This Raider Team Can Talk With the Very Best of Them

Into the hallowed ranks of the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia 76ers of the mid-’70s, two of the greatest talking teams of all time, step the Raiders.

On this team, Lester Hayes is only a co-choice as the writers’ favorite.

The other?

Easy. It’s Howie Long.

Anyone loose enough to enter the Seattle Seahawk huddle during a timeout and demand a drink from their water bottle on the grounds that he deserved it more than they do, figures to be good copy. Long gets interviewed so often that it seems as if he’s narrating the Raider season.

Gems include Long’s observation about New England Patriot fans in his native Boston: “I don’t think anyone back there bleeds red, white and blue.” The Patriots were already in town for their playoff game with the Raiders.

There are several Raiders who, on other teams, might be the best talker in a decade. They include:

Rod Martin--Mr. Tell It Like You Think It Is. At a press breakfast last season, he was asked about the new respect for mental toughness being accorded Marc Wilson. Martin said he thought it was because Wilson was feeling pushed by Rusty Hilger.

Todd Christensen--The erudite approach. What would Melville have thought of that?

Jerry Robinson--And he’s barely off the airplane. The day he was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles, he broke out his “Silver and black, rape and pillage villages” spiel.

Matt Millen--Much in demand after losses because he hates alibis and will rip himself, or his defensive unit, or his team’s lack of mental preparation.

There are a dozen good talkers. Just being a good talker won’t get you on this list.

Most underrated?

Marc Wilson--Author of “Everybody thinks I’m too nice to play because I didn’t grow up in the Bronx with a street gang.”

Executive of the year?

Al LoCasale--He once told this story about a game in the old Raider-Steeler rivalry:

“Pittsburgh was like a tinderbox, so I went in to advance the game. I went on Myron Cope’s radio show. He asked me, ‘Is it true the Raider defensive backs have a drill where they run by a tackling dummy and elbow it?’ I said, ‘Oh, you mean the Lynn Swan drill.’ ”

LoCasale edges out promotion director Mike Ornstein, who is always good for a takeoff on the Rams. He recently told The Sporting News’ John Czarnecki: “We don’t consider the Rams a rival. . . . To tell you the truth, we don’t consider them much of anything.” He’s also a hard man on the media. He threatened to have a writer--me--thrown out of a practice last week for not writing enough.

And two youngsters, who bear watching:

Sean Jones--In the row with the San Francisco 49ers about leg-whipping, he argued that anyone could do anything to defensive linemen, who are considered some kind of “subspecies.”

Greg Townsend--Asked his reaction to an exhibition loss last season, he said he didn’t know, he wanted to see what Coach Tom Flores’ reaction was first.