Open Letter From a Young Raiders Fan

The first defining moment I had as a Raiders fan was the 2002 AFC Divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots, infamously known as the Tuck Rule Game, and, really, the beginning of the end. 

I don’t need to explain in-depth the history of the Oakland Raiders of the 21^st century, but let’s just say it’s not a pretty picture.

This, of course, means that I’ve only been a real Raiders fan since they’ve sucked.  Call 2002 not sucking if you want, but the shellacking they took in the Super Bowl from Gruden and the Bucs solidified us as perpetual losers. 

Hope is the one thing I hold onto.

There have been glimpses of greatness.  Russell consistently shows that he has the raw talent to be a superstar.  Asomugha, thankfully, is a consistent bright spot in an otherwise shoddy defense.  And Run-DMC, when healthy, can be the home run threat Raiders fans have been dying for.

I wake up every Sunday, hoping the Raiders win. 

We all do. 

But I’ve come to realize one thing that is good about being the fan of a perpetual loser. 

While all my San Diego Charger friends writhe in agony when their beloved Bolts bite the dust, I can sit there "calmly" (there's some discrepancy amongst friends on the definition of calm) when my Raiders lose.  I’ve only been a fan long enough to have only been there for all the mistakes, the problems, the failure.

By not expecting to win I don’t suffer the similar emotional train wreck as fans who watch their winning team lose.  I can still savor the rest of my Sunday, drinking a Coors to enjoy the rest of the games rather than chugging Natty Ice to drown my sorrows. 

And if the Raiders win? 

Well, my day, shoot, my entire week, just got a whole hell of a lot better.