HOT CORNER

What: “SportsCentury: Al Davis.”

Where: ESPN Classic, tonight, 5 and 5:30; 8 and 8:30.

The timing of a “SportsCentury” about Al Davis seems a little odd. His Oakland Raiders are having a bad season. But then maybe ESPN Classic is simply trying to beat HBO to the punch. Davis is a significant part of an HBO documentary, “Rebels of Oakland: the A’s, the Raiders and the ‘70s,” which airs Wednesday night.

Tonight’s “SportsCentury” focuses on the rebel theme as well. Host Chris Fowler, in the opening, says, “Al Davis was born on the Fourth of July [in 1929] and most of his life has been a rebellion against authority and a struggle for independence.”

Fowler also says that Davis “thrives on chaos, would rather be feared than respected, and specializes in jumpsuits and lawsuits.” Another theme is Davis’ obsession with controlling death.

Former Raider executive Del Courtney says when he was bedridden for five months, Davis would visit regularly and say, “You are a Raider and Raiders don’t die.”

Longtime sportswriter Murray Olderman says Davis regularly attends funerals of friends -- and enemies. Olderman says Davis went to Pete Rozelle’s funeral.

Davis says, “I think the only thing I haven’t licked in my life is being able to save people who are dying.”

When Davis’ wife went into a coma after suffering a heart attack in 1979, Art Shell said Davis refused to believe doctors who said she might not come out of it. Art Modell says, “He sat by her day and night, talking into her ear to keep her brain functioning.”

The Times’ Steve Springer, who covered the Raiders when they were in Los Angeles, says, “He believes there is a way to beat death. He has had these conversations. He has said we haven’t dominated that death thing yet ... yet!”

Trying to explain Davis in a half-hour “SportsCentury” is a difficult task. But then a two-hour documentary probably couldn’t do it either. He is a different person to different people. John Madden says his public image is exactly the opposite of what the man really is.

Davis does seem to be a walking contradiction -- a hero to some, a devil to others. Gary Smith of Sports Illustrated talks about discovering Davis’ fascination with Adolph Hitler.

Says Davis, “If you live your life worried about what people think -- who’s good or bad -- you’ll never take a step.” Davis, at the end of the show, also says, “I’ve lived my dream.”

-- Larry Stewart