Oakland Raiders: The Pride of the Fans, Hope For the Future

In another article, it's interesting that some opposing fans must suffer from long-term memory loss. Is it true that the average Charger fan has only followed the club since 2003?

Possible.

A lot of the old guard in the Raider Nation, will be able to read off the names, like saints, of the old days. Names like Blanda, Lamonica, Stabler, Hubbard, Allen, Alzado, Branch, Freddie, and The Ghost. They share memories of Tatum's hitting power, or how Tooz would enjoy punishing players foolish enough to come nearby. Or even the Mad Stork, roaming around, causing trouble.

These, were the glory days. Three Super Bowl rings' worth,decades worth of wins, both in the AFL and in the NFL after the merger.

The chant is heard, primarily due to programming, "what have you done lately?", from places like NFL Network's Believe in Now, or how anything beyond 2008 doesn't count.

Funny, if it doesn't, why do Charger fans keep harping on the last six years? I thought it didn't count?

One thing that separates the Raider Nation with the ones who follow a San Diego franchise, is pride. Our team has a storied history. We have wins. We have a legacy. We not only know what winning is like...it really stinks, when we can't.

The other team's fans, have never reached that pinnacle, held the trophy up, and heard the roar on the world's biggest stage. The closest they got, was an AFL title, back in the early 1960's. And to make that picture much more bleak, this year both clubs celebrate their 50th season.

The Raiders—in their 50 years—have over 400 wins, three Super Bowl wins, one AFL win, five Super Bowl appearances, and 21 playoff appearances, with a 25-18 playoff in the post-season.

The San Diego club—in their 50 years—have 362 wins, no super bowl wins, one AFL win, one super bowl appearances, and 16 playoff appearances. They have gone 10-15 in the playoffs.

If you don't think the Raiders have anything to be proud of, consider this last fact, and you might understand why the Raider Nation still has pride.

Even with the chargers owning an 11 game winning streak against the Raiders, they would have to win another 12 straight games—in other words, six straight seasons of head-to-head football—just to be equal to the Raiders.

With that, the Raider Nation can look and smile at the insults, because they know they have something the Charger fans don't.

A past, and hope for the future, while the San Diego franchise is still looking for a program to be proud of.