Local man reflects on his time with Raiders owner Al Davis

Greg Cava / Special to the Sun

Raiders owner Al Davis greets a player in this undated photo. Davis, who won three Super Bowl titles during his half century in professional football, died Saturday at his home in Oakland at age 82. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Greg Cava

Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.

Al Davis

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Renegade Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis dies at 82

Editor’s note: Greg Cava was the team photographer for the Raiders from 1982 to 1987. Cava, a Bishop Gorman High graduate and now the school’s photo teacher, shares some of his pictures and reflects on his years with Raiders owner Al Davis, who died on Saturday.

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Being a part of the Raiders had its benefits, especially for a kid just out of college.

In the early '80s, Raiders owner Al Davis, who died Saturday at the age of 82, had decided to move the team to the Los Angeles Coliseum with visions of skyboxes and 95,000 sold out seats a game.

This move couldn’t have come at a better time as I had just graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and needed a job. With the help of Sports Illustrated photographer Peter Read Miller and San Francisco 49ers photographer Michael Zagaris, I got the photography job with the team.

It was great because David Humm, who quarterbacked at Bishop Gorman in the ’70s and was All-American at Nebraska, and Frank Hawkins, who played at Western and set all sorts of rushing records at UNR, were playing for the team, so I knew a few of the guys right away.

Al Davis never spoke a word to me for years, even though I was at the practices, flew on the team plane and was always around camp.

Not a word until one summer our team trainer and a great guy, George Anderson, was receiving an award as Trainer of the Year for inventing a knee brace to help protect linemen during the games. George was being honored at a big banquet in Las Vegas and I figured since I was home, I would go to the MGM and take some pictures.

While I was standing backstage before the banquet, a familiar figure came out of the shadows. It was Mr Davis. He came up to me and said, “Ah, Greg, what are you doing here?”

I told him I had heard that George was receiving an award and I wanted to shoot pictures for him. Al looked me in the eye and said in his Brooklyn accent, “That’s great, just great,” and he walked away. Turns out Mr. Davis was giving the introduction to George at the banquet.

I was shocked he even knew who I was, much less knew my name. He hadn’t said a word to me in the years I had worked there. But after that 30-second encounter backstage, he seemed to acknowledge me in his own way, and I felt that much more part of the team. It was just like the players on the field. You had to prove yourself with him, and I guess I did that day.

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By ssenjo (Scott Senjo)

Oct. 9, 2011

12:09 p.m.

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I bet those 5 years as team photographer were interesting.

Within two hours of the news yesterday, the ESPN website got over 2000 posts about the passing of Al Davis; I went to every Oakland Raiders home game from 1966-1980.

There seems to be something about the individuality, intelligence, and fortitude of Al Davis that many of us will miss, even if we felt uncomfortable with these things, at times.

Those games up in Oakland in the 1970s, with Al Davis at the helm were stunning displays of misfits with skills and an attitude. No team won more games, back then. RIP.
By AKsilvereagle

Oct. 9, 2011

10:32 p.m.

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I met Al Davis in 1983 at Mile High Stadium in Denver following the game as he walked by me and I yelled "Hey Al, I'm from LA and long live the Raiders" and he shook my hand - blew my mind as I thought he was the kewlest.

Of course true Raider Fans stand by the team's decisions which in turn, he WAS the Raiders and had the most pull on team decisions.

I did not approve on other reported drama against certain players and other situations that were handled, however with the legacy that Al Davis created in the past, now hopefully this new legacy can continue back to it's championship ways for the Raider Organization and move foreward.

My most regret was Marcus Allen not being enshrined as a Raider in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and that is understandable under the circumstances - the true Raider Fans more than thank you for all you have done for the organization, we consider you always a True Raider with upmost respect.

I want to now see the Raiders change their motto from Commitment to Excellence to :

Commitment OF Excellence !