Before legendary owner Al Davis brought his unique combination of swagger and glamor to the then-Oakland Raiders, he made his bones for the role by growing up in one of the toughest blue-collar towns on the sports map.
That would be Brockton, Massachusetts, and the late NFL icon was honored there on Sunday for both his football legacy and his contributions to the city.
Brockton’s nickname is “City of Champions,” and it’s based in part on boxers like Marvin Hagler and Rocky Marciano, both of whom were born there. Brockton is the city is also known for an odd baseball footnote, as former Brooklyn Bridegrooms manager Bill McGunnicle is recognized as the inventor of the catcher’s mitt.
But Davis had a unique style all his own, and Raiders columnist Paul Gutierrez noted that the guest list for Sunday’s ceremony included current Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Jim Plunkett, and current Raiders President Sandra Douglass.
The plaque dedicated to Davis was unveiled on the same day the current Raiders squad visited the New England Patriots and came away with an impressive 20-13 victory.
Covering Al Davis’ pioneering achievements would require at least one book, but it starts with Davis being the only person in NFL history to serve as coach, GM, commissioner (!) and team owner.
Davis’s diversity also extended well beyond his various job titles. The late owner hired the league’s first Black coach, a Latino head coach and a female CEO, and Davis was also the first to select a Black quarterback in the first round of the draft.
The phrase most often associated with Davis was “Just win, baby,” and Davis did just that throughout his amazing career. He won 12 division titles while leading his team to a dozen appearances in the AFC title game, and Davis posted 33 winning seasons during his 40-year tenure with the team.
Al Davis also fired up the fan base in a way that was completely unique, and fans ended up wearing game-day Silver and Black costumes that often turned home games into a football version of a Halloween party.
Current owner Mark Davis has had trouble duplicating his dad’s success, which is understandable. The son of the legend also faced heavy blowback for moving the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas, although the city of Oakland deserves at least a small portion of the blame given that the team’s aging and outdated stadium featured a section called the “Black Hole.”
The mayor of Brockton, Robert F. Sullivan, read a citation congratulating the Davis family, and the city’s dedication to youth football was represented by the presence of the Brockton Raiders, along with a crowd of approximately 300 fans.