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Oakland fans cheer their Raiders as jilted L.A. fans blast Al Davis

 
Published June 24, 1995|Updated Oct. 4, 2005

Fans roared, grown people cried and a stereo system blared The Boys Are Back In Town, as members of the Raiders' faithful got the good news Friday: The Silver and Black is back in Oakland.

"Bring it home, baby!" shouted Tom Fashinell as he and more than 50 other fans watched the announcement, carried live via satellite hookup in Ricky's Sports Lounge, a well-known Raiders fan hangout in nearby San Leandro.

"My team went on a 13-year road trip," he said, his face shining with excitement and his voice at full volume as he launched into a chant of "Here we go Raiders, here we go."

Like other fans, Fashinell was wearing a carefully laundered "Oakland Raiders" shirt preserved from the glory days. Keith Graham of Hayward had dispensed of laundry problems by simply tattooing his allegiance to his right shoulder.

The announcement followed days in which the sense of pent-up emotion about to burst loose was almost palpable.

"Yesssssss!" blared the headline in Friday morning's editions of Oakland's Tribune.

As politicians and Coliseum officials exchanged handshakes and high-fives, the Coliseum parking lot was the scene of an impromptu tailgate party celebrating the Raiders' return. About a dozen people outfitted in the team's trademark regalia chanted, "The boys are back in town" and "We want the Raiders."

Eileen Shrader was moved to tears as she contemplated the long-awaited return of the team that played its first 22 seasons here.

"Go Oakland Raiders!" she said, punching the air with her fist. "This is a historic day. I never, ever gave up."

Reactions were less joyful further south.

"Al Davis doesn't deserve me," said Phil Morgan, a member of the Original Los Angeles Raiders Booster Club. "Ever since he's been here, Al Davis never made a commitment to Los Angeles."

Paula Adams of West Hills, also a booster club member, was appalled by statements _ especially from defensive lineman Nolan Harrison _ that L. A. failed to support the Raiders.

"How do I feel? Deserted," Adams said. "I say goodbye, get a new team in here and we'll support them. I'm angry. They have the audacity to say they have no support in L.A. Why can't he draw? He doesn't support the team."