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Far from a Raider-hater, I marvel at the depths of dysfunction the Silver and Black continue to sink.

Owner Al Davis' weekly threats to fire coach Lane Kiffin are as comical as they are sad. Each week, the Raiders take the field, and each week a new veiled threat emerges from Al, "Just win, baby. Or else I might fire you."

Of course, he might not.

For two weeks, reports have "leaked out" about the impending axing. But each Monday, Kiffin gamely talks about that Sunday's win or loss while eyes roll and reporters wait to pounce with the obvious "So, are you going to be the big cheese come tomorrow?"

Give Kiffin credit for perseverance or stupidity. Honestly, how many would put themselves through that weekly Russian roulette routine?

Perhaps Davis is waiting for Donald Trump to clear his schedule and make it to Oakland for the obvious "You're Fired!"

Sadly, however, Davis' indecision isn't the funniest thing to come from the Raiders' camp this week. Not even close.

The prize for Stupidest Raiders Home Video goes to Oakland executive John Herrera, who, after Kiffin's Monday inquisition, openly challenged San Jose Mercury News writer Tim Kawakami to "step outside" and settle their beef like men.

Teams upset with columnists isn't news. But physically confronting them, dropping F-bombs, accusing them of smoking wacky tobaccy in front of rolling cameras isn't the best public relations ploy. For a laugh, you can Google Herrera and Kawakami, but be forewarned of salty language.

Here's a novel idea: Herrera, Davis and even Kiffin should devote all the energy to football, rather than making themselves a National Football League laughingstock. These guys make the Detroit Lions look like model citizens.

Here's hoping Jason Williams, aka White Chocolate, gets a nice set of pens for his retirement from basketball.

The former Kings first-round pick, who never met a fast-break 3-point jumper he didn't like, called it quits after 10 years in the NBA.

For Kings fans, Williams might be remembered as the flashy point guard who made no-look passes routine, but, for me, the lasting impression is of a Memphis locker room altercation with a Commercial Appeal writer. Angry over a column about his unnecessary flash, Williams confronted the scribe and yanked the pen from his hands. It cemented him as the Ryan Leaf of the NBA.

I think I'll send him a Sharpie.

Does USC's failure to beat Oregon State mean the Beavers are better than Ohio State? Just curious.

Alberto Contador is threatening to quit cycling's Team Astana if Lance Armstrong is made its leader. OK.

I think Contador is missing one important piece of information — that being he's Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong is Lance Armstrong.

Armstrong's earned the right to dictate his terms. When Contador has beaten cancer and won seven straight Tour de France titles, then, and only then, should he speak up about Armstrong's credentials.

The best thing to come out of America's Ryder Cup win over the Euros could have been Sergio Garcia's inability to perform. Or it could have been Lee Westwood whining that U.S. fans at Valhalla were acting boorish — much like European fans do every other year.

But, without a doubt, the best thing to come from the three-day American romp was Boo Weekely.

He is a Hillbilly quote machine, rambling off barely intelligible rants about dogs chasing rabbits and the like.

My only Boo regret is no media outlet got a picture of Weekely doing the "Happy-Gilmore-­riding-his-horse" stunt off the first tee Sunday. I've seen it TiVo'd on a loop, but that would be a permanent screen saver.

Thankfully for Giants and A's fans, baseball ends today. San Francisco never really harbored much thought of postseason baseball — even in the NL Worst. But the A's looked as solid as anyone in the AL, at least until a July swoon that makes their second-place West finish that much more impressive.

As for the postseason, I've got the Rays and Cubs in the Series and the impending apocalypse no matter who wins.

But for sanity of preps reporter John Ryan, I think this is the year for the Cubs. They kill the goat and end 100 years of frustration. Unfortunately, they do it at Tropicana Field.

Sports Editor Aaron Williams' column runs Sundays. He can be reached at 225-8229 or awilliams@redding.com.