Post by TheShadow on Feb 19, 2006 11:18:44 GMT -5
nl.newsbank.com/
Published on August 11, 1995
© 1995- The Press Democrat
BYLINE: Dave Williams
Staff Writer
In a perfect world for Raiders fans, the team that will be returning to Oakland Saturday would be a throwback to the old days, where normalcy would be an aberration and outright zaniness the rule.
But that won't be the case when the St. Louis Rams visit the Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum at 1 p.m.
Those old enough to have experienced the first wave of the Oakland Raiders should store those recollections in the memory bank, because this group of Raiders is nothing like the group that featured names such as Matuzak, Villipiano, Sistrunk, Biletnikoff and Stabler.
Those Raiders played hard on and off the field. The stories are legendary. One even has it that after one of their players was roughed up in a scuffle with some members of the Hell's Angels in a Santa Rosa bar, some of the Raiders were after revenge until the coaches intervened before the situation escalated.
There are some genuinely quirky characters on this team like offensive lineman Kevin Gogan, defensive end Nolan Harrison, and wide receiver Raghib ``Rocket'' Ismail, who could have fit in with the old Raiders. But even these Raiders, as far as individuality is concerned, basically fall in line with the rest of the NFL.
Air hockey tournaments, which certain players would leave practices early to attend, were one of the staples of the old Raiders' training camp when it was held at the El Rancho in Santa Rosa. Team events like that don't exist with these Raiders.
When asked about who would win those tournaments, Fred Biletnikoff answered, ``Oh, the Mormons. They were the only one's who didn't drink.''
Walk into any older bar in Santa Rosa or the surrounding areas and every bartender old enough to remember will have a juicy Raider story to tell.
``We've talked about having a Ping-Pong or pool tournament,'' wide receiver Tim Brown said. ``There's not much camaraderie. The young guys are different.''
Brown said the teams of the past six years heard many tales of the old days from former head coach Art Shell, a Hall of Fame Raider from 1968-82, and Biletnikoff, a Hall of Fame receiver from 1965-78. But Brown wants the fans to understand those days are gone forever.
``I don't think we're going to be the old Oakland Raiders,'' he said. ``The older Oakland fans probably will assume we'll be like they were at first, but inevitably they'll realize we're not.''
There are signs, however, that some parts of the old Raider ways could be resurrected. Ismail, speaking for the wide receivers, all but put forth the challenge in such various endeavors as dancing, bowling, pool and Sega video games.
``Pool and bowling would be something we could dominate easily,'' he said. ``Tim (Brown) is pretty good at Ping Pong, so we'd probably have that. We could probably hold our own in Sega and stuff like that.''
There seems to be no end to the variety of talents among the receivers.
``In fishing we're good,'' he continued. ``Hobbs (Daryl) is a good fisherman. Hmmmm, dancing, singing, we've got it all. The only person who might get us in singing is one of the DBs (Joe King). He sounds like Sam Cooke.''
Quarterback Jeff Hostetler doesn't proclaim to be a wizard at anything, but he said he'll try just about anything.
``It doesn't matter. They can name the game, I'll take 'em,'' Hostetler said.
Hostetler, like all good hustlers, seemed to downplay his billiards ability.
``Pool,'' he said sheepishly, ``I won't shy away from it.''
He did, however, rule out video games.
``That's out of my class,'' he said. ``I've got three boys at home and I spend too much time with them. If I sit there in front of a TV playing those. ...''
Ismail specifically threw down the gauntlet when the subject of dancing was broached. Ismail revealed that he was a break-dancer extraordinaire.
``I'll have dancing forever,'' he said. ``You should've seen me back in the day when breaking and all that stuff came out. I was so heartbroken when I found out it was just a fad. I thought it was going to be forever.''
In the past, it wasn't the eccentricities alone that endeared the Raiders to fans in the Bay Area. It was the fact they were an exciting, winning football team. And that's what Brown would like for these Raiders to emulate.
``There'll never be another team like the old Oakland Raiders,'' he said. ``We know that. We just want to put up the wins like they did.''
Those who remember, know the history. Those who don't will just have to watch and see what type of history the new Oakland Raiders make.