Raiders Look to Reclaim Title of #1 Villain.

Terrell White – Jul 11, 2012

Holla At Me Raider Nation!

The Raiders have many things that they're looking to accomplish in this upcoming season. Should Oakland achieve their goals it will signal that the team has taken the steps necessary to return to their comfortable role as the villain in the NFL.

Let's be honest; The NFL needs a "Bad Boy Team" and the Raiders are the ONLY franchise capable of filling that role.

The other day I was listening to one of the few reporters that I actually have a great deal of respect for, a gentleman by the name of Mike Wilbon. While I'm on the topic of Michael Wilbon If you're not watching "Pardon The Interruption" you have no idea what you're missing.

Anyway, The question up for debate at the time I was watching was: Is Dwight Howard the new villain of the NBA? Mike was suggesting that Howard wasn't a good enough player to deserve the title of villain.

For examples of true "villains" Mr. Wilbon mentioned players, and teams like Isaiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer of the Detroit Pistons. Mike also mentioned how many (especially in the L.A. area) viewed the pre "big three" Boston Celtics as villains.

Turning to other sports, Mike spoke of how many baseball fans (outside of New York) view the Yankees as villains; Last, but not least of the villains mentioned was the Oakland Raiders of the NFL.

The criteria Mike was using in order to view as a villain was A: You (the team) must be talented. B: People have to want to see you lose, but not get their wish (for reason why they don't get their wish see letter A) and C: You (the team) must embrace the role of villain and revel in depriving the "haters" of witnessing your downfall.

Now let's take a quick look at the Raiders and see how they stack up against this criteria (as if we don't already know). 

A: As far as talent is concerned I have no doubt that Oakland has the talent, in all 3 phases - Offense, Defense & Special Teams to return to their role as #1 villains. With Oakland it's not a question of Does the team have the talent? The question with Oakland is does the team have the cohesion it needs? (we'll soon find out, stay tuned)

B: We all know that the Oakland Raiders have more rivals than any other franchise in the NFL. Not including the AFC West, the Raiders must have at least two teams in every division that we share a mutual distain with.

C: Last but most certainly not least, NO TEAM in the league is more comfortable with winning (off and on the field) despite being hated for it, than our beloved Oakland Raiders.

This is not just about my love for the Raiders. The simple fact is that the NFL as a whole is a more interesting place when the Raiders are playing their proper role as the NFL's number one villains.

Furthermore, the NFL needs the Raiders to be their villains, no one else is really qualified. Who else is America going to turn to? The Saints? While the franchise is in some trouble with the power(s) that be in the NFL (i.e. Roger Goodell) no one really views the Saints as NFL villains. The Cowboys? While people do love to see the Cowboys lose, they don't per say revel in that fact the way Oakland does. The Jets? Ok, Ok, that was kind of funny - The Jets!

Two things come to mind: One is a song by infamous Hip/Hop artist 50 Cent "If I (the Raiders) Can't Do It, It Can't Be Done". The other is a cartoon that aired on Spike TV called Afro Samurai; In which the goal was to get the number one head band aka - be the number one assassin.

The NFL needs the Raiders wearing that number one head band; Oakland must be the league's number one villain, because if they can't do it, it can't be done.

Raider from birth.