Raiders fans. Pretty much like the team, people either love 'em or hate 'em.
Lately, the latter of the two has been case. But if you ask why, reasons are sketchy at best. Since the Raiders return to Oakland from Los Angeles in 1995, not only have law enforcement agencies had a torrid affair with the rowdy fans, but the "die-hards" have, too.
"It was pretty bad when the team first moved back," said Joe Lucero of Oakley, Calif., who has been a Raiders season ticket holder since 1967. "In the stands, you had a whole new breed of fan coming in thinking it was cool or bad to be a Raiders fan. They'd take off their shirts, show off all their tattoos, and some of them were gang-bangers. They were real foul-mouthed and started so many fights. They weren't there for the football."
Lucero said it was just as bad in the parking lot. After the games, the Oakland Police Department would have a helicopter fly overhead and announce over the loud speaker patrons had 15 minutes to vacate the parking lot or they would be cited.
"It's gotten much better these last couple of years, though. Security inside and out the coliseum has worked with the season ticket holders and the bad seeds are slowly being weeded out," Lucero said.
Lucero and the group of friends he and wife Cindy meet up with at each home game are seasoned regulars. They arrive at 4:30 in the morning to get in line for the parking area. Once inside, the barbecues are set up and the pregame festivities begin.
"This is where we visit with the friends we've made over the years," Cindy said. "And when we go into the Coliseum, we act like we would like to see others act. We want to portray good people, and good football fans. We're here for the game."
The Luceros bring their camper to each game, complete with a toilet. It became the gathering point for most of the women, who preferred to use it to the porta potties in the parking lot. One day as a joke, Joe told the users to leave their payment for using the toilet in a bucket. They did.
"We decided to use the money to adopt a family for Christmas," Cindy said. "We contacted a free clinic in Hayward who referred us to a family, who we then contacted. They gave us their wish list and with the money that has been donated, by people we do and don't know, we will hopefully fulfill their needs.
"Our group has been very generous. They're warm-hearted people. And we're doing it to give people a sense of what we're about."
Raiders fans. Some are members of officially recognized booster clubs of the Oakland Raiders organization, some, like the Luceros, are not. The clubs are dedicated to being family-friendly and projecting a good image.
The Palmer family from Tracy, Calif., are founding members of the Rowdy and Rabid Raider Rooter Rumpus Room Regulars. Brian and Christine Palmer along with Laurie and Daniel Higgins started the club in 1997. Christine has faced first-hand the animosity towards Raiders fans.
"I've had clients come in to have their hair cut, not knowing I'm a Raiders fan, and just ream us," said Christine. "The first thing I ask them is if they have been to a Raiders game and they answer 'No.' They are usually repeating propaganda they've heard from the media.
"It's really frustrating. There are a few minority that have made the hype what it is. The media edits what they feel is news. You don't see them showing kids tossing the football or dancing in the parking lot. To them, that's not news."
The Palmers use the game as family quality time. Along with 17-year-old William and 12-year-old Katie, each member works together to prepare for each home game. Food, chairs, barbecues, ice chests, blankets. You name it, they do it together.
"The kids are really into the games. It's a huge bonding thing for us. We all enjoy coming to the games and seeing our friends. Our club has members that are and are not Personal Seat License holders, and, we have 'inter-franchise' members. We're not solely Raiders fans," she added.
Under the watchful eyes of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and the Oakland Police Department, the average number of ejections per game is 100. Of the 100, only one or two are actually arrested.
Usually, the only reason for an arrest is when narcotics are involved, according to an Alameda County Sheriff's Department spokesman, who added that a "zero-tolerance policy" is used. For the most part, ejections are alcohol related, and most of the time, the parties involved in a fight do not want to press charges.
"The number of ejections will vary with how well or bad the team is doing," said Sgt. G.R. Berge of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department. "When the team is losing, the fans can become more agitated and less tolerant. But we try to work with fans. If there's a problem, all someone has to do is point the person out, and we'll talk to them, or remove them if necessary.
"I've worked most of the home games. The first couple of years it was pretty bad. But the rowdy ones have mellowed out and with the regular fans, they're learning people come to the games to see football. The ones who used to be a problem are now inviting us to their barbecues.
"The fans do get a bad name and it's from unjust press. They show some guy with the skull and crossbones, painted up and wearing a costume, and then report the bad stuff. This is not a bad coliseum. Sometimes the opposing players can be as disruptive and obnoxious as the fans."
Raiders fans. They're good, they're bad, they're ugly. One thing's for sure: male or female, the fans know their football. It's a passion that comes with the territory.
Who: Carson City Raiders Booster Club
When: Meets at Big Al's Pizza for all home and away games, 230 Fairview Dr.
Membership info: 887-1997 or 720-4333