It’s almost impossible to understate the impact and significance of the late Al Davis on the history of the Las Vegas Raiders, but according to the team’s former CEO, the legendary owner nearly parted with the team prior to his passing in 2011.
Amy Trask spoke on the record with Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter about the financial challenges Davis faced as owner of the Raiders and said that Davis became so frustrated at one point that he wanted to sell the team…
“At one point a couple of years before he passed away, he just got tired of it, and he said to me, ‘Let’s just sell the whole team. Let’s just sell the controlling interest. Let’s just sell it. Let’s be done with it. This is hard on you. You’re always having to find us money. You’re just going through lengths to find this. Let’s just sell the whole thing.”
“I looked at him and said, ‘You want to leave this team to your wife and your son. You want your son to have this team. I will find you the money,’ and I went and found the money.”
“I don’t think he (Mark Davis) ever knew that his dad had gotten to the point where he just said, ‘Amy, sell the team.’”
She added, “I fought for it so he could pass it on to Mark. And of course, to Carol, but of course, Carol was of the same generation as Al, so ultimately Mark.”
The irony of the story from Trask is that she and Raiders owner Mark Davis are known to have had a prickly relationship before and after her resignation from the team in 2011.
It hasn’t been a talking point in years, but it became clear soon after the passing of Davis that his son and Trask were not going to be able to function together at the top of the organization.
“Having honored a commitment that I made to effectuate a smooth transition and transfer of control, I no longer wish to remain with the organization,” Trask wrote in a statement at the time of her resignation. “For over a quarter of a century, it was my honor and my privilege to work for the Raiders. I will forever appreciate the opportunity afforded me by Al Davis.”
As it turns out, the younger Davis might not be the NFL owner he is today if Trask hadn’t convinced his father to keep the team.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Are you kidding “The owner he is today” – WOW! Davis is the worst owner in history of league. Al was one of if not the greatest. It would have been great if Al had sold the team and his son not been allowed anywhere close to it.
Come on, if you are going to write and post things make them real. When I read something saying anything remotely good about Mark Davis and his time as owner I wanna puke. That is complete misrepresentation of the truth.