Today, a true sports icon has left us. Al Davis died Saturday morning at his Oakland home. The man who built the Oakland Raiders will now watch his black and silver from the heavenly skies. NFL commissioner said it best, “He is a true legend of the game whose impact and legacy will forever be part of the NFL.”Though at times Davis may have rubbed many owners, coaches, players and fans the wrong way, he is undoubtedly a man none will forget. So what will people remember Allen “Al” Davis for?Begin Slideshow
The NFL world lost a pioneer early this morning with the passing of Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis. His contributions to the NFL are well known and he made fantastic decisions over the course of his Oakland Raiders career.Throughout his tenure, Davis was known as one of the most influential and outspoken individuals in the entire league. Without him, the NFL would be a very different place.We could literally spend all day taking about the good decisions that Al Davis made, but here are the five best decisions of his Oakland Raiders career.Begin Slideshow
"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."Those words, flowing from legendary John Faceda's recitation of the 1974 Steve Sabol poem titled "The Championship Chase," seemed to personify the Oakland Raiders of the 1970s. Furthermore, they personified the man who was the Raiders.The man who was, indeed, the ultimate swashbuckler, who represented a youthful, ambitious, strange brand of football known as the AFL. Now that man, Al Davis, is gone. For 82 years, Davis did it his way. He answered to no one.The owner of the Oakland Raiders was ...
Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders were famous for their reclamation projects. The acquisition of Randy Moss from the Minnesota Vikings may be Davis' best-known attempt.Some of these projects turned out well. Others, like the trade for Moss, did not work so well. But Davis saw something in various players who were failing to perform and gave them a chance.Something in the legendary owner's mind saw hope in Rich Gannon and gave him a shot. Other glimmers of potential never quite panned out.Here's a look at Davis' five best (or maybe worst) reclamation projects.Begin Slideshow
One of the most polarizing figures in all of sports, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis died today at the age of 82. Love him or hate him, Davis was a true visionary and one of the driving forces of the American Football League, which eventually merged with the NFL.Davis had an ownership stake in the Raiders since 1966 and wore many hats in the world of football. Not only was he an owner, but he also served as an assistant coach, a head coach, a general manager and commissioner of the AFL.While many viewed Davis as a meddling owner, he ...
I write this column with a heavy heart because Al Davis is the reason I'm a rabid NFL fan and the sole reason I have rooted for the Oakland Raiders my entire life. The Silver and Black have always been my team and Davis is the one who turned me into a lifetime fan. Quite frankly, he's the reason I've stuck with the team in recent years, despite it's unfortunate fall from glory. But make no mistake, Davis built one of the world's most recognizable sports franchises and he's a big reason the NFL is a successful business model known ...
Oakland Raiders head man Al Davis died at the age of 82 on Saturday. Whether the veteran owner truly lost touch with the game in his later years is up for debate, but one thing that isn't debatable is how big of an impact the Hall of Famer had on the sport of football. Davis also served as Raiders head coach and general manager since arriving to the team in 1962 and was AFL Commissioner starting in 1966. His stint as commissioner was short but effective as he turned the league into a real competitor with the larger NFL. The ...
Love him or hate him, Oakland Raiders long-time owner Al Davis had a huge impact on the National Football League.Mr. Davis passed away today at the age of 82.Known for his stubborn attitude and rough appearance, Al Davis was a brilliant football man. In April 1966, he was named the American Football League Commissioner. Many people forget that he was a vital part of the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. This changed the game forever by bringing the pass-heavy AFL together with the hard-nosed physical NFL brand of play.This brought together the best of both leagues, leading to a more exciting game for everyone to enjoy.This undoubtedly ...
Al Davis' legacy and impact on the National Football League will be felt by future generations of players, coaches and fans. He represented a new breed of individuals who shaped the game of football into the modern marvel that we see today.Davis was the commissioner of the American Football League during their merger with the National Football League in 1966. Before that he coached the Raiders to the greatest turnaround in NFL history, from 1-13 in 1962 to 10-4 in 1963. This put the Oakland Raiders and NFL teams along the West Coast on the map. His path towards success was and ...
From college starter to NFL coach to one of the most powerful men in the NFL to, at the end, a maginalized team owner, Al Davis spent almost half a century impacting professional football.Davis polarizdd those around him with his meddling with his coaches, his moving his team (twice) and with his anti-authoritarian stances.His legacy is not one to soon be forgotten.Begin Slideshow