It’s No Good for Raider Fans to Want to Be One of the Gang

The Raiders have long promoted their outlaw image. But in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., it is being taken literally.

Managers of a local shopping mall have banned customers from wearing Raider paraphernalia, saying the clothes and hats are associated with gang activity.

People in Raider T-shirts, pants or hats shopping at the Coral Square mall are told to remove them or leave because the name “Raiders” is used by a Coral Springs gang, according to mall representatives.

There have been similar stories around the country about schools trying to implement bans on silver-and-black items of the Raiders as well as the Kings. Hard-core rap groups such as N.W.A. and Public Enemy have adopted Raider colors, and some youth gangs also use the team’s name.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is aware of the association between Raider colors and gang violence. The league has even taken steps to address the problem by designing anti-gang campaigns.

But none of that is stopping Raider fans in Ft. Lauderdale from fuming.

A few weeks ago, Coral Square guards told Ramon Collazo, 48, a detective with the local sheriff’s office, to take off his Raider hat, which he had purchased at the mall, or leave.

“It’s ludicrous,” Collazo said. “What if they come out with a gang called the Dolphins? You’re going to ban everybody from wearing Dolphin hats?”

Trivia time: Name two sports that can be won only by going backward.

Potential best-seller, by George: Banned owner George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees is ready to tell all about his stormy years in the Big Apple in a proposed autobiography being shopped to publishers.

Arthur Klebanoff, head of the company representing Steinbrenner, says all profits from the book would be given to charity.

According to New York Newsday, Steinbrenner’s reported asking price for the book, which would cover his life from his days in the shipbuilding industry, is $1 million.

Life in the fast lane: John Daly’s life hasn’t been the same since he won his first pro tournament last week, the PGA Championship. That has catapulted Daly from unknown player to celebrity.

Playing in the International golf tournament this week at Colorado’s Castle Pines Golf Club, Daly was stopped by police on his way from his hotel to the course.

Exceeding the speed limit in the fast lane?

Not quite.

“I was kind of nervous for a minute,” Daly said, “but it wasn’t anything bad. They just wanted an autograph.”

Trivia answer: Tug-of-war and rowing.

Quotebook: Retired New York Giant coach Bill Parcells, on spending a day at the race track in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: “So this is what real people do in August.”