Almost Brings A Tear To My Eye

[SoCalRaider]

[b:7d0e4b2c6c]Chargers can't prevent silver-and-black onslaught[/b:7d0e4b2c6c]

BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer Thursday, December 5, 2002

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(12-05) 16:24 PST SAN DIEGO (AP) --

The San Diego Chargers thought they'd found a way to keep hordes of rowdy Oakland Raiders fans from invading Qualcomm Stadium.

But Raider Nation apparently won't be fully denied its biggest road trip of the year when Oakland plays the Chargers on Sunday in a showdown for control of the AFC West. Both teams are 8-4, and besides leading the division, are tied with Indianapolis for the AFC's best record.

At the very least, the Chargers hope that the hardest hits are on the field, not in the stands.

Recent Raiders games in San Diego have been marred by violence, attributed to heavy drinking and the large number of Raiders fans, many of whom developed their allegiance during the team's 13 years in Los Angeles.

Two years ago, a Raiders fan stabbed a Chargers fan after the game and was later sentenced to five years in prison. Three years ago, brawling in the stands got so bad the players noticed.

Starting last year, security was tripled, fans were patted down at the turnstiles and beer sales were cut off at halftime.

In July, the Chargers begged season ticket holders to keep their tickets to this game. Also, people buying fewer than 25 tickets to the game had to buy an equal number of tickets to two other games.

The Chargers' stated policy was to pump up overall ticket sales. But clearly it was a ploy to win back home-field advantage from Raiders fans, who show up in Tim Brown and Charles Woodson jerseys -- not to mention those whose renegade regalia includes spikes and dog collars -- and turn vast sections of the stadium into a sea of silver-and-black.

But if Raiders fans want tickets, there's plenty available. Ticket brokers have them. So do scores of sellers on eBay and in the newspaper classifieds.

Season ticket holders are bailing, either because of fear or free enterprise.

"The season ticket holders are the sellers and the Raider fans are the buyers," said Vince Campise, owner of Atlas Tickets Services in San Diego.

Campise has no doubt that there will be as many Raider fans at this year's game as there have been in recent years.

A Raiders fan agrees.

"I think there's going to be a lot of Raider fans, and we really won't know until Junior Seau comes out on the field," said an eBay seller from Sacramento who would identify himself only as John.

If the boos overwhelm the cheers for the Chargers' star linebacker, then the advantage goes to the silver-and-black.

Seau, by the way, was thrown out of his first NFL game -- an exhibition, no less -- for fighting with Raiders guard Steve Wisniewski.

John was selling 13 tickets, including some he got from his brother and brother-in-law in San Diego, whom he said were season ticket holders.

"San Diego Chargers fans end up selling their tickets rather than be the urban pioneer and have to fight their way into the game," John said.

He recalls a game when Raiders fans took over a restroom.

"If you had yellow and blue on, you were not going to get into the bathroom," he said.

Trisha Thomas is trying to sell two plaza level seats for $225 each.

Her reason?

"Same as most people," she said. "We don't want to go to the Raiders game. We haven't been involved in any violence, but it's just the fans -- their yelling, drinking and behavior. It's not a pleasant experience."

Robert Dacy was trying to sell two tickets for $350 apiece.

"It's the money," said Dacy, who added that his teen-age son was mad at him for putting them up for sale. "Some fool will give you the money."

Raiders fans even take over a section of the parking lot for pregame drinking, making it look like a scene from "The Road Warrior."

"When we are on the West Coast, we know we are going to have some people show up," said Raiders running back Charlie Garner. "It's Raider Nation. That's what it is. They are everywhere."

Chargers officials concede there will be a lot of Raiders fans at the game. But they don't want to criticize their own season ticket holders, especially those who have had bad experiences at previous Raiders games.

"We knew this was not going to happen overnight, but we think we've made necessary strides to change it," said Ken Derrett, the Chargers' marketing vice president. "This is going to be such a great game that if I'm a fan, I want to be there."

[BK]

[quote:d2b5ebc9c3]He recalls a game when Raiders fans took over a restroom. [/quote:d2b5ebc9c3]

Now thats some funny ****, YOU CAN'T PISS HERE, YOU'RE A CHARGER FAN, GET OUT OF OUR 2ND HOUSE!

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xRaider]

[quote:a58bfbc789="SoCalRaider"]

He recalls a game when Raiders fans took over a restroom.

"If you had yellow and blue on, you were not going to get into the bathroom," he said.

[/quote:a58bfbc789]

Now THAT'S funny.

[The Lone Bolt]

Only proves that the only reason Charger fans don't want to show up is that raiturd fans are a bunch of drunk violent a-holes!! Classic!

Of couse, you guys deny this up and down!

[xRaider]

Excuses, excuses.

So do Dolts go to the games, or don't they? Are they scared or are they not? Make up your mind.

[The Lone Bolt]

In spite of what the dumbass who wrote this article said, you WILL see a majority of BLUE AND GOLD this Sunday!!

[HBChargerFan]

I think it might weed out some of the Gang bangers but I have no doubt the Fans will show up.

LA raider fans still havent figured out that their team left them so we get all the Raider/Rams left overs

It wont matter if we win

[xRaider]

[quote:e790cb83bf="HBChargerFan"]

It wont matter if we win[/quote:e790cb83bf]

Basically.

[Rhode Raider]

I don't see what the big deal is, by the third Qtr all the Bolt fans will be gone from the Q and once again we will take over another stadium for the victory party.Can you imagine Raiders season ticket holders selling their tickets because the Bolts were coming to town.....What a bunch of pussies.

[The Lone Bolt]

[quote:49e8469f34="Rhode raidah"]I don't see what the big deal is, by the third Qtr all the Bolt fans will be gone from the Q and once again we will take over another stadium for the victory party.Can you imagine Raiders season ticket holders selling their tickets because the Bolts were coming to town.....What a bunch of pussies.[/quote:49e8469f34]

That's because Charger fans tend to act civilized (and yes, I know about that alledged attack on those donkey fans -- it's completely unheard of from Bolt fans and you know it so don't bother bringing it up) so therefore raider fans have nothing to worry about. The blue and gold just doesn't appeal to thugs.

Personally, if I were down in the SD area I'd go to the game, but I can understand if someone wouldn't want their family around raider fans!

And as for "taking over another stadium", those days are over in SD (and really never happened in the first place -- 30 or even 40 percent raiturd fans isn't "taking over", assuming the numbers got that large). The BOLT IS BACK!! Get used to it!

[RaiderBlitz]

Yah we are ****'n animals and we are going to eat you alive. So stay safe at home.

Civilized? I don't go to a game to quietly sit and watch like its some sort of ballet contest. I'm there to feel the passion the intensity of the game and to what extent I can lend support to my team. I guess you might call it intimidation real or imagined....We dont what you at our house and our house is where ever our team plays.

[SCRaider]

Blah blah blah. And if your aunt had ball she's be your uncle. Sell your BS somewhere else because we're not buying it. We never took over? Only 30 - 40% Raider fans? You truely are delusional. But then again, you were not there so how would you know? Bottom line, you can throw every excuse in the book at us but it does'nt matter. We will outnumber the dolt fans & win the game. Raiders 4 Life !!