The Night the Raiders Came Home

You’re awesome, man. This was great.

I kinda remember this game, even though I was living in Iowa at the time.

Moving to LA was (possibly) Al Davis’ biggest mistake, if for no other reason by abandoning the most passionate fan-base in the NFL.

I found my first love, the Raiders, when I and the Raiders both lived in LA. The first Raider game I remember seeing was in 1984 as a six year-old. I was in tears as the Seahawks beat the Raiders in the wild card game. Why could I have not started getting into football a year earlier. It is not possible to follow the Raiders longer than I, without witnessing a Super Bowl! I am the Don Mattingly of Raiders fans.

As my addiction to the Raiders grew my dad would tell me stories of the raucous and rocking Raiders days. I would watch old highlights of The Snake, Casper, Shell, Hendricks, Van Eeghan, Rod Martin, Willie Brown, Jack Tatum and Madden. The team had a blue collar, kick ass, we don’t give a shit about you, outlaw identity like no other team in sports and the fans in Oakland seemed to be the backbone of it all.

I had an old Oakland Raiders nightlight that I thought it was the greatest thing I owned. While I lived in LA, I realized that they didn’t seem to fit there and I fantasized of them returning to Oakland. LA is not a Raider town.

By the time the game, you brought to life, happened. I lived in Seattle (I have never forgiven the Hawks for beating the Raiders that day that ended with me in tears and I was booed many times wearing my Raider gear into the Kingdome). I of course could not see the game but I watched as many highlights and read as much about it as I could.

I didn’t know what to expect. I wondered if there would be a sense of bitterness towards Al, or if the images I had built in my head just could never be matched in reality. After taking in as much as I could about the game, I was not disappointed. The Raiders seemed home!

I was ecstatic when they finally returned home for a more permanent basis. It was like seeing a body find it lost soul. While the landscape of the NFL has changed and I do not expect a collection of characters in the ilk that of the ’60’s and ’70’s Raiders, I do think the Raiders are getting closer to once again finding that identity that is fueled by the fans.

The Gruden era was close and the Callahan Super Bowl run was great but there was just too much passing to be Raider football. But now we have the makings of a smash mouth running team with some bruising blockers. I can’t wait to see Mitchel lay down some Tatum hurt on someone. Just give us a couple of more hard hitters on D and Jamarcus some everyman leadership and I will finally not feel like I missed the true Raiders era!

I remember that game well, though I watched the game on the TV from SoCal, the roar and volume of the crowd still sends shivers down my back.

I remember waiting on the USA Today issue to come out with the game results. This was a big deal because I’ve been a fan since 1967, and the move to L.A. sucked. I grew up in Orinda in the 60’s and all my relatives lived in L.A. . It was always my Raiders vs their Chargers or A’s – Angels , Giants – Dodgers, Niners – Rams, Warriors-Lakers. So now my raiders go hollywood? Terrible! I stuck with them though , and this game was a test by Mr. Davis to see if the Nation was still alive and well ( just ask the Airlines how well they did on flights from Oak-LAX on home gameday in L.A.) I think Raider Nation knew after this game we were going home again in the future. It was just a relief. Thanks for bringing back the memories man, this WAS the most important preseason game ever in regard to Raider Nation. THE OPENER Raiders 27 Chargers 17
Trivia Quiz……… WHO REMEMBERS THE OAKLAND SEALS? (hockey) Oakland Clippers? (soccer)

Between this and AN you spoil us with so much history. This brings back a lot of great memories.

for the kind words and for sharing your own memories.

Is it Sept 14 yet?