Patriot Owner Says He’s Not an Al Davis Fan

For New England Patriot owner Billy Sullivan, a trip to the Super Bowl would fulfill a dream, but beating Al Davis and the Raiders today at the Coliseum is just as important.

Sullivan has been a longtime opponent of the Raiders’ managing general partner and does not hesitate to say he dislikes him.

“I don’t generally get into personality conflicts, but sure as hell this would be awfully sweet,” Sullivan said. “Winning this one would mean more to me than anything, except a Super Bowl win.”

“I still feel I’d rather play by the rules and get there than clip someone by the rear and get there. Maybe some people get more satisfaction doing it the other way,” Sullivan said.

He and Davis have been on opposite sides of a courtroom on two occasions, and making the situation more difficult is the fact that Sullivan’s daughter, Kathleen, is married to Davis’ attorney, Joseph Alioto.

“During the lawsuit out here (on the Raiders’ move to Los Angeles), I testified for the league, and it wasn’t easy testifying with my daughter on one side of the aisle and me on the other,” Sullivan said. “It was a nerve-wracking thing, but I was there because I’m one of the 28 owners of the league.

“Then Davis came back east to testify in a lawsuit (involving Sullivan and former Patriot stock-holders). I wondered what he had to do with it, but he showed up with his Darth Vader uniform--though, when he got on the stand, he looked like Little Lord Fauntleroy.

As soon as he got off the stand, he went out on the courthouse steps and lied about everything he had said on the stand.”