Al vs. Jerry: The Preseason Power Bowl

Al Davis

Tonight, at 9:00 p.m. ET, the Oakland Raiders will roll with the Silver and Black into the home of America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys. This is the Power Bowl. Outside of Jerry and Al, only the Cincinnati Bengals’ owner Mike Brown wears the title General Manager of his own team.

Yes, it’s just the preseason, but there’s something about Al and Jerry that just make us all want to watch. Can’t you just see it already? Jerry pacing the sidelines late in the third quarter. Al sitting up high in a box somewhere behind the huge scoreboard. In typical Al hyperbole, he compared Jason Campbell to Jim Plunkett yesterday. I’m a Campbell fan, but I have to see a bit more before I would make such a claim. But this IS AL! It’s all the best, the most, the greatest – that’s what keeps him going.

Both figures have become almost larger than life in popular culture. Come on, who else but Al could still wear Members Only and feel it’s a good look? Who else could build a stadium the size of three surrounding cities than Jerry? While they may be the butt of jokes and roasts throughout the world, not a single fan can deny their impact on the game of football.  It wouldn’t be the same game without them. Al has been General Manager of the Oakland Raiders since 1966 – that’s longer than Generation X and Y have been alive. According to him, he’ll hang around for a long time;  Al said that he would not retire until he wins two more Super Bowls or dies.

Jerry Jones

Jerry’s been around a much shorter time, but he’s been no less an imposing figure in the sport. After making a whole lotta money in oil, Jones decided to buy himself a team. Like Al, he came in guns blazing and firing folks. In 1989, he came in and fired Tom Landry, the only man to coach the Cowboys to that point. He then fired the general manager and assumed complete control. Even if you’re not a football fan, you’ve seen Jerry and his stadium in commercials and on TV shows like Entourage.

Watching the media hype about both owners is like putting extra icing on a layer cake when you know you shouldn’t. It’s not the best thing for you, but dang it tastes good!

LINKS:

Silver and Black Report, Al Davis Interview, 8/11/10: Al Interview

History of the Raiders: Oakland Timeline

History of the Cowboys: Dallas Timeline