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Just Win, Baby: Al Davis and His Raiders
An inside look at the controversial owner and general manager of the Los Angeles Raiders employs information culled from players, coaches, and long-time personal associates to describe Davis' personal and professional history
264 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 4, 2023
This book did not strike me as particularly inspired. And since the story ends around 1991, it misses most of the boat on the Raiders return to Oakland. was not particularly inspired. I was looking forward to more stories and it just wasn't that interesting.
November 6, 2022
Loved the book and more of a history of the Raiders through 1991 than an Al Davis bio. Highly recommend to Raider fans.
October 28, 2011
This book was a good one and a quick read. A little outdated (1991) so I don't recommend it for a fan looking for an up to date biography.
It goes through Al's humble beginnings in Brooklyn New York to having a quick stint at Wittenberg College here in Ohio, and his time at Syracuse University. It goes on to show the challenges he faced coaching in Oakland, then becoming the owner of the team in Oakland, then Los Angeles, then back to Oakland. A team that rose and fell with every decade and it's owner that was famous for his Outlaw appearence, his swagger and his maverick style that made the NFL into what it is today.
I thought it was a good read, even though it is 20 years old, it goes into decent detail over everything that shaped Al Davis into the owner, coach, and person he became. It was very consice about his moves (when this book was written he hadn't yet moved back to Oakland), but still it showed how all that effected him. I thought the author did a good job talking to Al Davis and collecting a lot of good info any Raider fan or NFL fan would appreciate.
1. The purpose of this Novel is to tell about Al Davis, and more specifically, how his life has been surrounded by football. I think the evidence, to be blunt, is because Al Davis has only ever worked, played, breathed football, and the author makes that clear.
2. I struggled to find a theme. It is just presenting information about Al Davis. I guess if I had to say there was a theme it would be informational?
It goes through Al's humble beginnings in Brooklyn New York to having a quick stint at Wittenberg College here in Ohio, and his time at Syracuse University. It goes on to show the challenges he faced coaching in Oakland, then becoming the owner of the team in Oakland, then Los Angeles, then back to Oakland. A team that rose and fell with every decade and it's owner that was famous for his Outlaw appearence, his swagger and his maverick style that made the NFL into what it is today.
I thought it was a good read, even though it is 20 years old, it goes into decent detail over everything that shaped Al Davis into the owner, coach, and person he became. It was very consice about his moves (when this book was written he hadn't yet moved back to Oakland), but still it showed how all that effected him. I thought the author did a good job talking to Al Davis and collecting a lot of good info any Raider fan or NFL fan would appreciate.
1. The purpose of this Novel is to tell about Al Davis, and more specifically, how his life has been surrounded by football. I think the evidence, to be blunt, is because Al Davis has only ever worked, played, breathed football, and the author makes that clear.
2. I struggled to find a theme. It is just presenting information about Al Davis. I guess if I had to say there was a theme it would be informational?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews