September 23, 1998
Originally published by The State Hornet (Sacramento State)
It has only been three games into the season, and it is already shaping up as a painful one for Raiders fans to watch.
Same old Raiders. New season and a new coach, but the same old mistakes, blunders and penalties have produced the same results.
The Raiders were beaten by the Denver Broncos handily last Sunday, and it wasn't much of a surprise. Denver, the defending Super Bowl champion, has legendary quarterback John Elway, an unstoppable running back in Terrell Davis, and a nasty defense--the three precise things that the Silver and Black sorely lack.
The Broncos didn't even need Elway this past Sunday. He went out with a bad hamstring early--not that it mattered. Once again, the Raiders beat themselves more than anything with breakdowns at the worst possible moments.
And their hopes, once again, were crushed as backup Bubby Brister came in to lead Denver to their third straight win, 34-17.
Jeff George, who has possibly the strongest arm in the league but not the greatest accuracy or winning knack, tried gunning it to Tim Brown as the Raiders tried to make a comeback. Denver intercepted and ran it back for the touchdown that pretty much wrapped it up.
And that says it all about the Raiders in recent seasons. Not good enough. Not enough desire or heart despite having one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
When people talk about mean and nasty teams these days, it's a good bet the Raiders aren't going to be the topic of conversation. The Raiders haven't had a winning record in four seasons and haven't reached the playoffs since 1993.
You remember the real Oakland Raiders. Back in the late '70s and early '80s, they actually meant something. Ken Stabler, Jack Tatum, John "The Tooz" Matuszak were just some of the roughnecks and crazies that dominated opponents by fear and intimidation.
That was a winning tradition that crumbled when Al Davis took his band of outcasts and rebels to L.A.
Since the Raiders moved back to Oakland in 1995, they have been a flop at the gate. There have been fans that have never forgot or forgave the team for going Hollywood. And since they let Tinseltown corrode their systems, they forgot how to play football.
Davis always used to look brilliant and make everyone else look stupid when he took in rejects and recalcitrant personalities no one else wanted. Now, it is the other way around. The rest of the league is making the Raiders look like idiots these days.
Marcus Allen was exiled to Kansas City, returning to show the Raiders up in big games. Rocket Ismail, a Heisman Trophy winner who did nothing for the Raiders. Larry Brown, a Super Bowl MVP, ditto. Also included in this list is Desmond Howard, another Super Bowl MVP. Another bust.
The Raiders, desperate to recapture their winning spirit and return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1983, have brought in big names, but they have been big busts.
Oakland needs to try something else. Like bringing in football players who know how to behave like men for a change and not losers and crybabies who pout and make stupid mistakes and penalties.
Commitment to Excellence. Yeah, right. Commitment to Pathetic-ness is more like it.
But forget this season. Stick a fork in it. The Raiders hopes for any respectability--just like their winning tradition--is a pipe dream, a thing of the past.
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