New Owner in the Raider Nation
By Reid Ryley
The Oakland Raiders held a press conference today to announce some shocking news: Al Davis has sold the Oakland Raiders to Billionaire John Mackey. John Mackey is the owner of the software conglomerate Mackey-Soft, which earned $27.5 billion in total revenue last year. It was announced that the deal is official and Mr. Mackey will be taking ownership of the team immediately.
When questioned as to why Mr. Davis would sell the team he had first been a part of in the ‘60’s, Mr. Davis responded that it was time to enjoy the rest of his life with family and friends. He thanked everyone that he had worked with in the Raiders organization, and wished them well.
Mr. Mackey’s first order of business was to hire a new General Manager, Barrett Blade. This was met with numerous questions as Mr. Blade is unknown to the football community. Mr. Mackey stated that the NFL should just “wait and see” what Mr. Blade will bring to the organization, and stated that he had Mr. Mackey’s fullest confidence. The current coaching staff will remain in place, however.
Mr. Mackey was also questioned as to his future plans with the Raiders. He responded that he was excited about the future, and that he had a lot of hope for the team. He also stated that the Raiders should have a long future in Oakland, so long as the city shows that they will support the team. He did say, though, that there will be changes made to the team, so that they can compete the way that he wanted them to compete. When questioned further on that issue, Mr. Mackey declined to comment.
So begins a new era in the Oakland Raiders history. Fans hope it will be long and prosperous.