The Raiders Went Home For The Money!

(April 27, 2001) -- NFL attorney Allen Ruby told the jury Friday in his closing argument that the city of Oakland had offered Al Davis a much better financial package than had Hollywood Park and that was the reason the Raiders chose on their own to return to the Bay Area in 1995.

The Raiders have charged during the seven-week trial that the league interfered with their Hollywood Park stadium negotiations and forced the team to go back against its will to Oakland.

Ruby today also addressed the discrimination issue that Raiders counsel Joseph Alioto raised in his closing argument. Alioto had said that Davis was a victim of discrimination at the hands of the league and the other owners.

"This discrimination charge is a false accusation that was made to influence your judgment," Ruby told the jury, which includes several minority members. "There is no more serious or ugly charge in this country than discrimination. It is a shameful allegation that reflects very badly on the people who made it. The evidence here is that the Raiders were offered more benefits from the league for a Hollywood Park stadium than any team before or since. Is that discrimination? The Raiders always paint themselves as victims but that simply is not the case."

Ruby also reminded the jurors that both the Rams and Raiders left Los Angeles in 1995. "The Rams were turned down in their initial request to move," Rudy said, "but the Raiders had no problem getting approval. The Rams were assessed a $29 million relocation fee, but the Raiders were not assessed one dollar for moving. Does that show discrimination against the Raiders? I don’t think so."

Ruby said the reason the Raiders pressed this current suit is that things have not turned out the way they hoped in Oakland. "The Raiders blame the East Bay entities there," Ruby said, "and they have created a toxic atmosphere in Oakland. They say someone blundered their deal. The Raiders always say that others have obligations and responsibilities. What about their obligations and responsibilities?"

The Raiders never were serious about making a stadium deal at Hollywood Park. "How could they be?" Ruby asked. "Where were their documents on that project? The NFL kept detailed records. Hollywood Park did 57 different sets of financial projections that are in evidence in this court. The Raiders? All they could produce from their files regarding Hollywood Park was a press clipping, one letter to Commissioner Tagliabue and a team press release. Who do you think was really sincere about the Hollywood Park project and who was not? The evidence provides the answer."

Ruby concluded by telling the jury that this was a very unusual case. "Usually you have one side in a trial claim one thing and the other side says the opposite," Ruby said. "However, in this case, you have the Raiders’ documents from 1995 showing that they always intended to go back to Oakland. And the Raiders themselves are saying ‘Don’t believe those documents but rather listen to what we are saying now. We wanted the Hollywood Park deal.’ Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you can’t have it both ways."

The jury begins its deliberation Monday morning. A verdict requires a three-quarters vote, meaning nine of the 12 members of the jury, which is comprised of eight men and four women