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Raiders faithful keep busy in Carson City

Meet the Carson City Raiders Boosters Club

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Established in 1993 to provide local fans a chance to follow and support the Oakland Raiders, the boosters club further strives to achieve a positive reputation for community service through programs such as the "Christmas Commitment" fundraiser, which provides assistance for senior citizens.

"This is a great family thing," said Ed Cabello, who serves as club publicist. "We're not only watching the games on TV, these guys do a lot in the community ... the Christmas fundraiser ... Meals on Wheels ... Toys for Tots ... it's a year-round thing.

Between September and January, the Boosters put on their game faces and gather to watch games together, a tradition that will continue Monday night when they meet in the Carson Lanes lounge to watch the Raiders kick off their season with a 7 p.m. contest against the AFC West rival San Diego Chargers. In years past, the club has held its game watches at various locations around Carson City, including Big Al's Pizza, Pookie's Final Approach at the airport, the Pinon Plaza (now the Gold Dust West Casino Hotel), Joe Bob's Chicken, Q's Barbecue and now a new home at Carson Lanes, located at 4600 Snyder Avenue.

Football and the Raiders go hand-in-hand as a family affair for the Boosters.

"There's nothing better," said club president Al Rogers. "Sunday is family day when we're here. This is what we consider home. It's not just getting together to watch the games ... it transcends all that ... the community involvement ... the friendships ... most of us have known each other for a long time. We've even seen our kids grow up together."

Added Gloria Langenbach: "It's a lot of fun pulling out the photo albums."

Just ask club vice-president Bob Gomez, who began bringing his grandchildren to game watches a decade ago. His grandson, Ernesto Cortez, graduated from Carson High in June and was an all-league offensive lineman for the Senators. Granddaughter, Bianca, is now a member of the Carson High spirit squad.

"After I moved here in 1997, I found the club in the Raiders' media guide and called up Al," he said.

Among the highlights of the club's special events in years past have been appearances by such former players as Frank Hawkins, Napoleon McCallum, Lester Hayes, John Vella, Cliff Branch, Marv Hubbard, Otis Sistrunk, Don Milan, Rod Martin and Dave Casper

"It's always fun to have those guys come in and they enjoy being here ... it's their passion to talk about their days in football," said longtime booster and former publicist Rhonda Costa. "Those were the glory years of the Raiders ... those were the days when the Raiders were always feared."

Many of these fans grew up in the Bay Area and have been faithful since the days when the Raiders played at Kezar Stadium and Candlestick Park in San Francisco, then at Frank Youell Field in Oakland from 1962-65. The team moved into its present home at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in 1966.

Longtime member Louie Costa went to one of the Raiders' first games at Youell Field. He can't recall who the Raiders played, but enjoyed the game and has been a fan ever since.

"It was a day game and my friend and I had a great time," Costa said. "And I've liked watching them since then. There's no other team like the Raiders."

Cabello was a longtime season ticket holder before moving to Carson City three years ago. He still has a large poster hanging in his office from the Raiders' inaugural season.

"I've been a Raiders fan for a long time since I was 13," said Cabello, who grew up in San Jose. "My uncles were the ones who lived in Oakland; they took me to a couple of home games that first year. I've been a Raiders fan ever since. My three kids are grown now and they're all Raiders fans, too."

Ed and Virginia Hoover are original club members remaining from 1993. "They were founding members. They live in Oregon now, but they come down every chance they get. They did a game watch with us last year," Rogers said.

"It all started in a bar," Rogers added. "Somebody mentioned that there was a boosters club, then it was 'What do we have to do to get started' and the ball just started rolling from there."

Unfortunately for the Raiders, the ball hasn't bounced favorably on the field since their 2003 loss against Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII. But while their 31-68 record in the six seasons since then ranks as the second-worst mark in the NFL, true fans remain unfazed.

"The die-hards are always here, win or lose," club member Leni Manning said.

Oakland Raiders website: http://www.raiders.com/