Best Pro Franchise #9

by oaktoon on Aug 6, 2006 11:07 AM PDT Comment 12 comments

Sorry for the delay here-- lots of home duties thos weekend and not a lot of free time.

And it is more fitting that I waited for yesterday's festivities in Canton and the appearances of Al Davis and John Madden.

Because "Number Nine...Number Nine...Number Nine..." is, of course:

THE RAIDERS

I'll leave location out of this for now.

Just because they've only had a smattering of successin the past 20 years: 1 SuperBowl blowout; two losses in the AFC championship; a game stolen from them by the zebras in the snow-- does not detract from the extraordinary record they amassed from 1960 through 1985, and even more the distinct and powerful image their team, colors, insignia, and fan base projected.

For nearly 30 years Al Davis could rightly brag that the Raiders had the best W-L% of any pro sports franchise over that period-- they were, quite simply, as consistent winners as any in their sport-- yes, even greater than the 49ers in many ways. (Though not enough to get a higher ranking from me, unfortunately)

John Madden never coached a losing team, and several of them went to the the conference championship. The team didn;t miss a beat under Tom Flores when Madden left for the broadcasting chair. Won a Super Bowl in 1977, 1981 and 1984.

What characters!!

John Matuszek
Ted Hendricks
Jim Otto
Jack Tatum
George Atkinson
George Blanda (yes, a 40+ year old man actually led the team to several victories playing QB, then won several more as a placekicker)
Ken the Snake Stabler
Otis (University of Mars) Sistrunk
Ben Davidson
Lyle Alzado

The list goes on and on.

HOFERs in Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Marcus Allen, Willie Brown, Mark Haynes and Ted "the MadStork" Hendricks

But think of the memories:

it was the Raiders that came back to beat the Jets in the infamous "Heidi" game with NBC cutting the game off with less than two minutes to go;
the Raiders who caused a rule change when Stabler and Co.fumbled a ball nearly 30 yards forward to beat the Chargers on the final play-- the infamous "Holy Roller"
the raiders who won a dramatic playoff game with a last second fling-- the "sea of Hands"-- to beat Miami;
the Raiders whose safety paralyzed an opposing player for life with a vicious hit
the Raiders who lost a playoff perhaps the most famous last second play in NFL history in a sequence initiated by a vicious hit by that same player-- tatum to Fuqua to Franco Harris
the raiders who lost a playoff game in the snow because of the "tuck rule"

IOt was the Raiders who for years enjoyed the best record on Monday Night Football by far;

The Raiders whom the phrases "Silver and Black"; "Pride and Poise"; "Commitment to Excellence" and, the granddaddy of them all, "Just win, baby" came to embody.

This was/is an historic franchise even under down times and even we A's fans have a somewhat jaundiced view of their current Bay Area presence.

GREATEST PLAYER: wow. A whole lot to choose from. Al Davis is obviously the greatest presence in the franchise. Marcus Allen may technically be their greatest player. I'm gonna go with a duo-- both because of their on-field greatness but also their off-field importance to the league and the fanchise: Art Shell and Gene Upshaw

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Sorry-- it is not a good memor, but nothing beats the Immaculate Reception

SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW: I can't stump a true Raider fan with some arcane piece of trivia. I'll pass on this one for now.

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i didn't know you were basing it on

1960 - present
now i expect the a's to be the second or third ranked baseball team...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 6, 2006 11:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No I made that pretty clear

in the first two or three posts. 1960 on

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 6, 2006 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

WOOHOO FOOTBALL SEASON!!

I know that a lot of AN members dont fancy the Raiders because of various reasons... but I love this team just as much as I love our beloved A's. I was a football fan before i fell in love with baseball and both are a big part of my life.. both teams bring out something in me when i watch them play... I STAY BLEEDING GREEN GOLD BLACK AND SILVER BABY WOOHOO....

The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
swaggering boisterously
His face is weather beaten
He wears a hooded sash
With his silver hat about his head
And a bristly black moustache
He growls as he storms the country
A villain big and bold
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake
As he robs them of their gold
The Autumn wind is a Raider
Pillaging just for fun
He'll knock you 'round and upside down
And laugh when he's conquered and won.

"The weather is hot, so I'm hot," Scutaro said with mock bravado. "Just kidding."

by TrizzleNizzle510 on Aug 6, 2006 11:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

PS

but i do hate what football does to the beautiful baseball field...

"The weather is hot, so I'm hot," Scutaro said with mock bravado. "Just kidding."

by TrizzleNizzle510 on Aug 6, 2006 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This poem still gives me chills...

I use it as my start up music on my PC. It is freakin' awesome!

"Tired Act" - Mychael Urban

by Masaryk on Aug 6, 2006 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boooooooooo

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Aug 6, 2006 12:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

oaktoon

Most memorable moment: More likely the "Sea of Hands" catch. Or any of a number of other great moments. The immaculate reception belongs with Pittsburgh, not the Raiders. And there are plenty of others, like "Old Man Willie's" interception return in their first super bowl win.

My person favorite is actually Mike Davis' interception to save the playoff game against Cleveland in the ice in 1980. That was also the best Raider season ever.

Thanks again for writing these.

by RLangford on Aug 6, 2006 12:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The reason it also belongs to the Raiders

is I'm willing to bet that Madden, Stabler, tatum, et. al, have been asked about that one play far more than any other during their Raiders tenure.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Aug 6, 2006 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fumble?

What fumble? That was an incomplete pass.

GO PATS!

"We've never been in that position. We wouldn't know how to operate, I mean, do we get him a corsage?"-Beane on Big name free agents

by pbruins92 on Aug 6, 2006 1:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Another reason is the Raiders gave Blez the idea..

...to start up this blog. Even Papa said it was a fumble. The New England Loyalists should have lost that game. Plus, the Raiders won the Hall of Game tonight against the She-agles.

Macha is a great manager. -Ron Washington

by pachydermOAFC on Aug 6, 2006 9:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Having soared with the Raider Teams of old

I really appreciate the posts above (Nice poem too).

I remember them practicing at Laney's field to empty seats

I remember them and Finley's A's and Barry's Warriors making Oakland World Champions in 3 different sports.

I remember the Raider's Revenge Victory at Cal Berkeley upon the Iron Curtain 9 - 6. This is the Steeler defense that had reeled off 6 (maybe 7?) shutouts in a row.

I remember ending Miami's winning streak after their perfect season. (Perfect because the Raiders did not play them that season).

I remember all the famous games and many not so famous. A 55-3 drubbing of Houston.

I remember a Viking quoted as saying "We knew we were in trouble when the busses pulled up and you saw them getting off one by one"

I remember Van Eegan falling for 5 yards. Everytime he got the ball!

I remember Van Eegan busting a 35 yarder, his longest gain, because a defender STOOD him up!

I remember little Arthur Whittingham

I remember SBII against Lombardi

I remember the snow and Bubba beating us in the snow (Lamonica's bombs didn't play well in snow storms).

I remember Blanda's miracles as he passed for a touchdown or kicked the field goal that wins the game as the last seconds disapeared off the game clock, EVERY WEEK!

I remember Freddy's sideline catches stopping the clock and setting up the game winning score.

I remember the late, great, Bill King's "Holy Toledo" reverberating through me with his "superb" verbal accounting of every nuance of every Raider game. We truly miss you Bill.

I remember every game selling out and debating whether going to the game and missing out on TV's instant replays was a good idea or not.

I remember Snake and Tooz at the local bar W A Y after hours, then winning the game the following day.

I remember watching Shell and Upshaw on the line, everyone in the world knew the Raiders were going to run on the left side. The fans knew it, the announcers knew it, the defense knew it. Down, after down, after down, to the score. Hewritt Dixon would leave for a break and Shell and Upshaw blocked for his replacement. Power football? Your damn right! The memory of them is totally unbelieveable, utter dominance! and Bill King your guide! Holy Toledo!

Lester Hayes stickum.

Branch Plunkett Flores Hendricks Birdwell one day Birdwell gave away everything he owned then died within 48 hours is how his story ended.

Way too much to account for properly.

One Thing.
The Raider offense started slow.
They basicly played the other team equal for 3-1/2 quarters.
Mid way through the 4th you sat down at the tube and there was nothing on earth going to convince you to miss a second of how they were going to win it.
The win was expected, the "how" completely unexpected.
In those days you never, ever, missed the ending of a Raider game.
For 15 seasons it was said the way to the Super Bowl was Oakland.

True.
Very true.

G'Night AN!

Oh! Thanks OakToon!

"+6 is our runs margin after 111 games"

by A s Eh on Aug 6, 2006 11:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

While the A's teams of the 70's were great

The Raiders were family and came complete with a T A I L G A T E R extended family gathering at the Coliseum before every game. This was something new in the East Bay and perhaps set the benchmark for Tailgating, that would not surprise me.

If you wanted to start your Sunday afternoon game in the morning, there were 100s of cheerful people there already including players and others in the Raiders organization.

The community and team were as "one" as much as any franchise and city could ever aspire to be.

It was extraordinary to be sure.

"+6 is our runs margin after 111 games"

by A s Eh on Aug 7, 2006 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs