Oakland Raiders Inspired Passion for Data Analysis and Sportswriting

This is the 400th article that I have written as a Bleacher writer. I looked back over about 16 pages in the archives to remember the very first article. It was published on April 2, 2009, and Jim Chandley was the editor.

Chandley wrote this feedback:

"Nice work. I just fixed some grammar and stuff. You did very well."

Wow, that made me smile. And, it has become a wonderful journey from that point to now. I admit that the Oakland Raiders inspired my passion for data analysis and sportswriting. And, the Bleacher Report has given me an outlet for my voice and my questions. It's a wonderful world!

I loaded the data analysis onto the webpage, arguing my point about a handful of wide receivers. Most of my motivation was to educate myself since during my younger day I really did not put a lot of time into the analysis of a game. I just enjoyed the games.

Here is what I posted back in April 2009. Cliff Branch and Warren Wells were highlighted. The study was narrowed down to the first five years of their career:

Senior Wide Receiver during the First Five Years



A numerical and graphical representation of the first five years of selected wide receivers is presented for comparisons. Otis Taylor’s rookie year was 1965; John Gilliam’s was 1967; Gary Garrison’s rookie year was 1966; Cliff Branch’s rookie year was 1972; and Warren Wells' rookie year was 1964.  The order of the presentation is Taylor, Gilliam, Garrison, Branch, and Wells.

 

WR                              Year**                        Avg            ...