YouTubing with the Oakland Raiders

You want to know what's criminal?  The NFL routinely culls the world's second-greatest website ever, YouTube, of all content containing even the faintest whiff of eau du football for fear of losing a few precious dollars.

When that football jones kicks in, it'd be nice to get a few quick hits from fans—even a sloppily made compilation of cuts from a 1980s VCR recording could do the trick.

But no!  Organizations like the NFL (you'll find a similar bunch of money-grubbers in the British premiership) see fit to reign in that idle surfing time in quest of the almighty buck.

Okay, rant over.

In short, this surfer spent a few quality minutes seeking Oakland Raiders clips and found a dearth of football content on the Broadcast Yourself (But Not Our Material Without the Express Written Consent of the National Football League, etc.) site.  Herewith, RealFootball365's guide to YouTubing with the Raiders.

Oakland Raiders—History: We'll start right at the top, with Steve Sabol's "Battle Hymn of the Raider Nation," or alternatively The Autumn Wind.  You might even find John Facenda reading the ingredients off a tube of toothpaste with some Raider pics rolling—that'd make a great YouTube clip.

"Autumn Wind" is the only reason a self-respecting Raider fan might want to memorize a poem.  Impress the ladies with it; you won't even have to reveal that it's about football.

(Warning to extreme citizens of Raider Nation: Stop this video at 0:55.  You will not be able to look upon the evil twist 311TB applies to this stirring oratory and slideshow with any sense of humor.)

This Is Sparta: What's that at the beginning of the clip?  The crowd at a Twiztid concert?  Nah, it's just raucous Raider backers!  This is why we love Oakland fans.

The clip is a nicely composed highlight reel of last year's play set to the new Raider theme song, "This is Sparta" by IDK, as conceived by SamG74.

And we've also got a few obligatory videos.  For example, a clip set to "Imperial Theme" from the Star Wars series, and a Raiderette clip.  We really need more Raiderette stuff.  YouTube artists...are you listening?  Hello?

What's up with this guy Slow Pain?  Either he's a serious Raider obsesser, or he needs to expand the horizons of his subject matter just a tad.  Having said that, his raps are good enough.  Raider Nation Mix is an infectious "rola" which has multiplied across the net.  Some lyrics include:

There's a Cowboy on my shoulder.
Can I kill it?
A 49er on my shoulder.
Can I kill it?
Jon Gruden on my shoulder.
Can I kill it?
Raider Nation in the house.
Can you feel it?

(Wait a minute; is he seriously still rapping about Marcus Allen?)

There's also...um...another song replete with similar referencing and the ubiquitous black Cadillac.  In Raider for Life, Pain proclaims that "Al Davis" is his middle name.  "Slow Al Davis Pain"?

Following this sampling, let's uncover the purpose of YouTube. 

Reason for YouTube's existence No. 1:

We've got to be reminded of the cheesiest '80s moments.  Silver and Black Attack, anyone?  You've got to be a chronically devoted Raider fan to sit through all of this one.  The abomination is 6:40 long!

Slightly irrelevant except to kick Howie Long around a bit after participating in said "attack," we offer Howie Long pokes Al Gore.  Long offers a little political analysis of a 2007 pre-game show by defining "Al Gore Syndrome" and explaining how it relates to Mike Martz.

Wait a minute, does Gore really think he's still vice-president?  (Guess which FOX guy'll be voting McCain this autumn.)

Reason for YouTube's existence No. 2:

We need clips like this one of former Lyle Alzado roomie and quasi-Oakland Raiders Legend, Michael Dotterer.  A true New Yorker, Dotterer reminisces briefly about the draft when selected by the Raiders.  This is wonderful stuff.  Dotterer searches for the ways to describe the superb feeling of playing pro ball.

How could they have let go of Kevin Boothe, once described as "not a guy that's going to look impressive in drills"?  There's also a bonus in this clip.  Art Shell justifies his 2006 picks, including first-rounder Michael Huff, who is now said to be on the trading block.

And we find other obligatory videos of the greatest athlete of my lifetime, real and virtual.

The title speaks for itself: Why Raider fans loved Super Bowl LXII.  It took awhile to amass enough material critical of Randy Moss, but here it is.

YouTubing for football throughout the year at RealFootball365.com.