Post by TheShadow on Jan 4, 2004 15:03:45 GMT -5
www.raiderfanmagazine.com
By DocMayhem
The Fans of the Silver and Black, the Oakland Raiders, the once Los Angeles
Raiders, da Raiders, Pride and Poise, Just Win Baby and Commitment To
Excellence are as varied as the names associated with the NFL Franchise.
What then makes a Raider fan? Can I drive down the street and say, "There,
right there, see, that's a Raider fan!" No, probably not, not with much
accuracy anyhow.
What are the characteristics of a Raider fan? Much media bias has painted a
picture of maniacal misfits who lack social etiquette, education,
self-control and any care for the world outside of their person. This is a
frightening image, is it deserved?
If this depiction is accurate it must be so for a minority populous of fans.
The Raider fans I've come to know are a smattering of everything. Certainly
I've experienced some comments I felt were short of respectful and I've even
seen behavior that is truly lacking in self-control, however, I've
experienced the same in line at the grocery store. This abhorrent behavior
is not specific to any group of individuals and doesn't it ring true that
the few do seem to ruin it for the many.
I've met a wealth of incredible people through I disagreeociation with Raider
fans. One of my dearest friends, JollyRoger, Ron, became such through the
forum found at the RaiderBoard. Some of the greatest opportunities I've had
in life have come from I disagreeociation with RaiderFanMagazine.com:
interviewing Bobby Brooks, publishing my work and a friend in owner TDR.
These opportunities are not germinating from the cesspool of life. A friend,
confidant and fellow parent SC Raider, Keith, was met here in Raider Fandom
as well.
Thus, in frustration I began compiling information to find out what makes a
Raider fan. I wanted to get to know where we are from and how we want to be
known: using this approach with the philosophy, people generally act and
behave in a manner consistent with their self-perception.
The following article and comments are derived from the numerous emails and
posts I received in response to the following questions: 1. Why are you
attracted to the Raiders? 2. When did you become a fan? 3. Where do you
live/reside? 4. What's your favorite Raider moment? 5. How should Raider
fans be defined?
Sharing the responses in the order of the questions seems to be as logical
as any to share fans and their arrival to being such.
What attracted someone to the Raiders generated some interesting as well as
some predictable responses. I was told by one respondent, "If you have to
ask then you wouldn't understand." I was a bit stunned by that response but
everyone else offered a reason.
Many were attracted to the colors or the outcast, bad boy image. Some liked
that image because they felt like an outcast personally, others because it
represented an image of strength. My personal favorite is one born of an
entrepreneurial spirit and what is called in the retail market a buyer's
eye.
This fan writes, "I grew up in a small village in the northern part of
Denmark. Farming is/was 90% of the economy. Both my parents were
schoolteachers, so I didn't have an after-school job at the farm like my
fellow classmates. Most of the kids made decent money that way and were able
to buy fancy mopeds and such so, I decided to make some dough too.
I started importing patches, stickers and emblems from N.Y. to sew onto
clothes, etc. (remember the 80s? LOL!) Anyway, most of the stuff I sold at
my high school was AC/DC, Beastie Boys and Metallica stuff, but, one time
when putting in my order I saw a bad-ass silver and black image to put on a
jacket. Yeah, it was the Raider shield. I ordered only one: which I put on
my leather coat. I had no clue what it meant other than it looked cool and
everyone wanted one! I kept the mystique to myself.
That summer I headed to US of A and it wasn't until a few days after I got
here someone asked me if I was a Raider fan. A what?!. I went to a sports
store in a nearby town and found caps, shirts, jackets etc.; I bought close
to $400. I was told it was an American football team. I couldn't wait to
play that sport." -TIRADE
We come from every corner of the World and for an infinite number of
reasons!
With respect to when people became fans, the time frames varied from a
couple of years ago all the way back to 1960. Some didn't respond with the
year rather with the moment, such as, "when my dad took me to my first
game," "after my parents divorced I asked my dad what he did on the
weekend. Super Sundays with the Raiders, he said and I said I'd be a Raider
fan too."
Many said after attending a game they were made a fan for life. There must
be something sent airborne at Raider games that makes fighting the urge to
become a fan a futile attempt. With respect to the RaiderBoard respondents,
our ages vary greatly. They range from early teen to, uh, much older. The
most interesting way one became a fan is sent from across the Atlantic,
"lying in a hospital watching TV late one evening/early morning on the new
channel 4. I saw the Silver and Black versus Washington and it was love at
first site!" -Tufty. (must have been on some heavy medication)
As AllyOop (by the way we miss you Ally) says, "we are everywhere" and this
is true.
Here is a listing of locations for respondents. Portland, Oregon; Maldon,
England; (East Coast of) Comox, British Columbia Canada (Vancouver Island);
Coral Springs, Florida; Wheaton, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Fayetteville,
Arkansas; Ventura County, California (Southern); Greer, South Carolina;
Denver, Colorado; Union City, California; Half Moon Bay, California;
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK; Boise, Idaho; Lodi, California; Florida; Mexico
City, Mexico; Upstate, New York; Ontario, Canada; Manteca, California;
Surrey, British Columbia Canada; Augusta, Georgia; Reno, Nevada; Lompoc,
California; San Diego, California; Albany, Oregon; Pennsylvania; New Jersey;
London, England; Raleigh, North Carolina; Bay Area, California; Arizona; San
Jose, California.
Favorite Raider moments? Wow, I thought I was going to be hurt for asking
this, more than one response began, "What are you kidding?!" No, I'm not
kidding. I wanted to know and thank you all for telling me. The biggest vote
getter was any game wherein the Raiders won the Super Bowl. Aside from that
easy answer; many fondly remember the Sea of Hands.
Next mentioned by name would be Bo Jackson annihilating an overrated Seattle
Seahawk linebacker named Brian Bozworth or Willie Brown intercepting and
returning for a TD against Minnesota in the Super Bowl. Marcus Allen's
reverse 74-yard TD run ranked on the list too. Naps 227-yard performance
drew some commentary as well.
Playing on the addiction of seeing a game live Hogfarmer shares this, "The
first time I went to Oakland for a home game. It just takes your breath
away: from the time you hit the parking lot and when in the stadium and
Hells Bells plays and it never ends, every time it's the same."
My reasons for introducing these questions were two fold. One, it was
suggested that I do a piece on the fans. I didn't have a problem with this
in the least, but, I like to have a bit of a bite to my work; I like to
generate thought. This got me to thinking I'd like to take a different
slant: to show off our positives.
Secondly, I wanted to know how you felt about being a Raider fan and whether
the pride you had in your fandom could be used to highlight the need for
each of us to rise above and to help curb the media's vision of our
attitudes and demeanor. With this second thought the final question became
of the most important of the entire survey. How should Raider fans be
defined?
No one said as a loud, obnoxious, dangerous rowdy causing problems and
hurting others! Mission29 certainly summed up the great number of quality
and sincere responses, "Raider fans defy definitions, categories. We are
every race, every nationality, every culture, and every level of income. We
cover the spectrum of lifestyle, political opinion and religious belief. We
can't be pigeonholed. In fact, there's only one thing this group unites
around.absolute loyalty to one team, the Oakland Raiders." Well done and
well said.
We are a family, we do rally to help our fellow fan and this is incredible.
Now, it's time we extended this attitude past our fellow fan and realize
every time we fly the colors we have an opportunity to dispel a negative
belief and to create positive beliefs. Open that door for a stranger, smile
when someone stares at you and continue to love and support our extended
family. I am so very appreciative of the relationships I've forged through
the filter of the Oakland Raiders.
Who are Raider fans? We are you and I, we are the people of the world, and
we are simply part of humanity, a passionate part.
Remember to Make It A Great Day!
By DocMayhem
The Fans of the Silver and Black, the Oakland Raiders, the once Los Angeles
Raiders, da Raiders, Pride and Poise, Just Win Baby and Commitment To
Excellence are as varied as the names associated with the NFL Franchise.
What then makes a Raider fan? Can I drive down the street and say, "There,
right there, see, that's a Raider fan!" No, probably not, not with much
accuracy anyhow.
What are the characteristics of a Raider fan? Much media bias has painted a
picture of maniacal misfits who lack social etiquette, education,
self-control and any care for the world outside of their person. This is a
frightening image, is it deserved?
If this depiction is accurate it must be so for a minority populous of fans.
The Raider fans I've come to know are a smattering of everything. Certainly
I've experienced some comments I felt were short of respectful and I've even
seen behavior that is truly lacking in self-control, however, I've
experienced the same in line at the grocery store. This abhorrent behavior
is not specific to any group of individuals and doesn't it ring true that
the few do seem to ruin it for the many.
I've met a wealth of incredible people through I disagreeociation with Raider
fans. One of my dearest friends, JollyRoger, Ron, became such through the
forum found at the RaiderBoard. Some of the greatest opportunities I've had
in life have come from I disagreeociation with RaiderFanMagazine.com:
interviewing Bobby Brooks, publishing my work and a friend in owner TDR.
These opportunities are not germinating from the cesspool of life. A friend,
confidant and fellow parent SC Raider, Keith, was met here in Raider Fandom
as well.
Thus, in frustration I began compiling information to find out what makes a
Raider fan. I wanted to get to know where we are from and how we want to be
known: using this approach with the philosophy, people generally act and
behave in a manner consistent with their self-perception.
The following article and comments are derived from the numerous emails and
posts I received in response to the following questions: 1. Why are you
attracted to the Raiders? 2. When did you become a fan? 3. Where do you
live/reside? 4. What's your favorite Raider moment? 5. How should Raider
fans be defined?
Sharing the responses in the order of the questions seems to be as logical
as any to share fans and their arrival to being such.
What attracted someone to the Raiders generated some interesting as well as
some predictable responses. I was told by one respondent, "If you have to
ask then you wouldn't understand." I was a bit stunned by that response but
everyone else offered a reason.
Many were attracted to the colors or the outcast, bad boy image. Some liked
that image because they felt like an outcast personally, others because it
represented an image of strength. My personal favorite is one born of an
entrepreneurial spirit and what is called in the retail market a buyer's
eye.
This fan writes, "I grew up in a small village in the northern part of
Denmark. Farming is/was 90% of the economy. Both my parents were
schoolteachers, so I didn't have an after-school job at the farm like my
fellow classmates. Most of the kids made decent money that way and were able
to buy fancy mopeds and such so, I decided to make some dough too.
I started importing patches, stickers and emblems from N.Y. to sew onto
clothes, etc. (remember the 80s? LOL!) Anyway, most of the stuff I sold at
my high school was AC/DC, Beastie Boys and Metallica stuff, but, one time
when putting in my order I saw a bad-ass silver and black image to put on a
jacket. Yeah, it was the Raider shield. I ordered only one: which I put on
my leather coat. I had no clue what it meant other than it looked cool and
everyone wanted one! I kept the mystique to myself.
That summer I headed to US of A and it wasn't until a few days after I got
here someone asked me if I was a Raider fan. A what?!. I went to a sports
store in a nearby town and found caps, shirts, jackets etc.; I bought close
to $400. I was told it was an American football team. I couldn't wait to
play that sport." -TIRADE
We come from every corner of the World and for an infinite number of
reasons!
With respect to when people became fans, the time frames varied from a
couple of years ago all the way back to 1960. Some didn't respond with the
year rather with the moment, such as, "when my dad took me to my first
game," "after my parents divorced I asked my dad what he did on the
weekend. Super Sundays with the Raiders, he said and I said I'd be a Raider
fan too."
Many said after attending a game they were made a fan for life. There must
be something sent airborne at Raider games that makes fighting the urge to
become a fan a futile attempt. With respect to the RaiderBoard respondents,
our ages vary greatly. They range from early teen to, uh, much older. The
most interesting way one became a fan is sent from across the Atlantic,
"lying in a hospital watching TV late one evening/early morning on the new
channel 4. I saw the Silver and Black versus Washington and it was love at
first site!" -Tufty. (must have been on some heavy medication)
As AllyOop (by the way we miss you Ally) says, "we are everywhere" and this
is true.
Here is a listing of locations for respondents. Portland, Oregon; Maldon,
England; (East Coast of) Comox, British Columbia Canada (Vancouver Island);
Coral Springs, Florida; Wheaton, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Fayetteville,
Arkansas; Ventura County, California (Southern); Greer, South Carolina;
Denver, Colorado; Union City, California; Half Moon Bay, California;
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK; Boise, Idaho; Lodi, California; Florida; Mexico
City, Mexico; Upstate, New York; Ontario, Canada; Manteca, California;
Surrey, British Columbia Canada; Augusta, Georgia; Reno, Nevada; Lompoc,
California; San Diego, California; Albany, Oregon; Pennsylvania; New Jersey;
London, England; Raleigh, North Carolina; Bay Area, California; Arizona; San
Jose, California.
Favorite Raider moments? Wow, I thought I was going to be hurt for asking
this, more than one response began, "What are you kidding?!" No, I'm not
kidding. I wanted to know and thank you all for telling me. The biggest vote
getter was any game wherein the Raiders won the Super Bowl. Aside from that
easy answer; many fondly remember the Sea of Hands.
Next mentioned by name would be Bo Jackson annihilating an overrated Seattle
Seahawk linebacker named Brian Bozworth or Willie Brown intercepting and
returning for a TD against Minnesota in the Super Bowl. Marcus Allen's
reverse 74-yard TD run ranked on the list too. Naps 227-yard performance
drew some commentary as well.
Playing on the addiction of seeing a game live Hogfarmer shares this, "The
first time I went to Oakland for a home game. It just takes your breath
away: from the time you hit the parking lot and when in the stadium and
Hells Bells plays and it never ends, every time it's the same."
My reasons for introducing these questions were two fold. One, it was
suggested that I do a piece on the fans. I didn't have a problem with this
in the least, but, I like to have a bit of a bite to my work; I like to
generate thought. This got me to thinking I'd like to take a different
slant: to show off our positives.
Secondly, I wanted to know how you felt about being a Raider fan and whether
the pride you had in your fandom could be used to highlight the need for
each of us to rise above and to help curb the media's vision of our
attitudes and demeanor. With this second thought the final question became
of the most important of the entire survey. How should Raider fans be
defined?
No one said as a loud, obnoxious, dangerous rowdy causing problems and
hurting others! Mission29 certainly summed up the great number of quality
and sincere responses, "Raider fans defy definitions, categories. We are
every race, every nationality, every culture, and every level of income. We
cover the spectrum of lifestyle, political opinion and religious belief. We
can't be pigeonholed. In fact, there's only one thing this group unites
around.absolute loyalty to one team, the Oakland Raiders." Well done and
well said.
We are a family, we do rally to help our fellow fan and this is incredible.
Now, it's time we extended this attitude past our fellow fan and realize
every time we fly the colors we have an opportunity to dispel a negative
belief and to create positive beliefs. Open that door for a stranger, smile
when someone stares at you and continue to love and support our extended
family. I am so very appreciative of the relationships I've forged through
the filter of the Oakland Raiders.
Who are Raider fans? We are you and I, we are the people of the world, and
we are simply part of humanity, a passionate part.
Remember to Make It A Great Day!