Wearing a Raiders jacket can be risky proposition

March 21, 1992
Originally published by The Untitled Times (Sacramento Urban Journalism Workshop, Sacramento Bee)

The Los Angeles Raiders are considered to be the "bad boys" of professional football. Their silver and black uniforms have become synonymous with the rough-and-tumble nature of the game and how they play it.

But with all that aura being a tough team, they have attracted an element that they could very well do without.

Fans have always worn team jackets, T-shirts and hats to show their loyalty and appreciation. But today, team jackets made by the Starter and Chalk Line companies are increasing in popularity among young people--particularly youths who are members of gangs, who wear these jackets as a key item in their dress codes.

"People are buying the jackets mostly because they want to have a reputation for being tough," according to Russell Fujita, owner of Major League Memories in the University Village shopping plaza.

Those gang affiliates who come in and buy the Raiders’ attire "will openly admit that they are gang members," Fujita said.

He says 75 percent of the merchandise sold in his store bears the Raiders’ emblem.

The jackets don’t come cheap, either. Those manufactured by Starter vary in styles and can cost anywhere from $90 to $100 for a a regular satin team jacket to about $130 for a team parka. Store owners say that team overcoats, bomber jackets, and large fur and trench coats are most popular with big-time gang members and can cost $200 and up.

At some schools, such as McClatchy and Christian Brothers, these jackets are banned from campus, in an attempt to head off trouble.

Police spokeswoman Betsy Braziel reports that crimes involving jackets are on the rise.

"The jackets have taken the place of the tennis shoe assaults and incidents we used to have a couple of years ago," she said. "Earlier this school year, we would get two or three per day."