The Top 5 Reasons Why Kansas City Chiefs Fans Loathe The Oakland Raiders
By Brett Gering
1. The “Black Hole”
Dec 15, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fan Jason Freedy poses with doll of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (not pictured) before the game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
I’ve said this year after year, and it never rings less true: The “Black Hole” looks like the 1991 Royal Rumble.
There are decent Raiders fans in the world. I know that sounds like an episode of MythBusters, but it’s the truth.
They’re never the ones reveling in the limelight, though.
Let’s start with this: There are just as many naive, “Don’t paint with a broad brush!” Silver and Black protestors who turn a blind eye to the obvious and cry foul when someone doesn’t qualify criticism with “a portion of Raiders fans…”
If you support the team and have a drop of objectivity in your blood, you realize that, in large part, the source(s) of outside accusations are as clear as day.
Here’s an excerpt from U~T San Diego’s Kate Callen’s review of Better to Reign in Hell: Inside the Raiders Fan Empire, a book written by lifelong Raiders supporters Jim Miller and Kelly Mayhew:
"Miller and Mayhew do not sidestep the violence and substance abuse that is synonymous with Raider Nation: chugging down bottles of tequila and vodka, random beatings, urinating on opposing fans, 40 arrests on average during Coliseum games. One Raider drunk overturned a portable toilet while a woman was using it."
The following are a few more snippets from the book itself.
Dave Newhouse, former sports columnist for the Oakland Tribune, jots:
"I’ve visited numerous stadiums and arenas in my 40-plus years of sportswriting, and I haven’t yet seen anything that matches the crazed atmosphere at the Net. I’ve observed plenty of lewd behavior, but what goes on in Oakland, believe me, is worse. … If Raiders fans believe their zealousness is helping their team, then they’ve really lost their minds. … Read my lips: It doesn’t make any difference.”"
Jimbo, a once-diehard Silver and Black supporter and creator of the Raider Empire Listserv (and whom many attribute the coining of “Raider Nation” to), explains his reasons for terminating the mailing list:
"I have found it increasingly difficult to agree with the Raiders outside the game antics. In fact, I disagree with everything the Raiders have come to represent outside the Coliseum. that means I no longer wish to push the Raiders’ propaganda regarding fan misbehavior, the lawsuits, etc. My experience with the Raiders fans has been, on the whole, very good but there were those who fit the description of “ugly, ignorant, dumb [expletive] Raiders fans.” … The joke’s on the rest of the [expletive] who are, at best, the bottom dwellers—I toast your ineptitude."
Miller, the author, describes a back-and-forth between cops at a home game:
"The cops looked a little edgy, and we saw a few people being carted away in handcuffs before the game even started. “We got another K.C. idiot over there,” I overheard a cop say to his partner. “That’s what they’re paying you for,” his parter said. “Yeah, I’ll go watch him get his ass kicked and then take a report,” he replied smugly as he slowly made his way through the crowd."
The above are just a few shards in the house of broken glass known as the Coliseum. Documenting every dystopic tale of outsiders (or in this case, locals) visiting the stadium would birth the sequel to War and Peace.
Regardless, though, Mighty Wez and Co. will continue branding the 30th-ranked-attendance “Black Hole” as the best fans in the league. Others will continue their weekly stops to plus-size Halloween depots, hoarding “made in Indonesia” spikes and dressing like bootleg Papa Shangos.
And for most Chiefs fans, that’s all swell and good.
If you want to spend your Sunday dressed like an emo stormtrooper, all the power to you.
But the whole “intimidation factor” thing? Let’s be serious. Since 2003, Oakland has lost six more home games than any other team in the league.
In reality, the “Autumn Wind” isn’t a pirate or a raider.
At the end of the day, it’s really just hot air.
Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN. Contract information provided by Spotrac.