Iconic Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis Dies

COMMENTARY | I'm in a bit in shock as a lifelong Oakland Raiders' fan, to hear the news of the death of the team's owner, Al Davis, at the age of 82 today. There were many who loved to hate the man, but the fact that he was one of the most prominent figures in the NFL for decades, cannot be denied.

Davis was a rebel, who certainly never cared what anyone thought of him. He managed to make many Raiders' fans take a strong disliking to him when he fought and successfully won the right to move the team to Los Angeles. There were quite a few Oakland fans who made the switch to the team across the bay, the San Francisco 49ers, but I was not one of them.

I stayed loyal to the team, through thick and through thin, and held out hope that they would return to the Bay Area, where there many wildly passionate fans awaited, and after 13 long years, they did.

Davis was notorious for making enemies throughout the NFL, and had quite a few infamous feuds. One of those feuds was with his former running back, Marcus Allen. For me, that incident was one of the first of many that put a bad taste in my mouth.

Allen was, as is, regarded as one of the best running backs in the history of the NFL, and Davis was the reason that the Raiders' lost Allen to the rival Kansas City Chiefs. Al called him "a cancer to the team." With the Chiefs, Allen went on to become the Comeback Player of the Year, possibly to despite Davis. Success is the best revenge.

Regardless of his mishaps and ability to make enemies, Davis was also one of the key reasons that the NFL has become the giant that it is today. When he purchased the Oakland Raiders 48 years ago, the dying team played on a high school field.

Over nearly a half century, Davis' team has had 28 winning seasons, and they've won three Super Bowls. In that time, there was never a doubt that Davis was committed to excellence, even though in recent years he may have seemed to be taking the wrong path to accomplish that goal.

Al Davis will forever be known as the face of the Oakland Raiders, and should also be known for his great impact on the world of football as we know it today. He'll surely be watching the Silver and Black from above, shouting, "Just win baby!"

Once a Raider, always a Raider. RIP Al.