FRESNO -- Two-time Super Bowl champion Tom Flores loves visiting the community where he grew up in Visalia, Sanger and Fresno.
Flores appeared in the area last weekend at a blood drive sponsored by the Central California Blood Bank and the Tom Flores Youth Foundation.
Flores, the NFL's first Latino head coach when he was chosen by the late Al Davis, had an overall record of 105-90 and won two Super Bowls (1980, 1983). He was also a quarterback for the Raiders in 1960-61 and 1963-66.
Flores believes in giving back to the community, which he did by establishing the foundation to help children in his hometown of Sanger.
Q. What makes you get involved in the blood drive?
A. "We, the foundation, wanted to do something positive for the neighborhood here. It's been a great relationship with them because they do a nice job for us, and we do a good job for them."
Q. Is it pretty nice returning to the Valley and seeing all these fans?
A. "Oh yes. I grew up here, well a few years ago. It's always great to come home and visit; see friends, relatives. We plan on doing this as long as we can. We usually do it on a bye weekend, if able, sometimes we do it on another weekend, but then it's kind of tight."
Q. What about the passing of Al Davis?
A. "It hit all of us: The Raider Land. Well I've known Al for almost 49 years, so I had a great relationship with him. It's kind of still shocking to think he's gone, but he is. Life will go on, adjustments will be made, and we'll see what happens. We made a big trade already in his absence. It's interesting to see how things are happening without him being there to tell everybody what to do ... because he always did. I know he used to call me a lot. All hours of the night; we had a great relationship though."
Q. He seems very involved in the operation, so he just wasn't a figure head?
A. "Well he wasn't invisible, but he micro-managed the entire team for years and years. Even until the very end, he was still very involved with the team. The day that we left for Houston, he talked to some people before we left that Friday. And he passed during the early hours of the next day."
Q. What can general managers learn from him?
A. "Well, you can learn a lot of things from him. He was a tough guy, a tough negotiator. A very positive guy, didn't mess with you ... and loved his team. You can learn the passion you have to have in order to succeed in this business. You got to have a passion for the game, whether you're a coach or a general manager, or even if you're an owner. Those that are successful are the ones that can do those things."
Q. Do you think the team will have to go through a rebuilding effort?
A. "I don't think so. I think they've rebuilt pretty good. I think they have the nucleus, a lot of young guys. Carson Palmer should raise them to another level. If they can stay healthy; it's a constant building profession. The team has changed personality over night."
Q. Do you think you will be consulting as much as before?
A. "If need be, if I'm called upon, I'll offer my advice, quietly behind-the-scenes. It won't be public."
Q. Is there an Al Davis, Jr. out there? Is there anyone out there that can come close?
A. "I don't know: There will never be another Al Davis. There is only one of him in our lifetime. He made his mark. Five decades in professional football."
Q. Is there one memory that stands out about Al Davis?
A. "I've been asked that, but I have so many memories. When I first met him, I was his quarterback. All the things that we went through that first meeting were so memorable. And when he made me the head coach, we won our first Super Bowl together. There's just a lot of things: We used to have dinner together. We talked. He called me at 2 in the morning; that was memorable, but I'd rather forget those things. Two in the morning was early for him."
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