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Davis likes his revenge pure, simple, elemental, predatory
Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 7:47 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.
ALAMEDA
The dramatic moment was the letter — when Al Davis told one of his guys to fire up the projector and put that letter up there larger than life, the letter that spilled the beans on fired head coach Lane Kiffin, the letter that would ruin Kiffin for life in the National Football League.
We were sitting in the Raiders’ auditorium, we being the media, talking to Davis for the first time in a long time. And Davis wore his silver and black and although he was smiling, tears leaked out his eyes.
I do not write this to mock Davis. I write to describe the scene and describe him because he is a great character in Bay Area sports history and a great character deserves description — must be described.
His eyelids were red-rimmed and inflamed from age or maybe an infection. I don’t know. Tears leaked from his eyes the whole time. If you wanted to be symbolic — and I do — you would say a part of him was weeping for himself and for his franchise, which really is the same thing.
The tears were arresting and powerful but they did not make you feel sorry for Davis — at least they didn’t make me feel sorry. He is a strong willful man and the last thing you feel for him is pity, although you feel a kind of awe — something Kiffin learned too late. You feel awe for a man who will have his way, for a man who will get you if he feels crossed, for a man who will fight harder and longer and dirtier than you ever would or could.
The letter went up and while it was there Davis read it out loud, damning Kiffin, exposing Kiffin when, really a simple, “I fired Lane for cause and here’s the new coach, Tom Cable,” would have done just fine.
But Davis would have his revenge and open up the Raiders’ private unseemly business to the entire world. There was something wonderful and awful about Davis at that moment.
He read that Kiffin had embarrassed the organization in his critical and reckless public statements.
“I left you alone during training camp in the hopes that you would cease your immature and destructive campaign.”
As we know Kiffin did not cease and desist. He went after Davis as if there would be no repercussions, went after Davis, according to Davis to get fired and still get paid off. What a mistake. He complained about players and the defensive coordinator and the public relations department and Davis himself.
Davis was particularly angry that Kiffin, according to him, lied. He called Kiffin a flat-out liar. Kiffin had told the media he didn’t speak to Davis since before the Denver game, but Davis said they spoke several times after Denver, Davis explaining to Kiffin he was in hot water. This lying drove Davis wild.
“I never dreamt that you would be untruthful in attempts and in statements in the press, as well as so many other issues. Your actions are those of a coach looking to make excuses for not winning, rather than a coach focused on winning.”
Davis went on reading while the words were there before us. He read that Kiffin never wanted to draft JaMarcus Russell. For Davis this was treason. He said Kiffin wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and hire his dad Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator.
“The letter constitutes notice that if you violate any term of your contract in any manner whatsoever, you will be terminated for cause. I trust this will not occur.”
That was a serious letter, the kind of letter you and I never see. And what was going on, really going on?
Well, sure, it was fabulous theater. It was direct, dynamic, dramatic, one of a kind — it is always interesting to see a man’s reputation trashed. We were watching revenge pure and simple, naked revenge, elemental revenge, predatory revenge — one man ripping out another’s heart on some dusty plain in a long-ago age when humans used stone implements and defended their lives every moment of every day.
And we also were watching something modern. We were watching the making of a court case, one man using the media to plead his case if it comes to pleading the case in court or before an arbitrator. And the case was that another man had betrayed him and ridiculed him and served him poorly and he had the right to take away the other man’s money even though the money is relatively puny.
It remains to be seen if Davis has the right. A lawyer told me Kiffin does not seem to have committed a material breach of his contract, merely several minor breaches. For now, that doesn’t matter. What matters is this: We saw an old hand at evening scores getting even. And it was astonishing in its bitterness and pure animal energy. And Kiffin had brought it on himself.
Afterward, after the press conference was over, Davis remained in his seat on the stage and the media gathered around him and he held a kind of court as if he is a wise man or an icon. He said Kiffin is power crazy and if someone called him for a recommendation about Kiffin he wouldn’t say anything.
Davis was endearing — there is a charm to him. He called one woman reporter cute — I don’t know how she took it. He smiled easily and was witty and whimsical and you might have thought, “He’s cute.” But he isn’t. If you are smart, you experience him but you don’t get close to him — not if you want to remain safe.
And when the whole shebang was over and the reporters left, Davis sat at the table on the stage and didn’t leave, didn’t leave until every reporter had departed. I know why. I think I do. He has trouble walking, says it’s nothing serious, just a bum quad. Maybe. I believe he wanted everyone out so we would not see him depart — either struggle to his feet or be wheeled out.
I do not make fun of him. I describe. And I thought that little incident was the epitome of Davis. He is so proud, although not too proud to relentlessly go after someone else in public.
He wanted the appearance of strength, the appearance of being “dominating” — his favorite concept — and that meant he could not show weakness. But like the rest of us he needs help. And I thought he is an appearance and maybe he’s a façade and, finally, what is the truth?
For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.pressdemcrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at 521-5486 or lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.
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