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Home , Jack Del Rio, JaMarcus Russell, Jeff George, Ken Stabler, Mount Davis (Oakland), Oakland Coliseum

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z WINNER OF THE 2018 PULITZER PRIZE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM Historic win for Newman PREP FOOTBALL » Cardinals’ state title 1st for county school; Rancho falls short THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Cardinal Newman became the first Sonoma County high school to win a state championship in football on Saturday night, beating El Camino of Oceanside 31-14 to win the Division 3-AA crown. The Cardinals’ win came one year after the team missed out on a trip to state after losing a coin flip forced by wildfires. The championship at Cardi- nal Newman was one of two state title games be- ing played at the same time in the county, also a first. The Rancho Cotate Cougars succumbed to a KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT third-period rally by Bakersfield Christian, losing ALVIN JORNADA / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT CARDINAL NEWMAN: Head coach Paul Cronin is doused with water 42-21 in the Division 3-A contest. RANCHO COTATE: Rancho Cotate’s Dimitri Johnson, left, tackles Saturday near the end of their victory against El Camino in Santa Rosa. Full coverage begins on Page C1. Bakersfield Christian’s David Stevenson on Saturday in Rohnert Park.

LARKSPUR OAKLAND RAIDERS » FINAL GAME AT COLISEUM SMART Descending on holy station gets an ground one last time ovation Passengers try out latest addition to rail line that now connects to ferry By KEVIN FIXLER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A standing-room only SMART train burst into cheers Saturday morning as sunshine reentered the windows as it passed south through a short tunnel and — for the very first time with pay- ing customers — pulled into the brand new station in Larkspur. “Look how much excitement there is about it,” Susan Whis- tler, 65, of Forestville said as she exited the holiday-themed Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Tran- sit train after it finished the maiden voyage. “This is pretty exciting. I’ve been waiting for it a long time.” She wasn’t alone in her de- light over the now 45-mile line, from Larkspur to near Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Air- port north of Santa Rosa. Ad- vocates of the train and those curious about the North Bay commuter rail line’s new south- ern terminus, with its connec- tion to the nearby Larkspur Ferry Terminal, filled the seats, aisles and areas near the doors for the journey. PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT April Nichols, 63, who lives Loyal fans wait for a chance to interact with Oakland Raiders players on Dec. 8 as they leave the field after their game. The Raiders face the just west of Santa Rosa, parked on Sunday in what will almost certainly be the last home game the team ever plays in Oakland. her car and caught the train from the Santa Rosa north sta- tion at Guerneville Road. She History of franchise and her friend, Anne Sutter, 69, of Sebastopol, scheduled a day through eyes of fans as trip to via the fer- ry around Larkspur’s opening day. team moves to Vegas The two retired kindergarten By PHIL BARBER teachers from the Piner-Olivet THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Union School District planned to meet at the Cotati stop and OAKLAND enjoy each other’s company for ast Sunday was a run-of-the-mill the remainder of the one hour game day in the vast parking lot of and 19-minute route. Their idea Lthe , which is to was to take in the experience to say it was a never-ending cavalcade of weigh the costs of the train and brisket and brats, weed smoke and beer bongs, profane T-shirts and silver-and- TURN TO SMART » PAGE A2 black serapes, Super INSIDE Bowl XV flags and giant ■ Padecky on inflated Darth Vaders, INSIDE Raiders’ training mariachi and Mac Dre. Stop, camp at El Something about Raid- NOISE OF NATURE: close your eyes and take Rancho in SR ers games has always in sounds while exploring been different. Every ■ Nevius on the Petaluma wetlands with sports team has its loyal big move and help from field guide / D5 covering team for supporters and favored The Gorilla nearly 40 years regional cuisine. But Rilla, above, SANTA ROSA only in Oakland will you Stories, C1 cheers on the High 56, Low 35 find such a concentra- Raiders from tion of game-day ghouls, the Black Hole THE WEATHER, C8 demons, zombies, malevolent priests and on Dec. 8 in Advice T7 Movies D6 priestesses, pirates and Elvis imperson- Oakland. ators — a football game disguised as the Business E1 Nation-World B1 midnight screening of a horror movie. Oakland Classified E4 Obituaries B4 This spooky congregation will converge Raiders fan Dan Crossword T7 Sonoma Life D1 on its holy ground one more time Sunday, Reardon cheers Forum B9 Smith A3 when the Raiders face the Jacksonville on his team Lotto A2 State news A8 Jaguars in what will almost certainly be Dec. 8 before the last home game the team ever plays in the start of the Oakland. game against “One game left,” Andy Coronado said. the in TURN TO RAIDERS » PAGE A12 Oakland. ©2019 The Press Democrat A12 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 Silver and black highlights On Sunday, the OAKLAND RAIDERS will play their last home game in the Bay Area city they have called home for most of their existence since entering the League in 1960. Heading to Las Vegas, the Raiders have provided both thrilling and bizarre moments during their

ROBERT KLEIN / time in Oakland. Here’s a look at some of the the 1963: , center, head coach of the Raiders, talks with players at the team’s home practice field in Oakland. silver and black’s memorable moments.

THE 1960s 1960 1967 ■ The Raiders are ■ The Raiders founded Jan. 30 and finish the season 13-1 play their first game behind Sept. 11. They finish . the season with a They make it to record of 6-8. II but lose to the Green Bay 1963 Packers, 33-14. ■ Al Davis coaches ASSOCIATED PRESS his first year for the 1968 1981: NFL Commissioner , right, Raiders and they fin- ■ The Raiders beat presents the Super Bowl XV trophy to Al Davis. ish 10-4. They debut the their famous black in Oakland on Nov. THE 1980s THE 1990s and silver uniforms 17, but most of the at their regular- TV audience misses season opening game the wild comeback 1980 1995 ■ ■ on Sept. 8. because NBC has The Raiders win Davis signs a cut to a screening of their second NFL contract to move the children’s movie ASSOCIATED PRESS championship, the team back to 1966 defeating the Oakland for the 1995 ■ Davis briefly de- “Heidi.” 1977: Oakland Raiders quarterback celebrates completing a pass en route to his team’s 32-14 victory over the in the NFL football Super Bowl in Pasadena. season. Several ren- parts to become AFL 27-10 in Super Bowl ovations, including Commissioner but 1969 XV after entering as a new seating and a ■ THE returns to the head , wildcard team. training facility, are coaching job after the previously the added. NFL merger later that coach, 1973-75 1974 1976 1979 year. He buys a 10% is promoted to head 1982 ■ The Raiders reach ■ Quarterback Ken ■ At 13-1, the Raiders ■ Madden leaves ■ interest in the team coach. Davis wins approv- 1998 the conference Stabler is the NFL’s have the league’s coaching, citing al in court to relocate ■ Davis hires for $18,000 and takes championship three MVP. The Raiders best record. burnout. Former control of football the team to the Los Philadelphia Eagles straight times, losing beat the Miami Dol- Raiders quarterback Angeles Memorial offensive coordinator operations. The each. phins in a dramatic takes his Raiders move into 1977 Coliseum, where the as head playoff game in ■ The Raiders defeat place. Raiders win their coach. the Oakland-Alameda Oakland known as County Coliseum. the Minnesota Vi- third NFL champi- the “Sea of Hands.” kings 32-14 in Super onship, defeating Bowl XI for their first Washington in 1984. NFL championship.

THE 2000s THE 2010s 2000 2002 2003 2011 2015 2017 ■ The Raiders reach ■ The “Tuck Rule ■ The Raiders make ■ Davis tells Tom ■ is ■ The Raiders offi- the AFC title game Game”: A controver- it to Super Bowl Cable his contract as hired as head coach cially file paperwork with an overall sial turn- XXXVII and are head coach will not for the 2015 season. to relocate the team record of 12-4, but over is overturned crushed by Gruden’s be renewed. Hue They finish with a 7-9 to Las Vegas by the lose to the Baltimore upon review in the Buccaneers, 48-21. Jackson is announced record. The Raiders, 2020 season. The Ravens after veteran 2001 AFC playoffs, as the new head St. Louis Rams and Raiders finish the quarterback Rich resulting in a tying 2007 coach. Davis dies on Chargers season 6-10, which Gannon goes fourth-quarter field ■ is Oct. 8, and his son all file to relocate to prompts Mark Davis with an injury. goal and eventual hired as head coach, Mark takes control of . to fire head coach win for the Patriots and the Raiders the team. Del Rio. 2001 in overtime. A month select quarterback 2016 ■ The Raiders later, Davis trades JaMarcus Russell 2012 ■ The Raiders reach 2018 acquire all-time Gruden to the Tampa with the No. 1 overall MARK J. TERRILL / ASSOCIATED PRESS ■ Reggie McKen- a one-year agree- ■ The Raiders leading receiver Bay Buccaneers for pick. 2003: tight end Ken zie, the Green Bay ment with the City announce the prior to cash and a bevy of Dilger goes airborne as Oakland Raiders corner- Packers director of of Oakland to stay at return of head coach the season, bringing draft picks. Offensive 2008 back takes out his legs during football operations, O.co Coliseum with Gruden on a 10-year, the longtime 49ers coordinator Bill Cal- ■ Davis fires Kiffin Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. is named the first an option for a sec- $100 million contract. superstar across the lahan takes Gruden’s at the infamous general manager ond season. A new Davis fires general San Francisco Bay. place. In the ensuing “overhead projector” since Davis’ death. domed stadium in manager McKenzie They finish 10-6 and 2002 season, quarter- press conference. Las Vegas that could and replaces him win a second straight back is host the Raiders and with the NFL Net- AFC West title. voted the NFL’s MVP the University of Ne- work’s draft analyst as the Raiders go 11-5. vada football team . They is proposed. The finish 4-12. Raiders finish with a 12-4 record and KELVIN KUO / ASSOCIATED PRESS make the playoffs 2017: Jack Del Rio was the Oakland Raiders’ for the first time in head coach from 2015 to 2017. 14 years.

of 2016 that he planned to move Council and the Alameda Coun- “They thought they were gonna resume talks with Oakland. It the brand to Las Vegas. The ty Board of Supervisors on how get a great deal. Things changed. immediately pivoted to Vegas.” RAIDERS past year, especially, has been a to achieve that. The unhappy It’s a deal, not a great deal. They Specifically, Mark Davis pivot- CONTINUED FROM A1 slow-motion crawl toward that breakup is about to be finalized. could have stayed here if we ed. “I believe if Al Davis was still eventuality, with the Raiders Most Raiders partisans seem gave them a good deal. We didn’t around, we would’ve had a deal,” “It’s kind of melancholy.” releasing periodic video updates to be giving Davis the benefit of let ourselves be screwed.” Kalb said. “And that Mark Davis Coronado, a 57-year-old from of the construction of their new the doubt. He grew up watching It’s unlikely any degree of pub- is not in same ballpark as his Stockton, was sitting inside his stadium near the Vegas strip. games in Oakland and has built lic money was going to be avail- father in terms of intellect and minibus, a staple of the pre- up tremendous goodwill since able here. But Amy Trask, the ability to get something done.” game scene here. He bought Familiar territory for fans succeeding his father in 2011. Raiders’ former chief executive Attempts to reach Mark Davis the vehicle for $800 six or seven For older fans, it’s a familiar Few other NFL owners are as and now a CBS football analyst for this story were unsuccessful. years ago and turned it into a feeling. The Raiders, one of willing to rub elbows with fans. and board chairman of the Big3 A lot of Raiders fans are resent- mobile shrine to the Raiders. the AFL’s original 1960 fran- And this is the family business, league, insists there ful of their local politicians, but Every stroke of the paint job, chises, uprooted from Oakland after all. Who wouldn’t want con- were “creative alternatives being can you blame the budget writers every interior decoration is abruptly in 1982 and moved to trol of his or her own stadium? discussed as to how to bridge that for not wanting to throw public dedicated to the team. Affixed Los Angeles. They returned Kirk Morrison, an Oakland financial gap” in Oakland. money at the team? The city is to the front of Coronado’s ride in 1995 and, for the most part, native and a Raiders Trask said she pushed hard for still repaying its share of the debt is a leg that looks as if it were were welcomed with open arms from 2005-09, contrasts the Raid- those alternatives before leaving for construction of , pulled off a piñata; before each by the people they had once ers’ move with that of the Char- the organization in 2013. She the towering bank of stands and game, Coronado wraps the leg abandoned. It was as if Oakland gers, who relocated from San suggested, for example, building suites, completed in 1996, that in colored tape to represent that had forgiven the Raiders for a Diego to Los Angeles in 2017. a new stadium immediately to now blots out the eastern horizon day’s opponent. temporary lack of judgment. “San Diego’s my second the north or south of the existing at the stadium. The county paid On the right side of the bus is “They never should have left,” home,” Morrison said. “I know Coliseum, playing in the old place off the remaining $100 million of the oversize autograph of Lester former Raiders linebacker Matt those people down there are during construction, then hop- its project debt in 2015. Hayes, who played cornerback Millen said in June of 1995, as hurting. They’re hurting bad. ping next door when the new fa- for the Raiders from 1977 to 1986, quoted in a Press Democrat ar- The team that they had and cility was completed. That would Finding fans all over the first five of those years in ticle. “They’re going back where they’ve known literally walked leave room for the A’s, should the A reconciliation was never Oakland. Hayes, who now lives in they belong. Coach (John Mad- away and went up the road and team decide to remain at really in the cards. There is Modesto, likes to renew his vows den) and I talked about it and we said forget about you guys. With the Coliseum complex. talk of the Raiders training in to by roaming this agreed: The Raiders should never Mark Davis, it has not been that “What struck me was that Napa again next summer. But parking lot from time to time. be anywhere but Oakland.” way. As crazy as it’s been, they’ve every time I would offer an alter- when the 2020 NFL preseason “I’ve met people that are “This is the last move of the made this transition work.” nate proposal, there was always begins in August, barring a huge sons and daughters, nieces and Los Angeles Raiders,” East Bay a reason that the answer was surprise, the team’s first home nephews of fans who watched politician Don Perata declared Choosing Vegas’ deal no,” Trask said. “Can we do two game will be under a translu- us play,” he said. “This is family in the same story. The Vegas enticements were stadiums? No, it’ll use too much cent roof serving as a shield love. Brother, you’ll see people Alas, the confidence was mis- powerful. taxpayers are parking. OK, can we move the from the Mojave Desert sun. I’ve seen for four decades. And placed. The Oakland Coliseum subsidizing $750 million of the sta- stadium a quarter of a mile? No. As Morrison said, “I know this their family members. It’s fami- has grown increasingly decrep- dium project. Of course, the Las OK, what if we put the parking time it’s for real for real.” ly love, and family love travels.” it. Mark Davis, like his father Vegas Review-Journal reported across the 880? No.” The Raiders could well thrive We will find out soon, because before him, craved ownership in July that the overall cost of the Trask added: “I thought it tell- after the move. They had no this scene is about to fade away. of a state-of-the-art facility. He facility has risen to $1.9 billion. ing that after the team lost its bid trouble developing a rabid fol- Team owner Mark Davis, son has spent the past several years “They didn’t really get a great to move to Los Angeles (in 2016, lowing in Los Angeles. Many of of the late franchise patriarch bickering with Oakland Mayor deal in Las Vegas,” Oakland when the NFL selected the Char- Al Davis, announced in April Libby Schaaf, the Oakland City City Councilman Dan Kalb said. gers over the Raiders), it didn’t TURN TO RAIDERS » PAGE A13 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 A13

the 49ers gain dominance over the Bay Area in the ’80s. It was RAIDERS a one-team area, and that team, CONTINUED FROM A12 the 49ers of Bill Walsh, and Jerry Rice, was those fans have flown up regu- winning Super Bowls. All of larly for games in Oakland since Morrison’s friends were Niners 1994, and many will drive or fly fans. But that wasn’t gonna fly to Vegas. New traditions await. in the Morrison household, and “That’s honestly what has definitely not with young Kirk. It helped me kind of cope with contradicted his sense of self. the Raiders leaving,” Morrison “As a young kid, to me San said. “Because they’re gonna get Francisco was like, privileged,” fans from all over the world. Not Morrison said. “Because I grew just Vegas. Not just Oakland, up in West Oakland. I grew up Los Angeles. You’re gonna get where the Cypress Freeway fans from all over the world. … collapsed (in the Loma Prieta I think now I have to embrace earthquake in 1989). You only that other people can share in went to San Francisco for field the joy that I’ve had throughout trips. Now as I got older, it was a my 37 years on this earth.” little different. But San Francis- co always had this perception of Magic of Coliseum gone being uppity, or better. The peo- But there’s no denying the ple of the East Bay, which is like team is about to lose something CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT the majority of my family, we irreplaceable — beginning with Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden celebrates his team’s win over the with fans took on the mentality of what that unique game-day experi- Nov. 7 in Oakland. Gruden said he makes a pilgrimage to the Coliseum’s most notorious section of seats, behind being a Raider fan was. Just hav- ence. Despite Davis’ repeated the south end zone, after every home win. ing a chip on your shoulder.” insistence that any new Oakland When the Raiders returned stadium would have to include bigger challenge in Las Vegas, sort of hospitality, the counter- in San Francisco and moved to Oakland in 1995, Morrison’s significant room for tailgating, America’s favorite weekend argument to the trope of the there this season. The A’s have father bought season tickets he the Las Vegas site apparent- party destination. drunken, foul-mouthed Raiders pledged to remain “Rooted in couldn’t really afford. Morrison ly will have very little. The “Right now, you go to a game dirtbag. Oakland,” but they, too, are remembers the jersey he wore Raiders will offer shuttles and in Oakland, and the overwhelm- “When the fans learned that fed up with the Coliseum, their to games, a knockoff encourage fans to explore public ing, overwhelming percentage I was a vegetarian very early home since 1968. And so far, No. 3. “We were kind of raised in transportation. Good for the of fans are Raider fans,” Trask in our relocation, I would walk securing land for a new baseball the church. My dad was a minis- environment. Bad for families said. “If you are the fan of a the parking lots and they’re park has proved treacherous. ter,” Morrison said. “And when bearing underinflated footballs team that’s playing the Raiders yelling out to me, ‘Amy, we made During an interview with the Raiders came back, our and seven-layer dip. on the road, and you can afford you asparagus!’ ” Trask said. “I local Fox station KTVU in Octo- sanctuary became the Oakland Anyway, you can’t simply relo- to go to only one road trip to see never shared this information. ber, Schaaf said Major League Coliseum on Sunday.” cate an organic atmosphere like your team, a lot of people are I never asked anybody to make Baseball commissioner Rob the Coliseum’s. gonna pick Las Vegas.” me asparagus. That to me was a Manfred had warned the mayor ‘I’m heartbroken for them’ “When I played my first game Even if the Las Vegas vibe is a sign of how welcoming the fans and other officials that he would The underdog mentality that versus my hometown team, the success, it will not be Oakland. were.” encourage the A’s to move to Morrison described previously Oilers (a preseason Nothing could be. Las Vegas if the city didn’t drop followed the team to Los Ange- contest on Aug. 8, 1977), 60,000 Morrison remembers making Losing valued teams a lawsuit over the ownership les, where hip-hop groups like fans sounded like 120,000 fans,” a spur-of the-moment decision, It isn’t just the warm embrace structure of the Coliseum site. NWA made Raiders gear must- Hayes said. “Oh, man. The psy- when he was playing at San of Raider Nation, though. The “Obviously he chose his city wear attire in neighborhoods chological stimuli! It made your Diego State, to fly home with a connection between this team wisely as far as exposing a pain that felt overlooked. But can it spine tingle.” buddy for a Raiders game during and this community goes much point that all Oaklanders feel follow them to Las Vegas? Vegas It still does, according to their playoff run in 2002. They deeper than that. about losing our sports teams,” has its share of working-class Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who had a flight canceled, rerouted In Morrison’s mind, it’s NFL Schaaf told the TV station. people. But the city tries to sell makes a pilgrimage to the Col- through Sacramento, and wound affiliation that defines a city. It’s a pain that hasn’t truly a flashy, decadent idea of itself. iseum’s most notorious section up counting their precious dol- If he meets a guy in a bar and subsided since 1982. How will that image mesh with of seats, behind the south end lar bills and looking into renting learns that he is from Pitts- Morrison saw that hurt before old-school Raiders fans? zone, after every home win. “I a car to get to Oakland. Fortu- burgh, “I’m not asking him if he even understood it. He grew Even Raider Nation has yet to don’t have a lot of friends except nately, they were surrounded he’s a Penguins fan. I’m not up in Oakland in the 1980s. His sort it out. the guys in the Black Hole,” by Raiders fans. One of them asking if he’s a Pirates fan. To earliest football memories were of “For those fans that are looking Gruden said a couple weeks ago, noticed Morrison’s silver-and- me, it’s, ‘Are you a Steelers fan?’ the Los Angeles Raiders. So why forward to the move, I’m delighted laughing. “I only get to see them black gear and said, “Nope, Same thing, if I say I’m from did everyone in his family address for them,” Trask said. “For those six or seven times (a year). I get you’re coming with us.” Oakland: ‘Oh, you must be one them by a different name? fans that, whether they live in the emotional talking about it.” “Literally rode from the Sacra- of those Raider fans.’ That’s “When I was first learning, Bay Area or elsewhere, they’re go- mento airport to the Coliseum,” what people identify with. And I people would still call them the ing to travel to Las Vegas for the Vegas will never be Oakland Morrison recalled. “When people think it won’t initially hit people Oakland Raiders,” Morrison games, and they’re delighted with Ask the 49ers about creating a say ‘Raider Nation,’ like, that’s from Oakland and the East Bay. said. “And it was weird. I’m like, having a brand-new stadium, I’m mood. Only now, with the team Raider Nation. That’s Raider But in time, it will start to go ‘How are they Oakland, but yet delighted for them. riding a dramatic 11-2 start, have family. That’s when I knew that away.” they’re in LA?’ I kept trying to “But for those fans who are they begun to build a feeling of the fan base was special. And It’s an especially salient point figure it out.” heartbroken by the move, and excitement at Levi’s Stadium, I’m not even a player yet (at that in Oakland, a city still mourn- who will not follow the team to their home in Santa Clara since point), I’m not even drafted yet.” ing the loss of the Golden State ‘Chip on your shoulder’ Las Vegas? I’m heartbroken for 2014. And it could be an even Trask can identify with that Warriors, who built a new arena The Raiders’ absence helped them.”

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San Rafael psychotherapist offers free counseling to fire victims in December and January

On weekends in December and January, licensed clinical social worker Miriam Siyam is offering 4 free individual counseling sessions and free small group therapy sessions at her San Rafael office to those affected by the Sonoma County fires.

For more information, please call 415-762-3600