# Al Davis has died? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 8, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995 "2011-10-08T14:48:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/1 "2011-10-08T14:48:18Z")
According to this [report](http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7074380/oakland-raiders-owner-al-davis-dies-82-team-website-says). ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/2 "2011-10-08T14:53:12Z")
The Raiders website is reporting the same. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/3 "2011-10-08T14:54:21Z")
Both the Raiders’ website and their Facebook page said so when I logged on this morning. I’m not going to dance on his grave, certainly, but it will be nice to have someone else controlling this team. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/4 "2011-10-08T14:56:22Z")
It’s on the “Breaking News” banner at CNN, too. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/5 "2011-10-08T15:05:21Z")
Just now scrolled across the bottom line on ESPN. 82 years old. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/6 "2011-10-08T16:15:32Z")
He did a great deal for the game, but decades ago. He should have sold out and retired long ago, before becoming a caricature, but that’s not what should be remembered and honored about one of the game’s best coaches and executives. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/7 "2011-10-08T16:36:19Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He did a great deal for the game, but decades ago. He should have sold out and retired long ago, before becoming a caricature, but that’s not what should be remembered and honored about one of the game’s best coaches and executives. Agreed. I am a Raiders fan and have been for as long as I can remember. Al Davis, for better or worse (usually both) _was_ the Raiders. I can’t imagine what the team will be without him. The impact he had on the NFL is incalculable and even though recently they have had a down turn, he built a team that had 28 winning season in 43 years and won 3 superbowls and played in more. He hired the first black head coach, the first Hispanic head coach and the first female executive. He was great before he lost his way. He needed to get out a long time ago, but when he was at the top of his game no one was better. RIP baby. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/8 "2011-10-08T16:40:49Z")
How does Raiders ownership and GM work now? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/9 "2011-10-08T16:43:08Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > How does Raiders ownership and GM work now? Ownership goes to his kids but GM is anyone’s guess. Probably Amy Trask at least in the short term. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/10 "2011-10-08T17:02:57Z")
What will Tim Cowlishaw do now that he can’t do Al Davis impressions for easy points on Around the Horn? Seriously, I agree. Al Davis did a lot for football but probably should have retired and watched games from the owner’s box for probably the last decade or so. Condolences to his family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/11 "2011-10-08T17:05:27Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Agreed. I am a Raiders fan and have been for as long as I can remember. Al Davis, for better or worse (usually both) _was_ the Raiders. I can’t imagine what the team will be without him. The impact he had on the NFL is incalculable and even though recently they have had a down turn, he built a team that had 28 winning season in 43 years and won 3 superbowls and played in more. He hired the first black head coach, the first Hispanic head coach and the first female executive. He was great before he lost his way. > > He needed to get out a long time ago, but when he was at the top of his game no one was better. > > RIP baby. Well said. I was born in the East Bay area and grew up a Raiders fan. Many years after we moved away and after much foolishness my family has mostly drifted away and now only support the Bucs, our local team. But AD did much for the game, and even when he was being way too wacky it added some color to an NFL that had become too drab. I wonder if the Raiders will decide to wear silver and black for the rest of the season in his honor? ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/12 "2011-10-08T18:11:53Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I wonder if the Raiders will decide to wear silver and black for the rest of the season in his honor? I wonder what the NFL offices will allow the Raiders to do. They are notorious for not permitting teams to go all out in honoring a dead owner/player. So the Raiders will probably have to choose one thing, like a patch with his initials on the back of the helmet, or the front of the jersey. As a Steeler fan, I never had much love for the Raiders or Davis, but I cannot deny the impact he had on the game, especially guiding the AFL and forcing the merger with the NFL. That singular event, more than any other, is why the NFL is what it is today. He added much to the game, and although he became somewhat of a train wreck at the end, I hope he will be remembered for the positive impact he had on the NFL. I think Davis was Jerry Jones before Jerry Jones. Challenging the league rules and doing what he thought was best for his team instead of what was best for the league. I hope Jones thinks about Davis this weekend… and realize that he is heading down the same path of being remembered as an eccentric egomaniac. My sympathies to his family and raider fans everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/13 "2011-10-09T07:09:34Z")
I was talking a bit of small talk with someone today near the Bay Area. I asked what NFL team likes. He said he likes the Chargers, the 49ers are ok, but there would be no way he could like the Raiders until Al Davis was dead. I told him the news. That was awkward. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/14 "2011-10-09T12:24:43Z")
Even though I grew up in New York City, the Oakland Raiders were the first football team I rooted for. In my youth, blackout rules were stricter, and the Jets never sold out Shea Stadium, so Jets games were rarely shown on TV in New York. NBC regularly showed the Raiders, and I fell in love with their deep passing game. Daryle Lamonica, Warren Wells, Fred Biletnikoff… those were my first sports heroes. As others have noted , Al Davis DESERVED the nickname “Genius” once upon a time. He really was an innovator, both on the field and off. He turned into a caricature of himself over time, but let’s not forget there USED to be a LOT of substance behind the style. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/15 "2011-10-09T15:10:50Z")
Raiders’ helmet will have a sticker that says “AL”. [Here it is](http://www.whosay.com/RichEisen/photos/77665) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/16 "2011-10-09T16:36:20Z")
I’m getting just a black screen on the [Raiders website](http://www.raiders.com/). I assume it’s intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/17 "2011-10-09T16:40:06Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Raiders’ helmet will have a sticker that says “AL”. > [Here it is](http://www.whosay.com/RichEisen/photos/77665) Below the AL sticker looks like Pat Patriot, but on closer inspection, it’s a pink ribbon behind a Raider shield. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/18 "2011-10-09T23:18:43Z")
Back in the early Nineties, just after Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, the Cowboys moved their summer training camp to St. Edward’s University, here in Austin. That camp was a huge attraction. And since Jerry got to be very friendly with Al Davis, the Raiders actually joined the Cowboys in Austin for a few years. Both owners were surprisingly approachable. Jerry Jones shook EVERYONE’s hand and gave everyone his autograph, whether they wanted it or not. Al Davis was equally accessible, with one difference: the crowds were so huge that Al told people “If I sign for you, I have to sign for everybody here, and I just don’t have that kind of time. But if you have anything you want to ask me, go ahead.” And sure enough, while he wouldn’t sign autographs, he’d gladly talk about football with ANYBODY. So, nobody came away with a signature on a piece of paper (which would no doubt have been lost), a LOT of people got a few minutes of Al’s time, which was really better. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/19 "2011-10-09T23:34:58Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Back in the early Nineties, just after Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, the Cowboys moved their summer training camp to St. Edward’s University, here in Austin. That camp was a huge attraction. And since Jerry got to be very friendly with Al Davis, the Raiders actually joined the Cowboys in Austin for a few years. > > Both owners were surprisingly approachable. Jerry Jones shook EVERYONE’s hand and gave everyone his autograph, whether they wanted it or not. > > Al Davis was equally accessible, with one difference: the crowds were so huge that Al told people “If I sign for you, I have to sign for everybody here, and I just don’t have that kind of time. But if you have anything you want to ask me, go ahead.” And sure enough, while he wouldn’t sign autographs, he’d gladly talk about football with ANYBODY. > > So, nobody came away with a signature on a piece of paper (which would no doubt have been lost), a LOT of people got a few minutes of Al’s time, which was really better. Cool story. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995/20 "2011-10-09T23:46:05Z")
NFL owners have to approve the sale of another’s team. Most recently, Rush Limbaugh was one of a few investors that wanted to purchase the Rams and the other owners voted down the deal. So, assuming Al Davis had a will and left the Raiders to someone, do the other NFL owners have the right to basically overpower Davis’ will? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-davis-has-died/598995.md?page=2)