Al Davis remembered

In life, Al Davis was a polarizing figure. It is only fitting then that the death of the long-time Oakland Raiders owner, also brings about a wide array of emotions and reactions.

For Curt Marsh, a Snohomish High School graduate who went on to play for Davis and the Raiders for five-plus, mos

tly injury-plagued seasons, Davis’ death wasn’t a momentous occasion or an emotional moment.

“I wasn’t close to him,” Marsh said. “I didn’t hate him; I didn’t love him.”

And if that’s the best Marsh can muster, well, that’s completely understandable. After a promising rookie season in 1981, Marsh’s career became an uphill battle against numerous injuries, none worse than a chronic right ankle injury that ended up forcing him to retire in 1987. It was an injury that, after his career, Marsh discovered had been consistently misdiagnosed and mistreated by team physicians. The pain didn’t end with retirement, however, and multiple surgeries failed to fix his ankle. In 1994, Marsh’s right leg was amputated below the knee.

If anything, Davis’ death is probably easier to process for those who didn’t know the man. We can talk about the strong-willed but brilliant man who helped shape the modern NFL as we know it, and about how as he got older

he seemed to lose it a bit as the Raiders went from a once-dominant franchise to one of the league’s worst teams in recent years.

But what if you knew the man? What if you were one of the many players or coaches who was given a career by Davis, only to eventually fall out of favor with a boss who had little patience if you couldn’t help him in his constant quest to “Just win, baby”? And what if that win-at-all costs philosophy played a role in you losing a limb? Then how would you react when you learned last week that Davis passed away at the age of 82?

It’s not that Marsh held any ill will toward the longtime Raiders owner, but he also wasn’t going to be deeply affected by the death of a man he hadn’t heard from or seen in decades, even after the amputation.

Like most everything else in life, Marsh’s relationship with Davis was complicated. Marsh respected Davis, but he also can’t help but wonder how, had the Raiders not had such a domineering owner, his career might have turned out differently.

Davis was the hands-on owner who made Marsh a first-round pick out of the University of Washington, but he also was the strong-willed boss who made it hard for anyone else in the organization, be it players, coaches or team doctors, to say no.

“He gave me an opportunity and I made the most of it,” Marsh said. “I understood what he was trying to do. He was just trying to win and he would use whatever he had as his disposal to do so, whether it would offend somebody or not.”

In Marsh’s case, winning at all costs meant a near-constant battle with injuries. Looking back, Marsh says he could have had a longer, more successful career if he hadn’t given in to pressure from team doctors to play through injuries and take pain-numbing injections. But he also refuses to blame Davis or the Raiders for his abbreviated career, or the long-term effects of his injuries.

It wasn’t always that way for Marsh. But as part of the physical and psychological treatment for his chronic injuries, Marsh has learned to let go of any resentment he might feel toward his former employer.

After all, Marsh says, he always could have taken the advice he once gave to Hall-of-Fame running back Marcus Allen. After Marsh had retired, Allen, his former teammate, called and said team doctors were trying to convince him to play through an ankle injury. Marsh’s advice was simple: “Do not shoot your ankle. Whatever they tell you, whatever you do, do not shoot up (with painkilling drugs).” Allen listened, and while he fell out of favor with the Raiders, he enjoyed a long career after the injury.

“Part of it is taking the responsibility that you had in the situation,” Marsh said. “I could have been like Marcus at any time, and said, ‘No, I’m not going to do this.’ But I wanted it as bad as Al did. I wanted to win, baby win. I was a part of it. I understand how you can get caught up in that.”

Again, it’s complicated for Marsh when he remembers his former boss. Early in his career, Marsh saw Davis on the sideline on a daily basis and, like so many other players, enjoyed having an owner who was involved with the team. “He was out there cheering you on every day,” Marsh said. “As a player you like that. You knew he cared.”

But what Marsh eventually learned is that not everyone who played for the Raiders was viewed equally in Davis’ eyes.

“The thing about Al, the people who played well for him and won for him and were able to stay injury free and play for a long time, he was loyal to to the end,” Marsh said. “That’s a good attribute to have in an owner, so I do respect that about him. I just wasn’t one of those players. I didn’t perform well enough for him. I wasn’t able to stay healthy. If I’d have stayed healthy, I probably would have been one of those guys, but I don’t regret that at all.”

And this is why the death of Al Davis is complicated for Marsh. Had he not been a Raider, had he not played in the NFL, Marsh certainly would be in much better health today than he is now. But Marsh also has plenty of fond memories from his days in Oakland and Los Angeles, including a Super Bowl championship. And Marsh’s playing career also helped him find success after his retirement, including his current career as a motivational speaker.

So no, Marsh won’t lie to you and say he was broken up by the news of Davis’ death. But he can also honestly say he held no grudges against the man who was one of the game’s biggest innovators, but who also made life difficult for so many who crossed his path.

“Truly I’m not resentful,” Marsh said. “I had a lot of respect for the guy. We didn’t end great, but I had a lot of respect for the guy. … I didn’t think about him hardly ever.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.