Raiders Play Day Ahead of Themselves in Tokyo

The Raiders and Miami Dolphins will play Sunday morning at the Tokyo Dome in the third American Bowl in Japan, but because of the 16-hour time difference, that will be 7 tonight in Los Angeles.

And it was a long way to go for the Raiders to break a sweat. Weather at their training complex in Oxnard has been unseasonably cool this summer, a serious concern to Coach Art Shell and owner Al Davis.

And although the game will be played inside at the Tokyo Dome, the team did participate in two outdoor practices with Miami in 95-degree heat.

This is the second exhibition game for both teams. The Dolphins were shut out last week by the Chicago Bears, 6-0, and the Raiders were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers, 24-17, after trailing, 24-3.

A crowd of 40,000 is expected for the game. According to the Japan American Football Assn., only 30,000 countrymen play American Football, ame-futto , as the sport is known there.

Raider quarterback Steve Beuerlein remains one of the stories to watch tonight (ESPN). After not playing a down last season in the aftermath of a contract holdout, he rallied the Raiders to two second-half scoring drives against the 49ers.

Beuerlein and veteran quarterback Vince Evans are competing for the No. 2 position behind Jay Schroeder.

Tonight’s game should also mark the Raider debut of first-round pick Todd Marinovich, who did not play in the exhibition opener.

Watching the game from home will be defensive lineman Scott Davis and center Don Mosebar, who still have not signed contracts.

Mosebar had been looking forward to the overseas trip.

“I’ve always liked Oriental food,” he was quoted as saying in the June edition of the Raider newspaper. “I’m hoping to find a good restaurant the first day.”

Mosebar had to settle for Little Tokyo.