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Return of Bay Area sports glory days just missing Raiders

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The Bay Area enjoyed a great decade of sports in the 80's. Nearly every season in the decade, one or more of the Raiders, 49ers, A's, and Giants were a top team with three of them winning their respective championship. Those days seem to have returned in recent years. With the glaring exception of the Raiders.

By Levi Damien
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Thearon W. Henderson - Getty Images

The Raiders were the first of the Bay Area teams to put their stamp on the 80's. They won their second Super Bowl following the 1980 season. The 49ers won a Super Bowl the following season. The Oakland A's would win the AL West that same season and reach the ALCS before losing to the Yankees.

The Raiders would leave for Los Angeles where they won their third Super Bowl following the 1983 season and then the 49ers again followed up the Raiders Super Bowl with another Super Bowl win of their own.

1987 thru 1989 would see the San Francisco Giants win the NL West (87), the 49ers win the Super Bowl and A's win the World Series in 1988, and in 1989 the 49ers win the Super Bowl with the A's and Giants playing each other in the World Series with the A's winning it.

Last season, the 49ers made it all the way to the NFC championship game and were within a late fumble on a kick return from heading to the Super Bowl. The Giants just won the World Series two seasons ago and are in the playoffs again this year. Now the A's have beaten the Rangers to win the AL West and head into the playoffs as the number one seed in the American League.

The Glory days are back. But the Raiders are not. So, in a way it actually mimicks the late 80's. When the Raiders were in Los Angeles playing bad football and the other three teams were at the top of their games. The only difference is the Raiders are physically in Oakland. It's their winning ways that aren't.

The Raiders looked to be on the path back after two straight 8-8 seasons which came on the heels of 7 years of double digit losses. But the season thus far has not given any indication they will improve upon that and keep up with the other Bay Area teams.

The Raiders are currently 1-3 with three ugly losses to the Chargers, Dolphins and Broncos. They did have one good comeback win over the Steelers but at this moment it is the losses that appear to be indicative of how this team will play this season.

If the Raiders hope to join the new Bay Area sports team love affair, a lot of improvements have to happen and soon.

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