BB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Condolences on the passing of our godfather
> yesterday, Paul. I loved this from Dave Anderson\'s
> column in the Times:
>
> “I’ve been meaning to ask you a question,” he told
> me over the phone one day. “When you write about
> me, you always use that word.”
>
> “What word is that?” I asked.
>
> “Sinister,” he said. “You always call me
> sinister.”
>
> “I thought you’d consider that a compliment.”
>
> “Well, yeah,” he said, “but don’t you know my
> mother reads The Times?”
Thanks BB,
I got to meet him once, at a function for ticket holders, 1996 after the stadium renovation. He was over in a corner of the room by himself, I approached him and shook his hand, spent a few moments chatting with him. Others saw me speaking with him and quickly came over and surrounded us. A Raider staffer came over and herded everyone away. As the guy asked me to leave, Mr Davis put up his hand and said....\"Its Ok\". Spent a few more minutes talking about Raiders history...games, players, moments. What a thrill.
My father worked for a meat company based in Oakland, and they had several blocks of Raiders tickets. His boss would give him 2 tickets to the game, and he would always take me (I had 3 other brothers, but he knew I was the sports loving one of the bunch). Lamonica to Wells, Stabler to Branch, Caspar, Tatum, Blanda last minute heroics, Sea Of Hands Game, 76 div playoff against Patriots, on and on and on. I saw great players, exciting victories, bitter defeats.
My dad and his friends would have a feast in the parking lot before and after games. I just wanted a bite and my game ticket. My dad knew this, so most games I would finish eating, he would give me my ticket and a dollar (the game program was a buck), and off I wold go to my seat. South end zone, 1st level, Row 21 (first row above the center walkway that ran through the lower seats), behind the right upright. I would watch the offensive line warmup, Ray Guy kick the ball above the rim of the stadium, just listen to the sounds of the experience. We were so close to the action, and I couldn\'t get enough of it.
My parents divorced when I was 10, around 1973, and I really cherished spending time with my dad. He also had an A\'s ticket hook up, he was friends with the A\'s equipment manager, and we went to 50-60 games a year back then. Another hugely successful team, and I got to see them too. So for a kid growing up, to root for 2 teams that were so successful, and also get to attend the majority of the games, what more can a kid ask for?
My father passed away 4 years ago, and with the passing of Al Davis, it feels like one of the last connections to my childhood is gone. When I think of Al Davis, I think of the Raiders from my childhood. And when I think of my childhood, I think of the times my dad and I would attend A\'s and Raiders games. What great memories, and Al Davis was responsible for so many of them.
Sorry for the ramble. I\'ll post horse racing content around Breeders\' Cup time.
