Raider Fans Remember Wild Ways
For the rest of the nation it was just an exhibition football game, but for rabid Raiders fans, Saturday was combination homecoming and family reunion.
They came early, partied hard and screamed their lungs out, knowing that for the first time in 13 years they were cheering the Oakland Raiders. Fans embraced ushers and high-fived each other as they walked through the stadium.
Despite the die-hard fan base, the game wasn’t a sellout. There appeared to be several thousand empty seats, which might end up costing public agencies money because the Raiders are guaranteed $3.8 million from the two home preseason games.
But the fans of the Silver and Black weren’t thinking about financial considerations.
“We brought them back,” shouted Neil Silva, veins popping from his neck and spit flying from his mouth. “Today is my day! And you know why? I love it - RAIDEEEERRRRRSS!”
Silva predicted the Oakland fans would propel the Raiders to a 10- or 11-win season, and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Two hours before the 1 p.m. kickoff, Kevin Jones, 35, a maintenance worker from Richmond, decided to become an unofficial greeter to his fellow faithful. He stationed himself at the entrance to one of the parking lot aisles, flashing a Raiders sign.
“They’re home,” he shouted to passing cars. “Welcome my brothers.”
Victor “Raider Vic” Camarena, who came in a Winnebago with 20 fans from San Jose, arrived at the Oakland Coliseum around 6:30 a.m., and they weren’t the first ones in line. But they didn’t mind the nearly 4-hour wait before the gates opened.
“We put on music, we drank and we partied,” said Camarena, a 50-year-old sprinkler company fabricator. “Before we knew it, we were in.”
A sea of Raiders flags fluttered atop vans, cars and recreational vehicles.
Camarena - sporting a skull-and-crossbones patch over his right eye and decked out in Raiders clothing, including Raiders boxer shorts - was so pumped up, he invented a word to describe his joy.
“I feel so ejubilated,” Camarena said.
The leader of pro football’s bad boys appeared deep in thought as he entered the Coliseum at 11:15 a.m. Al Davis stopped by a small crowd of children and adult fans, but said little to them. He began to walk away, but then slowly turned and raised his right fist in the air.
Saturday’s game was a dream come true for Raiders fans, considered among the most loyal in the sport. Even after the team left Oakland in 1982 to play in Los Angeles, the fans never gave up hope the team would return. Many refused to wear any Raiders memorabilia emblazoned with the blasphemous words “Los Angeles.”
Paul Dulle, a 33-year-old Coca-Cola merchandiser from San Leandro, said the 32 on his jersey was not for former Raiders great Marcus Allen, who wore that number in Los Angeles, but for legendary defensive back Jack Tatum, who wore the number in Oakland.
“I’m in awe right now,” blurted Dulle, as he walked toward the Coliseum entrance. “I can’t believe I’m here.”
Some of the biggest boos of the day were reserved for a 49ers fan who wore a Steve Young jersey to the game, a lone red figure in a sea of silver and black in the stands. Raiders faithful poured beer after beer on him.