I Like the Raiders
Ok, now that I have your attention I would like to preface this fanpost with the statement that, though this is my first written entry on MHR, I have been a rabid Broncos fan for my entire life (not even remotely a Raider's fan, though the title will make more sense later in the post). I only discovered MHR at the beginning of this offseason but have been stuck by the consistently insightful and knowledgeable commentary offered on this site. I am incredibly grateful to all the wonderful contributors for their efforts in providing so much quality analysis to those of us lost in the ignorance of network and mainstream content.
However, there is one consistent trend amongst our fans that has troubled me recently, highlighted particularly by the recent reaction on this site to Javon Walker's robbery. etc. Although this has not been the exclusive reaction, I have read many comments and fanposts condemning Javon for his recent actions and truly wishing him ill. This does not surprise me even if it does show a lack of empathy, because it is part of a larger tendency of all fans to personally attack people who wear the uniform of a hated team.
To me, this is the most dangerous aspect of becoming a sports fan. As a Broncos fan, I have caught myself many times truly hating the Raiders, Chargers, and Colts. I have been happy to see the Raiders descend to the level of a pack of rats in the AFC, to see Peyton denied a ring (now a thing of the past), and even (much to my own chagrin) to see Philip Rivers leave a game because of injury.
This is the real moral quandary of Broncos fandom. Much like in fantasy football people will quietly, or even openly, root for an opposing team's players to become injured during a game, Broncos fans cannot help but be happy to see the players of rival teams falling and failing. When a former Bronco/ current Raider is in the news for having helped himself to be robbed, we cheer and shout that he deserved it. When a rival teams quarterback is injured, we laugh and say that's what you get for trying to humiliate our quarterback.
Yet, however natural this tendency may be, I personally do not ever want my own actions to be full of this kind of spite and hate. Javon Walker experienced the kind of tragedy that I hope many of us have never, and will never, experience. No matter his wealth or prominence, he did not deserve to have a good friend die in his lap. No one does. And though it is true that he has not yet reacted to this tragedy with maturity, it is my sincerest hope that he eventually will.
I would like to think that in daily life we choose to wish people well, not ill. Even when people have wronged us,we often find a way to forgive them, or at least to avoid seeking their harm. Every religion of which I am aware preaches forgiveness and empathy. So why should this not apply to the Raiders?
I am not saying we should root for the Raiders, not at all. I will never hope for any team to beat the Broncos, not even for a draft pick. But that is not the same as actively, and hatefully, rooting for another team to fail. I hope Javon can get over his grief and catch 80 balls again someday, as long as 15 of them aren't against the Broncos. I hope Al Davis is eventually able to leave the game with a shred of dignity, as long as that dignity is not derived from a victory over the Broncos.
And I hope that we Broncos fans can be the classiest, most enlightened fans in the sport by never wishing harm for someone, no matter how much they may seemingly deserve it. There are real people in every uniform, people as deserving of happiness as we are. I hope to never forget that.
Now Let's Go Broncos!!!
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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12 comments
Comments
Forgive me Father , for I have sinned.
You are of course correct MGM. Most of us are pretty passionate about the Broncos, or we wouldn’t be here. Sometimes this passion runs a little too deep. Thanks for the post.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Emerson
by firstfan on Jun 28, 2008 12:00 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Hmm...
First of all I am not saying I would wish bad on any of these people in the real world. In sports maybe you could catch me one or two times. But I first of all do not think that Javon Walker deserved this but he did in some ways bring it on himself. He was seen in a video getting into the car by his own will. He was probably drunk before and lets face it Vegas is not the place a public figure should be messing around in. I don’t wish that he was robbed and beaten. Nobody deserves that. There is a point though when you have to say to yourself that is their punishment. Next time I think he will be smarter. On the other hand I think that you are right that those who wish ill on them are wrong. By the way I don’t think any of us have ever been glad to see Peyotn be denied a ring unless he stole it from us. I guess you are right but I hope you are not saying we shouldn’t yell “Raiders suck!!!! Lets win this!!!!”
"Hey Raiders fans!!! If you leave now you can beat traffic!"
-Rod Smith
by GarretBarnes on Jun 28, 2008 1:45 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Thanks for the comment Garret. First, I’ll be the first the join you in shouting “Raiders suck!”, I was just trying to make a point/ grab attention with the title of the post. As for Javon Walker, I wasn’t trying to argue that Walker didn’t bring his robbery on himself. He, like anyone else, needs to be the agent of his own change and maturity. But I think it is easy to take a certain delight in seeing him flounder after his disaster in Denver, and I try not to indulge in that personally.
by MGM on Jun 28, 2008 2:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
"Hey Raiders fans!!! If you leave now you can beat traffic!"
-Rod Smith
by GarretBarnes on Jul 1, 2008 10:07 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I stand by what I have said re: Walker
He needs to take stock into his life. But as I do recall the people here have wanted the players to take responsibility for their actions. I think Marshall has been completely held to the fire here more than Walker. I dont recall any one here saying they wanted ill will towards him, just that his consistent actions come as no suprise to anyone. That being said he is a victim of his own bad judgement. If he gets into a car without really knowing anybody what does that tell you about his judgement. Then he lies about what happened. All I hope he is ok, outside of that I really dont care what he does anymore. He is selfish and to me the people in Denver have been gracious about him in his 2 years here.
by broncfanstuckinsd on Jun 28, 2008 1:54 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Good Post
I have been saying all along that I wish the Raiders would become a team again. I even went to SB’s Raider site and did a post telling them to ‘wake-up’! Becomea team again!
I could never stop completeley hating the raiders, but its hard to hate them with a righteous hatred when their face is covered with the mud of their own stupidity.
I am also tired of the AFC West being ignored as a so-so division. For most of the Superbowl Age the AFC West has been feared all divisions. Teams hated to visit any of our four (and sometimes five) teams.
Losing Seattle to the NFC and the fall of KC and the raiders hasn’t made us a better team—it seems to have sucked us down into mediocrity. I hope KC gets back on their feet also.
I would like to see all AFC West teams have winning seasons with us having the winningest. I would like to crush these hated foes each time we meet-but we do it because we have become great-and we are crushing everyone.
by Mike Clark on Jun 28, 2008 6:33 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I can see what your trying to do with this post
You write up a logical, heartwarming, sensible post about how we should ALL love each other.How the essence of life is to be here to support each other and help each other in good times and bad. The moral fiber that is instilled in us as human being’s should overshadow what we as Bronco Fans have become in the face of the enemy.
The bottom line is this is a clever “persuasive essay” to try and make us feel guilty!
WELL….......... IT’S NOT GOING TO WORK ON ME!
As far as I’m concerned JW got what he asked for and the rest of the Raiders can drive off a cliff for all I care …..hahaha…...(he’s mad I tell you”)....hahaha
"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit" - Alex Karras
by Denver Diehard on Jun 29, 2008 7:37 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Stuff
Thanks for the post MGM. I go through this conflict every time I watch a football game and opposing player goes down, especially if they are a play-maker. I’m a fan of the Broncos, and I know them better than any other team by a mile, but I can still root for other teams when the broncos aren’t in the game. Zealotry is never something I want for myself or others, and sometimes people use sports as an outlet for that kind of passion.
by unkown on Jun 29, 2008 1:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Welcome to MHR!
fader nation is a conquered nation
by mdierk on Jun 29, 2008 4:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

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