Oakland Raiders Mantra: Fire, Flare, Helmet, Shield, Sword for Victories

Sometimes the precepts which catapult you to victories are staring you in the face.

Have you ever thought about the possible meaning of the Oakland Raiders logo?

It contains two swords, a helmet, a head, and a face, all contained in a shield. There may be even more symbols to transmit meaning. 

This is an exciting day during the 2010 preseason. The Oakland Raiders already have  the symbols representing, no doubt, the concepts and precepts for victory.

For example, after doing some research on the Hebrew language, I learned there are things that can be connected to the logo of the Oakland Raiders.

It can also be representative of the fire and flare that is rising up again in the 2010 team.

Hue Jackson used the word "flare" to described himself and coach Tom Cable. That pointed me to the possibility of something deeper going on in the Raiders camp.

For several years now, I have been studying several books on the deeper meaning of  the Hebrew language. In the book, "Hebrew Talk, 101 Hebrew Roots and the Stories They Tell," on page 103 is a chapter titled, "The Fire This Time."

I immediately recalled Hue Jackson's use of the word "flare," which is associated with fire. I kept reading. I searched and found my book.

The book explains the root word lamed-heh-bet (transliterated spelling of three Hebrew consonants) which means "flame."

Then, the book explains,

"The first one is the revelation that the verbal form of the root quite likely originally meant to be thirsty." I thought of the Oakland Raiders thirst for victory.

"It is easy to see how that led to "to burn with thirst," and from there to "to blaze fiercely." Again, I thought the 2010 team must blaze fiercely with the desire for victory.

It continues,

"It is also perhaps not too difficult, especially if you have a vivid imagination [and I do], to see how the word lahav, flame, came to mean, in addition, lahav herev, the blade of a sword."

That's when I saw the genius in Al Davis and in the symbol or logo for the Oakland Raiders.

Then the book says,

"Not surprisingly, a unit of the Israeli army, playing on this coincidence of vocabulary, has on its shield both a herev, sword, and a lahav flame."

Now back to the symbol for the Oakland Raiders.

Observations

1. There are two swords in the logo. There are four edges on the two swords. In other words, there are two, two-edged swords.

2. There is a helmet, which has continuity with the black background of the shield. The helmet protects the head, which could represent the intelligence or knowledge of the warrior. The openness and continuity with the black background of the shield could represent the reception and connection to a greater source of protection and knowledge.

3. There is the patched eye, which could mean that the warrior has survived and is unhindered by former challenges, obstacles, or physical limitations. The warrior may have lost one eye, but his other eye and senses are increased.

4. The symbol of the handle of the sword on the left could represent "alef," which has a meaning, according to some sources of the paradox of the finite and the infinite. Alef is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabets.

5. The symbol on the handle of the sword on the right could represent the "dalet," which has a meaning of selflessness, recognizing that "something" helps the warrior to unusual victories.

6. The sword and shield can have a meaning of knowledge and protection, respectively.

With these observations coupled with Jackson's use of the "flare," some of us may have  been missing something all these years that we have worn and looked at the Oakland Raiders logo.

Other Observations

There are words of wisdom that tell folks to put on the whole armor. It mentions the helmet, shield, sword, and other pieces of armor for the warrior.

Could the Oakland Raiders be the modern day warriors, representing a deeper message for the Raider Nation and America? After all the Oakland Raiders franchise has been forward thinking and an advocate for fairness and opportunity for all, men, women, and others, in the NFL.

Note also that Jackson said, "The Raiders are supposed to win."

If he said it, he believes it. On what does he base his comment?

Often a coach or leader can see deeper than others. I believe this is definitely the beginning of a new era in Oakland Raiders history.

I believe that Al Davis knows and has decoded the hidden message. I believe that is why he has never given up on his team.

Now that he has two coaches with a flare or fire who have also decoded the message spelling out the destiny scripted for the Oakland Raiders, that destiny is being made manifest, slowly, step by step.

Now that we are beginning to decode and understand the power, potency, and perpetuity of the message, we can now assume a posture for victory. The message will become manifest. 

The mantra is the logo, and the simple saying is, "Just win, baby."

Go Raiders! Take back, in a fiercely flaming fashion, that which belongs to you! Reclaim your territory in the NFL!

Postlude

This article is dedicated the the B/R member who wrote the word "mantra" in the comment strand of another article. It is dedicated to Oakland Raiders coaching staff, and may they continue to see deeper.