dex alexander

So I became a Raiders fan once we moved back to California. It wasn’t a hard decision. I wear lots of black and my wife’s Mexican. So… yeah. Raiders fan.

This season has brought with it hope and heart-ache, pride and pain. Al’s passing and Palmer’s passing have been the low and high points of a season that has light at the end of the tunnel. With a few weeks left, here’s a few lessons I’ve learned…

DRESS THE PART

The Raiders have probably the most iconic uniform in sports. The Silver and Black bring with it an attitude and expectation that can’t be achieved if you’re wearing powder blue or orange stripes. There’s something to the style and the brand that escapes comparison. Just ask Jonny Cash how far he’d get as ‘the man in red.’

But deeper than the sartorial consideration, our style is a projection of how we see the world. As I’m called upon to meet with people more regularly in my freelance opportunities, my style has had to become a little more refined. Still me, but now, with purpose. A little thought into what I’m packaged in gives a better idea as to what the final product will be.

SIEZE THE OPPORTUNITY

Jason Campbell started the season as a solid player at the quarterback position. Once he went down with an injury, the Raiders could have just waited out the injury and stumbled through the season and rallied behind the mantra, “We’ll get ‘em next year.”

But instead, they charged forward and looked for the best possible option to fill the gap. They brought in Carson Palmer, a Bengals holdout, slightly disgruntled yet highly regarded QB who was waiting for the right opportunity to be traded. It was a match made in heaven. Palmer has done well in the starting role and the Raiders solidified what was a potential problem for their future.

There will be times when you find yourself in flux. You can do one of two things- ride it out, or make it happen. I believe that when your passion meets an opportunity, that God’s way of saying, “Here’s your chance. Whatcha’ gonna do?”

While patience is a virtue, you’ve also got to strike while the iron is hot. (I’ve got plenty of other contradictory idioms if you’d like.)

RUN AT, NOT AWAY FROM, CHALLENGES

The Raiders, when healthy, have a potent running attack. They’re in the top 5 when it comes to running the ball and it’s a major part of their game plan. When it’s good, they are. When it’s bad, they are. Simple.

Here’s the point. We’re all running. Either to something, or from something. It’s all a matter of perspective.

There’s a guy named Caleb in the Bible. He’s one of my favorite characters in all of literature. When he was given a small piece of comfortable land to have as his own, he turned it sown for better land that was currently occupied be giants. He was running to a better situation even though it had greater challenges.

So here’s to all the runners out there. Find a hill and charge it. Find a challenge and take it head on. If there’s a struggle in your life, track it down - hunt it! You’ll find that when you take charge of your circumstances, you’re no longer at the power of some inanimate object - you’ll be more able to control it than be controlled by it.

Being a Raiders fan is tough. But it’s worth it.

Kinda’ like life.