Badasses - The Reprise

Badasses - The Legend of Snake, Foo, Dr. Death, and John Madden's Oakland Raiders. 

So much good stuff in this book I've been itching to flesh it out for you a little more. 

Ken Stabler, QB, talking about the old days - "when you played for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back"

Peter Richmond, the author - "..........if this particular band of brothers could excel, that as long as professional football could include a prime-time team whose image, style and attitude ran entirely counter to the mainstream product, then Big Football didn't have to be like Big Business or conventional society. The game could be played with obvious joy." 

Raymond Chester, tight end, talking about today's game - ".........players are independent contractors. They are each mini-sports corporations." 

Duane Benson, linebacker, - "You don't have to have a criminal record to play on this team, but it really helps." 

I was a football whore back in the day. Switched team allegiances like a $20 hooker. At different times I loved the Browns, the Raiders, the Steelers, and the Vikings. Now I am faithful to the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS and will kneecap anyone who feels differently.

But the Raiders, man - in the 70's - fucking insane. And they excelled. They dominated in the 70's and won the Super Bowl in 1977. Have you seen their fans at games? Even today? Tells you everything you need to know about Raiders' culture.

Al Davis - the principal owner - set the tone. Everything they did was unique. He was a pretty eccentric dude and he pretty much tolerated any kind of behavior as long as they won. John Madden had the same attitude - he could ignore any level of insanity as long as they won.

In the olden times NFL teams held pre-season practice on college campuses. The Raiders pre-season centered around the El Rancho Tropicana Hotel in Santa Rosa, California. The players stayed in the hotel annex - away from the other visitors. The locals loved them because they hit up all the bars every night in July and August. These boys partied hard.

After two-a-days, the players would shower, then head out to the Bamboo Room to start the nights festivities, which were divided into two acts - pre and post curfew. They'd party, then race back to meet curfew, and sneak out again after bed-check. Madden and the other coaches knew what was going on and looked the other way. As long as you made it to practice and could function, nobody said anything.

The regular season required a little more discipline, but the hard-partying ethos dies hard.

NFL culture has changed drastically since those days. I still love it, I am addicted to it, I mainline it every chance I get. But the bad old days allowed for a lot more personality and insanity. More ragged edges. And the Raiders were the craziest of the crazies.

Today, everything is regulated, controlled, dictated, sanitized. The fucking commissioner of the league calls the game "product" for Christ sake.  He's a goddamn corporate executive with no soul, who probably eats Almas caviar while drinking Chateau Lafite 1869, when he watches games. Instead of beer and barbecue. Give me a fucking break.

Balancing superior performance with pure insanity is a difficult balance to maintain. And a worthwhile goal and lifestyle. But insanity typically sabotages achievement; most people cannot pull it off.

But the Raiders did. For a while.

I do miss those days