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SPORTS Wednesday 23 september 2020
Column: Big night for Las Vegas Raiders, their new hometown

LAS VEGAS (AP) — As the game, not covering any-
light outside faded, the glit- thing but his chin despite
tering casinos on the Las NFL warnings for coaches
Vegas Strip came to life to mask up.
Monday evening through "I've had the virus and I'm
the giant lanai doors in the doing my best," Gruden
new home of the Raiders. said, saying he had trouble
If the backdrop was spec- calling plays with a mask
tacular, so was the scene on. "I'm very sensitive about
on the field. There were the all of that and I apologize."
Raiders playing the New For a while, it looked like
Orleans Saints before a na- Gruden might have to
tional television audience, apologize for the play of his
a moment the late Howard team, too. But after a slow
Cosell would have never start, the Raiders are now
imagined when Monday 2-0 on the young season
Night Football kicked off and 1-0 in the stadium Mark
exactly a half-century ear- Davis dubbed the Death
lier. Star because that's where
No one else would have the other team's chances
imagined it would take to win die.
place before 65,000 empty Carr said the team has
seats, but that's sports dur- bonded quickly with its
ing a pandemic. Not only Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the new home and knew the
were fans missing — at New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Las significance of winning the
least indoors — but so was Vegas. first game in Las Vegas.
Raiders owner Mark Davis, Associated Press "We want to emulate what
who expressed his solidarity Vegas has and we want
with his new city by watch- Best of all, a town that loves Davis Way and Dean Mar- Outside the stadium, fans to feed off each other," he
ing on TV with other team a winner got one. The Raid- tin Drive was an instant hit, parked cars anywhere said. "It's hard not to feel
executives at the Raiders' ers overcame an early 10-0 with Derek Carr and tight they could and joined at that energy in the stadium
practice facility. deficit to dominate most of end Darren Waller playing fences to watch on their but trust me, just being a
His mother, Carol, was the rest of the way, beating pitch and catch most of phones and cheer for their part of this community and
there, leading a ceremoni- Drew Brees and the New the night and the Raiders new team. At halftime, the going home every day we
al lighting of the giant torch Orleans Saints 34-24. controlling the time of pos- Killers rocked them and the feel it."
honoring her late husband, And, in true Las Vegas fash- session. Josh Jacobs ran for nation from the rooftop of On this night, at least, the
Al. So was NFL Commis- ion, coach Jon Gruden 88 yards, and Daniel Carl- nearby Caesars Palace. feeling was good for both
sioner Roger Goodell, who compared it to the kind of son kicked a 54-yard field Oakland and its aging sta- the Raiders and their fans.
just a few years ago was big events Las Vegas was goal with 1:05 left to clinch dium suddenly felt like a The Raiders — or any oth-
threatening to suspend any known for before it landed the win. very long time ago. er NFL team — making a
player who might even ac- an NFL team. The bookies just down the "We have a great fan base home in Las Vegas was
cidentally enter a casino in "We knew it was going to street had made the home and they're out in the street once unimaginable but is
this gambling town. be a 15-round fight here to- team four-point under- proving it," Gruden said. "I now finally a reality.
And everything in the spar- night," he said. "You just got dogs, figuring the Raiders' just hope they wear their It may be the perfect mar-
kling new $2 billion Alle- to keep swinging against defense was going to have masks." riage of a rebel team in a
giant Stadium screamed New Orleans because they trouble stopping Brees. But If they did, they were pay- city that has always flaunt-
the Silver and Black — even have the heart of a cham- you only get to open at ing more attention to health ed the rules.
if there were no actual fans pion." home once and the Raid- guidelines than Gruden. The Raiders have em-
there to scream for their The newest show just off ers weren't going to be de- He paced the sideline with braced Las Vegas, and the
team. the Strip at the corner of Al nied on this night. his mask low much of the city is loving them back.q

AP source: NFL fines 3 coaches, clubs for unmasked coaches

By ARNIE STAPLETON fined $250,000 each. neck. The punishments
A person with knowledge of More fines could be com- come a week after the NFL
the punishment tells The As- ing as several other coach- warned all 32 teams in a
sociated Press that at least es violated the league's memo about following the
three NFL head coaches rules requiring coaches to rules for wearing face cov-
have been fined $100,000 wear coverings over their erings during the coronavi-
for violating the league's mouths and noses at all rus pandemic lest they put
rules that they wear face times. Players are exempt the NFL season at risk.
coverings on the sideline. from these protocols. Following the Raiders' 34-24
The person, who spoke on Among the violators were win over the Saints on Mon-
condition of anonymity be- Patriots coach Bill Belich- day night, Gruden, who
cause the league wasn't ick and both coaches in last week said he felt the
announcing specific fines, Monday night's game, Jon league's memo was direct-
said Denver's Vic Fangio, Gruden of the Raiders and ed at him, revealed he'd
San Francisco's Kyle Sha- Sean Payton of the Saints. had COVID-19 and apolo-
nahan and Seattle's Pete Gruden wore his face mask gized for violating the rules. Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio walks the sideline dur-
Carroll were each docked like a chin strap and Payton "I'm doing my best," Gruden ing the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh
Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020.
$100,000. Their teams were wore his gaiter like a turtle- said. "I've had the virus.q Associated Press