Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7074380/oakland-raiders-owner-al-davis-dies-82]Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis dies at 82 - ESPN[/url]


I somehow imagine this is bittersweet for many Raider fans out there. I would like to remember Davis for his incredible work he's done long ago. God speed Al and thanks for all the contributions to this league.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Legend. I loved Al Davis attitude and he was a throwback. He acted crazy sometimes(hired Lane Kiffin), but he was an original. RIP

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Sad news.. He was a legend In the NFL

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

^ Yeah although sad, I too think the fans are probably thinking of this as X-Mas early. Now they probably will become a really decent team over the next few yrs.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

and right when his teams are finally starting to gel and show results................

Godspeed m8.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Rip Al Davis. Unfortunately, for many of us, some of his most recent actions will overshadow the major and many accomplishments he made in his service and advancement of pro football. He will be missed. Rip

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Yep, definitely an eternal NFL icon.
Wont seem the same without him.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

He was a one-of-a-kind guy.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Overtime, he was one of the greatest owners ever. The last couple of years, not so much. But he obviously did something to make the raiders become relevant again. RIP Al.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Wow. Certainly a polarizing figure in recent years, but overall an NFL icon. RIP Mr. Davis.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

He was such a maverick in his younger years. It was kinda sad to see such a once powerful figure become a caricature of himself. RIP Al Davis.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

I think media made a lot out of nothing, in terms of Al Davis, recently. He is a great owner, a real pioneer and visionary. I feel a lot of people don't understand what he has done for the sport of football.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

RIP Al Davis. The The NFL will miss you. My condolences go out to his family & friends.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[quote=hooskins;845599]i think [b]media made a lot out of nothing, in terms of al davis, recently. He is a great owner, a real pioneer and visionary.[/b] i feel a lot of people don't understand what he has done for the sport of football.[/quote]
^^^^^^rip

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

If I was an Oakland fan, I would have some very mixed feelings. In many ways, Davis made signifiant contributions to football as we view it today, both as to how the game is played and how it is enjoyed as a form of entertainment. At the same time, for the last 5-8 years, it seems he has just wacko nutzoid. An uber-Vinny in many ways.

RIP Al Davis. You were truly a unique character.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

RIP Al!! I'm probably one of the few who likes the Raidahs and Al, I hope this loss inspires the team to the playoffs, Al Davis is a legend. Second big loss of a visionary this week in the Bay are, Steve Jobs and Al.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Always remember the Oct.2, 1983 (37-35 Redskins win over the Raiders) in RFK as one of best football games I had ever watched.
Davis' teams good or bad have always been fast. Cliff Branch, Calvin Muhammad type track guys. Today he's got Denarious Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Some things never changed. Now they will.
Born on the 4th of July, IN his first year as Raiders HC he took a 1-15 team and in one year made them 10-6. He didn't f-around.

RIP Al, the NFL's #1 maverick character.

God bless and goodnight .

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

As much as people hated Al he truly was a cool dude. I mean what other owner would hang out with Ice Cube and Snoop? One of the first owners who bulked up his team with Black players. The first owner to hire a Latino and Black head coach. The man was stubborn at times but he was one of the instrumental pieces that made the NFL what it is today.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

rip ... one of the major influences on the NFL AFL merger .... great body of work, a life well spent.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Watch a west coast version of Dan Snyder come in and buy the team from Al's son (I assume his son is now in operating control).

Still with Al gone the NFL will probably target the Raiders for a move back to LA.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[quote=mlmpetert;845587]Rip Al Davis. Unfortunately, for many of us, some of his most recent actions will overshadow the major and many accomplishments he made in his service and advancement of pro football. He will be missed. Rip[/quote]

^^^^

This. Well said.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[quote=Shadowbyte;845616]As much as people hated Al he truly was a cool dude. I mean what other owner would hang out with Ice Cube and Snoop? One of the first owners who bulked up his team with Black players. The first owner to hire a Latino and Black head coach. The man was stubborn at times but he was one of the instrumental pieces that made the NFL what it is today.[/quote]

great points

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

He will be missed by family and friends, and the media who no longer has an easy target to nail. He built a franchise, won 3 titles, and helped usher in the modern day NFL. It is too bad he couldn't see another title. I think it is sort of hypocritical though by a lot of thes sports writers to be bending over backwards to sing the praises of a guy that they demonized unfairly for the better part of the decade.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

As much as my lasting memory of Al Davis was the recent years, there's no doubt he left a legacy on this league. R.I.P. Al Davis.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Rest in peace Al.

I will remember him for his many contributions to the league, a true visionary who built himself up by working hard and doing things the right way. He also fielded very capable teams and I feel he was one of the only guys who could not only own a team but coach it as well. Of course that was a long time ago, but I will think of Al and remember what he did before, not all these "crypt keeper" antics of the past couple years when he was starting to slip.

Rip Coach Davis

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

its sad but true.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[quote=Dirtbag59;845622]Watch a west coast version of Dan Snyder come in and buy the team from Al's son (I assume his son is now in operating control).

Still with Al gone the NFL will probably target the Raiders for a move back to LA.[/quote]

Don't be surprised Oracle's Larry Ellison makes a play ( that is if Al's sells it). He tried to buy the Warriors but got shot down by the previous owner due to Larry being an
Arrogant A-hole.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Sad to hear, his passion for the game and his beloved team are close to immeasurable-RIP A.D. and maybe Jason Campbell and Co. can do Sunday exactly what he would want and..."just win, baby"

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

Wow. Just saw this thread, I have not watched TV all day. R.I.P. Mr. Davis, as others have said thanks for what you have done for this game, the merger with the AFL, and for owning one of the most recognizable franchises in the world. True visionary. He will be missed.

Wonder if shanny, along with all of the other coaches, will finally get paid now?

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

R.I.P, Al Davis. He did a lot for football, and the Raiders were just starting to look relevant again. His death, even at his age, took me by surprise.

[QUOTE=GusFrerotte;845627]He will be missed by family and friends, and the media who no longer has an easy target to nail. He built a franchise, won 3 titles, and helped usher in the modern day NFL. It is too bad he couldn't see another title. I think it is sort of hypocritical though by a lot of thes sports writers to be bending over backwards to sing the praises of a guy that they demonized unfairly for the better part of the decade.[/QUOTE]

Great post

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

These clips were aired today (10/8/11) on the passing of Mr. AL Davis. Comments from Richard Seymour, Jason Campbell, Shane Lechler, Hue Jackson, Willie Brown, and Nnamdi Asomugha.
[YT]nbSX8xnb7eU[/YT]

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

R.I.P. Mr. Davis . One of the pioneers of the NFL ( former commis' AFL ) , took a franchise to " greatness " as a coach , GM and then owner . Maybe J.K. Cooke can get that remach now ....... R.I.P.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[quote=GusFrerotte;845627]He will be missed by family and friends, and the media who no longer has an easy target to nail. He built a franchise, won 3 titles, and helped usher in the modern day NFL. It is too bad he couldn't see another title. I think it is sort of hypocritical though by a lot of thes sports writers to be bending over backwards to sing the praises of a guy that they demonized unfairly for the better part of the decade.[/quote]

Seems they're perhaps not the only ones being hypocritical

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

RIP Al Davis, the Raider mystique you created was unmatched.

The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
swaggering boisterously
His face is weather beaten
He wears a hooded sash
With his silver hat about his head
And a bristly black moustache
He growls as he storms the country
A villain big and bold
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake
As he robs them of their gold
The Autumn wind is a Raider
Pillaging just for fun
He’ll knock you ’round and upside down
And laugh when he’s conquered and won.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[quote=CrustyRedskin;845844]RIP Al Davis, the Raider mystique you created was unmatched.

The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
swaggering boisterously
His face is weather beaten
He wears a hooded sash
With his silver hat about his head
And a bristly black moustache
He growls as he storms the country
A villain big and bold
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake
As he robs them of their gold
The Autumn wind is a Raider
Pillaging just for fun
He’ll knock you ’round and upside down
And laugh when he’s conquered and won.[/quote]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXj7I1RzLSE]Oakland Raiders NFL theme song - YouTube[/ame]

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

RIP Al Davis.

Re: Raider's owner Al Davis dead at age 82
 

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Mike-Shanahan-once-ordered-Elvis-Grbac-to-throw-;_ylt=AqUJMUln6nR0P5BrCOW4x1Sr0op4?urn=nfl-wp9245]Mike Shanahan once ordered Elvis Grbac to throw at Al Davis’ head - Shutdown Corner - NFL*Blog - Yahoo! Sports[/url]



[quote]It was 1994 and Shanahan and Grbac were both with the San Francisco 49ers. Shanahan, the offensive coordinator, was working with Grbac before a game against Oakland. [...]

[...] Davis, as he does before almost every game, was walking the field, talking to players and others. Shanahan pulled Grbac aside, Grbac recalled, and gave an unusual order: ''See Al Davis over there? I want you to throw the ball right at him.''

A shocked Grbac replied: ''I can't do that. If I hit him, do you know what he could do to me?''

Shanahan looked at Grbac with his intense glare and said, ''Throw the ball.''

So Grbac did. He threw a tight, hard spiral some 30 yards directly at the head of Davis. At the last second, Davis saw it and ducked, the ball missing him by only a few inches. Davis, his hair ruffled, then made an obscene gesture at Shanahan, witnessed by a former Raiders coach who confirmed Grbac's story.

I know, I had the same exact thought: Who knew Elvis Grbac could throw a tight, hard spiral 30 yards and barely miss his target by inches?[/quote]


:laughing-