It’s a sad life being an Oakland Raiders fan. I mean, there was that awesome period of time (a.k.a. “The Seventies”) when the Raiders were badass. And there were those few years (the Jon Gruden Era) when it looked like we were going somewhere. But lately you don’t even have to watch to know that the Raiders somehow fucked up their latest game.
Still, I can’t help but love the Raiders. Here’s why.
- Pity: Everyone feels sorry for you. There’s no better way to get the sympathetic head tilt around sports fans than to say, “I’m a Raiders fan.”
- You ALWAYS win the “My team is the shittiest team in the league” bitchfest.
- You can’t help but root for the underdog‚ and we’re always the underdog.
- We have the best uniforms in the NFL. Sure, my favorite color is orange, but do I want to see it on a football field? Paired with blue? No. *cough*DenverBroncos*cough* I’m all about the silver and black.
- The Raider Nation. We have the best fans. Who else has a Black Hole? My husband and I used to have season tickets right over the tunnel to the locker rooms, a few rows above these guys.
How much fun are they? I mean, the Gladi-Raider? Darth Raider? Rock on wit’ yo’ bad selves.
- Tim Brown. Also, late-career Jerry Rice. Probably also Howie Long, pre-Firestorm.
- Al Davis.
- Even when we lose, we do it big. Anyone remember Super Bowl XXXVII? That was the most depressing sports day of my life. Even worse than that terrible game that the Patriots stole from us. Team of Destiny, my ass.
- The Raiders are like Oakland: They’re flawed, kinda dirty, and often obnoxious, but they’re real and they’re solid, and there is something about them that you just can’t help but be drawn to.
- Mostly I love the Raiders because I learned football from them. I fell in love with football by watching the Raiders. They were the first team that I really cared about. Being a Raiders fan was the first time I really understood how it hurts when your team loses and it makes your week when they win. Being a Raiders fan taught me that the way you feel about your team isn’t optional and it doesn’t go away. The Raiders, for better or for worse, made me a sports fan.
Stimey currently resides in Maryland on a street filled with Redskins fans. She lived for more than a decade in California, much of which was spent in Oakland and some in Los Angeles‚ but we’re not going to talk about the LA Raiders because, girl, please. She blogs at Stimeyland, where in a recent post she admitted that she didn’t know how many people play on a hockey team. She can’t quite believe that she gets to guest post on a sports site.
Jon Gruden and Howie Long could make me love anything.
What? I love Howie Long. There. I said it.
I’m sorry, Stimey, but if you’re a Raider fan I can no longer be friends with you. My blood runs orange.
*wink*
Yeah, we’re a Raiders household. That sympathetic head tilt is so familiar. I have to stop letting my husband watch the games about halfway through every season. It’s too depressing.
Oh Stimey, you know I love you girl but don’t go dissing my Patriots. (mwah!)
LOL!
What an awesome tribute.
I live here deep in the heart of the Raider Nation and actually and I am good friends with three of their Raiderettes: dance teachers and dance partners with my dancing daughter. I am not a Raider fan but I gotta love the love my friends and neighbors have for the Raiders. I love it so much that as the girl from Pittsburgh and forever Steeler fan I never talk about things like the immaculate reception…oops! sorry!
“and some in Los Angeles‚ but we’re not going to talk about the LA Raiders because, girl, please.” That made me snort…so funny.
I live in Niner/Raider territory…and your entire post: Awesome.