Was Al Davis The Greatest Jewish-American In Sports History?

Can it get any more American than being born on the 4th of July? Can it get any more Jewish than dying on the day of atonement? (Yom Kippur) ((I guess it can, on both parts, but, go with me here))

Perhaps this genius was cursed because he died before God was done forgiving him, it would take two years, for drafting JaMarcus Russell..Literally hours before Yom Kippur ended...Perhaps he was blessed to be born into America on her Anniversary and just as blessed to be taken by God on the day of fasting, atonement and repentance:

From Wikipedia:

Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים‎, IPA: [ˈjom kiˈpur]), also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im ("Days of Awe").

Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, onRosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God (bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (bein adam lechavero). The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt (Vidui). At the end of Yom Kippur, one considers oneself absolved by God.

Yom Kippur ended at sunset tonight. Mr. Davis died on the Holiest day of the Jewish Calendar. 

I always look around myself for dates, times or numbers that add up. Sometimes I find meaning in my own life. I mean, a Jodishi found that at the moment and date that I was born, the Earth was as close to Venus as it would be for hundreds of years. Thus, I love.

Mr. Davis defined an era of American sport and also stayed loyal to his family and his traditions. He was a great American.

The question is, do his accomplishments outweigh those of Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg, Red Auerbach, Max Baer or Mark Spitz?

This would be a great honor, I'm sure, but I don't think it would mean much to Mr. Davis, well, unless Pete Rozelle handed him the trophy and his job! Heck, maybe NOW Mr. Davis will be "The Comish".

The next piece of this is not related to the subject of this article, but, is definitely the best thing that I have read today.

This from Chuck Klosterman's Obituary of Al Davis:

When writing about the history of any sport, it’s common to use the phrase "the modern era." What those words signify is the historical point where a game begins to resemble whatever it is now; in pro football, we often use the advent of the Super Bowl, the AFL-NFL merger, or the 1978 rule changes that opened up the passing game. However, football is still relatively young. Someday (unless America becomes a dystopia), it will be hundreds of years old. Someday, it will be ancient. And when that moment is reached, the so-called "modern era" will be defined as starting today. It will begin with the death of Al Davis. He was the final survivor of pro football’s seminal period; he designed the way aggressive teams play, he was the heart of the AFL, and he was the last man to carry the total burden of a team for his entire adult life. He was the Raiders. 

Good Night Nation. I will see you in the morning! I am beat. this was a very long day...Goodnight sweet prince and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Cheers,

- Saint