--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look back on my nine years with…" description: "\"When I look back on my nine years with the Raiders, what comes to mind first is my great association with Al Davis. If it had not been for him I may no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/george-blanda-5435_done_when-i-look-back-on-my-nine-years-with-t_3159239.jpg" --- # When I look back on my nine years with the Raiders, what… ![“When I look back on my nine years with the Raiders, what comes to mind first is my great association with Al Davis. If it had not been for him I may not have done the things I did once I left Houston. I may not have even kept playing if it weren't for Al. I respected him highly.” quote by George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/george-blanda-5435_done_when-i-look-back-on-my-nine-years-with-t_3159239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/george-blanda-5435_done_when-i-look-back-on-my-nine-years-with-t_3159239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/george-blanda-5435_done_when-i-look-back-on-my-nine-years-with-t_3159239.jpg) > “When I look back on my nine years with the Raiders, what comes to mind first is my great association with Al Davis. If it had not been for him I may not have done the things I did once I left Houston. I may not have even kept playing if it weren't for Al. I respected him highly.” [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude for mentorship highlights how key relationships shape career trajectories and resilience. **In simple terms:** Mentors impact success. Key Takeaway Value and seek supportive mentors. Themes gratitude mentorship legacy Mood appreciative nostalgic Type sports motivational When to use this quote - sports teams - business networking - personal development - leadership training Key Concepts relationship dynamics career impact Questions to Reflect On - Who else can you learn from? - How can you pay forward mentorship? A Different Perspective Overreliance on a single mentor can limit autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/houston/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [We all know what Al Davis means to the NFL, what he means to the Oakland Raiders. He is the Oakland Raiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/we-all-know-what-al-davis-means-to-the-nfl-what-he-means-to-the/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [Al Davis is a legend and his contribution and influence on the game of football, the National Football League, and the Oakland Raiders has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-trask/al-davis-is-a-legend-and-his-contribution-and-influence-on-the-game/) Amy Trask > [You can't talk about the NFL without the Raiders, the three Super Bowl championships, what Al Davis meant to the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/you-can-t-talk-about-the-nfl-without-the-raiders-the-three-super-bowl/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [I have no animosity toward Al Davis or John Madden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-have-no-animosity-toward-al-davis-or-john-madden/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Money has never been a consideration In my continuing to play for the Raiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/money-has-never-been-a-consideration-in-my-continuing-to-play-for-the/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Al Davis was the first to know about my decision to retire, and Mom was second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-matuszak/al-davis-was-the-first-to-know-about-my-decision-to-retire-and-mom/) [John Matuszak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-matuszak/) > [In Oakland, Al Davis was a genius. We had Ron Wolff there, too, and he was a genius. There was no room for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/in-oakland-al-davis-was-a-genius-we-had-ron-wolff-there-too-and-he/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [I appreciate Al Davis and the Davis family a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-janikowski/i-appreciate-al-davis-and-the-davis-family-a-lot/) [Sebastian Janikowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-janikowski/) > [I learned a lot from Al Davis, and I got a lot better as a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/i-learned-a-lot-from-al-davis-and-i-got-a-lot-better-as-a-coach/) [Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/) > [Certain people, coaches, have a profound, positive outcome on somebody's life. And Al Davis had a profound, positive outcome on my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/certain-people-coaches-have-a-profound-positive-outcome-on-somebody-s/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Al is an extremely talented football guy. Few owners who interview can really talk about a defensive front, team travel and the salary cap.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/al-is-an-extremely-talented-football-guy-few-owners-who-interview-can/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [Al Davis is the kind of guy who would steal your eyes and then try to convince you that you looked better without them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rutigliano/al-davis-is-the-kind-of-guy-who-would-steal-your-eyes-and-then-try-to/) Sam Rutigliano > [Al Davis blessed me, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/al-davis-blessed-me-man/) [JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/) > [Only Al Davis wanted me. That's on record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/only-al-davis-wanted-me-that-s-on-record/) [JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/) > [Al Davis has been the biggest influence in my professional football life. I mean, he was a guy that gave me an opportunity, one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/al-davis-has-been-the-biggest-influence-in-my-professional-football/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) ## More by George Blanda > [I had six brothers and four sisters and I competed with my brothers every day when I was a kid. If you lost in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-had-six-brothers-and-four-sisters-and-i-competed-with-my-brothers/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I retired one year in 1959. But then I realized I wanted to play more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-retired-one-year-in-1959-but-then-i-realized-i-wanted-to-play-more/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I like winning and hate being second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-like-winning-and-hate-being-second-best/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Some guys are old at 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/some-guys-are-old-at-21/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I don't believe in getting mad if a guy misses a block and I get hit. I don't yell at the players. Everybody gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-don-t-believe-in-getting-mad-if-a-guy-misses-a-block-and-i-get-hit/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Back when I was playing I enjoyed studying films, looking for new trends in the game and examining the new players who came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/back-when-i-was-playing-i-enjoyed-studying-films-looking-for-new/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I had a helluva time getting away from Halas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-had-a-helluva-time-getting-away-from-halas/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Competition is what drives me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/competition-is-what-drives-me/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I talk common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-talk-common-sense/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [What happened last week doesn't matter. That's history. You have to make history every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/what-happened-last-week-doesn-t-matter-that-s-history-you-have-to/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I work hard and relax a lot, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-work-hard-and-relax-a-lot-too/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [Halas was a great coach, but the only problem I had with him, the problem all the players had with him, was that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/halas-was-a-great-coach-but-the-only-problem-i-had-with-him-the/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [When I signed with the Oilers, I felt like a rookie. I was 33.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/when-i-signed-with-the-oilers-i-felt-like-a-rookie-i-was-33/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I don't like being compared to other kickers. Kicking, I've always felt, was my weak suit. The only area of kicking I was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-don-t-like-being-compared-to-other-kickers-kicking-i-ve-always-felt/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [The one record I was happy to get rid of was the one for the most interceptions, when Brett Favre got that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/the-one-record-i-was-happy-to-get-rid-of-was-the-one-for-the-most/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) [Explore all 100 George Blanda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I look back on my nine years with the Raiders, what comes to mind first is my great association with Al Davis. 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