Al Davis: Behind the Raiders Shield

by Steven Corkran, Jon Kingdon, Bruce Kebric

Al Davis was such a polarizing figure that people either admired or despised him. Most cared about what Davis thought on any issue, and he was captivating before an audience. Yet Davis rarely revealed much about himself, his philosophy and decision-making. Everyone knew of Davis and his catchy slogans, especially "Just Win, Baby." But no one knew much about the man. Everyone, it seemed, had a strong opinion about Davis, but precious few had enough information about Davis to proffer an informed description. For the first time, people will receive an accurate, detailed portrayal of a man in the pantheon of notable sports figures of the 20th century, in a book chock-full of firsthand accounts from those who were present and played a role in many of the seminal moments in Davis illustrious career as the patriarch of the Raiders. Seldom is so much revealed about someone who went to such great lengths to perpetuate an aura of mystery, and control the nature and volume of information disseminated. Bruce Kebric and Jon Kingdon have teamed with Steve Corkran to take readers to a place long thought to be forbidden: Behind the Raiders Shield, for an unvarnished look at what it was like working for Al Davis.

Genres: Sports, Biography, Nonfiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2017

Reviews

[E.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

They called him the Godfather, the self-described architect of the NFL's vertical passing game. In its 97 year history, no figure in the National Football League was more controversial, more enigmatic than Al Davis. From his early days as the youngest coach in the AFL to his heyday as General Manager and owner of the "Team of the Decades," The Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders' Al Davis was both beloved and hated, feared and scorned. Over the course of his fifty-one-year career, he helped shape America's most popular sport in ways that still define it today.

In Al Davis: Behind the Raiders Shield, Bruce Kebric, Jon Kingdom, and Steve Corkran provide an insider's look from the very cabal Davis himself lorded over. The insular, fiercely private inner workings are revealed with insight and clarity by those who knew Davis best. From the deals and decisions that earned the Raiders three superbowls during the sixties, seventies, and eighties, to the decades-long battle to stay relevant in an ever-changing sport, Al Davis: Behind the Raiders Shield delivers answers to the long-burning questions football fans have been asking for over forty years.

Skillfully written with a deft, singular voice, Al Davis is humorous and heartbreaking, enraging and enlightening. It is truly a must-read for any fan of the NFL today.

[Aarti Nasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into Al Davis and the Raiders

Wonderfully written. Full of great stories and a very fast read. Would highly recommend to any football fan especially Raider fans. Just win baby!

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 2 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: AL WAS THE CAPT OF THE PIRATE SHIP AND WE WERE THE DECKHANDS.. THE GOOD… THE BAD… AND THE.. CRA(L)ZY.. OF RECENT SILVER AND BLACK
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As a lifelong Raider fan and one of the original PSL ticket holders who helped finance the Raiders return to Oakland in 1995… I not only view every game… but I try to read every credible document regarding my beloved Silver and Black Raiders…. And like the late Al Davis… I will tell you in this review what you may not want to hear… as well as what you do… and should. This book was put together by three individuals who combined either working for the Raiders… mostly in the scouting area… and one who covered them for a local newspaper…. For a total of sixty-five years. Unfortunately… if you’re looking for the positives when Al Davis was decades ahead of his competitors… in hiring… drafting… competing… and one of the true members of that “rarefied-air” of continual dominance… in the 1960’s and 1970’s… you’ll barely find even a smidgeon of that in this book. Though the book is truly enjoyable with it’s many behind the scenes soap opera tales… it starts off on what I feel is a false premise. In the first page of the forward it states: “Numerous books and articles have attempted to convey the many facets of Al Davis, but this one is the first that actually transports the reader behind Davis’ Silver and Black Shield.” I disagree… what about former Raider CEO Amy Trask’s wonderful book “You Negotiate Like A Girl”… published in September 2016? (See my review on that fine book.) Putting that aside… here are some of the exciting and enjoyable tidbits and areas shared with the world from the Silver and Black vault.

Al’s penchant for calling employees at all hours of the night… every day of the week.. holiday or no holiday… and asking questions and talking about everything and anything under the sun… including football. The two main topics that rightfully get the most coverage in the book… and has the most “soap-opera-like” appeal… are the Shakespearean like epic discussion/battles over NFL draft choices. Once again… the author’s highlight… and relentlessly… pound some unbelievable CLASSHHHIIIICCC MISTAKES… like passing on drafting Brett Favre… and instead drafting Todd Marinovich…

I had to put a space of an extra line in here… because even now all these years later… that still is like having a two-ton piano dropped on your head from the top of the Empire State Building. Then of course drafting JaMarcus Russell instead of Calvin Johnson. Almost no time is spent giving the same chapter and verse inspection to all the unbelievable draft picks of Hall of Famers… Art Shell and Gene Upshaw… and should be Hall of Famers like Cliff Branch… and the pickups of Super Bowl winning changers like Jim Plunkett…. Lyle Alzado… etc. Let me make it clear… the latter names are “mentioned”… but if it was put on a scale like The Lady of Justice… the scale would shoot up to one side as high as an infant baby would be shot up in the air… if Warren Sapp suddenly sat down on the other side of the infant’s teeter-totter!

The other area covered in depth is terrible coaching hire mistakes. And again… the unfairness in giving unending negative pounding of the last decades of Al’s life mistakes… and nowhere near the equal weight of his colossal hires like John Madden and Tom Flores… is just patently unfair. In the coaching area… is one place this book really… really… gave me a deeper insight to… what I already knew was the worst hiring in my lifetime… and that was… (it almost makes me ill even typing his name) the hiring of “LAME” Kiffin. I obviously knew it was a mistake from minute one… but I had no idea… that hiring him was a literal… last second… choice… to save face when Sarkisian turned down the offer to be head coach of the Raiders. The detail of the hiring… and firing… might have been the best… most detailed… and fairly balanced reporting in the entire book.

All-in-all… it was an interesting… but uneven… report from the author’s own perspective… for a slice of time… they decided on. But I feel it was unfair… to not provide more details… even if they weren’t there then… during the absolute glory years/decades of the Raiders… which was not possible without Al Davis leading the way. Aren’t authors AND reporters… supposed to interview people… aren’t they supposed to have ‘FAIR AND BALANCED REPORTING”? Again… I did enjoy the book… but I also… very often had a bad taste in my mouth… because I was raised to not… continue to hit a man when they’re down… and not to keep pummeling a defeated foe that can’t fight back. As I close my review… a thought comes to mind that this book would be akin to only writing a book about Joe Louis when he was a stumble bum at the end of his life and career… and not fully report about all his championships and donations to the Armed Services during the war… when he was one of the two or three greatest Heavyweight Champions in boxing history.

[Clay Kallam · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I saw the first-ever Oakland Raider game, an exhibition at Kezar Stadium in 1960. My parents had season tickets, but I would go to Frank Youell Field two hours early to buy a single seat. My favorite Raiders are people like Art Powell and Clem Daniels.

Now Al Davis built the Raiders from nothing. He was clearly an excellent football coach in many ways, but this book spends a lot more time tearing down the myth than building it up. In short, if you thought he was a jerk before, "Behind the Raiders Shield" will leave no doubt at all.

That said, two long-time employees -- Bruce Kebric and Jon Kingdon -- co-wrote the book (oddly, they are quoted in the third person throughout) and it may just be that they wanted to unload decades of grievances on Davis, as they hammer away at his egoism, arrogance, bullying, rudeness, fixation on speed, draft mistakes and all-around ugly behavior. They do point out his good qualities, but they are buried under a mountain of anecdotal evidence on the other side of the coin.

For long-time Raider fans, "Behind the Raiders Shield" will entertain with its nuggets of information about players, new and old, but even they may be a little worn out by book's end. And it's definitely not a book for someone who only wants to think happy thoughts about Davis and the Raiders -- it's a bleak portrait of a person you wouldn't want to be friends with.

[Rob Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Controversial Raiders owner Al Davis had an indelible mark on the inception and growth of the modern NFL. This book traces much of his career, although a good portion of the book devotes chapters to the various personal issues that Davis had with assorted football people: commissioner Pete Rozelle, HOF running back Marcus Allen, various coaches and even former players like Rich Gannon. The book portrays Davis as a football giant with an obsessive devotion to finding unheralded players to incorporate into the Raiders system. For a time, this brought unprecedented success to the organization. However, ego and obstinacy eventually led to a lull and then a pronounced decline that, despite his best efforts, was not surmounted before Davis’ demise in 2011. Worth a look.

[dawn teach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth the read, save your money.

Poorly written and poorly organized assasination on the character and genius of Al Davis.. I felt as though I were reading the same chapter over and over a gain with only the names and dates changed. The author would jump all over time with no seeming organization to the stories which all showed all ass an ignorant asshole of a man.. Not worth the read and unveils little to nothing about who Al Davis was as a human being.. Very little mention of Carol and Mark was altogether missing.. Als parents, His upbringing? nothing here but stories of how Als scouts knew better and Al was a beligerant fool.. Nothing but sour grapes.

[Donavon Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The man behind the myth

Al Davis was complicated. On one hand he was singularly focused on football to a degree unheard of amongst his peers. On the other, he would completely ignore advice from trusted compatriots and completely take the Raiders in the wrong direction later in his life. Impulse decisions have long-lasting effects. This book is a fantastic and unfiltered look at the man behind the myth by those who worked closest with him. Fascinating read.

[Paul Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting man

He did it his way. I have
recognized his passion and character(defects) in others I have known. They are sometimes unlikable but never give up. Great read thank you

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very much of a revenge book. The theme here is the more you knew him, the less you liked him. Probably fun to write, but not the least bit interesting to read. I gave up very early.

[Jeremy Dutcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man, the Myth, the Legend.

Good read on an all time great that did more to make the NFL what it is then anyone.