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And the victory will elevate the Raiders'' owner to the top of the league once again, where be can sneer at the commissioner''s office and snicker at those who thought adult batman costume he had lost his fastball years ago. it was davis, and no one else, who put together this unusual roster of youngsters and plus-30 stars. and it is he, and no one else, who saw in gruden''s replacement, bill callahan, the mettle of a championship coach. "you look at how al fixed up his roster with these older guys and you think, `this guy has gone off the deep end,''" says franchise and business opportunity expo bills general manager tom donahoe. "but when you study these guys, they still could play. and to me, this is their last shot. they are supposed to be way over the salary cap next year. and he even changes coaches and they still make it this far. amazing."but of course, davis never has had much use for coaches. "he has always thought players win championships," says ron wolf, the former packers general manager who started his nfl career under davis in oakland. "that is what he will think about all this." and and that is why he let gruden bolt to the bucs batman last offseason, but only after extracting a king''s ransom: four draft choices and $8 million. monte kiffin looks like a sidekick batman beyond adult costume to an old-time western movie star. his face is thin, lined and florida tanned, and he sort of crackles expo when he talks. he is nothing close to what you would expect of a premier and and batman defensive mind, but mister, can this man coach. he''s been at it 20 years in the nfl, seven with the bucs, a career assistant with gifts matched by very few of his peers.in a super bowl full of these dark and shining story lines, kiffin''s aw-shucks demeanor isn''t going to command the room. but his schemes will envelop the raiders'' offensive coaching staff, for sure, in the days and hours before this costume championship game."they put you to an extreme mental test," says chris palmer, the texans'' offensive coordinator. "what they do is not extremely complicated. but it is executed incredibly well by a lot of great athletes. expo you face a team with undersized linebackers but with overall tremendous team speed. they say and speed kills. batman tampa is a perfect example." chucky comes armed with weapons, big and powerful ones, mostly on defense, which just happens to be the best around. and his beloved offense actually is showing signs of strength, now that it had its way last sunday against the eagles, the nfl''s only other costume and expo bona fide defensive outfit.such story lines in this game: gruden vs. al davis; gruden vs. rich gannon; gruden vs. the raider nation; warren and sapp vs. everyone; keyshawn johnson whining about everything; the ancient raiders warriors trying to win a super bowl before entering a retirement home; the nfl clapping batman with zeal at the intense interest all this will create to finish off what already has been one fascinating season.it will be the raiders not because davis says it will be, but because they have the offense that, of any in the league, can best joust with the bucs'' defense. gannon will not become donovan mcnabb and deteriorate in the face of the tampa bay schemes. he will be consistent and accurate and patient, and that will be enough.
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