As it turns out, Raiders owner Al Davis shares a birthday with the nation whose legal system he has used so extensively over the years.
So on the same day that the U.S. of A. celebrates the fact that it's 233 years young, Davis commences his ninth decade.
Davis is 80 today.
He recently gave a rare interview to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and he talked about how he'll celebrate the event.
"[I]t's a milestone, obviously, 80," Davis said, "and usually at this time of the year,
every fifth, from 75, 80, I've held a nice party in Las Vegas but I
felt this year, predicated on the economy, that we would just whittle
it down to a few friends for dinner, and hold off because we didn't
want to flaunt when everyone else is having trouble financially and I
thought it was best to do it that way."
(The interview contains various things about Davis that aren't widely known, including the fact that his dad was in the same profession as Morty Seinfeld.)
We talked about the career and legacy of Al Davis moments ago with Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger of WIP radio in Philadelphia. Frankly, the manner in which a given NFL fan regards Davis might depend in large part on the fan's age. Younger folks will be quick to dismiss him as a meddling owner who thinks he knows how to run a football team.
Older folks will remember that, unlike the men who made tons of money in other endeavors and then use a lot of it to buy an NFL franchise, Davis was and is a "football guy." He coached the Raiders from 1963 to 1965, and he once was named AFL coach of the year.
After the merger between the AFL and the NFL, the Raiders reigned as one of the premier teams in the NFL, winning three Super Bowl titles from 1976 through 1983. But a recent history of ineptitude -- and a long history of litigiousness -- seriously undermines his legacy in the eyes of many.
And, frankly, it probably should. But when attempting to identify the five people most responsible for the NFL as we currently know it, Davis likely deserves a spot on the list.
Above all else, and despite his flaws, Al Davis deserves the respect of everyone who loves pro football. Indeed, we all should be so lucky to make it to 80, and to still be doing that which we love -- even if we might not be doing it as well as we once did.
Happy Birthday . . . Al Davis
Posted by Mike Florio on July 4, 2009 10:59 AM ET
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24 Comments 
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Dear al,
For your birthday this year please get the raiders fans a present. Put your withered old paw on a bible and swear to keep your nose out of any football decisions. I was gonna be pissed if the ravens grabbed DHB at 26 and you got him at 7 overall. Good stuff I'm sure he's more valuable than crabtree.
I feel for you raider nation
suckup.
Al Davis is the man! The true Maverick.
All you haters can suck it. The Raiders will rise again. Happy birthday Mr. Davis.
Oh what agreat story. I almost shed a tear................GAY
Happy Birthday Al. And to all you young punks that don't realize what Al means to Pro football.. without Al, there was no merger. Al Davis, first person to hire a minority coach (Tom Flores). Al Davis, first person to hire an African American Coach in the modern era (Art Shell). Al Davis, first person to hire a woman in an Executive position (Amy Trask). Al Davis has done more for pro football than any one living or dead to make the game what it is. The haters can hate all they want, but EdReed, don't feel sorry for us... we love Al.. the true Raider Nation does....
We don't need your sympathy D-bag
Raidernation rules!
Really? He looks like he is only 60........
well, I'm a little biased obviously. Happy Birthday Al. There's no one quite like you, even at 80 you're living life on your terms. Much respect.
http://www.freewebs.com/footballthoughts/al%20davis.bmp
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2001_Monsters,_Inc./2001_monsters_inc_010.jpg
Enough said.
Prepare to eat crow America. The Raiders are almost back. A team can't win without a QB and a line to protect him = basic needs for the past 6 years.
AD does not make tackles, blocks or run the ball, and he has made moves to try and improve the team, some worked, some didn't . The guy gets no credit for his moves that work and all the blame for everything that doesn't. The same mantra of "AD must go" was echoing in 1997. Then you haters swallowed your tongues for 5 years. It is almost time to stfu again.
It is really a fun study in herd dynamics to watch all the haters hate on an old man and some laundry. It also makes me embarrased to somehow have similar DNA to most of you "fans" who have no understanding of the game.
Tell me how you'd rather have Jerry Jones, the Ford's, the Yorks, Daniel Snyderbrennner or Ralph Wilson as your owner, and show me your logic. And tell me how 5/6ths of the NFL's franchise would not trade histories with the Raiders.
Happy Birthday Big Al!
Well said Spicoli
Mister Al Davis:
happy birthday to you, sir,
a football legend.
Happy Birthday Mr. Davis. May God Bless you and may God Bless the Raiders
Wow he is only 80? I seriously thought he was around 85 or 86.
As a nearly lifelong Raider fan (I'm younger than Al but older than the team) I've had my issues with Mr. Davis, but he played a big part in shaping the league, and he's always been his own man, so he has my respect.
As a Raider fan, I can tell you, I still love the guy. Blame him for bad free agent signings, blame him for loving speed. Don't accuse him of not being "commited to excellence" Its not like these things have not worked. Sure this team has had the worst six year stretch, however, prior to that, we had a 33-15 (4-3) stretch. We still have been to a super bowl more recently than all but nine teams. We also have some hope, I actually am really looking forward to this year.
As people have said before me, this man is as responsible for the merger as anybody else. He was, along with Lamar Hunt, one of the titans of the old AFL. This man, even with the recent down period, has presided over a team that has won three super bowls, played in five, and still has, I believe, the fifth-best winning percentage. This is a hall-of-famer, a master of this league. Sure he's older now, and has seemed to have lost it, and is still a bit dictatorial (that might be a made-up word), but the guy has made it work pretty recently (1999-2002), has been a maverick proggresive owner (hiring Art Shell, numerous great young coaches - Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, John Madden, Tom Flores) and is still commited to winning.
Happy Birthday, big Al.Good Luck, Good Health, and we, along with Run-DMC and Nnamdi, will rise once again (to at least .500 - baby-steps!!).
Right on, Spicoli.
All the best, Mr Davis.
Raider Nation is behind you from all four corners of the earth.
Happy Birthday Mr. Davis,
As the Raiders start back to winning again this year the haters and fair weather fans will all come running back to recognize and honor "The Greatness" of you and THE RAIDERS!
As a Raiders fan, I hope to see him celebrating those incremental 5 year birthdays for a long time. he's a truly great man and pioneer to the game. He's made many mistakes, but I know that no one is more passionate about the Raiders and their success than Al Davis.
And for the haters, he's largely responsible for what you watch today. From AFL coach of they year, AFL commissioner responsible for the most competitive rival the NFL's ever known and central to the merger and precursor to the Super Bowl, to the minority barriers he broke with the hirings of tom flores, Art Shell, and Amy Trask, to the introduction of the young coaching trend years before it was en vogue, largely adopted in the NFl over recent years. Many need to pay respect and realize how long this man's shadow in the game is...a true legend.
Happy Birthday, Al.
Happy Fetus Day Al!
If you dont like Al, blend in with the herd.
Al hates birthday's
Dear Al,
Please never ever leave the Raiders, YOU ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB!!!
HAHAHA
Love,
49er fans
Its weird to read anything even remotely nice about the Raiders on this website