Al Davis Was Always 'The Chooser'

“Just win, baby.”

For Al Davis, it was all that mattered in the end. He wanted to win, worked to win, thought to win, and most of all dedicated his life toward one goal — winning Super Bowls.

Davis was a pioneer of the old American Football League, holding every professional position, from assistant to head coach to general manager to finally owner. Everything Davis learned growing up in Brooklyn became part of the Raiders' fabric. As a young child, he would go to Yankee Stadium. But instead of seeing a baseball game, Davis visualized a football team that could have the Yankees’ power. When he walked over to Ebbets Field to see his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers, he thought of a football team that had their blinding speed. The Yankees’ power combined with the Dodgers’ speed became the Raiders’ philosophy. Size and speed. When he saw the Army Knights of West Point play, he loved the black in their uniforms. When he watched the Detroit Lions, he thought their silver would blend perfectly — thus the silver and black. When Davis learned that Yankees’ general manager George Weiss never allowed female traveling secretaries, Davis followed suit. He ultimately enacted everything that appealed to his senses when he became the chooser.

In the recent ESPN 30 for 30 on Al Davis’ battle with former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, we hear Davis say, “I never wanted to be chosen, I wanted to be the chooser.” That candid self-assessment is a perfect description of the man. And since he knew at an early age that being the chooser required excellent preparation, he prepared every day of his life.

How many times have you asked someone about their goals — and they give a random answer with enthusiasm? But when you ask them to describe their goals and how they will behave in their dreamlike roles, they shrug their shoulders as enthusiasm wanes — they have given that part little thought. All focus is given to getting there, never what they will do when they arrive. They might say it depends on the circumstances. But Davis never thought of these. He knew that as the chooser, he needed to be fully prepared. That all started at baseball games when he was 10 years old.

We all know the best way to achieve our goals is to work diligently on the task at hand. Don’t look past our role is the advice often given; yet, if you want to be great in the role you have often dreamt of, today is the day to start. Spend time preparing a notebook or a document as if you are sitting in that magical seat, having a plan for understanding what is needed, what is expected and what you have learned from your past experience. After all, what is the sense of having a great learning experience if you don’t have a place to record what you have gained?

Be the chooser and get prepared.

Please forward and share this email with your friends and family.