Events
Thoughts from the Dark Side: Raider Nation cares: Oakland Raider fans raising funds for autism awareness
By Patrick Patterson
On Friday, August 15th the 66th Mob is going to be sponsoring a fund raiser for “Autism Speaks” at Sidelines Bar and Grill in Modesto, CA. That will be the day that Jarrod Cooper and the rest of the Raiders’ special teams will be sticking it to Chris Carr and the Tennessee Titans. It will be a chance to help a great cause and watch the Raiders tune up for the regular season.
NevadaAppeal.com: Raiders Super Bowl star will meet with Carson club Sunday
By Rhonda Costa-Landers
On Jan. 25, 1981, linebacker Rod Martin made history in the NFL Super Bowl XV.
Happy Birthday Mr. Davis
Al Davis Bio:
Born into a wealthy Jewish family, Davis grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Erasmus Hall High School.
He attended Syracuse University, where he played baseball and football. Upon graduation, he began his coaching career as the line coach at Adelphi College from 1950 to 1951. From there Davis served as the head coach of the U.S. Army team at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia from 1952 to 1953. His next coaching assignment was as the line coach and chief recruiter for The Citadel. From 1957 to 1959 Davis was a line coach at the University of Southern California.
Davis’ first coaching experience in professional football came as the offensive end coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 1960 to 1962. In 1963, at the age of 33, and known then and now for his slicked-back hair, Brooklyn-tinged speech, dark glasses and ferocious competitiveness , Davis became the head coach and general manager of the AFL’s Oakland Raiders. He was the youngest person in the history of professional football to hold these positions. Prior to Davis’ arrival, the Raiders had compiled a 9-33 record in their first three years of existence. Davis led the team to a 10-4 record in 1963 and was unanimously named the American Football League Coach of the Year.
Davis compiled a coaching record of 23-16-3 in three seasons as head coach in Oakland. In April 1966 he was named the American Football League Commissioner. He immediately commenced an aggressive campaign against the NFL and signed several of the NFL’s top players to AFL contracts. Other AFL owners held secret meetings with the NFL, and in July the AFL and NFL announced that they were merging. Because of the compensation AFL teams were required to pay the NFL, and because he believed the AFL would be the superior league if allowed to remain separate, Davis was against the merger. He chose to return to the Raiders as general partner and head of football operations (along with seven other co-owners), rather than remain as commissioner until the end of the AFL in 1970.
Once he rejoined the Raiders organization, Davis ruthlessly attempted to gain power within the club. In 1972, while managing general partner Wayne Valley was attending the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Davis drafted a revised partnership agreement that gave him near-total control of team operations. Valley sued to overturn the agreement once he returned to the country, but was unsuccessful. Valley sold his interest in 1976, and no other partners have had any role in running the club since. This was despite the fact that Davis didn’t acquire a majority interest in the Raiders until 2005, when he bought the shares held by the family of Ed McGah, the team’s last original general partner. He now owns approximately 67 percent of the interests in the partnership through his company, A.D. Football, Inc. In addition to serving as owner, Davis effectively serves as his own general manager.
With Davis in control, the Raiders became one of the most successful teams in all of professional sports. From 1967 to 1985 the team won 13 division championships, one AFL championship (1967), three Super Bowls (XI, XV, & XVIII) and made 15 playoff appearances. Though the team’s fortunes haven’t been as great in recent years, the Raiders are the only team other than the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in the Super Bowl in 4 different decades. Along with appearing in 5 Super Bowls, the Raiders have also played in their Conference/League Championship Game in every decade since their inception.
In 1992 Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Team and League Administrator, and was presented by John Madden. Davis has been chosen by a record nine Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees to present them at the Canton, Ohio ceremony: Lance Alworth, Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Ted Hendricks, and John Madden.
Davis is also credited for the catchphrases “Just win, baby!”, “Commitment to Excellence”, “The Will to Win”,”The Greatness of The Raiders” and “Pride and Poise”.
Davis is known for judging his employees by their ability to win, rather than skin color. For example, he hired the first Latino head coach in NFL history, Tom Flores, in 1979. In 1989, he hired the first African American head coach in league history, Art Shell. He has also placed a woman, Amy Trask, as president of the club, in a far higher position than any other NFL owner
or executive has placed a woman.
6th Annual Make a Difference Celebrity Golf Classic photo set
Jeremy Brigham first became interested in local charity work during his his five years (1998-2003) as a tight end for the Oakland Raiders. As an NFL player, he attended numerous charity golf tournaments as a celebrity, and after a major injury left him unable to play, he began his own charity golf tournament inspired by the wellness of his teammate Barret Robbins. Jeremy’s “make a difference” foundation has spent the last 6 years putting in charity tournaments for many worthy causes. This years proceeds are benefiting The “NFL ALUMNI Caring for Kids”
Raiders.com: Raiders and Ports to Host PP&K
Head out to Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, Calif., on Saturday, July 26, as the Stockton Ports take on Bakersfield. Prior to the baseball game, The Oakland Raiders will hold a Punt, Pass & Kick competition. The event is limited to the first 200 kids. Participants will receive one free ticket to the Stockton Ports game as part of Raider Nation Night, and two free tickets to a Raiders pre-season home game!
Raiders.com: 2008 Raider Nation Celebration
The 2008 Raider Nation Celebration, presented by Comcast, is set for Sunday, August 10th at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland.
Gates open at 11:00 a.m. for Season Ticket, Club Seat and Suite Holders, and at Noon for everyone else.
Admission to the 2008 Raider Nation Celebration is FREE!
3rd Annual Myspacers Tailgate
3rd Annual Myspacers Tailgate
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The 4th Annual Celebrity Golf Hall of Fame Tournament is today
The 4th Annual Celebrity Golf Hall of Fame Tournament in 2008 will support many causes throughout the East Bay and Sacramento Area, including cancer research, youth sports programs and Tracey’s Place of Hope, a residential treatment center for adolescent girls that provides several therapeutic activities.
Come out to Catta Verdera in Lincoln, CA and watch Over 20 Raider Legends, Players, and celebrities passing through including: Tim Brown, Ben Davidson, Rod martin, Cliff Branch, Steve Wisniewski, Robert Jenkins, and James Lofton, J.T. the Brick, Tony Lopez, Debbie Dahmer, and James Caan.
Tickets for the 9th hole AKA “Black Hole” can be purchased at the The RaiderCast 2nd Annual Fund raiser or Strikes event.
“Black Hole” shuttle instructions:
Black Hole Gallery hours 11:00 to 4:30.
Meet at the chevron gas station at the Lincoln Crossing shopping center in Lincoln, CA
Shuttle to the golf course provided by the RaiderCast.
The Gallery is between hole’s 9 and 10. Bring Lawn chairs or a blanket, There will be food and drink for purchase by Catta Verdera Country Club.
Raffle for a autographed Football at the end of the day. Remember celebrities will only sign footballs that day.
Address:
Lincoln Village at Twelve Bridges
855 Twelve Bridges Drive
Lincoln, California 95648
Directions to the Shuttle pick up location:
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The Weather
| October 7, 2008, 11:44 am | |
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Intermittent clouds current temperature: 63°F |
wind speed: 7 mph W
Windgusts: 4 mph
sunrise: 7:10
sunset: 18:44
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