Raiders Owner Dead At 82

[Jason]

Just seen this. not a Raiders fan but Al's been around forever. I think he's been holding the team back for years because he had to run everything.

[dirty24d]

RIP AL DAVIS..   Sadly this is the best thing to happen to the raiders in the last 2 decades. Hope his daughter doesnt completely run the franchise into the ground as badly as Al did

[Knocker of rocks]

Al was cool.  Ran the football team like he wanted to, and wasn't always on the same page as the rank and file corporate ownership.

[dirty24d]

Heres a little history on old al, he did a ton  for the sport of football , like more than most if not all. If only he had hired a gm about 10  years ago his legacy would be so much greater.

Good history here:

An unyielding total commitment to excellence has marked the three-time World Cham- pion Raiders monumental rise during the last 48 years to the very top of the profes- sional sports world.
In these memorable 48 years, the Raiders have had 28 winning seasons, including 16 in a row from 1965 through the 1980 World Championship season. In 34 of those seasons, the Raiders earned a record of  .500 or better.
Al Davis’ six-decade professional football story, from assistant coach of the Chargers, to head coach and general manager of the Raiders, to Commissioner of the American Football League and finally to principal owner and president of the general partner of The Oakland Raiders — is a standard that no one in the history of professional football can match for winning and excellence.
In April 1966, the then 36-year-old Davis, head coach and general manager of the Raid- ers, became Commissioner of the American Football League. This was a post he accepted reluctantly, for first and foremost, Al Davis was a football coach and knew that assuming the Commissionership would in all probability mean an end to his coaching career.

But AFL owners, in their battle with the rival National Football League, prevailed on Davis to accept the position. He was described by AFL President and Buffalo Bills Owner Ralph Wilson as “a coaching genius and astute administrator.”

Just eight weeks later, when pro football’s two major leagues put an end to their six-year war, Davis was acclaimed nationally as the driving force who brought the leagues to merge . In 1969, he was once again a prime force in the dramatic realignment of professional foot- ball when two, 13-team conferences — the AFC and NFC — were formed for 1970.[/color]As a member of the NFL Management Council’s Executive Committee, Davis has been a major factor in achieving collective bargaining agreements with the players.

Al Davis first came to the Raiders in January 1963, dedicated to rescuing the faltering Oakland franchise and building the finest organization in professional sports. Just 33, Davis was the youngest man in pro football to hold the demanding dual positions of head coach and general manager.

But Davis already possessed 14 years coaching experience. He had been tabbed a “young coaching genius” by Sports Illustrated and “the most inventive mind in the country” by Scholastic Coach Magazine.

The Raiders — “picked to finish dead last” — thundered to a 10-4 record and just missed the Division Championship . In 1963, Davis was named Pro Football Coach of the Year.

Perhaps his most singular honor is having made a record nine presentations of inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio . The nine great enshrinees to have selected Al Davis to make the presentation speeches on their behalf are Lance Alworth, Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Ted Hendricks and John Madden.

Davis himself became enshrined on Aug . 1, 1992 when he was presented for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by Madden. In May of 1991, Al Davis became the very first recipient of the NFL Players Association’s Retired Players Award of Excellence “for his contributions to the men who played the game .” Born July 4, 1929, Al Davis was raised in Brockton, Mass. and moved at an early age to Brooklyn, N .Y . He attended Wittenberg College and Syracuse University, earning a degree in English while participating in football, basketball and baseball. Al Davis received a Letterman of Distinction Award from Syracuse University . In March of 1998, Davis was inducted into the NFL Alumni’s “Order of the Leather Helmet,” presented annually to “Individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of professional football.”

On Dec . 29, 1999, the Oakland Tribune and the Alameda Newspaper Group named Al Davis as the Bay Area’s most significant sports figure of the 20th Century on a list that in- cluded such greats as Joe Montana, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio and Bill Russell. The Orange Bowl inducted Davis into its Hall of Fame in 2001.

In 1950, Davis was named line coach at Adelphi College in New York. He then went into the Army, being assigned as head football coach at Ft . Belvoir, Va . There he molded a na- tional power service team and capped one season by defeating the University of Maryland, National Collegiate Champions, in a squad game.

Davis next served on the staff of the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in 1954, at age 24, concen- trating on player personnel work . During 1955-56, he was line coach and chief recruiter at The Citadel . He then spent three years at the University of Southern California as line coach.

In 1960, Head Coach Sid Gillman hired Davis as offensive end coach of the newly formed Los Angeles Chargers . After two Division Championships in just three years there, it was on to meet the challenges with the Raiders of Oakland in 1963.

Based on personal achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game, no one has had a more profound and lasting impact on professional football . In recognition of his status in pro football annals, NFL Films produced a film entitled, “AL DAVIS, NO . 1 FOR ALL TIME .”

[Gringo31]

Maybe the Raiders will start to become a real team again.  Al made is mark but IMO should have hung it up a few years ago vs falling out of the saddle.

[bearhunter99]

Al Davis was a legend in the game of football and probably did more for the league than any other individual but as a loyal fan of the Raiders for many many years I have to say that this might help the team,  He had become so fascinated with speed the last decade or so that they missed out on a lot of good players while picking others just because they were fast.  That concept has not worked out very well for the team.  There also should be less tension and strained relationships in the front office. 

RIP AL Davis, GO Raiders!

[Buckhunter24]

Al Davis was a legend in the game of football and probably did more for the league than any other individual but as a loyal fan of the Raiders for many many years I have to say that this might help the team,  He had become so fascinated with speed the last decade or so that they missed out on a lot of good players while picking others just because they were fast.  That concept has not worked out very well for the team.  There also should be less tension and strained relationships in the front office. 

RIP AL Davis, GO Raiders!

No kidding! seemed like his recent draft picks were based solely on speed 

[jeepguy]

MR.Al Davis is and was one of  the most powerful people in  the A.F.L,N.F.L  . He created one of the  most winning  franchise's in the league NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN   in the world of football. The Oakland  Raiders were the  Kings of Monday night football for so many many  years. The Oakland  Raiders  will bask in Super Bowl  Glory once again  sooner than most think. Mr. Al Davis  had the best players in the N.F.L   .  There  was a time when the Raiders oppenents  would be  terrified to  even  come upon the field  on game day. Football used to have alot more contact and thats  how the Raiders played  just ask  Darrel Stingley,  or Lynn Swann   or  other  N. F.L   players.  Pride  and  Poise  , Just  Win  Baby just a couple of raider  slogans that describe the RAIDERS  to perfection.  Mr. Davis  will  be dearly  missed by the most  TRUE  AND  PASSIONATE FANS OF  THE N.F.L.  The  Raiders have set the standard  that all the  rest attempt  to  follow but are unsuccessful .  May  God bless  R.I.P  AL DAVIS.  A true fans  perspective.   JUST WIN  BABY!

[dirty24d]

Good stuff guys. I agree with every post in this thread!

[Elkaholic daWg]

MR.Al Davis is and was one of  the most powerful people in  the A.F.L,N.F.L  . He created one of the  most winning  franchise's in the league NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN   in the world of football. The Oakland  Raiders were the  Kings of Monday night football for so many many  years. The Oakland  Raiders  will bask in Super Bowl  Glory once again  sooner than most think. Mr. Al Davis  had the best players in the N.F.L   .  There  was a time when the Raiders oppenents  would be  terrified to  even  come upon the field  on game day. Football used to have alot more contact and thats  how the Raiders played  just ask  Darrel Stingley,  or Lynn Swann   or  other  N. F.L   players.  Pride  and  Poise  , Just  Win  Baby just a couple of raider  slogans that describe the RAIDERS  to perfection.  Mr. Davis  will  be dearly  missed by the most  TRUE  AND  PASSIONATE FANS OF  THE N.F.L.  The  Raiders have set the standard  that all the  rest attempt  to  follow but are unsuccessful .  May  God bless  R.I.P  AL DAVIS.  A true fans  perspective.   JUST WIN  BABY!

Another, circa 1983

                              "COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE"

[frostman]

There is a great documentary seris on NFL network called  - Full Color Football, the story of the AFL. Al Davis and Lamar Hunt are to be credited for making NFL Football what it is today.
Al Davis was a brilliant strategist, both militarily and in football.
Al Davis actually wanted the AFL NOT to merge with the NFL because he felt that he could get the NFL to become part of the AFL, not the other way around. He was pissed off big time when Lamar Hunt agreed to a merger with Pete Rozelle, thus sparking the long running feud between the NFL and Davis. They offered Davis a co-commissioner role in the NFL and of course he told the NFL to F.O.!
No matter what you think of Al Davis. There is almost no one who had more impact on the game as we know it.
FYI, the Raiders may have best all-time record on MNF but the Seahawks are 4-2 all-time against The Raiders on MNF head to head.