The Raider Nation: There's Too Many of Them, Captain

One part of being with the Raider Nation is that you have brothers and sisters you never knew about.

Now, before someone starts asking questions at the family picnic, look at it this way.

I consider myself to be a good loyal supporter of the Raiders. I buy when I can, watch games, try to keep the locals faithful, and have a car decorated from the windows to the steering wheel cover.

On a recent trip to pay some bills, I was walking back to the car when someone I didn't know mentioned "they may not be much right now....but they're my team."

This comment can bring a smile to anyone's face, because it highlights two simple truths. They may be bad, but we haven't abandoned this team.

As Raiders fans, we love this team. It hurts when they keep making the same mistakes. We scream like madmen when they win, and want to kick the cat when we lose.

But all in all, "they're my team."

Even this week, with the Raiders at 2-6, the Raiders will be well-represented.

The fans are still out there. Be it wearing a cap, a jacket, or a few logos on the car, thumping down the street. Even now, the fans don't take anything from others, prideful of what the Raiders have...a loyalty that few can match.

Deep down, what makes this fan base loyal is the team. We may hate the owner, we may dislike the QB, and we might argue on who was the better coach, Madden or Flores, it still boils down to the same point. This is our team, for better or for worse.

So when the haters ask the grand question, "How can you follow the Raiders right now?" You can look at them and say it in simple terms.

They're your team...and you have a lot of company.

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