Like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli, Al Davis, got fiesty at Tuesday’s official introduction of Lane Kiffin as the new head coach of the Raiders.
San Jose Mercury News columnist Ann Killion asked Kiffin if he was concerned about taking the job – you know because taking over pretty much the worst offense ever is as great an opportunity as shaving the armpits of Billy Madison’s maid – and Al Davis stepped in to defend the position. We’ll start with Killion’s question to Kiffin:
“This job has been kind of a black hole for coaches – you’re I think the 7th coach in a relatively short period of time. What makes you think that you can be the difference maker here?”
Before Kiffin could respond, Davis stepped in:
“I would take that as an affront. I don’t know why you said that and why you put those words ‘a black hole for coaches’. Let me ask you this, who played in the championship game in the year 2000? Who played in the championship game in the year 2002? Who played in the championship game – we would’ve played in another Super Bowl – if not for the tuck rule, in 2001? What other team in the Western Division or in the AFC can cite those kind of records? Do you know Ann?”
Incidentially I came across some advised reading for Davis. I guess getting rejected by Bobby Petrino, Steve Sarkisian, Dennis Green, and Ken Whisenhunt amongst others, won’t faze Davis who still believes there is an incredible luster that comes with the job of coaching the Raiders. As for Kiffin, he becomes the Raiders’ 7th coach in 12 years. Good luck buddy. Just remember, you can always look to Art Shell, Mike White, and Joe Bugel to know what kind of stepping stone this can be.
