Mark Davis is asked who would be on his Raiders’ Mount Rushmore. One figure stands above the rest. Any Raiders fan, and especially the owner, knows who it is.
“My dad, obviously,” Davis says prior to being inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, a Friday event at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson.
Al Davis is obvious, yes. But for the owner’s son, that’s where the concept of a Raiders Mount Rushmore begins and ends.
“There isn’t one, really. Everybody who has played is a Raider,” Davis says. “We’re all the same, whether you played one game or 15 years.”
For that reason, the Raiders don’t retire player numbers. The Cowboys and Falcons also enforce that policy. Jim Otto’s 00 won’t be worn again because of NFL rules prohibiting any team from issuing that number.
The Raiders pay tribute to past greats with its Ring of Honor. Davis said the franchise intends to build a permanent Raiders Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. “There are plans for that,” Davis confirms. “It’s just we have to get the right place.”
Bale in
A film that might be referenced one day in the Raiders Hall of Fame (hey, transition), “Madden,” is due out Nov. 26. The film charts John Madden’s retirement from coaching and the creation of the breakthrough NFL videogame series “Madden.”
Nicolas Cage portrays Madden. Christian Bale takes on Al Davis. Bale called Mark Davis late last year, months after accepting the role. Bale said he would take great care in portraying Davis the elder, who spoke with a distinct Brooklyn accent.
Davis said he hadn’t realized Bale speaks in a British accent outside of his film roles.
“I talked to him on the phone. He told me that I’d be proud,” Davis said of Bale’s promise to perfect Al Davis’ persona. “And I said, ‘OK, you’re representing my dad. We’ll see what you do.’”
The halls way
Davis is on an awards spree. He was honored April 30 at the UNLV Business Hall of Fame gala at The Venetian, joining Dr. Miriam Adelson of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (whose family owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal).
The team owner and community pillar will be honored by Boys Town Nevada on Oct. 23, the organization’s 25th anniversary. The event is set for M Resort, the Raiders’ Official Team Headquarters Hotel.
The Raiders are hosting their own foundation event at Allegiant Stadium on Friday, with Elton John signed up as the superstar headliner. Led by Davis, the team has delivered in philanthropy, community outreach, and in-game entertainment at Allegiant Stadium.
Everywhere but on the field, actually.
“We’ve been very successful in a lot of areas. But we haven’t won on the football field, yet,” Davis said. “I believe that we will now. I believe that we finally have something for long-term stability and success. … That’s where I’ve failed, and I admit it. But I’m not gonna quit. I’m gonna keep trying to succeed.”
So honored
Joining Davis as honorees were UNLV assistant basketball coaches Tim Grgurich and the late Mark Warkentien, who were fixtures in the Jerry Tarkanian era; pro golfer Ryan Moore; and ex-Rebel and current Findlay Auto Group President Cliff Findlay. Our bud and esteemed radio personality John “J.T. The Brick” Tornour emceed.
Cool Hang Alert
Those couple hundred seats and unoccupied stage at Rio’s Masquerade Village are about to be activated. Count’s 77, led by Danny “The Count” Koker, premieres at the new live-music space at 9 p.m. May 23.
The show follows the band’s boffo debut at Fremont Street Experience on May 1. Then, as now, there is no cover. Just be ready to rock it.
The Review-Journal is owned by the Adelson family, including Dr. Miriam Adelson, majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., and Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Patrick Dumont.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.