LA".  He said Davis warmly welcomed him into Raiders headquarters for an interview to discuss the franchise's rich history. 

"I remember him inviting me and my wife into his office," said Cube, said Cube, who was the last person to interview Davis according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Showing us all his mementos, all the things from the sixties and when he started the Raiders.  And he had everything laid out."

The Los Angeles rapper also acknowledged how Davis changed the game and broke down barriers for minorities in the sport.

"He taught the NFL how to be color blind when it comes to the sidelines," Cube said, referencing Al Davis' hiring of Tom Flores, the NFL's first Hispanic head coach, and Art Shell, its first African-American head coach. 

"For the most part, he's always been a player's owner and a guy who's really just all about football," he added.

With the city of Los Angeles planning to build a new stadium to bring back the NFL, Cube would gladly welcome back the team that left after the 1994 season.

"Al always wanted a new stadium," Cube said.  "It's a shame that he never got it.  But we'd love to have the Raiders back."

For more on the Raiders, visit Silver and Black Pride. SB Nation Bay Area will continue to have full updates on Al Davis an all things Bay Area sports.

Al Davis' passing has rocked the NFL world this morning.  Current Oakland Raiders learned of the news after a team meeting this morning in their Houston hotel, as they prepare to play the Texans tomorrow.  Jason La Canfora of NFL Network broke the details after speaking to some members of the Raiders organization.

(Head Coach Hue) Jackson gathered the entire team following a special-teams meeting that took place at 9:30 a.m. CT.

"Coach was very emotional," one player said. "He was really, really close with Mr. Davis. It's really tough right now for the entire Raider organization."

Several players choked up when they heard the news. Even though Davis' health was declining, the news surprised them. Davis had "an open-door policy" with players, they said, and many had regular conversations with the owner.

"We had his number, and he was always willing to talk to us about whatever was on your mind," one player told me.

Tributes and acknowledgements are trickling in from current Raider players since through Twitter.

Raiders defensive tackle Lamarr Houston

Raiders linebacker Jarvis Moss

Raiders tight end Kevin Brock

Raiders running back Michael Bush

Raiders running back Rock Cartwright

Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt

Raiders cornerback Chimdi Chekwa

Raiders cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke

Raiders fullback Marcel Reece

Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy

Raiders safety Mike Mitchell

Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor

Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey

Raiders tight end Kevin Boss

Raiders safety Tyvon Branch

Raiders defensive end Kamerion Wimbley

Raiders running back Darren McFadden

Raiders wide receiver Nick Miller

For more on the Raiders, visit Silver and Black Pride. SB Nation Bay Area will continue to have full updates on Al Davis an all things Bay Area sports.

NBA players are weighing their options as the lockout drags on through the summer.  Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant are just two of the NBA's biggest stars to express some interest playing outside of the U.S.

Add Tyreke Evans to that list, too.

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Amidst the buzz surrounding the Sacramento Kings and their selection of heralded college star Jimmer Fredette in the 2011 NBA Draft, Kings guard Tyreke Evans hosted a youth basketball camp on Thursday and Friday in the Sacramento area.

"This is for some of the kids who couldn't afford to go to a camp," Evans said of the event.  "So I just wanted to come out and support, help them, sponsor them, come to a camp for free.  And me showing up put a smile on their faces."

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The Sacramento Kings worked out a group of six players at their practice facility today.  Washington State's Klay Thompson and Colorado's Alec Burks were the main attractions of the Saturday afternoon draft showcase in front of Kings brass.  According to the two players, Saturday's session was the third meeting between them during these rounds of pre-draft workouts.

"He got the better of me in the team games," Thompson said of Burks. "But one-on-one, I felt like I held my own.

"We've gone against each other so much that we're pretty familiar with each other," the WSU guard said. "But we still enjoy it."

Burks, however, felt otherwise.

"He probably going to say him, but I'm going to say me," the Colorado guard said with a grin.

Unless they receive any last minute calls, both guards have less than a handful of workouts scheduled before the draft.  Thompson said he has a trip planned for Utah, while Burks has appointments with Phoenix and the Jazz before Thursday.

Alec Burks

Klay Thompson

Kemba Walker highlighted a six-player workout at the Sacramento Kings practice facility today.  The UConn guard, along with Nikola Vucevic (USC), Justin Hurtt (Tulsa), Matthew Bryan-Amaning (Washington), DeAngelo Casto (Washington State) and Jordan Williams (Maryland),  participated in drills and a scrimmage run by Kings staff.  Both Kings co-owners Joe & Gavin Maloof watched the workout.

"It's definitely a grind," Walker said of the predraft process. "But you know, I can't really complain because I haven't really had a lot of workouts compared to a lot of guys.

"I'm talking to some guys and they tell me they have six more workouts left and the draft is next week," he added. "That's a rough schedule so I can't complain at all."

Walker projects to go anywhere from no. 3 to the Utah Jazz, no. 5 to the Toronto Raptors or no. 7 to the Kings.  Meanwhile, Vucevic sits on the first-round bubble.

"I think teams on the west coast like USC - we're not like a huge basketball school so we don't get that much media and all the stuff around us," Vucevic said of proving his talents to NBA evaluators. "So people didn't really know about me and I knew that I was better than what people gave me credit for.  I knew that if I prepared well for this process and go do my job in these workouts I knew I could rise up (the draft board)."

Kemba Walker

Nikola Vucevic

This morning, I taped a podcast with BYU Head Coach Dave Rose over at the ESPN TrueHoop Network Affiliate Cowbell Kingdom.  And of course, the show was focused on his former star player Jimmer Fredette.  We got some pretty good thoughts from Coach Rose on what aspects of Fredette's game would translate well to the NBA.  

At the end of the podcast, Rose made a pretty bold statement about the 2011 National Player of the Year.

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BYU guard Jimmer Fredette highlighted a six-man workout at the Sacramento Kings practice facility today. Fredette along with UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt, Tennessee's Tobias Harris, South Carolina's Sam Muldrow and Kentucky's Josh Harrellson participated in drills and played in a 3-on-3 scrimmage to close out the workout session. 

"I thought it went pretty well," Fredette said of the Sacramento visit. "I competed hard, shot decent.  The main thing I think I wanted to come in and show them is that I can come in and play defense at this level.  So I came in and competed really hard.  Had some good players in here to defend, some quick guys and some long guys (who are) athletic.   So I thought that I did a pretty good job overall and I thought that they liked it."

Kings front office brass, including president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie, head coach Paul Westphal and co-owner Gavin Maloof, were among those in attendance.

Jimmer Fredette

Tyler Honeycutt

Tobias Harris

Josh Harrellson

Can he play point guard?

That was the question on everyone's mind regarding Stephen Curry's NBA potential in 2009.  At Davidson, Curry was a volume shooter, who carried the Wildcats scoring-load on a nightly basis.  However, his new head coach Mark Jackson had no doubt at the time that his skills would translate to the league.

From a 2009 ESPN article:

I believe he has an awfully bright future as a point guard in the league because he makes quality decisions and has the ability to flourish in either a movement-based system or a point-guard-dominant system where he would use the pick-and-roll more. That's because of his quickness and amazing ability to shoot.

Jackson made those comments before calling Davidson's game versus Duke in January 2009.  The new Warriors head coach was bold enough to declare Curry an NBA "starting point guard right now" following the ESPN broadcast.

Jackson and Curry are no strangers to each other.  Jackson knew Curry while playing with his father Dell in Toronto during the 2000-01 NBA season.

A grown man move?  The Golden State Warriors have hired current ABC-NBA analyst Mark Jackson to be their next head coach. 

Jackson's thoughts from an official Warriors' press release:

"I am really elated about this opportunity and I’m looking forward to the challenge of building the Warriors into a perennial contender," said Jackson. "I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the organization during our meetings, beginning at the top with Joe Lacob and, of course, with Larry Riley, Bob Myers and Jerry West. I have sensed that Joe is committed to winning and building a team and a culture the right way. I think we all witnessed that with some of the recent front office additions as well and some of the other positive things that have been done in recent months. This is an incredible opportunity and I am honored and thank God that I have been chosen to be the next coach of the Warriors. The Bay Area has always had some of the best fans in the NBA and I look forward to being a part of that incredible atmosphere at Oracle Arena, along with my wife, my kids and my church family, who are thrilled as well."

Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob on the hiring:

"We are tremendously excited about the addition of Mark Jackson as our new head coach," said Warriors’ Owner Joe Lacob. "He epitomized leadership as a player in this league for 17 seasons and we think that characteristic – and many other positive traits – will translate very well into his coaching duties with our young team. He was a leader and a winner both on and off the floor in this league and we’re convinced that he is the right person to guide this team into the future and help us achieve the success that we are striving for as an organization."

And Warriors General Manager Larry Riley:

"After an extensive search and a great deal of consideration, we have come to the conclusion that Mark Jackson is the best coach for this team," said Warriors’ General Manager Larry Riley. "He will bring a youthful and fresh approach to our team and the fact that he enjoyed a stellar playing career, where he served most of that time as the leader of some very successful teams, will prove invaluable in the long run. We were looking for a coach with leadership ability and a strong personality and believe Mark possesses those qualities. He’s very well respected in NBA circles, is a consummate professional and his knowledge and background will be an incredible asset for our team and organization."

The former NBA point guard has no prior coaching experience.  But he becomes the 24th head coach in Golden State Warriors history.  He will officially assume his duties at the conclusion of the NBA Finals.  The Warriors will formally introduce Jackson later this week.

Former University of Kentucky guard Brandon Knight worked out individually for the Sacramento Kings today.  The 19-year-old prospect participated in drills run by Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. 

"You never know where you may slide to,"  Knight said when asked about the likelihood of playing for the Kings,  "If I did get to seven, I didn't want to hide the opportunity where they didn't get to see me and didn't want to take a chance just because I didn't come to a workout.  So, it was just something I came here to do."

Also assisting in the workout were former Kings guard and team ambassador Bobby Jackson, assistant coaches Bubba Burrage, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Pete Carril.  Approximately 20-25 staff members from the Kings organization watched Knight's workout inside the Kings practice facility.  Head Coach Paul Westphal and Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof were two of the most notable spectators in attendance.

Some of the details from the Taylor/ICON arena report that will be presented at tomorrow's Sacramento City Council meeting have leaked. Our friends at Sactown Royalty broke down some of the information they received. 

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LAPD Chief Charlie Beck alongside Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Ed Reyes and Dodgers Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Howard Sunkin addressed the apprehension this morning of a suspect in the brutal beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow.

"I believe we have the right guy, Beck told reporters. "I wouldn't be standing here in front of you.  I certainly wouldn't be booking him later on tonight.  This is a case that needs much more work.  But we have some significant pieces to it that lead me to believe that we do indeed have the right individual."

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Add current ESPN analyst Mark Jackson to the list of coaching candidates for the Golden State Warriors.  From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

Golden State recently interviewed Mark Jackson for its coaching job, a league source tells Y! Sports.

Jackson has no NBA coaching experience, but that hasn't stopped him from pursuing opportunities in recent years.  Via a 2010 FanHouse article by Brett Polakolff:

I think it depends on who's doing the hiring," Jackson said. "I think you've got great examples of it, just like any other hire. And then you have examples where it didn't work. Doc Rivers was hired with no experience, and he's as good as it gets as coaching goes.

The former NBA point guard been considered for several head coaching jobs before, including the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets.  Last year, the Philadelphia 76ers wanted to interview Jackson for their opening before they hired Doug Collins, but Jackson reportedly was not interested.

An unlikely victor - Great Britain's Ben Swift won the opening stage of the Amgen Tour of California. 

The 23-year-old cyclist emerged from a neck-and-neck final sprint with Peter Sagan of Slovakia to win stage two, which concluded in Downtown Sacramento at the state capitol.   A member of Team Sky, Swift completed the portion of today's race, 76.3 miles, in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 12 seconds. 

The race was scheduled to start yesterday in Lake Tahoe.  However stage one was cancelled due to snow showers and freezing temperatures in the Sierra that caused poor riding conditions.  Weather delayed the tour again today, prompting tour officials to move the race's start from Squaw Valley to Nevada City.

The Tour of California continues tomorrow with stage three beginning in Auburn and finishing in Modesto.

Top 10 Standings and Results

Standings via Amgen Tour of California's official website.

Looks like the race will not start today after all.

Stage one of the Amgen Tour of California was set to originally kickoff at 10:30 this morning.  However, inclement weather conditions caused tour officials to postpone the race for a 1:15 pm start.  Now, the race is officially postponed until tomorrow due to snowfall and poor riding conditions in the Sierra.

Some race participants have already taken to Twitter to send messages about the delay, like three-time Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer:

We the riders are disappointed about not racing for the fans but we all agreed it was too risky in the ever changing weather. Thank you to AEG and Medalist for supporting this decision. We all hope the fans understand.

California cycling fans hope that weather won't be a problem tomorrow.  Stage 2 is set to start Monday at 10:30 am at Squaw Valley and end in Sacramento at 3 pm.