RIP Al Davis

[mvmac]

Just win baby

"Soak it all in. Use any word you want to describe Davis: legend, pioneer, outlaw, renegade. Each applies. He will never be duplicated or forgotten. "

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/33350/al-davis-did-it-his-own-way

[iacas]

Given the recent passing of someone else, I only wish the two had perhaps swapped the ages at which they passed. I don't have anything nice to say about Al Davis or anything he's done, but admittedly that's because I don't really know anything about the guy.

If "celebrity" deaths come in threes, who is the third?

[newtogolf]

Al Davis was pretty wacky the last 10 years but prior to that he commissioner of the AFL before they merged with the NFL.  As owen of the Raiders he's credited as being one of the first owners to practice EEO within his entire organization hiring the first hispanic head coach (Tom Flores) and Gene Upshaw 2nd African American head coach in NFL history.

[J_Bone]

Yes, Al Davis was part of the AFL/NFL merger, but he was shrewd, arrogant and shady back then. He had all kinds of back door deals back then and when he moved the Raiders up and down California. Very untrust worthy. Now I don't wish that upon anyone. I just don't idolise him like his myopic following. He did help the San Diego Charger franchise and ownership with the purchase and persoNelson in the 70's and 80's. Inpartial or indifferent, the man changed the NFL and has done some good things.

[clubchamp]

  J_Bone said:

Originally Posted by J_Bone

Yes, Al Davis was part of the AFL/NFL merger, but he was shrewd, arrogant and shady back then. He had all kinds of back door deals back then and when he moved the Raiders up and down California. Very untrust worthy. Now I don't wish that upon anyone. I just don't idolise him like his myopic following.

He did help the San Diego Charger franchise and ownership with the purchase and persoNelson in the 70's and 80's.

Inpartial or indifferent, the man changed the NFL and has done some good things.

Do you actually know anything about Al Davis? First off I will say how he ended up owning the Raiders was a little shady but well with in the law obviously since he won the law suit that followed. Al Davis was not that big of a part of the AFL/NFL merger because he was totally against it since he thought the AFL was far superior and the NFL would bring them down. He moved the Raiders to LA because it was a bigger market and the city/NFL gave him the impression he could get a new stadium. Obviously they didn't allow the new stadium and even stopped him from building one on his own dime. Back in Oakland they updated their stadium with luxury boxes so Al decided stadium revenue was higher back in Oakland. His deal to go back to Oakland was "shady" I guess but the NFL was no better with what they pulled with the stadium deal. Everyone has a different perception of him but he always did what was right for the Raiders, not the NFL or anyone for that matter. I will say that if the stadium ever gets built in LA I wouldn't be shocked if they go back unless the Chargers beat them to it since they are in a better position to move.