Post by TheShadow on Sept 9, 2004 18:24:50 GMT -5
www.sfgate.com
BY Ron Kroichick
Jon Gruden once was honorary mayor of the Black Hole. He roamed the sideline sporting his signature scowl, lifted the Raiders out of their malaise and often celebrated by wandering beyond the south end zone to trade high fives with the Coliseum's most notorious inhabitants.
Fair warning for Gruden in advance of his return to Oakland on Sept. 26: Another trip to the Black Hole could lead to a Black Eye.
Gruden will stroll into the Coliseum for the first time since he bolted for Tampa Bay in Feb. 2002, and the first time since his new team thrashed his old one in Super Bowl XXXVII. Not surprisingly, the citizens of Raider Nation eagerly await his arrival.
"There will be Chucky dolls with nooses, obscenities, it's going to be a bad time for him to be there," said Bob Carr, who runs raiderfans.net, an online site for Silver and Black loyalists. "Most of the rowdy Raiders fans are going to have a field day. We hope to God we smash the Bucs."
Gruden annoyed Oakland fans with more than his abrupt departure. He also launched a Raiders exodus to the Gulf Coast, persuading running back Charlie Garner to follow him ... and tight end Rickey Dudley ... and tackle Matt Stinchcomb ... and de-facto general manager Bruce Allen.
Then, to top it off, wide receiver Tim Brown, Mr. Raider himself, signed with the Bucs during training camp.
Wayne Deboe, president of the Oakland Raiders booster club, did not appreciate the mass defections. He also expects an openly hostile response to Gruden, no doubt enhanced by the party-friendly, 5:30 p.m. kickoff.
"We need to show we're still in control," Deboe said. "We're the more powerful force, even though these people have left us. The Raider Nation dominates, that's what we'll be out to show on September 26."
Deboe and Carr acknowledged that most Raiders fans carry mixed emotions for Gruden. After all, he did take a wheezing franchise -- or did you forget about that misery-filled, 4-12 season in '97? -- and restore order.
Face it, the Super Bowl trip with Bill Callahan never happens without Gruden building the foundation.
"Gruden did return us to glory, but it was his decision to leave," Carr said. "He chose to leave instead of sticking around, so most fans view him as not a true Raider."
And Brown?
"Tim Brown is a Raider and always will be a Raider," Deboe said. "He'll get a standing ovation when he steps on the field. I wouldn't be surprised if you see a whole lot of No. 81 Raiders jerseys that night."
