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Al is doing it his way – the Raider way

Van Walker, Special to the News

Published October 17, 2006 at midnight

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Just When, Baby?

He has become a caricature of himself. More impersonator than Elvis now, the jumpsuits remain, as do the Ray-Bans, the d.a., and the sneer. The lawsuits remain as well, because it just wouldn’t be him if he weren’t suing somebody, and vice versa. His team is the worst team in football by a wide margin, but don’t let that fool you.

Al Davis does not want your pity.

His team’s current record is not some cosmic accident, nor have decades of justice finally caught up with him. This is his way, the Raider Way. He’s lived with it for more than 40 years, and he’ll be happy to die with it, 0-16 notwithstanding, so keep your pity to yourself.

He made it work with Daryl "The Mad Bomber" Lamonica and Kenny "The Snake" Stabler. He rejuvenated the careers of Jim Plunkett (Patriot flop), Jeff Hostetler (Giant backup), and Rich Gannon (Decatur Staleys). Therefore, if he says the Raider Way will work with Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks, despite all evidence to the contrary, then it will work.

Jeff George (yes, that Jeff George) getting invited to try out wasn’t a mistake; it was hubris. It was Al being Al.

Thus, when he called Art Shell, last seen mowing Gene Upshaw’s lawn, it wasn’t because he hadn’t updated the Rolodex. Shell was a Raider, and he won the Raider Way. When he let Shell rehire Tom Walsh, last seen running a bed and breakfast dude ranch in Idaho (you can’t make this stuff up), he didn’t care if ex-Raider John Madden’s video game was more current than Walsh. He didn’t care that he had to fire these guys back in ’94 because the players were chafing (to put it mildly) under what they called an archaic offense back then.



That archaic offense was the Raider Way, and they were winning with it when he let Shell and Walsh go. To his credit, Davis has publicly regretted firing Shell. To his undoing, he put Shell and Walsh back in charge. Win or lose, it will be done the Raider Way.

So don’t think he’s about to apologize for this team. It doesn’t matter that head-case emeritus Randy Moss’ act is being upstaged by the incomprehensible Jerry Porter. It doesn’t matter that the only thing Robert Gallery blocks is the sun. It doesn’t matter that his best lineman and receiver wear headsets. He finally has Raider men in charge of his Raider team, and things will now be done his way, the Raider Way, as they always should have been.

Like a faded pop star pointing to gold records 20 years old, Al Davis believes the Raider Way is vindicated by three Super Bowl trophies, never mind that half the league wasn’t born when he won his most recent one. Never mind that only ex-Raider Matt Millen has done a better job of burying a franchise.

"We don’t adjust, we just dominate." – Al Davis

Hail to the king, baby.