"Just Win, Baby, the Al Davis Story," by Murray Olderman released in August, 2012 is a fun read if your a die-hard Oakland Raider fan, but if your not a Raider enthusiast this book is a one star read.
Olderman, an award winning journalist has co-written one other book, "My Life in Football," with Bart Starr, the hearled quarter-back of the Green Bay Packers from the 60s about his life in football.
"The History of the American Football League, Featuring the Oakland Raiders," would have been a much better title for "Just Win Baby..." Olderman only talked to Davis for a few hours and noboby else, including past and present players and coaches who actually knew Davis personally.
Dispite Olderman's inept research and misleading title, as a Raider aficionado I found it fasicnating that Gene Upshaw, a hall of fame offensive lineman for the Raiders claims the Raiders would have appeared in three more Super Bowls had the NFL had instant replay in the 60s and 70s. "Just Win Baby...," states bad calls kept the Raiders from beating the New York Jets in the 1969 AFL title game, the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC champion ship game in 1975 and the Denver Bronco's in the AFC title game in 1977. Factor in the imaculate reception by Franco Harris in 1972 and the bogus tuck rule made up in the 2001 AFC title game giving the New England Patriots and not the Raiders the win, the Raiders should have appeared in ten Super Bowls as opposed to five.
Olderman's novel, aside from its maladroit reseach occasionally strikes a cerebal cord of interest and revancely to Davis's life. Former player and coach for the Raiders Tom Flores gave Davis the book, "The Art of War," a 2000 year-old book written by Sun Tzu. Davis used this book amoung others, epecially novels about WWII for statagies in football which ultatimately ammassed three Super Bowl wins for the silver and black attact.
Anyone interested in detailed facts about the begining and end of the AFL and many of its star players, Olderman's novel is and four star read. For those who want an indepth look into the life and times of Davis, it's a one star read.
Olderman inteviewed Davis when he was 80-years-old for only two days to write the mans life story. If Davis had been an intriquing 15-year-old, this little bit or research would have been sufficient. For Davis who lived to the age of 82 and was an iconic figure who coached and was a General Manger in professional football for more than 45 years, the lack of reaseach was reflected in "Just Win Baby..."
If Olderman is indeed a a renowned journalist why didn't he inview Mark Davis, Al's only child? Why didn't he talk with hall of fame Raider running back Marcus Allen who never resolved his feud with Davis? Olderman should have inteviewed seveal players and coaches who both loved and loathed Davis for true story of Davis's life.
The book is mostly about the Raiders, its players and the history of the now defunct AFL. The few times the novel mentions Davis, it's mostly things that could be found on the internet. If you want detailed facts about Davis, just don't read this book, if you like or love the Raiders it's a must read.
