Wednesday, March 24, 2004

From Raiders.com
This is directly from Raiders.com (I DIDN'T WRITE IT!!) about the signing of Warren Sapp:

Sapp: 'Marriage Made in Heaven'
March 22, 2004

By Elena Valenzuela



Raiders Head Coach Norv Turner looks on as Warren Sapp answers questions from the Bay Area media.

Mickey Elliot
Warren Sapp is officially an Oakland Raider. During Sapp's first press conference, an enthusiastic Head Coach Norv Turner showed his excitement on the signing of a player the caliber of Sapp. It's not every day a team gets the chance to sign a seven-time Pro Bowler as a free agent. "The things that Warren brings that people don't see are great passion, great enthusiasm. He loves to play the game and knows how to win," said Coach Turner in an animated tone. Sapp also expressed his emotions about the signing: "I woke up [Saturday] morning and [Raiders owner] Al Davis was on the line, and that brought a smile to my face. By the end of the day I was a Raider and I was happy about it."
Sapp answered questions from the attentive Bay Area media, demonstrating that he not only has an on-field history to prove his worth but he still displays his signature swagger. "We'll see if we can get this place back to winning, where it was winning all the time and winning was a commitment, a commitment to excellence," Sapp said. "The Raiders are back and I'm going to have something to do with that."

In regards to his feelings towards the Raider Nation, he said he felt welcome from the first moment, including an encounter with a Raiders fan on the flight to California. "I was in Miami getting on a plane, you know when you're landing, you are supposed to put your seat back and your tray tables up, and this guy comes up and says 'welcome to the Raider Nation.' That gives you a chilling feeling," Sapp explained. "I'm on a plane with two to three hundred people and there is a personal message for me. It just shows you the love that they have for this organization. Spread it around!"

The weather was also a surprise for Sapp who said he did not expect to be "cold" in California. However, what was not a surprise was the welcome that The Oakland Raiders gave him because of the impact he is expected to have. According to Sapp, "The big, bad Silver and Black and Warren Sapp coming together, that's got to be a marriage made in heaven."


^_^ ^_~ HELL YEAH!!! VIVA LOS RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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