R.I.P. George Blanda 1927-2010

Sad day in the NFL!

I hope his last days were peaceful.

Big loss. Probably died after watching the game yesterday and it finished him for good. Right now a true Raider who put it all on the line has passed and will be spinning all season long in his grave.

Way before my time as a fan of the silver and black… But as a fan, I think it’s important to show the same respect from our current raiders, past raiders, and future raiders… At this point it’s about the legacy.

And I hope in my lifetime I will be able to witness the same greatness of a blanda, tatum, otto

Way before my time as a fan of the silver and black… But as a fan, I think it’s important to show the same respect from our current raiders, past raiders, and future raiders… At this point it’s about the legacy.

And I can only hope in my lifetime my children and I are able to witness the same greatness that Mr. Blanda has shared with the Nation. Even before there was the nation.

All hail the silver and black!!!

He actually did an autograph show here in Chicago in July. Didn’t catch up with him this time but when I met him in the past, he was the genuine article. He was friendly, passionate and knowledgeable about the game as it stands today. He loved the Raiders!

Back in the 90’s my brother and I scored tickets from Jim Otto to see the Raiders take on the Bears in Chicago (Of course, the Raiders went to a prevent defense late in the game, as was their custom at that time, and lost). Jim introduced us to George who asked us why we didn’t call him for tickets because his were on the 50 yard line! I told him that was because we had never met him before, didn’t have his phone number and knew how to get in touch with Jim. So, he wrote down his phone number for us. Just that kind of guy…never called him though. Met him at a show a year later and he remembered us as the guys who blew it on a pair of great tickets!

RIP George. Your memory will bring smiles to a lot of faces for a lot of different reasons. That’s the kind of legacy we should all leave.

5 games in a row you led the Raiders from behind to victories with less than 1 minute in the game – that was 1970 and you were 43-years-old, you threw the TD, kicked the extra points and the last second field goals. I’m sorry you witnessed us play yesterday; lesser men are still breathing today.

…and football fans everywhere.

God’s squad just got a little clutchier! They have now been increased to a 5 point favorite in their upcoming contest against the Devil’s Demons

George Blanda was the kind of player that every player in the NFL should aspire to be like and sadly most never will. The entire Raider Nation is saddened by this loss not just to us who loved him but to football fans across the country and around the world who remember and loved him. I have always been a Raider fan which means I root for the Raiders and whoever is playing the Niners! but if a lifelong niner fan like Tea Baggers Stink can say something like “They didn’t come any better than Blanda. This guy was class through and through” well I can forgive him for being a niner fan! and so many other kind words from fans of other teams it makes a person realize that this loss is felt by FOOTBALL fans everywhere. I dont think there can be any dispute about why he is in the Hall of Fame. or why he truly belonged there. In Pace Requiescat Mr. Blanda you are missed and mourned by us all!

…to a Raider legend!

R.I.P. George Blanda!

A great Raider

RIP

Legends are filled with intangibles that are beyond measure.

Condolences to your family and the Nation, who lost one of its greats.

I look forward to the day you can look down on a winner again. Maybe it’ll take your soul in Bruce’s body, Tatum’s in one of our D-backs, Alzado in an lb…

A Raider legend, a sad day for the Nation.

You were the Gordie Howe of the NFL, excelling for so long you made it impossible for anyone to achieve nearly the career length unless they did half of what you did. Hope you find Tatum up there and relive the glory.

Blanda was before my time, but I appreciated him as many of us do, through NFL films. I wish I could experience Raider Football when it was still feared and not pitied.

I hope a little bit of of guys like Blanda and Tatum are in the spirit of the new Raiders because a lot of the old guard is taking the final ride into the sunset.

May Raider Legends never die!