Customer Reviews

Better to Reign in Hell: Inside the Raiders Fan Empire

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whether you loathe or love the Raiders, you'll enjoy and learn from Miller and Mayhew's insightful book about the Raiders fan empire. Although the writers are decidedly and unabashedly Raiders fans themselves, they paint an incredibly well-rounded picture of Raiders fans. They interviewed hundreds of people from all walks of life and all socioeconomic strata, in all kinds of places -- training camps, pubs, sports bars, tailgate parties, the games themselves in Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego -- to garner the diverse opinions of the Raiders. We learn that the fan base is amazingly ubiquitous, with fans from the U.S. to Poland, Costa Rica, and South Africa. I especially admire the way the writers juxtapose diametrically opposing views of the Raiders. For instance, in the "Raiders Rage" chapter, Michele Clark, director of a nonprofit organization in Oakland, describes how she hates the Raiders and what they represent to the youth she tries to help. However, on the next page we read how one of her coworkers, Mark Henderson, a family man, loves the Raiders. Ultimtely, though, this book is not about sports; it's about people. Miller and Mayhew's deep concern for the working-class people comes out in the chapter that describes the city of Oakland and its changing demographics over the decades. There is a wonderful chapter about the women fans: "Real Women Wear Black." There are many interesting tidbits. (Did you know that the rugged eye-patched man in the Raiders logo was modeled after Western actor Randolph Scott?) Miller's "ten ways to avoid being pummeled by an angry Raiders fan" in the "Just Lose, Baby" chapter is hilarious. The most important thing that I gained from the book, even though I am not much of a sports fan, is a tremendous respect for fans of any team that form an "imagined community" that somehow brings meaning -- and even love -- into sometimes otherwise bleak lives. I have added this book to my short sports bookshelf, which includes Will's "Men at Work," Halberstam's "The Breaks of the Game," and Cosell's "I Never Played the Game." Just read, baby!

I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my father, a die-hard Raider fan. He really enjoyed the stories and pictures in the book--it brought some levity to a disaster of a season. As one currently studying English literature, I enjoyed the references to Milton and also the philosophical discussions of the Raider fans.

Although I did attend a Raider-Chargers game 7 years ago,
I'm not a football fan. In fact I think the best time to go the hardware store is during the Super Bowl. That said, I love good books and great writing. Miller and Mayhew deliver that. From first page to last, this is a great read and cultural commentary.

Spencer in San Diego

This book covers about every aspect of Raider fandom possible and goes well past that starting point. He gets into all aspects "Ray-duh" esp. the whole Al Davis cult of personality. As a lapsed Raider fan (get rid of Mt. Davis and I still say Gannon was a Chiefs' plant guaranteed to implode on that Uber Bore stage), I learned so much about Raider Nation, the costumed vs. the non-costumed fans, the working class and "gang" connections associated with the Black Hole.

I had no idea the San Diego game every year was basically such a big deal fan-wise. I also found his look at Raider Web sites and the whole history of the Raiders' relationship with the East Bay and inner-city Oakland elevated this book past football into the realm of an anthropological study better than most I've read on fandom.

The authors also were clued into the differences between real hooliganism (i.e., Heysel 1985 when Liverpool soccer supporters went nuts) and the Raider post-Ooper Bowl riot and other assorted fights that have occurred in the past at raider games. Good research on the infamous Steeler fan fight at the LA Coliseum debunking the whole LA gang myth behind Raider fans.

I'd give this book a "5" if there wasn't so much on Al Davis and the political aspects. My eyes kind of glazed over a bit on a lot of those sections. Not saying it's not readable and worthy of inclusion. Just did not really want to read anymore of it after I got through the first bits on Davis.

If you're a Raider fan, you're sure to enjoy this very well-written book (even an objective Raider-hater, with a passion for football history/culture should be able to enjoy it). Jim Miller relates his following of the 2003 Raiders' season in an entertaining fashion and intersperses the book with interesting interviews of numerous Raider fans. The book serves to remind me of what a diverse bunch us Raiders fans are and additionally how committed and loyal we are to our team. Just a few of many reasons why I'm proud to bleed the Silver and Black! Thanks Jim.

For a fascinating look at Raiders fans, Oakland, imagined community, women in black, read this book. It's all here: history, sociology, heartbreak, and hedonism. An immediately engaging book, full of hope, humor, community, and gritty sports stories. I couldn't put it down.

For football fans and non-fans alike, this book is part sports writing and part social commentary. The book is funny, smart, well written and insightful. The authors' love of the subject is apparent and the photography is amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves, or hates, the Raiders.