The Raiders Are Taking More Than a Football Team
by Ruben Lopez
In this narrative reflection, Ruben Lopez, a UC Berkeley student explores why the Oakland Raiders’ impending move to Las Vegas is hurtful beyond taking a team out of Oakland.
For many people, the mention of Raider Nation conjures images of gangs and violence as much as the loud and rowdy fans at the game. We have the gangsta rap scene of the late 80’s and early 90’s to thank for that. Compton’s N.W.A rap group popularized Raiders gear outside of the context of sports. Hence the association of violence to Raiders fans. However, members of Raider Nation will tell you that those are false assumptions. They will say that being a member of Raider Nation is about family and dedication, just to name a couple things. We know that Raider Nation is the only nation, and all other fan bases that use the term nation (e.g Steeler Nation, Who Dat Nation) are imposters. The Black Hole is the section in the stadium that is most known. That is where you see the face paint and spikes, and other costumes. The people in these seats, located in the south end zone, are known to exhibit what makes a Raiders fan: passion, dedication and die-hard.
The passion is excessive, and it shows on gamedays. I attend Oakland Raiders games regularly and can attest to the passion shown. Cars are lined up outside the parking lots hours before the kickoff. Driving through the lot to find a parking spot you’ll see each row lined with canopies accompanied by grills and coolers full of beer and ice. If you examine the parking lot you find Raiders car flags, as well as larger flags flying high in the air above the tailgates. In Indy, Paul Fussell wonders, “if it’s not the camping out … rather than the race and its excitements and hazards, that has drawn these multitudes here.” One can wonder the same about Raiders games, as the parking lot turns into one five-hour long party with 50,000+ people in attendance. While the game takes center stage, the partying helps round out the experience of a Raiders game.
Looking around you might find yourself staring at the many characters that attend Raiders games. You’ll find your typical Raiders jersey, or t-shirt, wearing fan. Then there are those that dress to stand out. They make it difficult for you to confuse who they root for. They wear silver and black face paint. They have shoulder pads with spikes. They proudly wear the Raiders logo on their skin. Then there are those fans that are so recognizable they are known by nicknames, like Gorilla Rilla and Dr. Death. That loyalty shows in wearing the colors with pride. In wearing these costumes, they are telling you, “We are a part of Raider Nation.” They want it to be known who they are with, and they want that statement to be loud. Thus, we see the face paint and crazy costumes. These outfits reinforce what Simons identified as a benefit of seeing a team as an expression of a fan’s self. The costumes are about being proud of one’s team. They offer a sense of belonging to something greater than any one person.
The cool thing about attending the games is the relationships established with other Raiders fans. When watching the game, it feels like one big family is sitting in one section. People buy beers for someone that they see maybe eight times a year. I have been invited to multiple tailgates from people who are seated in my general vicinity. These relationships help foster a community and offer a sense of belonging. The shared love of the Raiders is the gateway to a new relationship. That’s when you realize you are part of Raider Nation.
You can read the full piece here: https://rubenlopez19.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/the-raiders-are-taking-more-than-just-a-team/
For many people, the mention of Raider Nation conjures images of gangs and violence as much as the loud and rowdy fans at the game. We have the gangsta rap scene of the late 80’s and early 90’s to thank for that. Compton’s N.W.A rap group popularized Raiders gear outside of the context of sports. Hence the association of violence to Raiders fans. However, members of Raider Nation will tell you that those are false assumptions. They will say that being a member of Raider Nation is about family and dedication, just to name a couple things. We know that Raider Nation is the only nation, and all other fan bases that use the term nation (e.g Steeler Nation, Who Dat Nation) are imposters. The Black Hole is the section in the stadium that is most known. That is where you see the face paint and spikes, and other costumes. The people in these seats, located in the south end zone, are known to exhibit what makes a Raiders fan: passion, dedication and die-hard.
The passion is excessive, and it shows on gamedays. I attend Oakland Raiders games regularly and can attest to the passion shown. Cars are lined up outside the parking lots hours before the kickoff. Driving through the lot to find a parking spot you’ll see each row lined with canopies accompanied by grills and coolers full of beer and ice. If you examine the parking lot you find Raiders car flags, as well as larger flags flying high in the air above the tailgates. In Indy, Paul Fussell wonders, “if it’s not the camping out … rather than the race and its excitements and hazards, that has drawn these multitudes here.” One can wonder the same about Raiders games, as the parking lot turns into one five-hour long party with 50,000+ people in attendance. While the game takes center stage, the partying helps round out the experience of a Raiders game.
Looking around you might find yourself staring at the many characters that attend Raiders games. You’ll find your typical Raiders jersey, or t-shirt, wearing fan. Then there are those that dress to stand out. They make it difficult for you to confuse who they root for. They wear silver and black face paint. They have shoulder pads with spikes. They proudly wear the Raiders logo on their skin. Then there are those fans that are so recognizable they are known by nicknames, like Gorilla Rilla and Dr. Death. That loyalty shows in wearing the colors with pride. In wearing these costumes, they are telling you, “We are a part of Raider Nation.” They want it to be known who they are with, and they want that statement to be loud. Thus, we see the face paint and crazy costumes. These outfits reinforce what Simons identified as a benefit of seeing a team as an expression of a fan’s self. The costumes are about being proud of one’s team. They offer a sense of belonging to something greater than any one person.
The cool thing about attending the games is the relationships established with other Raiders fans. When watching the game, it feels like one big family is sitting in one section. People buy beers for someone that they see maybe eight times a year. I have been invited to multiple tailgates from people who are seated in my general vicinity. These relationships help foster a community and offer a sense of belonging. The shared love of the Raiders is the gateway to a new relationship. That’s when you realize you are part of Raider Nation.
You can read the full piece here: https://rubenlopez19.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/the-raiders-are-taking-more-than-just-a-team/