Grudging Respect

Great article Big Matt! While Denver and San Diego are also "hated" rivals. The only Full Blown, Knock Down, I Hate your Guts and You Hate Mine, rivalry in the AFC West is Oakland and KC. Two storied franchises, Two HOF owners, and a long and bitter rivalry. Let's see the AFC Championship trophy is called what... That's right... The Lamar Hunt trophy. (Too bad we own more of them than you.. snicker ;-p) Having our two teams relevant and in the hunt together makes the NFL a better league. I used to watch the Raiders in Seattle via Sunday Ticket and had a friend who was a KC transplant. Twice a year we would get together and talk trash, drink ourselves silly, and generally have a good time while lamenting how truly bad our teams were. It's a better world when both KC and Oakland are fighting it out for supremacy. So, yes, I also have a grudging respect for KC and it's fans. Raiders 31 Chiefs 17 GO RAIDERS!!!! :-)

OMG who toke a pic of big matt in the morning when he woke up i love the post and raider fans are [retty cool i think for years we could all fill each others pain but during those crappy years i was happy to play the raiders and watch those games

Hate the team, not the fans. One of my best friends is a die hard Raiders fan, and when he and my brother went to the Chiefs-Raiders game they both almost got into a knock down drag-out brawl. There are people without class everywhere... For some people liking a sports team is a choice, you may not have a team in your city or you just like who ever is winning but any person that is willing to stick with their team through the shitty years (hey there's just no other way to put it) deserves respect. Just remember to wear a flak jacket if you go to an Oakland game in Chiefs gear... Good post Matt.

You hate Raider Fans....line forms to my right. Everyone does! But that is fine. We are the NFL. No matter if we are great or if we are bad, everyone is on the Raiders and their fans. Remember, the Raider Nation is the only Nation! Yeah we have a few knucleheads, but there are alot that are professionals.....Everyone in my family are professionals. You would never know that on Sunday, it is on. The team we are playing is the enemy and we hate them with a passion. But this is what makes sports fun...don't you think... :)

A similar thought from the other side....I've been a loyal Raider fan since the 70's and have shared your feelings, although the polar opposite. I hated Hank Stram, hated all your great players and it tore my heart out every time we lost to the Chiefs. But then, it all changed. When we got Rich Gannon from you, the first time that he came back into Arrowhead stadium, I saw your fans give him an ovation in appreciation and it stunned me. Here they were, cheering for one of the "bad guys", and not letting the rivalry get in the way of their respect. Amazing! Maybe even unique in the entire NFL! I was so taken by this gesture, that it changed me and I now cheer for the Chiefs ( until they play the Raiders, of course). You have a class organization, a class team, and the best of fans! You can't ask for more!

Matt very nicely done, Sir ... props and wreck's and all kinds of respect ... takes courage to admit things like this sometimes, but I'm right there with ya as a denizen of AP (and occasionally here - hey, a guy can't be EVERYWHERE at the same time!) there's far too much hate and garbage tossed around all too casually ... and while the pre-game "trash talk" is fine (when it's civil) the bad-mouthing of those who really don't deserve it shows a lack of class, character and respect ... and I'd like to think we (Chiefs fans) are better than that (and we usually are, sadly there are always exceptions) certainly nice to see our rivalry with Oakland heat up like this: it means that the game means something to both sides, and that's a refreshing change for both sides ... as fans, one thing we need to keep in mind is that it IS a game, it IS entertainment ... we so oftern over-emphasize the importance of these things and our fandom, but the reality is that it's a game ... high stakes for sure, at least for the players, and bragging rights for fans, but it's not a war where people die, it's not a job (for us) where the possibility of losing our car or home is at stake, it's not a deadly or crippling disease ... it's a game, to be enjoyed, win or lose (hopefully win), to smile and appreciate the hard-fought battle, and move on to the next Red and Gold or Black and Silver ... let's enjoy, have fun and remain classy human beings upamtn

I HATE THE RAIDERS! I liked your piece, but I just read a public comment section on NFL.com, those people are just the worst! They have no class!

hahahahahahah the raiders cant sell out. the raiders get blacked ooooooout.

Great post, Matt. (And thanks for the shout-out -- it's flattering to have my first post linked to...) I think/hope this might be the beginning of another golden era in the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry. It is great to see the games (well, this one game, for starters) mean something again, and the lean years have seemed to reset the respect. Hanging out in the cellar together while the others were upstairs at the party getting all the attention has rebuilt some kinship.

Thats a hilarious post from big time casting agent! welcome aboard AA!

Don't see 48-7 happening either way. It will be a good game between two improving teams but kc is a little ahead of oakland, they run better and play better defense. Looking at a 17-14 or 24-21 kind of game hopefully with kc on top. Regardless of the outcome kc will still lead the west.

chief fans like "bigtime casting agent" are the reason i hate chief fans. im educated at california berkley, the same school as our very own asomugha, and your tony gonzales. i can not dislike the "chefs" that much, because our al davis and your lamar hunt were key figures in the merger. i know we have been bottom dwellers for the most part of the last seven years. but for chief fans to think they were any better than us is very inaccurate. this decade the raiders were in a superbowl and had a player with the title NFL's MVP. can really say much for chief accomplishments as of the last 20 years. make fun of raiders fans all you want KC. remember who has the most hard ware in the division.

after sunday you are really going to hate them OAK48-7

This is the first time that I have visited this site and enjoyed this post. I will say that I am a DIEHARD Oakland Raiders fan. The first game that I attended was Superbowl II. I can say I HATE the Chiefs with a passion. With that said, I am glad to see them back and games between them and the Raiders mean something again. One thing that does bother me is everyone thinks that Raiders fans are ALL convicts. Let that go. I was born and raised in Oakland. I spent 21 years of my life as a US soldier protecting this great nation. Upon retiring, I became a lawyer. GO RAIDERS!!! DESTROY THE CHIEFS!!!

as a casting agent for a big Hollywood so&so, over the years i've seen many a struggling actor toss his dingy jeans upon my couch while i read one of his guest appearances as Painted Lunatic #Nobody in The Black Hole of Raider Nation it's just not fair to have to look at a headshot like the one you posted above and respond professionally. heck, i should be casting myself for roles after chops i've shown in this job btw, the Raiders talent scouts? Yeah, a few of them are actually my ex-boyfriends. That's right, they used to be casting agents, still are really. There's a big joke out here in Hollywood. 'What's the easiest, best-paying gig for a casting agent?" "The Oakland Raiders!" and omg does everyone lol. for one thing, entertaining a Raiders fan is as easy as putting pads & helmets on a bunch of jokers from discarded CBS pilots. and selling tickets to Raiders fans is as easy as hinting at the possibility of being glimpsed by a television camera

the spikes on shoulder-pads don't bother me, but the gangster angle is something that's hard to get past. however, i actually like the raiders as a team. asomugha is one of my favorite players, in part because of the way he handles himself in interviews. he seems like a really awesome guy. before the season began i heard him talk about how much he wanted to stay with the raiders and help turn the team around. at the time, it made me kind of sad because i saw it as a guy wasting his career with a joke team. so now i'm actually happy to see the raiders playing well.

Your post made me think of the movie "Heat" where Pacino and Deniro sit down and have a drink together. They're rivals and flat out tell each other that they will take each other out if they have to, but there is a respect there. That's us and the Raiders.

Oh man Big Matt... Have you went soft?! lol jk

Im sorry i hate the raiders and im not going to change their convicts they stab beat people throw batteries there the darkside we have nothing in common i wish them the worst i had two raider fans over on the season opener there from oakland it was more than just wanting us to lose you could feel hatred like they wanted to fight didnt know when to stop i wouldnt move there if they gave me a house there will neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr be a truce go chiefs

Good post. I respect any "true" fan regardless of their team. I have a good friend who is a real die hard saints fan. He was a fan when they were the aints too and now he's riding high. Every dog has it's day and while i do despise the damn raiders i also respect their real fans, but like you said every team has their d-bag fans and their good fans. I too loved the respectful trash talk between us and a couple descent human being raiders fans after that post. It was a lot of fun and i welcome it, but i hate the kind of moron who knows nothing about football and can't spell who comes in here bashing our team and us. I do understand typos, i have plenty, but i'm talking about just embarassing grammer. So to you raiders fans who have stuck with your crappy team the way those of us here have, here's to a decade of relavence.

I have a 100 dollar bet against a jokeland tater fan this week. I doubt he'll pay up! Touchdown KAANSAAS CITYYYY!!

I respect every Raider fan because I know what it is like to be a true fan, ups, downs, and everything in between. They have been through a lot just like us. But they are our sworn enemies by virtue of divison rival, and I would never ever want another team to hate more. What other team would you want to hate more? They are just so easy to hate. So I am glad it was the Seahawks who left the AFC west and not them. I love to hate the Raiders. They love to hate us. It is the most perfect bipolar relationship. I love and hate you raider fans!

Good read! It has been a rough 7 years to say the least for us Raider fans, but we do not jump ship. We are faithful. It is great to see the Chiefs and Raiders playing well. Got to hand it to your coaching staff. They have your team playing some tough, fundamentally sound football this year. This will be our toughest challenge this season. Only time will tell...

When you say you "Hated them" I'm not sure you have ever truly experienced the Dark Side of Raiders hatred in all its inexorable glory! There is true power there!….you are welcome to join us….come to he DARK SIDE!!! I love your sarcasm over the Tin Man Pick

This is very well written and I respect your right to your opinion big Matt but.....I CAN'T DO IT BOO BOOO BOO RAIDERS SUCK IT!!

Great article Big Matt! While Denver and San Diego are also "hated" rivals. The only Full Blown, Knock Down, I Hate your Guts and You Hate Mine, rivalry in the AFC West is Oakland and KC. Two storied franchises, Two HOF owners, and a long and bitter rivalry. Let's see the AFC Championship trophy is called what... That's right... The Lamar Hunt trophy. (Too bad we own more of them than you.. snicker ;-p) Having our two teams relevant and in the hunt together makes the NFL a better league. I used to watch the Raiders in Seattle via Sunday Ticket and had a friend who was a KC transplant. Twice a year we would get together and talk trash, drink ourselves silly, and generally have a good time while lamenting how truly bad our teams were. It's a better world when both KC and Oakland are fighting it out for supremacy. So, yes, I also have a grudging respect for KC and it's fans.

Raiders 31 Chiefs 17 GO RAIDERS!!!! :-)

OMG who toke a pic of big matt in the morning when he woke up

i love the post and raider fans are [retty cool i think for years we could all fill each others pain

but during those crappy years i was happy to play the raiders and watch those games

Hate the team, not the fans.

One of my best friends is a die hard Raiders fan, and when he and my brother went to the Chiefs-Raiders game they both almost got into a knock down drag-out brawl. There are people without class everywhere...

For some people liking a sports team is a choice, you may not have a team in your city or you just like who ever is winning but any person that is willing to stick with their team through the shitty years (hey there's just no other way to put it) deserves respect. Just remember to wear a flak jacket if you go to an Oakland game in Chiefs gear...

Good post Matt.

You hate Raider Fans....line forms to my right. Everyone does! But that is fine. We are the NFL. No matter if we are great or if we are bad, everyone is on the Raiders and their fans. Remember, the Raider Nation is the only Nation! Yeah we have a few knucleheads, but there are alot that are professionals.....Everyone in my family are professionals. You would never know that on Sunday, it is on. The team we are playing is the enemy and we hate them with a passion. But this is what makes sports fun...don't you think... :)

A similar thought from the other side....I've been a loyal Raider fan since the 70's and have shared your feelings, although the polar opposite. I hated Hank Stram, hated all your great players and it tore my heart out every time we lost to the Chiefs. But then, it all changed. When we got Rich Gannon from you, the first time that he came back into Arrowhead stadium, I saw your fans give him an ovation in appreciation and it stunned me. Here they were, cheering for one of the "bad guys", and not letting the rivalry get in the way of their respect. Amazing! Maybe even unique in the entire NFL! I was so taken by this gesture, that it changed me and I now cheer for the Chiefs ( until they play the Raiders, of course). You have a class organization, a class team, and the best of fans! You can't ask for more!

Matt

very nicely done, Sir ... props and wreck's and all kinds of respect ... takes courage to admit things like this sometimes, but I'm right there with ya

as a denizen of AP (and occasionally here - hey, a guy can't be EVERYWHERE at the same time!) there's far too much hate and garbage tossed around all too casually ... and while the pre-game "trash talk" is fine (when it's civil) the bad-mouthing of those who really don't deserve it shows a lack of class, character and respect ... and I'd like to think we (Chiefs fans) are better than that (and we usually are, sadly there are always exceptions)

certainly nice to see our rivalry with Oakland heat up like this: it means that the game means something to both sides, and that's a refreshing change for both sides ... as fans, one thing we need to keep in mind is that it IS a game, it IS entertainment ... we so oftern over-emphasize the importance of these things and our fandom, but the reality is that it's a game ... high stakes for sure, at least for the players, and bragging rights for fans, but it's not a war where people die, it's not a job (for us) where the possibility of losing our car or home is at stake, it's not a deadly or crippling disease ... it's a game, to be enjoyed, win or lose (hopefully win), to smile and appreciate the hard-fought battle, and move on to the next

Red and Gold or Black and Silver ... let's enjoy, have fun and remain classy human beings

upamtn

I HATE THE RAIDERS! I liked your piece, but I just read a public comment section on NFL.com, those people are just the worst! They have no class!

hahahahahahah the raiders cant sell out. the raiders get blacked ooooooout.

Great post, Matt. (And thanks for the shout-out -- it's flattering to have my first post linked to...) I think/hope this might be the beginning of another golden era in the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry. It is great to see the games (well, this one game, for starters) mean something again, and the lean years have seemed to reset the respect. Hanging out in the cellar together while the others were upstairs at the party getting all the attention has rebuilt some kinship.

Thats a hilarious post from big time casting agent! welcome aboard AA!

Don't see 48-7 happening either way. It will be a good game between two improving teams but kc is a little ahead of oakland, they run better and play better defense. Looking at a 17-14 or 24-21 kind of game hopefully with kc on top. Regardless of the outcome kc will still lead the west.

chief fans like "bigtime casting agent" are the reason i hate chief fans. im educated at california berkley, the same school as our very own asomugha, and your tony gonzales. i can not dislike the "chefs" that much, because our al davis and your lamar hunt were key figures in the merger. i know we have been bottom dwellers for the most part of the last seven years. but for chief fans to think they were any better than us is very inaccurate. this decade the raiders were in a superbowl and had a player with the title NFL's MVP. can really say much for chief accomplishments as of the last 20 years. make fun of raiders fans all you want KC. remember who has the most hard ware in the division.

after sunday you are really going to hate them OAK48-7

This is the first time that I have visited this site and enjoyed this post. I will say that I am a DIEHARD Oakland Raiders fan. The first game that I attended was Superbowl II. I can say I HATE the Chiefs with a passion. With that said, I am glad to see them back and games between them and the Raiders mean something again. One thing that does bother me is everyone thinks that Raiders fans are ALL convicts. Let that go. I was born and raised in Oakland. I spent 21 years of my life as a US soldier protecting this great nation. Upon retiring, I became a lawyer. GO RAIDERS!!! DESTROY THE CHIEFS!!!

as a casting agent for a big Hollywood so&so, over the years i've seen many a struggling actor toss his dingy jeans upon my couch while i read one of his guest appearances as Painted Lunatic #Nobody in The Black Hole of Raider Nation

it's just not fair to have to look at a headshot like the one you posted above and respond professionally. heck, i should be casting myself for roles after chops i've shown in this job

btw, the Raiders talent scouts? Yeah, a few of them are actually my ex-boyfriends. That's right, they used to be casting agents, still are really. There's a big joke out here in Hollywood. 'What's the easiest, best-paying gig for a casting agent?" "The Oakland Raiders!" and omg does everyone lol.

for one thing, entertaining a Raiders fan is as easy as putting pads & helmets on a bunch of jokers from discarded CBS pilots. and selling tickets to Raiders fans is as easy as hinting at the possibility of being glimpsed by a television camera

the spikes on shoulder-pads don't bother me, but the gangster angle is something that's hard to get past. however, i actually like the raiders as a team. asomugha is one of my favorite players, in part because of the way he handles himself in interviews. he seems like a really awesome guy. before the season began i heard him talk about how much he wanted to stay with the raiders and help turn the team around. at the time, it made me kind of sad because i saw it as a guy wasting his career with a joke team. so now i'm actually happy to see the raiders playing well.

Your post made me think of the movie "Heat" where Pacino and Deniro sit down and have a drink together. They're rivals and flat out tell each other that they will take each other out if they have to, but there is a respect there. That's us and the Raiders.

Oh man Big Matt... Have you went soft?!
lol jk

Im sorry i hate the raiders and im not going to change their convicts they stab beat people throw batteries there the darkside we have nothing in common i wish them the worst i had two raider fans over on the season opener there from oakland it was more than just wanting us to lose you could feel hatred like they wanted to fight didnt know when to stop i wouldnt move there if they gave me a house there will neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr be a truce go chiefs

Good post. I respect any "true" fan regardless of their team. I have a good friend who is a real die hard saints fan. He was a fan when they were the aints too and now he's riding high. Every dog has it's day and while i do despise the damn raiders i also respect their real fans, but like you said every team has their d-bag fans and their good fans. I too loved the respectful trash talk between us and a couple descent human being raiders fans after that post. It was a lot of fun and i welcome it, but i hate the kind of moron who knows nothing about football and can't spell who comes in here bashing our team and us. I do understand typos, i have plenty, but i'm talking about just embarassing grammer. So to you raiders fans who have stuck with your crappy team the way those of us here have, here's to a decade of relavence.

I have a 100 dollar bet against a jokeland tater fan this week. I doubt he'll pay up!

Touchdown KAANSAAS CITYYYY!!

I respect every Raider fan because I know what it is like to be a true fan, ups, downs, and everything in between. They have been through a lot just like us.

But they are our sworn enemies by virtue of divison rival, and I would never ever want another team to hate more. What other team would you want to hate more? They are just so easy to hate.

So I am glad it was the Seahawks who left the AFC west and not them. I love to hate the Raiders. They love to hate us. It is the most perfect bipolar relationship.

I love and hate you raider fans!

Good read! It has been a rough 7 years to say the least for us Raider fans, but we do not jump ship. We are faithful. It is great to see the Chiefs and Raiders playing well. Got to hand it to your coaching staff. They have your team playing some tough, fundamentally sound football this year. This will be our toughest challenge this season. Only time will tell...