I Am 'Raider Nation' - Part Two

Captain Jack Rack 'em Levy – Jun 22, 2012

Al Davis and our Raiders deserve never ending loyalty…

I was deployed twice in times of war – for Operation Desert Shield/Storm and then a decade later for Operation Enduring Freedom, and there was a noticeable difference in how the transmission of information changed in that time.  My first ‘War Cruise’ I missed the 51-3 Championship debacle at the hands of the Bills, so I didn’t really get a ‘feel’ for how bad that game went for the Raiders; I also missed seeing the ‘End of the Bo Era’ the week prior, having to rely on Sports Illustrated covers of a vanquished Jay Schroeder and a VHS video showing Jackson’s last run when I came home victorious, viewing the horrors of both.

 

I've NEVER watched the 1991 AFC Championship Game... for good reason...

Fast forward ten years and the Captain is yet again forward deployed in the Arabian Gulf, but this time I’m on an Aircraft Carrier capable of acquiring broadcast signals.  I’m sure to enjoy the Raiders at Patriots following the atrocity of September 11^th which saw both myself and many friends directly affected by the attack.  The heinous and cowardly attacks still in mind as we steam directly from our Virginia homeport, it is hard to witnessing the fiasco of the notorious ‘Tuck Rule’ game sitting in the waters of the North Arabian Sea… However, retribution is at hand for our country against our enemies - if not for my football team - with shipmates smart enough not to speak to me of ‘the game’ until three days had passed…

 

C'mon...SERRRRRRRRRRRIOUSLY?!?!? When you have picture evidence like this is there any doubt Brady FUMBLED?!?!? I knew we were going to get boned when they didn't call Tim Brown's first quarter catch on the 'good side' of the sticks a First Down, and instead it was a Fourth Down (only in New England) ... ((Sigh))...

These Raiders’ losses however pale in comparison to the ’Ultimate Loss’ endured by our team when Raider patriarch Al Davis was taken – most appropriately by my account – on Judaism’s holiest day of Yom Kippur in 2011, much like he was born on the 4^th of July in 1929 on ‘America’s Birthday.’  I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Mr. Davis would later lead football in the ‘American’ Conference, or that he would preside over the greatest Football team (by ‘our accounts’ if not many more) for the new Great ‘American’ Past time .  I will always remember that day of October 8^th 2011, much like I’ll remember September 11^th 2001 as there are always days that stand out in your memory; the same day Mr. Davis died was the same day I incorporated my Booster Club for tax purposes as well as gaining our first bank account.  How could you forget that?

There was only ONE mandatory thing I needed to do this past March when visiting Oakland - I needed to pay my respects to Raider Patriarch and Founder, Mr. Al Davis.

The loyalty is ‘back’ at 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway, as Reggie McKenzie himself stated how much it was ‘right’ being back with the Raiders.  Others have seen their return the last several years, from Steve Wisniewski coaching the Offensive Line, to Napolean Kaufmann coming back as Raiders’ Team Chaplain, to Rod Woodson coaching the Defensive Backs last year in a ‘No Win Situation’ under ‘The Great Pumpkin(head) of Defensive Ineptitude’ – or how else would you employ Ro McClain in a scheme other than man-to-man coverage with ‘Megatron.’  ((Sigh)) … I still cringe at the thought of ‘the one that got away’ that kept our Raiders out of the Playoffs last year…

…But if not for that loss, we wouldn’t have seen the ‘blowing out’ of THE GREATEST COACH THE RAIDERS HAVE EVER SEEN (at least in HIS mind…) - Hue ‘Don’t Call Me Late For My Mani-Pedi’ Jackson. 

Thank Goodness this is one activity that Raider Nation will NEVER have to witness... ever again!

Out goes Jackson, in comes Reggie, Dennis Allen, and the additional ‘return’ of Gregg Knapp, who this time will have a ‘authentic’ quarterback running his Offense leading the team to scores.  By the way, has ANYONE seen JaMarcus Russell lately? ((Sigh)) Another lost cause from someone who ‘Just Doesn’t Get It.’ 

No matter the events, good or bad, memorable or forgettable, one constant has remained – I have always stayed true to my team, the Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders... because...  

I am RAIDER NATION…

I concur that 2012 will see a transition in defensive scheme and philosophies that will only make our team better.  Now no one will state the Raiders will fold like a losing hand in poker, or that our Defense won’t at least surprise teams by employing our defenders to their capabilities while occasionally throwing some ‘wild-card’ coverage against our opponents. 

Additionally, our Offense promises to be dynamic, and although we’ll employ a new (to some) Zone-Blocking Scheme, there is nothing to say we don’t have all the horses in the stable – from the quarterback, skill positions and offensive line – both starters and back-ups, to take the lead…

… And with our Defense not being out of position or tired from constantly running from behind to tackle the ball carrier twenty-yards downfield, those leads we take into the fourth quarter may in fact stay leads at the end of the game.  But of course, this is just MY OPINION… and I’m entitled to MY OPINION after all…

 So, you need to realize that RAIDER NATION comes in all forms, sizes, shapes, sexes, races, and nationalities… and like a FAMILY, there can be disagreements.  We don’t need to always have the same views and tastes, and lo and behold, if we get in each other’s grills – virtually – that’s ok too.  Trust me, there is plenty of ‘activity’ that goes on behind the scenes via personal conversations or other things that aren’t always as it may appear to the public.