My First Raider Game − 8 November, 1998
I remember the fact that I loved the Raiders, but I was aware of the fact that I had never been to an actual game to see them in person. I started looking on eBay for tickets to the Raider/Raven game in Baltimore. It was the first time in years that the Raiders were actually playing close to me. Granted, Baltimore was a 4 hour drive but it was still close.
I called my friend Steve Birrell, the guy from Jobs to Career. He moved to Maryland the year before with his wife. I asked him if he wanted to go the game? I told him he'd have to wear Silver and Black though if I bought the tickets. He agreed and I bought them and was anxious to go.
That Saturday, I drove from the Poconos, Pa. to Gainesville, Maryland in about 3.5 hours. I was wearing Raiders colors the whole time. I was really "geeky excited.".
I showed up at Steve's house, we smoked a cigar for old times and I toured his house. Then he went to bed and I watched Terminator because I couldn't fall asleep. I did fall asleep eventually and woke up around 8:00 a.m. Steve woke up shortly thereafter and asked if I stayed up all night, because I looked like it.
Around 10:30 a.m. we took off for the Raven's Stadium. It was actually my first Pro football game period so I was amazed at how small the place was. I remember thinking that It looks so much bigger on TV, but 100 yards is 100 yards. Steve and I found our seats and Wow, we were right on top of the visitors tunnel! I brought a Raider blanket and drapped it over the rail. When the Raider's came out for warmups they all jumped and touched it. It was awesome.
Steve and I marveled at how big these players were in real-time. Calves that made Steve's arms look small. (Steve's arms aren't small either) I was giddy with excitement and Steve was giddy in a musclehead way. My God it was so gay! :)
The Raiders lost that day, But I did get a chance to see Gruden yell at Jeff George. It was Georges last year on the Raiders and thankfully they picked up Gannon. The rest is well-known.
I remember walking out of the stadium and it was really quiet except for one drunk Raven fan. He was screaming, "Raiders suck." All of the sudden, 5 guys in black jerseys surrounded him and just looked at him. He then said, "It was a great game man, we escaped with that one." It was pretty funny.
I went back to Steve's house, ate dinner and hung out for a while, then drove all the way home. I was ecstatic that I was able to say that I went to a Raider game, but they lost. It would all change and my next Raider game would be the exact opposite.
I called my friend Steve Birrell, the guy from Jobs to Career. He moved to Maryland the year before with his wife. I asked him if he wanted to go the game? I told him he'd have to wear Silver and Black though if I bought the tickets. He agreed and I bought them and was anxious to go.
That Saturday, I drove from the Poconos, Pa. to Gainesville, Maryland in about 3.5 hours. I was wearing Raiders colors the whole time. I was really "geeky excited.".
I showed up at Steve's house, we smoked a cigar for old times and I toured his house. Then he went to bed and I watched Terminator because I couldn't fall asleep. I did fall asleep eventually and woke up around 8:00 a.m. Steve woke up shortly thereafter and asked if I stayed up all night, because I looked like it.
Around 10:30 a.m. we took off for the Raven's Stadium. It was actually my first Pro football game period so I was amazed at how small the place was. I remember thinking that It looks so much bigger on TV, but 100 yards is 100 yards. Steve and I found our seats and Wow, we were right on top of the visitors tunnel! I brought a Raider blanket and drapped it over the rail. When the Raider's came out for warmups they all jumped and touched it. It was awesome.
Steve and I marveled at how big these players were in real-time. Calves that made Steve's arms look small. (Steve's arms aren't small either) I was giddy with excitement and Steve was giddy in a musclehead way. My God it was so gay! :)
The Raiders lost that day, But I did get a chance to see Gruden yell at Jeff George. It was Georges last year on the Raiders and thankfully they picked up Gannon. The rest is well-known.
I remember walking out of the stadium and it was really quiet except for one drunk Raven fan. He was screaming, "Raiders suck." All of the sudden, 5 guys in black jerseys surrounded him and just looked at him. He then said, "It was a great game man, we escaped with that one." It was pretty funny.
I went back to Steve's house, ate dinner and hung out for a while, then drove all the way home. I was ecstatic that I was able to say that I went to a Raider game, but they lost. It would all change and my next Raider game would be the exact opposite.
