Keeping up with Davis

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Angel

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Kawakami: Keeping up with Davis

By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News

Short-attention-span reading, and writing . . .

The Raiders are not for sale and won't be sold, no matter how many former NFL chieftains, ex-49ers or wannabe Voldemorts line up to bid for Al Davis' franchise, now or until the end of the world.

So why is the grapevine alive with chatter about Eddie DeBartolo and Carmen Policy, Brent Jones and Steve Young, and innumerable Los Angeles interests measuring bids for possible future control of the Raiders?

My guess: It's a delicate time in Raiderland because Davis, who hasn't taken on a new partner in decades, could use additional cash flow after buying out the McGah family last year and as he plans to hand over the team to his son, Mark.

Which means Al is listening to possible minority bids for the first time. Which has piqued interest from mega-millionaire studs who have staked out the Raiders' post-Davis future and are not so sure that the handoff from Al to Mark is set in stone.

``If the right match exists, we might take a look at that,'' Amy Trask, the team's chief executive, said Thursday.

``But such an individual investor would become a passive investor in the team. It would not affect control of the team; that won't change.''

• Trask, Davis' No. 1 lieutenant, stressed that Davis isn't actively seeking investors and that ``there's no sense of urgency.''

Trask, for instance, said that there have been no discussions with Jones' group. Anyway, you'd have to believe that Jones and Young have zero interest in a powerless percentage.

``Al Davis has had control, does have control and will continue to have total control of the Oakland Raiders,'' said Trask, who I'm sure has a major role in the planned transition to Mark Davis' ownership. ``And total control of the Oakland Raiders will always remain in the Davis family.''

• But there's no doubt in my mind that Davis wants new partners. And new partners usually lead to a new balance of power, whether or not your name is Al Davis and you've done everything in your power to make sure Mark can take over without terrible tax burdens and deficits.

Even The Al has to pay the bills.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/merc...ource=rss&channel=mercurynews_oakland_raiders
 
I wouldnt discount the Los Angeles rumors. I have always felt (at least for the past 5-6 years) that the Radiers will end up back in Los Angeles. The situation in Oakland with the old stadium and fans who have virtually given up on the team is a disaster. The Raiders desperately need a new state of the art stadium which they are unlikely (very unlikely) to get in Oakland. Let's face it, the City of Oakland has bigger fish to fry and to find a half billion dollars to build a sports stadium isn't on the radar IMO.

Somehow, someway, the Raiders will probably end up back in the LA area with a new stadium.
 
CrossBones said:
I wouldnt discount the Los Angeles rumors. I have always felt (at least for the past 5-6 years) that the Radiers will end up back in Los Angeles. The situation in Oakland with the old stadium and fans who have virtually given up on the team is a disaster. The Raiders desperately need a new state of the art stadium which they are unlikely (very unlikely) to get in Oakland. Let's face it, the City of Oakland has bigger fish to fry and to find a half billion dollars to build a sports stadium isn't on the radar IMO.

Somehow, someway, the Raiders will probably end up back in the LA area with a new stadium.
I kinda think so too.....what with the NFL wanting a team there (for some odd reason) so badly......I mean, they had the Raiders and the Rams before....and couldn't keep them happy there!!
 
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