Where does the hate for AL Davis stem from?

[Blueprint]

Deleted Thread

[Raider Ran]

Al has pretty much been either loved or hated since he was the commissioner of the AFC. His constant litigation did not make him any friends around the league and his moving to LA, flirting with Irwindale to the tune of 10 Million and moving back to Oakland did not help that. His refusal to change, move to LA from Oakland did not do much for his standing with the fan base. One thing is he always tried to put the best team on the field that money could by. Unfortunately in the last decade he lost much of his understanding on what it took to win in the current NFL.

[MadBomber24]

Honestly it was just his personality. He was an all or nothing kind of person in everything he did. He was either your best friend or your worst enemy. From all accounts there was no middle ground with Al Davis. He was able and willing to take on anyone who got in the way of what he wanted, and he usually won the battle. Al had no problem stepping on toes (or crushing necks) to get what he wanted. All of the things that made Al Davis great, also made him easy to hate if you werent on the boat with him.

Oh yea, and he was never one to lead you on. If he hated you he spit in your face and told you so. And it says somethign to how heated the Raiders/ Steelers rivalry was in the 70s that those feelings of hate are still so strong.

[HITMAN]

Davis was quick to burn bridges and unless it benefited him or the Raiders he counldn't have cared less... In the world of professional sports you have to work together for the common good of the game. Davis had his own ideas and went that route the idea of being a Maverick was something he enjoyed. I don't think people really hated Davis the man, what they hated was the personna and the disdain he had towards the league, some other owners and obviously the press. Just like some fans on this site are quick to use the word hate for those of us who did not support Davis 100% the last 25 years. I admired Davis, respected him, but did not agree about how he ran the franchise... merely differences of opinion.

[paul0660]

I am not going to step into this. Someday a good biography of Al will be written and I will read it. I might even pay for it.


Having said that, it is important to remember that the NFL (and the AFL before it) is a business, with partners who own the franchises. Wayne Valley was not the last person to find out how little Al valued partnership.

[MileHighRaider]

I am not going to step into this. Someday a good biography of Al will be written and I will read it. I might even pay for it.


Having said that, it is important to remember that the NFL (and the AFL before it) are a business, with partners who own the franchises. Wayne Valley was not the last person to find out how little Al valued partnership.

That's probably good advice. This thread will be explosive in no time.

Frankly, (with due respect to the reasonable answers above) I don't have the patience for some of the crap that will be posted here. Moving on...

[HurrikaneSensei]

Damn...I had so much to share but, the first three post pretty much answers any questions about why Al and the Raiders were/are so dis-liked. Its a shame that an entire fan base and team has to be staind by the actions or comments of one man, although that one man is Al Davis. But I'm sure since Al is no longer with us, the dis-taste for the Raiders will slowly deteriorate over the course of the next few seasons.

[Worrier]

Ban this lying Steeler Troll

Not only does he hate the Raiders, he dosen't know crap about the steelers

Here's Rooney/Steelers statement

Rooney remained true to his Catholic faith and made his peace with Davis, saying good things about him in his autobiography Dan Rooney, but reminding readers that “Al is Al,” and upon learning of Davis’ death, Rooney issued the following statement:

Dan Rooney statement on Al Davis

[HurrikaneSensei]

Ban this lying Steeler Troll

Not only does he hate the Raiders, he dosen't know crap about the steelers

Here's Rooney/Steelers statement

Rooney remained true to his Catholic faith and made his peace with Davis, saying good things about him in his autobiography Dan Rooney, but reminding readers that “Al is Al,” and upon learning of Davis’ death, Rooney issued the following statement:

Dan Rooney statement on Al Davis

That's one man. What about the rest of the world?

[signal]

He was a man who definitely never wanted to blend into the scenery as they say. As such he was always someone who would never 'toe the line'. In fact I believe he always expected that he should have been commissioner of the NFL and when that did not happen - well, he sort of placed himself outside of the circle and conducted himself as independently as he could. As a result, he ran counter to many league commissioners. He loved the game and he loved the Raiders but at times I think he did not love the league and that well did not endear him to others around the league. He conducted himself at times as if he were above the league and hence the legal disputes and well the disdain of others who did.

EDIT: Just want to add - that I loved and respected Al. His love for the game and the Raiders was truly impressive and matched only by a very few owners in NFL history. That said, I think his disdain for the league at times - also went unmatched. Hence the extreme reactions of 'love or hate' for the man.

[Hawaiian Raider]

That's one man. What about the rest of the world?

Al Davis has a TON of admiration and respect from most connected to the industry, and generally speaking too. I know a Donk that absolutely loves Al Davis - wished he owned the Donks. That "renegade" moniker is a popular one.

Granted there is that faction that absolutely hates him, but that's not the rule.

[signal]

By the way my avatar is inspired by Al and the way I see the Raiders.

[Willmark]

Such an open ended question that can go in many different ways. So I'll take it froma fan of the Raiders.

The Raiders existed before Al Davis, the continue to exist after him. My allegiance is to the Raiders, not to Al or his memory, because if people are honest his contributions to the Raiders when looked at from the long view are more detrimental then most care or want to admit. The glory years that lasted around 14-15 years and the ray of light of the Gruden Years are not balanced out by at best mediocrity and at worst total failure. That is what Al's legacy to the Raiders is.

As far as hate, I don't hate him but Al post 1984? Not that big of a fan.

As I said in another thread Al, this is where he lost me (and plenty of others): "Al lost me when he made the choice that it was more important to lose his way then to win someone else's."

Just win baby? Should have been renamed "just win Al's way baby."

[cheapshotartist]

Davis was quick to burn bridges and unless it benefited him or the Raiders he counldn't have cared lessDavis had his own ideas and went that route the idea of being a Maverick was something he enjoyed. I don't think people really hated Davis the man, what they hated was the personna and the disdain he had towards the league, some other owners and obviously the press. Just like some fans on this site are quick to use the word hate for those of us who did not support Davis 100% the last 25 years. I admired Davis, respected him, but did not agree about how he ran the franchise... merely differences of opinion.

Word! Al (RIP) is no longer with us so I'm going to show some respect and not go on one of my rants. RIP Al.

Al has pretty much been either loved or hated since he was the commissioner of the AFC. His constant litigation did not make him any friends around the league and his moving to LA, flirting with Irwindale to the tune of 10 Million and moving back to Oakland did not help that.

The move to LA was the last straw for me.

Honestly it was just his personality. He was an all or nothing kind of person in everything he did. He was either your best friend or your worst enemy. From all accounts there was no middle ground with Al Davis. He was able and willing to take on anyone who got in the way of what he wanted, and he usually won the battle. Al had no problem stepping on toes (or crushing necks) to get what he wanted. All of the things that made Al Davis great, also made him easy to hate if you werent on the boat with him.

Oh yea, and he was never one to lead you on. If he hated you he spit in your face and told you so. And it says somethign to how heated the Raiders/ Steelers rivalry was in the 70s that those feelings of hate are still so strong.

Al (RIP) was just Al (RIP)

[Blueprint]

Ban this lying Steeler Troll

Not only does he hate the Raiders, he dosen't know crap about the steelers

Here's Rooney/Steelers statement

Rooney remained true to his Catholic faith and made his peace with Davis, saying good things about him in his autobiography Dan Rooney, but reminding readers that “Al is Al,” and upon learning of Davis’ death, Rooney issued the following statement:

Dan Rooney statement on Al Davis

Yes, you're 100% right. I've been posting here for years and I'm a Steeler fan posing as a Raider fan. In what part of my post did I say the Steelers were a good organization or anything of the sorts? Let me ask you something, when Al died even if Dan Rooney despised him behind closed doors did you expect him to say 'Good riddance' to the public and media? No. I'm telling you the truth whether you believe it or not, I work with family members and others that own/are close to the family. People like you are why I don't even log into this site anymore.