h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

... about being an ex-professional football player?!?

On the Raiders website, Al LoCasale answers readers questions about the Raiders long and storied history. Invariably he is asked about ex-players or even non-ex-players ...

For example:

Teri: Steven L Martin is not listed on the roster as ever playing for the Raiders. He supposedly played in 1977-78. Was he a Raider?

Al LoCasale: I cannot find any listing for a Steven L. Martin with the Raiders.

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John from Virginia: I learned there is a guy who claims he played for the Raiders. The name he gave is "Ronnie Palmer." I checked your all-time list by roster number and cannot find him listed. Being a loyal Raiders Fan, I hate to see imposters and wannabees trying to falsely impress friends.

Al LoCasale: No Ronnie Palmer is on our career active roster. We do not readily have every name from training camp roster, however.

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M L Voshall: I'm trying to find out if you had a player in the 50's or 60s named Kenny Bowman or Bauerman. If so, where could I find information on him and his time as a Raider?

Al LoCasale: The Raiders did not play until 1960. There is no name like Kenny Bowerman or Baurman on our all-time roster.

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This week is my favourite so far ...

Currie58: We are packer fans who also like the "Silver and Black". One of our neighbors played for the Raiders in the mid 60's. His name is Craig "Big Dog" Phillips. I think he was a punter, and wore #41 and later 38. If you can give us some info on Big Dog we would appreciate it.

Al LoCasale: Only three Phillips played for the Raiders: QB Charles Phillips from So. California, 1975-80, DB Erwin Phillips from Arkansas Tech, 1983, and RB Jese Phillips from Michigan State, 1975

Gullible Packer fans or neighbour going down the pan?

Way back when I became interested in this game, the Bristol Packers were the local team of note. The guy who founded them was Mike Wilkinson.

Now, according to the teams promotional literature, game programmes, newspaper articles etc, Mike so named the team after the NFL one for which he played professionally in, get this, the 1960's... (Show us your rings Mike!!!)

A search on the Green Bay Packers All-Time Roster for his name brings up... yup, no matches whatsoever... in fact, nobody of the surname Wilkinson has ever donned a Green Bay jersey...

There've been a few Mike's though... perhaps he changed his name

Ahh now that reminds me of a *very* similar story ...

Back in 1987/8 my local team, Bournemouth Bobcats, got an ex-Green Bay Packer who had played under Vince Lombardi in the Super Bowl as headcoach. His name was Andy Capp. Now if you go look at the roster for SB II there was a Dick Capp, who claimed a valuable 3rd quarter fumble recovery ... In fact from what I can find on Google's cached entry for Britballnow's history 1991-95 ... he went onto coach the EuroBears in 1993.

Ultimately though whether or not "Andy" was "Dick" he knew some stuff and did a good job of coaching the team ...

BBS

I know of Andy Capp... played under him in an ill-fated attempt by Terry Smith to start a semi-pro league in the early 90's... he never mentioned about playing under Lombardi though... and he knew bugger all about O-Lineman!!

Oh, and we never got paid....

Typical....