Dec 16, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fan Adrian Ramirez, 8, holds a “Raider for life” license plate before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

A funny thing happened this weekend.  For me, being a Raiders fan is just like breathing.  I am and always will be faithful to the Silver and Black.  I was born that way.  My Grandfather was a Raiders fan, and my Mother was a Raiders fan.

Now, my oldest son, Ian (14), became confused after living with his Stepfather for the past six years.  Somehow he believed that he was a Chargers fan, because his Stepfather told him he had to be.  I didn’t raise my son to be a Chargers fan or a Raiders fan for that matter.  I believe that we all have a right to root for the team we love.

Had he actually chosen to be a Chargers fan, I suppose I would have accepted it.  Though, it would have been a fight on Sunday when both teams played each other.  I asked him why he wanted to be a Chargers fan, and he told me it was due to his Stepfather telling him that he couldn’t cheer for any other team.  Especially not the Oakland Raiders.

Well Raiders Faithful, let me tell you how long it took for Ian to tell me he didn’t actually want to be a Chargers fan.  In just under three weeks, Ian has shed his lightning bolts and started to wear the Silver and Black.  This prompted me to ask, “Why the change of heart?”  He said, “I never liked the Chargers.  When I watched the history of the Oakland Raiders with you, it made me feel a sense of pride.”

He also went on to tell me how much he likes the song by Ice Cube, “Come and get it.”  He continued to tell me that he met Lester Hayes when he played Pop Warner Football in Modesto, CA.  He told me that he really liked Lester Hayes attitude and his commitment to what he was doing.

This moment was one that any Raider Nation parent would cherish.  I never thought the moment could get better until, my 13-year-old son Colton told me he wanted to be a Raiders fan too.  See, Colton, has been a Cowboys fan since he was born.  His biological donor was a Cowboys fan, and I think Colton felt a sense of closeness with him when he cheered for the Cowboys.

Again, I am not one to force my football team upon anybody, but I will not deny their request to change teams.  Nor will I deny them the love, honor, and pride that I have for the Oakland Raiders.  I will provide my children with knowledge and history of the Raiders.  So they can remember the Raiders of the past and celebrate the Raiders of the future.  This is my gift to Raider Nation, the nurturing of our young to carry the torch of the Nation into the future.

On Monday Night he’ll debut his new song at the Coliseum. If you haven’t heard it already you can get a listen below. I definitely prefer this effort to Cube’s previous anthem. No matter your opinion we all can agree on two things Cube says – “nobody proud as a Raider crowd” and “here’s the goal, Super bowl”.

Naturally Williamson went with the Raiders and the picturesque setting of Napa for training camp. In fact he went one step further by declaring the Silver and Black camp as the best in the NFL.

This is not simply just the best camp site in the AFC West, but it’s the best camp site in the entire NFL. How can it be argued? While many NFL teams hole up in college dorms during training camp, the Raiders stay at a Marriott resort in the heart of wine country. It’s the only private camp in the NFL, and it’s first class all the way.

As for celebrity fan…well…off hand I can’t name any celebrity fans of any of the AFC West rivals. My attention is usually focused on what’s on the field as opposed to who’s in the stands. But again, I’m not going to argue with Williamson for his choice of Ice Cube. While I’m no fan of the current Cube that peddles crappy beer in even crappier commercials, my youth is filled with vivid memories of listening to NWA and buying all his solo albums the first day they were released (Kill at Will and Death Certificate are among the best in the history of Hip Hop).

Ice Cube directed an ESPN 30 for 30 film “Straight Outta L.A.” on the team, and he is often on the sideline during Oakland games. He has also been known to tweet his thoughts on the Raiders (and the officiating) during games. There are lot celebrities who show up to games, but Ice Cube’s loyalty to the Raiders runs deep.

Now the truly bold decision was to rank the Raiders as the best when it comes to tradition. Naturally I won’t argue and have to agree. Still there is ample tradition in the AFC West. Aside from those bandwagons down in San Diego, every AFC West franchise is rooted in great tradition. Come to think of it, some of the most memorable moments, iconic figures and greatest rivalries can be found in the AFC West.

Everyone equates the colors Silver and Black with the Raiders. There’s Al Davis, who has been with the franchise for 48 years. There are all the great Hall of Fame players, there were great battles with Pittsburgh in the heyday of the 1970s. There’s the three Super Bowl titles. You think of the AFC West, and you think of the Raiders.

As much as I hate the evil four letter it’s nice to know somebody in the Disney sports world can see through their Raider Hater goggles clearly enough to be logical about the franchise. Now all of the aforementioned love is nice but hardly any of it relates to the actual product we currently see on the field. The two categories the Raiders lost out on were for best talent evaluation (Chargers) and best coaching staff (Chiefs).

I’m not going to say much about the coaching staff just yet. Time will tell on that one as this is Hue Jackson’s first time as a head coach. As for talent evaluation, I do have a bit of a bone to pick there. The guy that used to wear #2 weighs down the argument but I’m willing to bet if we revisit this topic in another two or three years there might be a little more love for Oakland’s player evaluations.