Famous Last Words: "Go Raiders!"

For years the debate has stood as to which sports team has the most loyal followers. Folks, we finally have a winner.

As a resident of Florida, I am very aware that they do not reside anywhere in this state. In fact, it's difficult to find a stadium full for any sport (save pro football, perhaps) unless the team is deep in the playoff hunt. And even then, the intensity level of the crowd often more so resembles that of a recent Hall & Oates show than that of a professional sporting event. Yep, Florida is full of fair weather fans.

On the other hand, I was born in the Philadelphia, Pa. area and have been an avid follower of all teams Philly, with particular interest to the Eagles and Phillies. Now those people are fans, I mean they get into the game. Of course, many times a bit too much. From chucking batteries at opposing players to cheering unmercifully when opposing players suffered career ending injuries to even booing Santa Claus. I know, who could boo Santa Claus? Which leads us to the reason that the fans from the city of brotherly love fail to achieve "most loyal" status. You see, Philly fans will turn on their own like a rabid dog. I mean, they've even booed Mike Schmidt. Mike Schmidt! Schmidt, behind Rocky Balboa, Wilt and maybe a few others is one of Philadelphia's all-time sports heroes. So in conclusion, Philly fans, intense...no doubt about it. Loyal...not so much.

Which brings us to a group of gentlemen (and the occasional lady) who for years have argued themselves number one whenever the topic of sports fan loyalty has been brought up. They call themselves the Raider Nation and the cold hard fact is that they could probably beat the crap out of just about any other fan base out there, sports or otherwise. They're tough and mean, often dressed in leather and spikes, their skin painted their beloved silver and black. Heck, even Darth Vader has been known to frequent the sidelines at a Raider game and, let's be honest here, through six movies that dude couldn't stay loyal to anybody!

Well known sports radio and television talk show host Jim Rome refers often to the entire Raider Nation as simply 'Raider Fan'. According to Rome, 'Raider Fan' "lives to get drunk and smoke marijuana, wear silver and black face paint, don garish silver and black costumes (or Darth Vader regalia), attend Raiders games in the end-zone seating area known as the "Black Hole", and fight constantly before, during, and after games with anyone and anything".

There has been little doubt over the years that 'Raider Fan' was the most feared group of followers throughout sports, but most loyal? After years of debate, the argument can finally be laid to rest. For last Tuesday a convicted murderer/Raider fan (you say tomato...) gave the world the proof that everyone has been waiting for.

On May 22 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona- moments before he was to be executed for a 1987 crime spree which left one man dead, 50 year old Robert Charles Comer was asked if he had any last words. Witnesses reported Comer simply smiled and replied, "Yes. Go Raiders!"

Comer died moments later by lethal injection. Loyal indeed.