RIP Al Davis -- Tribute from a Lifelong Raider Fan

I was in class Saturday morning when I read the news that Al Davis had passed away. I immediately felt saddened and I was a bit shocked because even though I have never personally met him, he has been a constant presence ever since I could remember. We would have Raider games playing on TV throughout my childhood. I have been a fan of the raiders for over 20 years.

As the owner of the Oakland Raiders he has been a controversial figure. Hearing the news of his passing was like hearing that a mean uncle who you rarely see or speak to but who you love dearly had just passed. He was not your typical status quo type of team owner, and I think for this reason many people had mixed feelings about him and the way he ran his team. But watching him, it always seemed to me that underneath his tough exterior, he was a man who cared about and fought for the betterment of his team, though it didn’t always look that way from the outside. He was one of the first owners to hire Black and Latino coaches to lead the team and he did so in a time when such a move was groundbreaking.

What I have taken from Mr. Al Davis is to fight for what you want even if it makes some people mad. May he rest in peace and may the Oakland Raiders continue his legacy and commitment to excellence. Go Raiders!!!