Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 13, 1990 TAG: 9003133187
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: OAKLAND, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
Al Davis did his part Monday, breaking a long silence on his plans for the Los Angeles Raiders by accepting Oakland's 15-year, $602 million offer to move the NFL team minutes before a noon deadline.
"The greatness of the Raiders started in Oakland," said the team's managing general partner, who moved the team south in a stadium dispute following the 1981 season. "That's where we made history."
That left the team's destiny in the hands of the Oakland city council and the Alameda County supervisors, and supervisors chairman Don Perata called their approval "a done deal."
Separate votes of the two public bodies were tentatively scheduled for Monday night following a hearing, but a postponement was possible because of lengthy testimony.
Davis, dressed in white rather than his usual Raiders black, appeared almost relieved as he announced his decision at the NFL owners' meeting in Orlando, Fla. He said he intends to honor the Raiders' lease extending through the 1991 season at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but left open the possibility he might seek a settlement to come north earlier.
"I just want to get the Raiders settled," he said. "I regret that all this [move controversy] has affected the team. I regret that all this has affected my life and the lives of a lot of people."
Davis' announcement, which followed more than a year of speculation and rumors, was cause for celebration among Oakland football fans. Many whooped it up in a city suffering from a high crime rate, troubled schools and the earthquake that caused billions of dollars in damage and killed 44 people in October.
"This is an eventful day in history for this city," said Mayor Lionel Wilson, who donned a new silver-and-black Oakland Raiders jacket at a news conference.
"It's been a long drought," Wilson said. "Now Oakland will become the sports capital of the world."
The Raiders' return would mark the first time a major sports franchise has come back to a city it left.
Among the losers Monday were Los Angeles, Sacramento and Irwindale, all unsuccessful suitors for the NFL team. LA Coliseum officials spoke with Davis 15 minutes before the announcement but said they didn't have the money to beat out Oakland.
"I wish the Raiders the best of luck," said Richard Riordan, former president of the Coliseum Commission. "We're proceeding immediately to try to obtain another NFL team and to have the Coliseum renovated by the private operators."
Oakland's offer includes a loan package totaling $121 million to be made to the team, consisting of $53.5 million to renovate the Oakland Coliseum and the rest in the form of a "loan" Davis does not have to repay.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB