Question...

[Howies Henchman]

What's it like to actually go to a Raider game?? I have loved the Raiders for 30+ years and can only dream of watching them playing in Oak-Town. I saw them once at the Kingdome in Seattle. We got our asses kicked, I got into a fight, and threw sea-slut fan down a flight of stairs, and then got kicked out. If you would indulge me and tell me how AWESOME it is. I don't want to sound desperate, but dammit I am....

[bgrn]

Originally Posted by Howies Henchman

I got into a fight, and threw sea-slut fan down a flight of stairs, and then got kicked out.

[Howies Henchman]

The fight, it wasn't my fault, the drunk Hawk fan threw beer on my wife and was talking crap all game...I swear!!!!

[Attyla]

you call security. No offense, but we have a bad enough rep as is without throwing a guy down some stairs

Other than that, I have never been to Oakland (going this year) but it does look like fun

[SilverHaze81]

cry a lil more guys...

[toobs cruiser]

I haven't been to a game in Oakland yet, but I went to a few when they were in LA. It was amazing. All kinds of characters dressed up. I imagine Oakland is probably the same, only colder and probably in a better neighborhood than the LA collesium.

[MALOSO4LIFE]

Originally Posted by toobs cruiser

I haven't been to a game in Oakland yet, but I went to a few when they were in LA. It was amazing. All kinds of characters dressed up. I imagine Oakland is probably the same, only colder and probably in a better neighborhood than the LA collesium.

The neighborhood isnt much better

[bgrn]

Originally Posted by MALOSO4LIFE

The neighborhood isnt much better

Who cares, we're at Ricky's, the H.O.T. & the Hilton bar anyways.

[MALOSO4LIFE]

Originally Posted by bgrn

Who cares, we're at Ricky's, the H.O.T. & the Hilton bar anyways.

Right on bro!

[kitared]

There is nothing like a game in Oakland!! I have been to the GA Dome, TN, Indiana, NC and San Fran. Raiders fans have nothing but LOVE for each other. You can hear RAAAAAIIIIIIIIDDDDDDEEEERRRRRRSSSSS through out the entire place. People will walk up to you and just talk to you cause you got on Raider gear. I don't care what stadium you have been to there is NOTHING like OAKLAND!!!

Oh and when you hear the Hells Bells......Nothing but shivers up and down your spine!

[kitared]

Originally Posted by MALOSO4LIFE

The neighborhood isnt much better

You girl...my best friends lives down the street (Raider Wifee), so what are you trying to say?! And I'm sure you would have a place to stay if you went out there.

[Freesafety]

I'll tell you what, if someone throws anything on my wife at a football game I'll be sending their ass down the stairs just as quick as you did bro!

[ice4444]

I apogize if this is a little long; please don't read if your not into it.

Before the Raiders left to L.A. it was by far the most intimidating place in football. The fans were so dang loud and wild it was fun.

After a loss during a really hot game in Miami years ago, Don Shula was once asked if it was hell out there. He snapped back,"It was hot out there but there's only one hell, and that's in Oakland where the Raiders play".

Chuck Noll once said that the government closed Alcatraz so they could open up the Oakland Coliseum. It was insane.

In the 70's the entire San Francisco bay area stopped. The fans were loud, nasty to the opponent, and ruthless. The players loved it and often laughed at some of the things that were said. After the games the players would come out into the parking lot and drink with fans. I remember as a little kid seeing Stabler, Matuszak, Villipiano, Pete Banaszak, and several others in the parking lot. Villipiano always called it having adult beverages. They literally were family to the fans and any team that came into the Coliseum was against our family. We would see the players around town and they loved the community just as much. They still talk about the training camps in Santa Rosa where the partying seem to rarely stop.

In the old coliseum you could literally walk behind the opposing teams bench. My favorite moment was when Bob Griese threw a ball and nearly hit a cheerleader. I was just watching with a friend and I blocked it over the rail. The cheerleader, Susan kissed me and thanked me. It was awesome.

When the Raiders left to L.A. the fans started to dress up out there and act crazy. There were parts of the LA coliseum I would never go to; stabbings and fights were seen and it was pretty surreal at times. It seemed at times the fans were more into being seen than seeing the game.

In Oakland it's different. People still dress up but they really care about the Raiders. I'm not into the dressing up stuff but I like all the guys that do. They are good hardworking people. There are still loyal people in L.A. but the loyalty in Oakland is different; more intense and much larger.

The Coliseum was called the House of Thrills after Curt Gowdy called it that in 1973; people will remember him saying it after the Raiders beat the Dolphins in 1974 after the sea of hands game where he called it the greatest game he's ever seen. A lot of people in their 30's and 40's remembered the Raider glory days so they got tickets even though the PSL's were very expensive.

What's intimidating too, is that I've been to stadiums across the country, and no other stadium has more minority fans. Denver looks like a clan meeting at times, and so does KC even though both are loyal. My fiance looks like a little UCLA cheerleader; long blond hair, very sweet; she's from Wyoming and a Denver fan (I know), and pretty sheltered. and she always goes to the Denver game with me. I'm hispanic and she told me at her first game that,"There sure are a lot of black and hispanic people here!" I knew I should have brought her to a day game.
She says it was very intimidating.

She wears her Denver stuff and she doesn't get much grief. The guys that get it are the guys that talk crap and get drunk and get in peoples faces. Those guys are idiots. Unless someone is messing with family, and even then, fighting at games just isnt cool and should be avoided at all cost. Security is no joke in Oakland and a couple of them look like they've been arrested a few times.

Anyway, the games today aren't as wild as in the olden days but when the place is full, it's still pretty loud. I know it will never be the same but it is still really fun to go to a Raider game. The parking lots are smaller so there isn't as many tailgating parties but there still are some good ones. In general the Raider fans are rowdy, fun, nice and in general hard working good people who love to have a good time and have fun. There are a few idiots everywhere that don't respect others, try to start fights and can't hold their liquor, but that's at every stadium. Most are awesome people and fans, at and away from the game.

Sorry to be long winded but you brought back great memories and I hope you get to go to a game someday. We'd love to have you.

[bgrn]

Props Ice

[ice4444]

Thanks; Raider fans are the best.