Slick: The Silver-And-Black Life of Al Davis [Hardcover]

Mark Ribowsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1991

In this startling biography, veteran sports journalist Mark Ribowsky interviews more than 100 people whose lives have been directly touched by Al Davis, owner of the Los Angeles Raiders. A riveting portrait of a driven man, Slick is the story of Davis from his sandlot days in Brooklyn through his coaching years to his ownership of the Raiders. A most unauthorized biography of the most controversial of NFL owners. 16 pages of photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After noting that no one has written a previous biography of the L.A. Raiders' outspoken and controversial owner/president, sports journalist Ribowsky demonstrates why. Born into a well-off Jewish family in Brooklyn, N.Y.,Davis, reputed to resort to questionable means in order to secure victory, has been a long-time political conservative whose hero is Adolf Hitler. Rejected in college for varsity basketball and football teams, he embarked on a coaching career that stamped him as either football genius or clever borrower of others' ideas. On his rise through the ranks, he coached in the military, college and the pros, sometimes to the subsequent regret of the head coaches who hired him. In Oakland, Calif., Davis developed the Raiders into the winningest team in the pro game and then, over league opposition, moved the team to L.A. Like his subject, Ribowsky pulls no punches, quoting Davis's foes as liberally as he does his friends.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is the second recent book on the controversial, strong-willed, and successful owner of the National Football League's Los Angeles Raiders. While Ira Simmons, in his milder Black Knight: Al Davis and His Raiders ( LJ 12/90), gives more emphasis to the team's performance, Ribowsky dissects the self-promoting coaching and business methods of a driving and driven Jewish admirer of Adolf Hitler. His manipulation of Oakland and Los Angeles in franchise moves and threats, and the bitter war with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and other owners make this the more exciting book. Still, non-California libraries owning Black Knight and the earlier basic study of NFL wars, Davis Harris's The League ( LJ 10/15/86), may waive this one.
- Morey Berger, formerly with Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 16 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co; First Edition edition (September 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0026025000
• ISBN-13: 978-0026025003
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated re-issue is needed!, May 12, 2008

By 

Rob Thomas (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slick: The Silver-And-Black Life of Al Davis (Hardcover)

The reviews here are from the earlier part of this decade, or the late' 90s, when the Raiders were heading upward under Al Davis, Bruce Allen, and Jon Gruden. So, it was easy at that time to pass this book off as good fun.

But now that the Raiders are coming off of a 19-61 record over the past 5 years, this book takes on a whole new life, and lacks only an update focusing on what happened between Al Davis and Jon Gruden, and the landslide this franchise has been on ever since.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it now!, March 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Slick: The Silver-And-Black Life of Al Davis (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent dissection of Al Davis and the stunts he pulls throughout his life and with the NFL. His battles with Pete Rozelle and the league are not much smaller than battles in a World War. From coaching at the Citadel to moving his Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles. It goes through Al's boyhood life and his struggles to the top of the game with the Raiders. This is an excellent book, not only for Raiders fans but any fan of sports.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on THE Man., January 15, 2000

By 

Matt (Richmond,VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slick: The Silver-And-Black Life of Al Davis (Hardcover)

If your looking to learn more on this football legend, then get a copy of this. Great research on a man obessed with being the best in pro football. Gives you the ups and down in his life.