The start of a long journey

I've been asked the question, how does a person in South Dakota, become a Raider fan?
Some might think I was on something, some might call it a form of rebellion, some even might consider it form of brain damage.
To me, it was a simple thing. I hated the broncos.
Everyone I knew, in school, wanted to grow up to be John Elway. To me, the guy looked goofy, something like a cross between a horse, and Jimmy Carter. Goofy.
But, before then, I also knew, of a QB, that the Raiders had, named Jim Plunkett. This, in part, was from my brother, Jim, who is also a fan. Although, to that degree, he's a bit more of the black sheep of the family, I called him the mine detector, showing me what not to do in life.
But as things go, I got to watch the 1983 Super Bowl, on TV, and it was such a treat. I remember seeing the Jack Squirek pick, and thinking to myself this team is killing the Redskins....my dad, was in a bit of shock as well, considering that the Redskins were supposed to be better than this. After all, they just came off a record setting season....and now this?
One aspect with me, my folks would say, is i'm a detailer. I loved to read, growing up, and since the internet was a good number of years away, I would spend a lot of time in libraries, both in grade school, junior high, high school, and even College. My first book, I saw on the Raiders, was a hard issue to get a hold of, as it was checked out often. it was also a surprise, as it only covered the AFL teams, at the time, pre 1970 seasons. So, I started checking out what information I could find.
This was also the same time, my habit of collecting cards started...and the first card I managed to get, was a Topps 1987 LA Raiders issue. Slowly, I started filling in the team set. Names like Marcus Allen, Dokie Williams, Napoleon McCallum, Fulton Walker, Todd Christensen, Lester Hayes, Micheal Haynes, filled up a small binder. Just for the heck of it, I also collected the 1000 yard club card, and the Record Breaker issues, plus league leader cards. Yep, I was hooked.
As time went on, I also learned about some of the Raiders' past glory, from stories my dad told me, from earlier years, stories like Stabler's Super Bowl season, or Willie Brown's glory day, ending Tarkenton's year badly. I guess, the one thing my dad didn't like, was when Al Davis took off with the Raiders, moving them to LA, and leaving fans in Oakland feeling cheated. But then, I also learned, he didn't like the Colts doing to same thing to Baltimore. I could understand that, but to me, that was more of Al Davis' actions, not the players. They simply went where the club moved to.
Little did I know, that after the 1987 year, It would be the start of some good times, but as well, some seasons of long suffering, on the behest of the LA Raiders. Bo Jackson would come, and leave, too soon.
Stay tuned!