Via Last Word On Pro Football, by Scott Winter
At the NFL press announcement for the vote to relocate the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, I asked Mark Davis about his father’s legacy and how that made him feel. Marc Badain was in his thoughts.
“Proud…I think he would be proud,” the team’s owner said.
Mark Davis Secures Father’s Legacy, Begins His Own Thanks Partly to Marc Badain
It was a teary-eyed moment. He also spoke to himself and Marc Badain, President of the Oakland Raiders, starting with the organization as water boys. It’s a full-circle moment that they are now leading the Raiders into the future with a world class stadium.
“My father always said, the greatness of the Raiders is in its future,” Davis emphasized. “And the opportunity to build a world-class stadium in the entertainment capital of the world is a significant step toward achieving that greatness.”
Mark Davis, Marc Badain and the rest of those involved from the Raiders organization have accomplished what many said was impossible. The buck stops with Mark Davis and to the victor go the spoils, however, The unsung hero here is Marc Badain.
“I always tell people I know what I know, and I know what I don’t know,” Davis noted.
Mark Davis is the visionary, and what he “knows” is how to hire the right person for the job and leave them to it.
Marc Badain and His Staff are the Miracle Workers in All This
Of the questions I asked that were off the record, Mark Davis pointed to Badain. It was obvious that he had the full trust and confidence of the organization and its owner.
Badain and his staff worked tirelessly over the past few years. Their goal was nothing less than a world class stadium to secure the legacy of Al Davis, and to begin the legacy of his son. I can tell you for a fact that they did everything in their power to secure that in Oakland. Unfortunately that is one of the few failures throughout this quest.
When I spoke to both of them, after the vote, you could tell that was in the back of their minds. I noticed a somber mood was tempering their victory. What I saw in them, was exactly how I felt, bitter sweet.
“Oakland will always be a part of the DNA of the Raiders,” Davis stated.
I cannot thank both Marc Badain and Mark Davis for taking the time to speak with me during their moment in Raider history. They said some very personal and encouraging things about me and the accuracy of my reporting. It was made very clear that honesty is most valued by these two men. And for them to complement me so was very humbling.
I believe that Al Davis is looking down from Raider Heaven, grinning ear to ear. Al Davis loved Las Vegas. And now the Las Vegas Raiders is soon to be a reality. The amount of adversity these two went through to accomplish what they did is almost unheard of. Some fans and local media dubbed Mark Davis “Tommy Boy” as an insult. Those folks really should have watched that movie, because *Spoiler Alert* Tommy Boy wins in the end.
Proud?
You’re damn right, Al Davis is proud!
