RIP: Al Davis (1929-2011)

[oaken1]

according to USA today Raiders owner Al Davis has passed away.
R.I.P. Al

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Just got some texts and then confirmation on the radio. Over 6 decades of involvement in the NFL.

RIP, Al.

 

[kerouac9]

For all of the issues that he had late in the game with the Raiders, the NFL wouldn't be what it is today without Al Davis.

RIP, Mr. Davis.

 

[Hollywood]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/raiders/story/2011-10-08/al-davis-obit/50702126/1
article

 

[LVG]

Rip.

 

[TJ]

For all of the issues that he had late in the game with the Raiders, the NFL wouldn't be what it is today without Al Davis.

RIP, Mr. Davis.

Agree. He pioneered so much for this game.

RIP

 

[Catfish]

One of America's true pioneers. One of the fathers of the American Football League. He did it his way, no matter what, and the game is better today because of him and his colleagues.

 

[Garthshort]

He was never afraid to take the path, less taken. RIP.

 

[gamebird98]

"Just RIP Baby"

 

[WisconsinCard]

Words can't describe what he meant to the NFL. RIP

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

RIP Mr. Davis

 

[Dr. Jones]

"Just RIP Baby"

This...

 

[TRW]

Sad day for NFL fans. Love him or not, Mr. Davis is an icon in professional sports, not just the NFL.

I am feeling old today, I remember when he was head coach of the Raiders.

R.I.P. Mr. Davis and thank you.

 

[Shane]

Agree. He pioneered so much for this game.

RIP

Really? Can you list any of his game changing rules or strategies that he invented or started? Not trying to be argumentative but I have a hard time believing that football as a whole would ge much different if big Al was never around.

That being said RIP

 

[JeffGollin]

The 2 things I remember about Al were:

1. He was a big fan of Army football during the war and post war years. The B&W Raider jerseys evidently grew out of the "Black Knights of the Hudson" uni tradition.

2. It is said that he liked to go to the zoo and communicate with the large preditory animals (thru eye contact, body language and presumably grunts and growls) in order to carry this over to football.

Thing of it is - I loved the B & Silver Oakland look and actually thought, as a small child that (because it was before color TV) the Cardinal uniforms were black & white. (Of course, now our #3 unis are actually B&W. Cool).

One of a kind. RIP.

 

[TRW]

Really? Can you list any of his game changing rules or strategies that he invented or started? Not trying to be argumentative but I have a hard time believing that football as a whole would ge much different if big Al was never around.

That being said RIP

As Commissioner of the AFL he was a HUGE influence on the eventual merger of the NFL/AFL that has made football what it is today. Although he was against it personally (the merger), he set in place the operation that went toe to toe with the juggernaut NFL and forced them to capitulate.

As far as strategies or rules, I don't know. But, if Ralph Wilson or Lamar Hunt had been Commissioner I'm not sure the AFL would have forced the merger or maybe survived at all. We'll never know.

Not trying to be argumentative either, just sharing an observation from back in the day. I'm not sure how old you are Shane, but I remember the old AFL/NFL rivalry very well. I was an NFL guy and couldn't believe the "upstarts" of the AFL accomplished what they did.

 

[gohard83]

RIP to Al

He was the one who advised Eddie to hire one of his past assistants, who at the time was coaching for Stanford (Bill Walsh), therefore, contributed to the 49ers glory days.

 

[PACardsFan]

Really? Can you list any of his game changing rules or strategies that he invented or started? Not trying to be argumentative but I have a hard time believing that football as a whole would ge much different if big Al was never around.

That being said RIP

Not to be argumentative, but...................

1. Davis was intrumental in the AFL/NFL merger & the "Super Bowl" was something he had been pitching since the early 60's.

2. Davis was a disciple of Sid Gillman, who was an offensive genious. Together, they were the fathers of the vertical passing game.

3. Davis was recruiting athletes from small black colleges when it wasn't exactly popular. He was also the first owner to hire a black HC.

4. He was a Syracuse University alum, and wanted to give back to his school. So he made the largest financial commitment in building the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. He refused to have the stadium named after him, hence the "Carrier Dome".

Al Davis was a brilliant mind & the NFL is a better product today because of his involvement. About 5 yrs ago, I heard an interview on the radio with him. I couldn't get over how sharp his mind was. He could recreate the great games with the Steelers from the 70's verbatim. It was the best radio interview I ever heard.

 

[PJ1]

Not to be argumentative, but...................

1. Davis was intrumental in the AFL/NFL merger & the "Super Bowl" was something he had been pitching since the early 60's.

2. Davis was a disciple of Sid Gillman, who was an offensive genious. Together, they were the fathers of the vertical passing game.

3. Davis was recruiting athletes from small black colleges when it wasn't exactly popular. He was also the first owner to hire a black HC.

4. He was a Syracuse University alum, and wanted to give back to his school. So he made the largest financial commitment in building the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. He refused to have the stadium named after him, hence the "Carrier Dome".

Al Davis was a brilliant mind & the NFL is a better product today because of his involvement. About 5 yrs ago, I heard an interview on the radio with him. I couldn't get over how sharp his mind was. He could recreate the great games with the Steelers from the 70's verbatim. It was the best radio interview I ever heard.

Quite an influence I would say. A pioneer and an NFL legend. RIP Al Davis.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

What I remember about Al Davis: When the Raiders moved to L.A. he parked a 30 foot trailer with the words "Commitment to Excellence" and the Raider's logo painted on it across the street from the Ram's training facility in Anaheim. It sat there for years. The Rams moved on a Tuesday. On Wednesday morning the trailer was gone.

RIP Al. You were interesting, to say the least.

 

[Stout]

RIP Al Davis. Sad to say, but I see the Raiders getting better now that he's out of the way.

 

[Jetstream Green]

The NFL lost a legend in Al. It is because of Al that the AFC in itself made it through to form what we have today. God bless the Davis family and the Raider org

 

[RugbyMuffin]

For all of the issues that he had late in the game with the Raiders, the NFL wouldn't be what it is today without Al Davis.

RIP, Mr. Davis.

Well put, and I agree.

RIP

 

[DeAnna]

Not to mention he had the gall to sue the NFL (and won) when they wouldn't let him move his team. That definitely set a precedent.