Super Bowl XXXVII: The Raiders Files
Or 1984.
Actually, I'm not certain on the year, much less the date, I became a Raiders fan.
I can tell you WHY I became a Raiders fan. There are three reasons.
First, at that time, they were a winning team. That always helps. Especially, since the Raiders won the Super Bowl in January, 1984. More than just winning, winning the championship is always a boost to the fan base.
Second, I'm from Minnesota. When NFL games are broadcast in Minnesota, they often include the home team: the Vikings. The Vikings play their home games in a domed stadium. That stinks! The color is all goofy and the lighting is dim and eerie. But I'm a Vikings fan so I watched the games. And watched them lose. But then came the late games. Like I said, the Raiders were a winning team so they got lots of airtime. And they played outdoors. In sunny southern California! Oh, what a pleasure that was! It was like spring break every Sunday afternoon at 3:00 Central Time.
The third, and most important, reason I'm a Raiders fan is because James Garner was always on the sideline. That's right: James Garner. The guy who was on the Rockford Files and who, until his quintuple bypass, reminded us "Beef: it's what's for dinner." Yes, THAT James Garner.
Now, how can you not love a team that has James Garner on the sideline? He's all-American. Born in Oklahoma. Dropped out of high school. Fought in the Korean War. Played Maverick on television. He's even part Cherokee! How much more American can you get? Furthermore, he was Jim Rockford--the guy with the funny messages on the answering machine ("Jim, directions to the party. Left on Sagis you'll see a rock. Left, left again, right, another left, there's kind of a hill-- keep going you'll probably see a bunch of cars"). Plus, HE was the first guy who suggested that, since vegetables kept falling off the beef kabobs, you could just put beef on your beef kabobs and forget about the veggies. Genius!! Pure genius!
Garner was at the peek of his acting career. He was a commercial success ... in commercials, even. And he was able to hob knob with his Raider pals during their games. James Garner was riding high.
Now where is James Garner? Well, the Raiders moved back to Oakland, which is too far for James Garner to drive. (You don't want to be too far from your family physician when you get a cheeseburger lodged in your aorta, you know.) Moreover, he was blackballed by the beef industry for failing to not have heart problems. No more beef commercials for him. He had to settle for, first, Mazda commercials. Recently, he had to resort to 10-10 long distance phone company commercials.
His acting career has taken a subsequent hit, also. He's been reduced to roles in "The Making of 'Space Cowboys,'" "Chicago Hope," and, [gasp] "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Clearly, this man hit bottom ... and then someone handed him a shovel.
The Raiders also hit bottom. They haven't been to the Super Bowl since 1984. They've been to a couple conference championships. But, for a while there, even making the playoffs was too big a reach. A team that was put fear in opponents' eyes was reduced to a team at which little kids pointed and giggled.
On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders will battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII (or something). I ask that the fans root for the Raiders. I ask that the Raiders try just a little bit harder. I beg that the gods above smile upon the Raiders. Not because they're the better team. Not because they're the team I like. Not because I have $3,000 riding on the game. I ask this so that we can all reflect back on that time when James Garner was something. A time when he could get a decent script. A time when people cared about what he thought they should buy. A time when he could roam free on the L.A. Coliseum prairie lands--surviving only on his cunning, strength, and ballpark vendor fare. A time when Todd Christensen would return his phone calls.
Please, Oakland Raiders, give Mr. Garner ... [sigh] ... Jim. Please, give Jim one more chance at glory. Give him one more symbolic view from the sideline. Please, beat the Buccaneers by more than 3 1/2 points.
If that doesn't happen--if dusk truly has cast a shadow on James Garner's day in the sun--I'd like the Oakland Raiders to know one thing:
I'm available to take his spot on the Raiders sidelines!!
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not neccessarily reflect those of the rest of the family.
© 2003, Mark Wentz