The Raiders' deal with Oakland and Alameda County "can
be changed to make it work for both sides," according to
Glenn Dickey of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Dickey wrote that,
among other moves, the lawsuits filed by both sides "must be
dropped," and the Oakland Football Marketing Association
(OFMA) "should be given an operating budget sufficient to
allow them to market and sell tickets." Dickey added that
OFMA has a "competent and imaginative director in Richard
Rogers and a solid sales staff. Given sufficient money and
a team that can be marketed, they'll sell the tickets" (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 8/10). Last week, Raiders Owner Al Davis
criticized the deal with the city and county that returned
him to Oakland: "[OFMA] told the world, 'We sold out, sold
the suites, sold the PSLs.' They lied. Why did they lie, if
they did lie, and try to suck us in and get us to stay?"
(OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 8/7). In S.F., Tim Keown wondered how
"could [Davis] be so thoroughly deceived?" and wrote that
there are "several aspects of the Raiders' problems that
Davis doesn't seem to grasp," including ticket prices which
are "among the highest in the NFL" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/8).
