When Will the Oakland Raiders See the Lombardi Trophy Again?

In 1974 the song When Will I See You Again was released. If this question is put into the context of asking when the Oakland Raiders will see a Vince Lombardi Trophy to add to their collection of three, most would say, we just cannot say when.

It's good to have three of those sterling silver trophies made by Tiffany and Company. But, we wonder, "When will we see one of those trophies again?"

The Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery was opened on Aug. 8, 2009. As one of the newest additions to the Canton Hall of Fame's facility, it was a $2.4 million renovation and modernization project which is named for Lamar Hunt, a man who had a powerful legacy in pro football.

Since the new gallery has interactive video kiosks showing highlights from every Super Bowl, the Oakland Raiders will certainly be represented since they received the trophy in 1976, 1980, and 1983.

Now when the song was released in 1974, Oakland had no Lombardi Trophy. But, two years later, the Raiders received one. Four years after that first exhilarating win, Oakland received its second trophy in 1980.

The waiting period for the third great moment took three years, and Oakland received its third trophy in 1983.

So, in the past if the question was posed, "When will I see you again, making reference to a Lombardy Trophy, the answers were certainly, again in 1980 after the first Super Bowl victory, and again in 1983 for the third victory.

Now if this question is posed, the answer could be, from an irate, diehard Raider fan, "Hell, I don't know."

Well, there is another way to see the trophy. For the first time in history, the actual Vince Lombardi Trophy will be on display at the Canton Hall of Fame (HOF). An article from the HOF Insider magazine says,

"Prior to this year the Vince Lombardi Trophy, created new each season, had traditionally been kept under wraps until shortly before the annual Super Bowl festivities in the game's host city."

One of the HOF executives says, "No doubt every football fan visiting the museum will look upon the dramatically displayed icon of success and optimistically speculate that it may soon be the property of their favorite team."

I like that quote. So, when I make my annual visit to Canton, Ohio, I am going to visit the display in the new Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery, and "wish" for the Oakland Raiders to "soon and very soon" win another Lombardi Trophy.

Dreams can become reality. Hopes can become manifest and tangible. The luck of the Oakland Raiders can change. As Seneca, a philosopher, said, in so many words:

"Luck is preparation meeting opportunity."

Our hope is that the right decisions will be made during off season. Our hope is that our team will not blunder, and will overcome all hindrances and obstacles.

Then, when, in the future, we in the Raider Nation are asked, "When will we see a Lombardi trophy, again? We will answer, "Soon and very soon."

We have got to believe it to achieve it.