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Requiem for a Raider
There were so many different directions I could have gone drawing this cartoon. But this one just seemed right for the occasion. I know, I’ve done my fair share of Al Davis cartoons that were, well, pretty snippy. But Al Davis deserves a kinder more honorable response upon his passing. He did so much to make the NFL what it is today. We all owe him our gratitude for his contributions to the game of football.
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good morning from Omaha,
I have read a lot of coverage about the life and death of Al Davis- sports writers had a ball with him, there is a story about how he called a writer from the TIMES out for using the word sinister in the description of Davis. He did not mind the use of the word but told the writer that his mom read the times and she might be hurt by the description.
He once told woodrow from the denver past that he couldn’t write. there are lots of stories along this line.
The guys who played for him could say nothing but great things about his generous being and loyalty. Their are two sides to him- the one that almost everyone loved to hate and the guy who really set the NFL on a course to greatness.
RIP Al Davis.
Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.
Gene
Gene:
In honor of today, you should change your tag line to:
“Committment to Excellence, nothing but your best.” 🙂
Halas may have been one of the founders of the NFL, but it was Davis, Hunt and Rozelle who took it from being a second-teir sport to the by-far most loved in the country.
Drew–
Very classy cartoon today.
I think you said in ‘Win Lose and Drew,” your first book of cartoons, that Al Davis was Snidely Whiplash. Most people reading this probably won’t remember who Snidely Whiplash was, but it was an appropriate description.
However, as much as I hate the Raiders when it comes to the rivalry, I do have to admit the passing of Al Davis is not something to be celebrated. Especially after watching the Raiders come back against a pretty good Texans team this past Sunday. They’re going to be extremely motivated to win for Al, and he said it himself: “Just Win, Baby!”
RIP, Al. Bronco Nation may hate your team, but we do appreciate what you did for the NFL.
I am a diehard, displaced Raider fan (I have a picture of my arm around Al Davis’ HoF statue from when I was 10) and I have kept all of the memorial cartoons that you have done. I felt like this cartoon was somewhat less solemn than many of your others but still appropriate. The fact that Raider fans are passionate and loyal is an important aspect of the whole Raider Nation phenomenon. The image thus resonates poignantly for me. Thank you Drew for honoring Mr. Davis.
-Bradley