As a young lad, 41 years ago, I was introduced to the Kansas City Chiefs Oakland Raider rivalry. A bitter hard fought game in 1969 at what Howard Cosell called the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Raiders prevailed 10-6. Now, on the first weekend in November, the historic rivalry is renewed when the when the AFC West first place Chiefs meet the resurgent Raiders at the Coliseum.
Later in 1969, in the final AFL game ever played, the Chiefs defeated the Raiders 17-7, after Aaron Brown knocked out Darrell Lamonica in the 3rd quarter and went on to defeat the Vikings in the last AFL vs. NFL Super Bowl.
The following year in 1970 was what I call the Brawl game in Kansas City. The Chiefs held a 17-14 lead late in the fourth quarter and appeared ready to run out the clock. Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson rolled around right end and gained enough yardage for a first down, as he fell to the ground, Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson dove into Dawson with his helmet; in retaliation, Davidson was attacked by Chiefs wide receiver Otis Taylor. A bench clearing brawl ensued, Davidson and Taylor were ejected. Kansas City was forced to punt, and the Raiders rallied, as George Blanda nailed a 48-yard field goal with eight seconds left to secure a 17-17 tie. The tie proved to be costly for the Chiefs, as Oakland clinched the first AFC West championship with a 20-6 victory in Oakland in Week 13.
In the final game of the 1999 season, the Chiefs and Raiders faced off at Arrowhead Stadium. A win for the Chiefs would put them in the playoffs former Chief Rich Gannon drove the Raiders into Chiefs territory, setting up the game-winning field goal and knocking the Chiefs out of the playoffs, their first win at Arrowhead since 1988 and started the Raider revival of the early 2000′s.
If you love the Oakland Raiders is no place else on earth that you want to be than the Colisium this Sunday. For the Oakland Raiders and their fans this is the moment to see if this team can turn the corner . A victory on Sunday against their ancient rival would be sweet glory against the backdrop of our long winter of discontent. From the moment the game against the Seattle Seahawks ended last week. This game has the feel of a playoff game with the weight of history added to it. Every Raider fan knows as what I mean. I feel it at every game when I look over from my seats to where my Fathers seats used be in the end-zone above the Black Hole. He and my Mother were members of the Diablo Valley Raiders Booster Club. Every home game they used take a charter bus to the games from the old Concord Inn. It was a party on the way in to Oakland and it was a party on the way home if the Raider won. Or a morgue if they lost. Raider fans feel it like no one else. Now after 7 straight seasons of 10 losses or more losing is too common place for the Raider Organization and its fans. The stadium is empty only the true believers are in attendance. But things could be changing starting this Sunday! The weight of 7 agonizing years of frustration. The power of our proud history and the pride of every player who wears and has worn the Silver and Black is looking to Sunday.
The Autumn Wind is blowing. Now is time now is the time for every Raider fan to go to the Coliseum this Sunday. Let the football Gods know we are here to reclaim our right as winners in the National Football League. Seize the moment Raider fans and years later you can say you were there when the Raiders turned the corner out of the wilderness and began their long overdue to return to glory.
BEAT THE CHIEFS!!!!
Bill Gram-Reefer is Editor & Publisher of Halfway To Concord, founded in 2004. Halfway To Concord is the leading online source for community-driven political news, events, and opinion for Contra Costa County and the San Francisco East Bay.
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Great story…. I will be there Sunday.. Go Raiders !
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