Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, whose NFL legend as a pioneering rebel began 60 years ago as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts and was punctuated with a 1992 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in Canton, has died at 82. The team's website released the news Saturday morning, posting a simple tribute with his name in large silver letters above "July 4, 1929-October 8, 2011." The Raiders said the team will issue a statement later Saturday. No cause of death was released, and it was not immediately clear when and where he died. "Based on personal achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game, no one has had a more profound and lasting impact on professional football," Davis' biography says on the team's website. It was Davis' willingness to buck the establishment that helped turn the NFL into THE establishment in sports -- the most successful sports league in American history. Read more: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7074380/oakland-raiders-owner-al-davis-dies-82
RIP Al. For all of the suspect decision making of the last decade its still very sad to see you go. Because of you there was always someone with a big middle finger to the NFL and with Goodell as commissioner the league just got a hell of a lot more boring and conformist. While I disagree with many of your football philosophies, I do hope that the team finds a way to maintain the renegade attitude that you bred. Listening to Greg Papa (long time Raiders' announcer and Bay Area sports icon) and Jerry Jones break down during interviews yesterday was really tough. I didn't cry but I'm really surprised how sad I am especially when you hear some of the stories about him from the (many) people he helped. He drove me nuts at times but the guy really didn't seem to be as batshit crazy as he was made out to be the last decade or so. The stories about his generosity and all the great things he did for professional football are taking precedent the last few days. But even going back to football, the Raiders have drafted pretty damn well the last few years. Hue Jackson looks like he may be the first competent coach we've had since Gruden. Al was just stubborn and truly did not give a fuck what people thought of him. He swung for the fences and whiffed a lot (Jamarcus, DHB), and it made him look like an idiot and it set the franchise back several years. Hes drafted very well the past few seasons though and the team appears to be turning it around. It will be strange after next season when I presume a GM will be hired and Hue Jackson and the coaches will be in charge of all things football. The Raiders will be just another team in a league where dissidence is outlawed and parody is inescapable. I don't think this is a bad thing for the success of the team but the landscape of my sporting world just got a lot more vanilla. I can't say for certain that the entire football landscape will feel the effects of the Raiders change in management but I just lost something that can never be duplicated. So long, Al.
