After a day of reading, research, and number-crunching for college, I went through my usual routine for the day. Check messages, check the mail, check for packages...and I found my jersey had arrived.
Not some simple, replica mind you. This is an authentic, home jersey, of Ted Hendricks, for the Raiders, No. 83. Hall of Fame player. I had decided a couple weeks ago, if I got a good paycheck off this last run, I'd look into a decent jersey, and finding three options in the right size, picked up the Hendricks.
Shoot, look up his stats; any team would love to have him, just for the ability to block kicks or to tackle a person for a safety.
Then it occurs to me...Sure, Oakland is having a bad year, and except for the 2000-'02 seasons, a bad decade. But if they are this bad, why am I still supporting them? Does loyalty overcome losing?
- B/R Ticket Guide
I could ask a few of the local bleacher fans, who represent other clubs, to stop in, give me a little help with a project.
Take Sayre for the Broncos. I know he's young, and probably doesn't remember the old days of football...times of Elway's failures, but what about the season after Elway retired? Was he deathly loyal to the Broncos, even after Terrell Davis went down, Brian Griese failed, and everything came apart?
Or say Angel, who writes for the New York Jets. There's been some dark days, in the past...were you loyal during those times, or did the heart grow tired of following a club that didn't seem to know how to get off the ground?
The list could go on. Some clubs, like the Cards, had droughts that have been longer than a decade. Or Tampa Bay, who lost every game their first year, and for the longest time was considered a death sentence to be drafted by?
Some people would say I dwell in the past...If this is where your history is the brightest, why not? True, some clubs don't have a past...Others, would rather forget it.
For me, the past, the present, and the future, will remain with the Raiders.
Three rings, over 400 wins, and lots of great memories.
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about 1 month ago
I found that moving in my opinion, goodhearted, after all, isn't overcoming adversity such a huge part in not just sports, but in life? We hang in there until the end, and something great will come out of this. Good article Card, but all i ask in the short term, is if the following people who comment can refrain from using racial, ethnic, religous, or homophobic slurs to try to prove a point or opinion. Show sportsmanship! I'm sorry this recent problem happened to you Card. You didn't deserve that. I come on here for insight, and you provide that. Thank you.
Raiders Forever,
E
from about 1 month ago
Hey E, just ignore the idiot. He's a first class trollboy, probably bored, and obviously looking for some fun, acting like a baffoon.
He's been reported, so he'll be dropped off again.
about 1 month ago
I'm 19 years old, so since I've been a Broncos fan or since I can remember, I believe my team has had two losing seasons. I don't think being a fan of a losing team makes you a better fan if that is what you are implying.
Sure, I watch DVD's and I collect trading cards and Starting Lineup's and many other Bronco entities, but that doesn't mean anything about this season.
I suppose we could look back and ask the 10 year old me what I thought about Brian Griese taking over the reins, but honestly I probably wouldn't have cared. Because at that age, you just love the team unconditionally.
And the Elway failures that you point out are failures that a lot of players wish they had a chance to encounter. Elway made it to five Super Bowls, granted in three of them he was embarrassed.
I think the only thing about fans of losing teams with prolific histories is that they are ignorant to the present oftentimes, and use their success in previous decades to dictate what could happen in present day.
from about 1 month ago
We (the raider Nation) are not discounting the present, he is telling you, that its more than just a team, and STILL the fact remains, The Oakland Raiders are the Winningest team in NFL History..
To us our team is our family, hate all you want, but don't come out saying we are ignorant, because what it comes down to is:
"WIN, LOSE, OR TIE, I'M A RAIDER TIL' I DIE"
from about 1 month ago
Ah, but Greg, I did no such thing as to call the Raiders fans ignorant, but you responded as though I did. Interesting...
about 1 month ago
Loyalty transcends all. It's that small glimmer of hope. And honestly, it's feeling like you belong to something. It's easy to be a casual fan of anything and cheer. But when you're inexplicably invested in something emotionally and financially (as with your jersey), it makes the good times all the more glorious.
I became a fan of the Jets during their 1-15 season when I was about 12 simply because I liked the underdogs. And I always love a good story. I watched games not really knowing what was happening, but wanting to watch them win because no one expected them to.
Blame Disney, and those damn Mighty Ducks movies.
Regardless, I remain loyal because I want to be among those that feel the most joy when they do win. People who aren't sports' fans don't understand it. Some may think it's pathetic, trying to belong to something I didn't create. But it doesn't matter.
The question is does loyalty transcend logic? How do Lions' fans feel going into every Sunday?
about 1 month ago
All any fan can ask for is hope and a chance to win so each draft and new season brings that until about week 6 or so and then you can kind of figure out if your hope has a chance of becoming a dream or nightmare to you but no matter what you still follow your teams though thick and thin.
about 1 month ago
To everyone, everyone is a fan of their team. Again, Sayre, is a Bronco Fan, Angel is a Jets fan, etc.
Greg is a Raider fan. What strikes some as odd, is that when their team does lousy, they feel like to "punish" their team, they don't buy stuff, they don't support their team, some even bail, and follow other clubs.
Part of being loyal to a club, is the drive to remain faithful. You can go through hard times, like my example, in Denver's post-elway period. Also, Sayre, the Broncos had three times they failed to reach .500. In 1999, in 2001, at 8-8, and then last year at 7-9.
Granted, some teams can go through extended periods of hardship. Take Tampa Bay, when they had double digit losing seasons for 12 straight years. You either developed some really, really thick skin to tolerate it, or, you hoped the Dolphins would make people forget about the Bucs.
But for me, I still collect my Raiders...hell or high water.
BTW, Sayre....wanna trade for my Cutlers?
from about 1 month ago
8-8 is reaching .500
from about 1 month ago
P.S.
1999, the Broncos went 6-10 not 8-8. Which is one of TWO losing seasons under Shanahan. And if you are questioning my loyalty because I don't buy as many trading cards as you, then that is just flat out rude. If that is what you are basing this on, then I can't take it seriously man.
from about 1 month ago
Sorry, was a little tired when I wrote, I was looking for above .500, not to 500.
But you've already shown that you stand by your team, in the good seasons and bad.
from about 1 month ago
Not looking to buy, but trade.
After all, my best deal came from trading off a Terrell Davis Autographed helmet for a Otis Sistrunk Mini helmet.
In this case, he didn't know what he had, and I didn't want it....so I took advantage of the local fans to find the best deal.
Granted, it's not worth a ton, but both me and the Bronco collector came out happy on the deal.
Also just got a numbered to 100 Donruss Threads Cutler 2008. Mint.
about 1 month ago
Yeah the Raiders suck right now and have for the last six years but the Broncos will be bitches for Eternity.
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