Malta is Oakland east? Who knew?

I have been an Oakland Raiders fan for as long as I have been watching the NFL. Back in the early 70’s, my father was stationed at Mare Island Navel Base in Vallejo, California, a 35-minute drive from the Oakland Coliseum, home of Charlie Finley’s Athletics and Al Davis’ Raiders.

My father was around 18-years-old at the time, a fresh-faced sailor from Butte, Montana, making his first stop in a military career that would end up spanning over 30 years. I’m not sure if my father was a Raiders’ fan before moving to Northern Cali, but he quickly became a fan of the Raiders because of our close proximity to the team. As I grew older and found a passion for sports, I too became a Raiders fan because I wanted to be like my Dad (though he no longer watches NFL teams, but rather college football.)

Being a Raiders fan comes with its bumps and bruises and over the last 12 or so years, 55-134 in the span, cheering for this team has been downright painful. The life of a Raider fan is not haphazard or fickle. We live and die with our team and don’t ride any bandwagons. Today, we know we stink, but we don’t care. We love our team.

If you have ever seen me in person then you have probably seen me wearing an Oakland Raiders hat. I wear it with pride, as silly as that may seem. Over the past nine months, I have been amazed at how many Raiders fan there are here in Malta, Montana. They see my lid and admit their allegiance to the NFL’s current laughing stock…OUR Raiders. It’s like we are living in Oakland East.

It was no surprise that there are hundreds of Broncos and Seahawks fans here (as loyal as I am sure that they are, it doesn’t hurt that they have been very successful recently.) It was the same deal in Western Montana. Everywhere I turned, Broncos and Seahawks fans laughing at me each Monday morning as my Oakland Raiders embarrassed me yet again.

But not here, even though my team stinks. The Malta Raiders fans are strong and optimistic (and often delusional.) Here’s a list of admitted Oakland Raiders fans who reside in Malta. I’m making this list so that someday, when we return to greatness, people will know that we stuck with it through the hard times and that, in 30-years when we finally have a winning record, we can bask in our glory and not be labeled as “Bandwagon Fans.”

Malta Raiders Backers (and how I know them.)

Dan Perry, Albertson’s associate, Dwight Score, owner of Joe’s In and Out, Tad Schye, Malta Elementary Principal, James Brown, Malta City Works Director, Greg Skiff, Malta School Board Trustee, Ryan LaBrie, Malta Wrestling Coach.

to be continued ....