Inheriting The Raider Way - Commentary
Al Davis has said, "My dream was to build the finest organization in professional sports." Many would argue he has succeeded.
The question is, will The Raider Way continue after his passing (Davis' mother, Rose, lived for a century, indicating Al has a lot left in the tank genetically speaking), and whom will he entrust with the organization some day?
While I would like nothing more than to see Al Davis own the Raiders for decades to come, the reality is, no one can cheat death - not even Mr. Allen Mark Davis.
Now, we all know no one will ever be able to "replace" Al Davis (for who could ever look as good in a white jump suit?) as owner, general manager, and some say de facto coach of the Raiders.
Who could possibly represent the legal expertise, football knowledge, and business acumen he possesses?
As Kawakami correctly deduces in his cogent article (I have been formulating a similar article as a progression from Happy Al Day --> Pocket Fulla Shells --> Inheriting the Raider Way, but Mr. Kawakami beat me to the punch) the only logical answer is to divide the responsibilities one future day.
In my opinion, Mark Davis might very well be the owner/sole general partner (family loyalty takes priority here).
After stints as a HOF Left Tackle; Offensive Line Coach of the Raiders, Chiefs, and Falcons; Head Coach for the Raiders; as well as a sojourn as NFL Senior Vice President for Football Operations, Art Shell is uniquely qualified to manage this team having gained experience and understanding at all levels of the game – player, coach, and league executive.
In a way, Shell’s experience mirrors Davis’ history of being Head Coach, AFL Commissioner, and Managing General Partner. Shell's recently signed agreement is reported to be a "lifetime" contract with some provisions for after his coaching tenure...and most importantly, Art knows The Raider Way.
Amy Trask understands the rigors of owner's meetings, having represented The Godfather many times. She can handle the legal aspects, as she is Davis' presence in the courtroom. Trask's loyalty is unquestioned, as she started her Raider gig as an assistant in the copy room before going on to law school. Trask has been brought up The Raider Way.
The main problem I envision is replacing Al Davis' eye for talent. While personnel man Mike Lombardi has done an admirable job managing the cap and deserves any credit attributed to him, a Ron Wolf-esque talent evaluator still would be required to complement Lombardi and address the loss of Al Davis' input.
The names of two HOF Raiders with executive credentials come to mind: Mike Haynes and Gene Upshaw.
Haynes is currently NFL VP of Player/Employee Development. One of his main duties is organizing the NFL Rookie Symposium. As seen here rookie “O” lineman, Chris Morris, was paying attention to Haynes. Morris scored off the charts as did the Raider draft picks as a whole at the Symposium, taking “Best Team” honors.
Hence; Haynes is uniquely qualified to evaluate players, especially in the area of character, after having been involved as a league executive in charge this task.
It was Mike Haynes who made the call to Al Davis suggesting he consider Art Shell as head coach once again. Could Mike Haynes be the Raiders’ answer to HOF TE Ozzie Newsome, undoubtedly one of the best personnel men in the NFL judging by the Ravens’ draft successes?
Upshaw is currently Executive Director of the NFL Players Association and is a HOF Guard as well. A natural politician, Upshaw was one of the keystones of hammering out the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (as was Al Davis).
While Upshaw’s political aspirations may lead him to be a governor or senator one day (he’s from Texas, which seems to be a good thing for an individual’s political career), perhaps he would heed the call as well...if Al needed/asked him to do so.
A tandem of Shell and Upshaw as Raider executives would be as fearsome a foe as the left side of the Raider O-line they manned side-by-side from 1968-1981.
Al Davis is known as a “players owner”. Why not have the foremost player representatives in the NFL today as part of the organization as well? Davis has employed Freddie B., Mr. Raider Jim Otto, and Old Man Willie for years. Loyalty to his HOFer players runs deep with Davis.
The Raiders' current streak of losses can be in part attributed to Davis' decisions to listen to outside influences when making decisions. Ally Jerry Jones recommends Norv Turner. Long-time friend Bill Walsh recommends Mike White.
We have seen the results when Al Davis listens to those outside the organization who don't understand the way things are done when he goes outside the Raider circle of trust...Hayes and Upshaw are executive material, they understand loyalty, and most importantly they understand The Raider Way. What role will these two continue to play in returning the Raiders organization to greatness? That is the question Mr. Kawakami did not address, and it is the one I pose to the nation of Raider fanatics now.
posted by Stick'em at 3:11 PM
13 Comments:
Very good read, with some very interesting questions & thoughts.
Nothing would surprise me more then to see something simular to your choices. I would like nothing more then to see AL Davis live to be 100 as well. Only problems is just how old would Art, Gene, Mike be? P-}
I think this article should be e-mailed to the Oakland Raiders Headquarters; it makes so much sense!!
Im sorry. Did you say Al Davis has a eye for talent? Thats interesting
If I remember correctly the Raiders could have drafted Shawn Alexander but Al wanted Jano. Lets see then we have Derek Gibson, oh and lets don't forget letting the Raiders only chance for another Super Bowl trophey for the next ten years leave for Tampa. Im referring not only to Jon Gruden but also Bruce Allen. Hey im as big a Raiders fan as you will ever meet, and I believe at one time Al Davis had a great knack for picking the right players and personel at the right time, but I really believe that his time has past. I would love to see Art running things, It's our only chance.
Great take! I support any arrangement that preserves the uniqueness, authenticity and identity of Raiders football for decades to come. Meantime, I wouldn't write off the next ten years. I think we can build ourselves into a serious contender over the next few years.
You're going to have a real hard time finding someone outside of Raiderland who's going to call the Raiders 1 of the best pro sports franchises. Get freakin' real. Leaving out 3 straight awful seasons, you have 1) Inability to sell out home games since leaving Oakland in the '80s 2) Making enemies instead of allies out of the City of Oakland & the County of Alameda 3) Stuck in 1 of the worst stadiums in the league 4) When have you ever heard of another pro sports team wanting to model themselves after the Raiders?
The city of Oakland and Alameda county tried to sue the Raiders for their stupidity, and what happens, they lose another $35 million in court.
UBM: Back of the envelope calculation - Davis born in 7/4/29. If he lives to be a century as presumed, we're talking the year 2029.
Art Shell (born 11/26/46) would be 83 in '29, but he's 59 NOW.
Gene Upshaw (born 8/15/45) would be 84, but he's 60 NOW.
Mike Haynes (born 7/1/53) would be 76... but he's 53 NOW.
Mike, Gene, and Art are all still young enough to contribute this decade and prepare the next generation to carry on the tradition.
The point I'm getting at is as Al Davis' physical health lessens - inevitable at his current age of 77 - he has begun to rely more on others more to run the organization than he once did, say, in the '60s when he was head coach and managing general partner.
I am simply recommending the folks Davis delegates authority to in the future understand the Raiders.
Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells are great football minds, but to return this team to greatness, the Raiders need to be built from the inside out, not by outsiders brought into the fold, IMO.
Kawakami is the one who implies Al Davis is "handing the team off to Art Shell," as if Al is riding off into the sunset at the end of the movie sooner rather than later.
On the contrary, I envision Davis allowing long-trusted allies to hold executive titles within the organization structure of the team without seceding all his power to anyone.
I am suggesting more of a rallying of the old guard troops (bringing in Howie Long or Lincoln are younger possibilities too) to right the ship for the immediate future, with said players' specific long-term roles to be determined as Al's age progresses.
Does this clear things up like an unmuddied lake, UBM?
Anon. 9:50 AM: Don't be sorry.
Yes, I did say Al Davis has an eye for talent. Two of the HOF players mentioned in this article, Art Shell and Gene Upshaw, were drafted out of small, traditionally black schools no one had scouted BUT Al Davis when they were drafted.
Those schools were Maryland Eastern Shore State College (Shell) and Texas A&M University–Kingsville (Upshaw).
Not Maryland Terrapins...Not Texas Longhorns..hell, not even the Texas A&M Aggies; we're talkin' Kingsville, TX and Princess Anne, MD, baby!
The scouting combine has leveled the playing field now, but keep your eye on another O-lineman drafted from Podunk University - McQuistan from Weber St., somewhere in Utah!
Davis still knows what time it is when it comes to finding talent, though I do agree with you, Anon 9:50, having a talented personnel man in the organization (e.g., Ron Wolf) helps the Raider drafts be more consistently satisfying.
Mike Haynes might be the one to call in as a personnel man for Al, but that is a gut-level hunch plus some paying attention to NFL execs on my part.
Aloha Stick'Em!
Great posts the last few days. My cruise ship has an internet cafe and I was getting a bad case of S&B withdrawal symptoms ... I needed to stop by your webpage & Raider Take's site. The rum and beers are going down smoothly and it is nice to get away from the rat race.
Best Regards,
Calico Jack
CJ: Avast ye scoundrel! Hope the scurvy dog serving wenches be keepin' your mug filled with grog till it runneth over down ye slimy knuckles and covers the very ship’s deck.
Remember, even if you were to win the "rat race", what would that make you?
The King of the Rodents is still a rat.
Enjoy the islands my brotha!
Dear Mr. Anon. 1:03 P.M. -
Good question.
Many think this is the greatest organization in professional sports.
Why?
You don't have to be one of the many, but lemme 'splain to you why I believe the Raiders are the greatest team in pro football history…
In the immortal words of George Carlin:
In football, I root for the Oakland Raiders because they hire castoffs, outlaws, malcontents, and f'ups; they have lots of penalties, fights, and paybacks; and because Al Davis told the rest of the pig NFL owners to go get f'ed...
Someday, the Raiders will be strong again, and they will dip the ball in $h!+ and shove it down the throats of the wholesome, whitebread, heartland teams that pray together and don't deliver late hits."
In sum, the Raiders are the paradigm for all franchises because The Raider Way is the way to win.
Al Davis' Raiders beat Pete Rozelle, beat the Squeelers, beat the Oakland politicians, and hold a winning record over every single NFL team they've played more than a three-game series vs. with, 'cept the Condiment Chefs of KC (and this will momentary deficit can be remedied shortly - within a trio of seasons - my friend).
Granted, this team has wavered from its chosen path in the last three years, but methinks it’s finding its way again.
I hope this helps your understanding of what is meant by "greatness" 'round here!
Best wishes,
Stick'em
I have a Raider story to share, so why not on this fool's blogsite?
I was walking in the park on a pleasant Sunday morn in Sao Paulo's Praca de República--basically an outdoor hippie fair. When suddenly I heard, to my surprise, a passerby speaking English.
This happens, mind you, about as often as fat Raider fans exercise: Never. So I went up to the white male and kindly introduced himself. In English.
The guy was taken aback and began to return my good wishes of the native U.S. tongue--when he suddenly noticed the small black Raider insignia that was on the left pec of my white polo shirt.
"Raiders!" he spewed in blathering shock. Then he coughed, spittled, staggered, drooled, and I think soiled himself a bit before staggering off in a huff of indignation. His buddy stayed behind for damage control. This person explained that they were here with a Christian organization for five weeks.
As the guy droned on, I realized that he was just filling time, trying to cover for his friend's sins of the soul. Here is a guy, supposedly in love with Our Lord, and he can't even greet a ne-er-do-well like myself, simply because I have a hankering for the Silver and Black?
Now, I don't know who is closer to God, me or Mr. Kaff-Kaff, but one thing is clear. For those of us who are under any mistaken impression that the dastardly hype of the Raiders is waning, guess again. As this incident brought home loud and muddlingly clear, the Raiders are hated as much or more than ever. What that means for Silver and Black fans is also clear.
Raider mystique. It's a way of life.
Craig Parker
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Thank you for information sharing, it useful to me.
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