What if the Raiders played in a conference championship and they were not considered the heels? In fact, what if it was the opposition that employed the players that parents need to keep their kids from at all cost? That will indeed be the scene this coming Sunday when the NFL’s new bad boys, a.k.a the Baltimore Ravens invade Oakland.
What’s that again??? Raiders FACES??? Ravens Heels??? In fact there are many Ravens who traditionally would fit in the silver and black, while there are actually a few Raiders that can be envisioned being employed anywhere but Oakland.
Let’s start at the top. We all know about Al Davis. We all know about Al. Al moves to LA, Al moves back to Oakland etc. At least he didn’t pull a team out of a city’s rug with no warning as was the case with Art Modell. What about the coaches?? O.K., I admit Gruden’s a Raider, a classic Raider. But Billick goes even farther, talks trash, then backs it up, he’s actually more of a Raider.
It doesn’t stop there. A Raider is the last thing Rich Gannon would of imagined himself being three years ago when he was in Kansas City. Gruden had to do a great sales job to get him to convert to Raiderism, he acts and looks nothing of the part. Trent Dilfer??? He would make a great Raider, a reject, a Jim Plunkett for a new millennium. He would fit right in. Sure he went 8 for 26, but two of the completions were 60 yard bombs, he excels in the vertical passing game. So much more of a Raider than dink and dunk, scramble for a first down Gannon.
Andre Rison obviously has his baggage, but is actually a swell guy (when he’s not embezzling, writing bad checks, going under an alias etc.). Seb Janikowski??? Just a polish guy who likes to have a few drinks, O.K. sometimes a lot of drinks. GB fans look at him as a 3X version of ‘70’s Packer kicker Chester Marcol. Now what about the Ravens??? There’s no reason to like loud mouthed Shannon Sharpe, he ought to be a Raider. One would think Shannon would jump at two chances to go against the Broncos every year. And of course, there’s Ray. Dick Butkus, but even better. Too bad his name is linked with a double murder that no one was convicted on. And yes Ray, should you make it back to the bowl, this time as player rather than a partygoer, you will hear about it from everywhere, LIKE IT OR NOT.
And yes, we know the urban legend that is Raider Fan. Raider Fan stabs Charger Fan. Raider Fans beats Steeler fan into a coma (thats 11 years old already). Raider fan throws whiskey bottle on the field (getting Verne Lundquist off his chair—“that happened 25 years ago in Minnesota!!!”). Well, these isolated incidents don’t just happen in Oakland. Let’s see. Packer fan picks fight with Eddie D. outside of 49ers team bus. Packer fan hangs coaches dog (alright that was in the 70’s). Packer fan calls talk show after a loss and says “Favre threw the game”. And there’s also Giant fans with their snowball incident (darn near killed the Charger’s equipment man with an iceball). And Eagle fans have told me they would never, ever let their wives hear the profanity emanating from the 400 level at the Vet. Not to mention Cub fans picking a brawl with an opposing team and Brewer fan (is there such a thing??) deciding to ride on the back of an opposing right fielder in a middle of a game. Hooliganism is everywhere if you look hard enough. Fact is, Oakland is a rough town, but their fans are as loyal as any, and believe or not, the vast majority as reasonably well behaved. They just get that wrestling/roller derby mentality once in a while.
So enjoy the game Sunday, just remember who the heels are…
I’m 3-5 against the number in the postseason, going with MIN –2 and BAL +6, with MIN and OAK as the straight up picks. I close with quick thumbnails of the four possible SB matchup storylines.
MIN v. OAK – Gannon got his start in MIN and still lives there. Vikings lost SB11 to Raiders, their last bowl appearance.
MIN v. BAL – As said in this column weeks ago, Ray Lewis and Randy Moss, two of the greatest athletes of this generation. Of course, the media will dwell and pester the two more about their off the field exploits. Also Billick is an ex-Viking O.C.
NYG v. OAK – East Coast v. West Coast. Tyrone Wheatley an ex-Giant. Both teams last SB win was in Tampa.
NYG v. BAL – Two East Coast Teams. Two most notable games in league history involved the two cities. Giants v. Colts in ’58 and Colts-Jets in SB3.