The Raider Way...
The Oakland Raider Way
by Philip Fitch
The Raiders are not, and never will be, trend followers. They are trendsetters. Al Davis brings in the most controversial players there are. He does not follow conventional thinking in terms of who he drafts, nor in who he signs in the offseason. Long known as a haven for castoffs, rejects, and malcontents, many formerly “washed-up” or “finished” players have found their way back to greatness in the open arms of the Silver and Black.
Jim Plunkett, Ronnie Lott, Bill Romanowski, and many other players (even the G.O.A.T., Jerry Rice) found their way to the Dark Side, and either won or got to taste victory again in some form. (They have also, without exception, commented during or after their tenure with Oakland how it’s different playing with the Raiders, from a fairness standpoint.) Al Davis drafts who he wants to draft, not who the NFL thinks he should draft. Some may call it crazy or just plain not smart football, but you’ve got to admire a man and a team that bucks the trends, and consistently sets the NFL on its ear. The man is a gambler, and sometimes you’re going to win it all, and sometimes you’re going to lose your shirt.
The fans are trendsetters as well. Sure, there have been those who have “dressed up” at NFL games for many years. However, none have even come close to the level of which Raider fans have taken it. The Raiders’ ENTIRE fan base is famous. Going to a Raider game is an event, and there is nothing like it in the world, much less at any other NFL team’s venue.
The Raiders adopted the term “Nation”. This may be a point of contention, but there is no arguing that almost everything now is called “Nation”-this and “Nation”-that, and that started happening only after SB XXXVII when the world was once again exposed to the greatness of the Raider Nation. Practically every team in the NFL now blatantly copies the Raiders in one aspect or another—from playing “Hell’s Bells” on their PAs, to adopting black as their uniform’s primary color. It’s all latent hatred-envy at its finest.
Everyone loves to hate Al Davis. He plays the perfect villain to the typical goody-two-shoes compliant NFL owner. He’s sued the league, yeah, but he had good reason. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Oakland, but again, his organizations’ best interests were always at the heart of the matter. Players, both past and present, either love Al Davis or hate him.
The Hall of Fame is littered with Raiders players and coaches, so much so that many members of the voting committee have commented that there’s already too many and that they won’t vote any more in, even though they should by all rights be. (Take Mr. Flores, Kenny Stabler and Ray Guy for instance.) The Chiefs and the Broncos even have Raider Week. That is no insult to the Raiders, that is pure hatred, borne by respect.
From the owner on down to the fan, Raider Nation is one unit. Loyalty is forever. It is bigger than a fan sport. The Raider-Way is a way of life, and unless you live it, you’ll never understand it.
The NFL needs a villain, and the Raiders, especially us Raider fans, do indeed relish the role, even if we won’t openly admit it. Bring it on!
Go Raiders!!!
by Philip Fitch
The Raiders are not, and never will be, trend followers. They are trendsetters. Al Davis brings in the most controversial players there are. He does not follow conventional thinking in terms of who he drafts, nor in who he signs in the offseason. Long known as a haven for castoffs, rejects, and malcontents, many formerly “washed-up” or “finished” players have found their way back to greatness in the open arms of the Silver and Black.
Jim Plunkett, Ronnie Lott, Bill Romanowski, and many other players (even the G.O.A.T., Jerry Rice) found their way to the Dark Side, and either won or got to taste victory again in some form. (They have also, without exception, commented during or after their tenure with Oakland how it’s different playing with the Raiders, from a fairness standpoint.) Al Davis drafts who he wants to draft, not who the NFL thinks he should draft. Some may call it crazy or just plain not smart football, but you’ve got to admire a man and a team that bucks the trends, and consistently sets the NFL on its ear. The man is a gambler, and sometimes you’re going to win it all, and sometimes you’re going to lose your shirt.
The fans are trendsetters as well. Sure, there have been those who have “dressed up” at NFL games for many years. However, none have even come close to the level of which Raider fans have taken it. The Raiders’ ENTIRE fan base is famous. Going to a Raider game is an event, and there is nothing like it in the world, much less at any other NFL team’s venue.
The Raiders adopted the term “Nation”. This may be a point of contention, but there is no arguing that almost everything now is called “Nation”-this and “Nation”-that, and that started happening only after SB XXXVII when the world was once again exposed to the greatness of the Raider Nation. Practically every team in the NFL now blatantly copies the Raiders in one aspect or another—from playing “Hell’s Bells” on their PAs, to adopting black as their uniform’s primary color. It’s all latent hatred-envy at its finest.
Everyone loves to hate Al Davis. He plays the perfect villain to the typical goody-two-shoes compliant NFL owner. He’s sued the league, yeah, but he had good reason. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Oakland, but again, his organizations’ best interests were always at the heart of the matter. Players, both past and present, either love Al Davis or hate him.
The Hall of Fame is littered with Raiders players and coaches, so much so that many members of the voting committee have commented that there’s already too many and that they won’t vote any more in, even though they should by all rights be. (Take Mr. Flores, Kenny Stabler and Ray Guy for instance.) The Chiefs and the Broncos even have Raider Week. That is no insult to the Raiders, that is pure hatred, borne by respect.
From the owner on down to the fan, Raider Nation is one unit. Loyalty is forever. It is bigger than a fan sport. The Raider-Way is a way of life, and unless you live it, you’ll never understand it.
The NFL needs a villain, and the Raiders, especially us Raider fans, do indeed relish the role, even if we won’t openly admit it. Bring it on!
Go Raiders!!!
posted by Raider Raza at Friday, May 02, 2008
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